Blu-ray Review – The Long Goodbye (1973) - Flickering Myth
An essential archival featurette featuring archival interviews with director Robert Altman and star Elliott Gould. They discuss changing the character of Philip Marlowe from Chandler's original rigid template into a modern iconoclast.
: A segment featuring screenwriter Josh Olson discussing the film. The Digital Bits Archival Features The Long Goodbye Blu-ray (4K Restoration)
In an era of 4K UHD, why buy a 1080p Blu-ray? For The Long Goodbye , the answer lies in the film’s texture. Altman and Zsigmond used a process called “flashing” (pre-exposing the negative to light) to reduce contrast. On lower-bitrate streams (Netflix, Amazon), this turns to digital noise. On a 1080p Blu-ray with a high bitrate, that “flashed” look becomes a warm, organic blanket. You don’t need 4K because the film was never meant to look sharp; it was meant to look like a memory fading in the sun. the long goodbye 1973 extras 1080p bluray 2021
: The legendary cinematographer explains the "flashing" technique used to create the film’s hazy, dream-like 1970s Los Angeles look.
: A legacy featurette with director Robert Altman and star Elliott Gould exploring the concept of Marlowe as a 1950s character in a 1970s world.
: The release includes a limited edition O-card slipcase and reversible cover art featuring Jack Davis's original theatrical poster artwork on one side. The Long Goodbye Blu-ray (4K Restoration) Blu-ray Review – The Long Goodbye (1973) -
The extras on a special edition Blu-ray can vary widely but might include:
This is a newly recorded commentary track specifically for this release. David Thomson is a respected film historian and the author of The New Biographical Dictionary of Film .
: A legacy featurette featuring director Robert Altman and star Elliott Gould discussing the film's controversial reception and Altman's improvisational style. The Digital Bits Archival Features The Long Goodbye
Elliott Gould plays private investigator Philip Marlowe as a "Rip Van Winkle" character—a man out of time, wandering through the hazy, self-absorbed, and morally bankrupt landscape of 1970s Los Angeles.
A fascinating look at the film’s visual style. Cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond discusses the technical challenges of the shoot, including his signature use of zoom lenses and pre-flashing the film stock to achieve the desaturated, hazy look that defines the movie. 4. "David Thompson on Robert Altman"