Joe Kidd (Blu-ray)

From John Sturges, the acclaimed director of Bad Day at Black Rock, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape, The Satan Bug and Ice Station Zebra, comes this action-packed western starring screen greats Clint Eastwood (For a Few Dollars More, Two Mules for Sister Sara) and Robert Duvall (The Godfather, Tender Mercies). During a land war in New Mexico at the turn of the century, an ex-bounty hunter (Eastwood) reluctantly helps a wealthy landowner (Duvall) and his henchmen track down a Mexican revolutionary leader (John Saxon, The Appaloosa). Beautifully shot by Bruce Surtees (High Plains Drifter, Night Moves) with a rousing score by Lalo Schifrin (Dirty Harry, Bullitt) and a wonderful screenplay by Elmore Leonard (3:10 to Yuma, Hombre), Joe Kidd features the top-notch acting skills of Duvall and the rugged charm of Eastwood as a hired gun who takes action based on his own particular sense of justice. The stellar supporting cast includes Don Stroud (Coogan’s Bluff), Paul Koslo (Mr. Majestyk), Gregory Walcott (Prime Cut) and Dick Van Patten (High Anxiety). Joe Kidd is loaded with gunfights, conflicts, and a slam-bang finale which has a locomotive being driven through a saloon.