Hang 'Em High

Hang 'Em High was Clint Eastwood's first American Western, and if perhaps only a middling film in its own right, it certainly has historical significance for students of the genre. Although not without merit, MGM's DVD does not really exploit Hang 'Em High's potential. The picture quality is excellent, particularly for a film made in the '60s, with the anamorphic widescreen transfer illustrating exactly how good Westerns can look for home viewing. Unfortunately the sound quality is very poor for DVD, and even the best home audio equipment available will be unlikely to make it any better. The extra features are minimal, extending only to the original theatrical trailer. This DVD does at least come with an eight-page booklet detailing the film's production, but it is a mystery as to why more material could not have been put on the disc itself. Given Clint Eastwood's enormous following, any kind of background on Hang 'Em High would have been valuable. Though this disc will probably be satisfactory to fans of Eastwood and of Westerns generally, it really could and should have been somewhat better.