Location: Nijar - Big Gundown Ride Off

 

Literally steps away from the horse duel location used in Day of Anger, is the wide open vista that Corbett and Cuchillo ride across at the very end of The Big Gundown.  This scene is only present in the original cut, and not the shortened US version.

 

Today, the landscape remains much the same, although with the addition of the paved road into San Jose.

start of sequence, panning left to right 

 

 

pavement and power lines enter the landscape

Lee literally rides into his next movie!

 

 

 

 

Blu-ray Review: The Octagon

The Octagon, is a bit of a transitional movie for LVC.  It takes him out of the starring roles he portrayed for 15 years, an moves his career to return to that of a supporting player, which would define the rest of his career in the 1980's.  Make no mistake, The Octagon is a Chuck Norris film, LVC just appears a few times.

The blu-ray release was put out by Scorpion Releasing, and is a great disc overall.


VIDEO

The blu-ray was mastered from the film's original interpositive, and the results look great.  Excellent detail throughout, with strong colors and consistent slight grain giving the presentation a very nice film like appearance on video.  A worthy upgrade over it's DVD counterpart.

Screengrabs below.  Click to enlarge-

AUDIO

Audio has been remastered in 5.1, but the original mono track is retained as well.


EXTRAS

• Audio commentary with Director Eric Karson
• Making of 'The Octagon'
• 2003 documentary on the making of the film.  Director Karson has some nice things to say about LVC in this.
• Interview with star Tadashi Yamashita featurette
• Original trailer

Overall I was very satisfied with this release.  Recommended to all LVC fans (and Chuck Norris fans too!)


Full stats and ordering info-

• Region: Region A
• Language: English
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Studio: Scorpion Entertainment
• Run Time: 104 minutes

Amazon.com -The Octagon [Blu-ray] (widescreen)

Location: Pechina - The Big Gundown

 

A continuation from the previous post on the finale location of The Big Gundown, this time focusing on the duel between LVC's Jonathan Corbett and Gerard Herter as the masterfully monocled Baron von Schulenberg. 

Located in Pechina, south of Tabernas, this location remains for the most part, unchanged since 1966.

Below are the location comparisons from the final duel-

The duel begins

 



The completely unchanged landscape

Erosion has changed much of the landscape of the Barron's hill

 

Wide shot (not as high up as it looks)

Final shot of the duel

Everyone is shot!

Brockston is still the man in charge!

 

...or not!

 

 

Victorious, Jonathan Corbet rides off

 

 

 

 

Location: Pechina - The Big Knifedown

 

This entry will be part one of two focusing on the finale of The Big Gundown.  Located in Pechina, south of Tabernas, this location remains for the most part, unchanged since 1966.  This location is currently on private property, but I was fortunate enough to get permission to visit and take photos.

Below are the location comparisons from the final duel between Cuchillo (Tomas Millian) and Chet (Angel del Pozo).

"No... The Blade!

 

Corbet retrieves his blade for Cuchillo

Man vs. Knife! 

Final shot of the duel

 

 

Chet gets a knife to the head, and Brockston arrives to declare...

 

 

"You're really too damn smart to be a Senator"

Next entry... The Big Gundown!