The Long Goodbye | 1973 Extras 1080p Bluray 2021
The keyword for this release isn’t just “video quality”—it’s extras. Both the Kino Lorber and Arrow Video editions (region-dependent) pack hours of material. Here is a detailed breakdown:
A standalone featurette focusing solely on the cinematography. The 1080p transfer allows you to see the subtle imperfections Zsigmond loved: the lens flares, the under-exposed shadows, the handheld jitter during the Mexican border climax. This extra explains why the film looks the way it does.
For a 2021 Blu-ray release of "The Long Goodbye" in 1080p, you might expect:
This release is definitive for The Long Goodbye on 1080p Blu-ray. The extras provide a complete understanding of the film’s production, style, and legacy. Highly recommended for film noir, 1970s cinema, and Robert Altman enthusiasts.
Kino Lorber Studio Classics Special Edition The Long Goodbye (1973) , released in December 2021, features a brand-new 4K restoration
that significantly improves upon previous home video transfers. This 1080p Blu-ray includes a comprehensive set of legacy and newly produced bonus materials that explore the film’s unique "flashed" visual style and its deconstruction of the hard-boiled detective genre. Special Features and Extras
The 2021 release is packed with featurettes and commentaries that provide deep context for Robert Altman's revisionist noir: The Movie Isle The Long Goodbye (Special Edition) (Blu-ray) - Kino Lorber
Product Extras : * LIMITED O-CARD SLIPCASE NO LONGER PROMISED FOR NEW ORDERS. KINDLY REFRAIN FROM ASKING. * Brand New 4K Master. * kinolorber.com The Long Goodbye Blu-ray (4K Restoration) the long goodbye 1973 extras 1080p bluray 2021
Kino Lorber Studio Classics Blu-ray release of The Long Goodbye (1973), which features a new 4K restoration , includes several detailed special features. One of the standout features on this disc is: "Vilmos Zsigmond Flashes The Long Goodbye"
: A roughly 14-minute featurette where the legendary cinematographer discusses his technical approach to the film. He provides a deep dive into the "post-flashing" technique he used to achieve the movie's unique, desaturated, and hazy 1970s visual style by exposing the film negative to a small amount of light before development. The Digital Bits Other Major Extras on the 2021 Release: THE LONG GOODBYE (1973) – Blu-Ray Review - ZekeFilm
In 2021, Kino Lorber Studio Classics released a definitive 1080p Blu-ray of Robert Altman’s 1973 neo-noir masterpiece, The Long Goodbye. This Special Edition serves as a significant upgrade over previous home video versions, specifically the 2014 Blu-ray, by introducing a brand new 4K master and a robust collection of new and archival extras. A New 4K Restoration for the 1080p Format
The standout feature of this 2021 release is the 4K restoration, which addresses the unique technical challenges of the film's original production. Director Robert Altman and cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond famously used a technique called "flashing"—exposing the negative to controlled light before development—to achieve a hazy, muted "old postcard" aesthetic.
Enhanced Visuals: Reviewers from The Movie Isle noted that modern technology finally captures the film’s dream-like visuals without losing fidelity, offering a cleaner grain structure and improved sharpness compared to older, "snowy" transfers.
Audio Quality: The disc features an English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono track, providing clear dialogue and a strong presentation of the protean variations of the theme song by John Williams and Johnny Mercer. Special Features and Extras
The 2021 edition is "stacked" with supplemental material, mixing newly produced content with essential archival pieces. Key Supplements Included The keyword for this release isn’t just “video
The release is packed with both new and legacy content, including a detailed audio commentary by film historian Tim Lucas, featurettes with experts David Thompson and Maxim Jakubowski, and a discussion on Raymond Chandler. Archival extras include the "Rip Van Marlowe" documentary with Altman and Elliott Gould, an interview with cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond on the "flashing" technique, an American Cinematographer article, and various promotional materials like radio and TV spots. Packaging and Verdict The Long Goodbye Blu-ray (4K Restoration)
In this film Marlowe is a laid-back, soft, frequently confused and out of sync with reality man who somehow always gets it right - Blu-ray.com Long Goodbye, The (Blu-ray Review) - The Digital Bits
Here’s a review focused on the extras of the The Long Goodbye (1973) 1080p Blu-ray (2021 release):
Title: A Noir Classic Finally Gets the Love It Deserves — But the Extras Steal the Show
Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5/5)
If you’re upgrading from the old DVD or a bare-bones streaming copy, the 2021 Blu-ray of Altman’s The Long Goodbye is a revelation. The 1080p transfer (sourced from a new restoration) captures the hazy, sun-bleached Los Angeles grit perfectly — grain is intact, colors are natural without being oversaturated, and that dreamlike, smoky cinematography finally has depth.
But what makes this edition essential is the extras package. Here’s the breakdown: Kino Lorber Studio Classics Special Edition The Long
The only downside: No separate booklet or digital copy, and the menu design is utilitarian. Also, the theatrical trailer is in rough shape (but that’s authentic).
Verdict: If you own the 2014 Blu-ray, the new commentary and Zsigmond featurette might still tempt you. If you’ve never owned it, this is the definitive edition. The extras don’t just pad the runtime — they deepen your respect for Altman’s lo-fi masterpiece. Highly recommended for noir completists and Gould fans.
The Kino Lorber Studio Classics 2021 Special Edition of The Long Goodbye (1973)
is widely considered the definitive home video release of Robert Altman’s neo-noir masterpiece. Derived from a new 4K master, this 1080p Blu-ray significantly improves upon previous editions, though it remains a "faithful" rather than "clean" presentation of the film's challenging original cinematography. Video Performance The Long Goodbye Blu-ray (4K Restoration)
In this film Marlowe is a laid-back, soft, frequently confused and out of sync with reality man who somehow always gets it right - Blu-ray.com
In the pantheon of 1970s American cinema, few films are as elusive, cool, and quietly revolutionary as Robert Altman’s The Long Goodbye. Based on Raymond Chandler’s classic novel, the film famously transplants detective Philip Marlowe (played with shaggy-dog perfection by Elliott Gould) from the 1940s into the hedonistic, sun-drenched chaos of 1973 Los Angeles. For decades, home video releases ranged from mediocre to outright disastrous. That all changed in 2021 when Kino Lorber (in the US) and Arrow Video (in the UK) released definitive 1080p Blu-ray editions. But for collectors and cinephiles, the headline isn’t just the picture quality—it’s the extras.
This article dives deep into why the The Long Goodbye 1973 extras 1080p Blu-ray 2021 release is the ultimate way to experience Altman’s masterpiece.
The extras are presented in 1080p High Definition (with standard definition upscaled material where applicable).
| Release | Video Quality | Extras | Notable Flaw | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | MGM DVD (2002) | Non-anamorphic, 480i | Theatrical trailer only | Pan-scanned, washed out | | Olive Films Blu-ray (2014) | 1080p, but old master | Zero extras | Flat audio, digital noise | | Kino/Arrow 2021 Blu-ray | 1080p (from 4K scan) | Over 3 hours of extras | Region locked (check your player) |
