This article dives deep into why the release is the ultimate way to experience Altman’s masterpiece.
: 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)
Product Extras : * LIMITED O-CARD SLIPCASE NO LONGER PROMISED FOR NEW ORDERS. KINDLY REFRAIN FROM ASKING. * Brand New 4K Master. * Kino Lorber The Long Goodbye Blu-ray (4K Restoration) the long goodbye 1973 extras 1080p bluray 2021
The 2021 Kino Lorber Blu-ray of The Long Goodbye is the definitive release of a landmark film. For the curious newcomer, it offers a pristine 1080p transfer that finally does justice to Vilmos Zsigmond's stunning photography. For the devoted cinephile, the special features are a goldmine, providing context, analysis, and celebration of a film that dared to subvert the very idea of what a detective story could be. It's not just a great disc; it's a vital piece of film history, and its place on the shelves of any serious collector is assured. The long goodbye has finally received the farewell it deserves.
– A short EPK piece with Altman looking bored and Gould chain-smoking. Cheesy but charming. This article dives deep into why the release
The standout feature of this 2021 release is the , 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.
Before diving into the disc specifics, it is vital to understand the cultural weight of the film itself. Starring Elliott Gould in a career-defining performance, The Long Goodbye strips Philip Marlowe of his traditional cinematic armor. Gould’s Marlowe is a chain-smoking, mumbling anachronism—a man guided by an outdated 1940s moral code wandering through a self-absorbed, fitness-crazed, post-hippie Los Angeles. KINDLY REFRAIN FROM ASKING
A Noir Classic Finally Gets the Love It Deserves — But the Extras Steal the Show
Released in 1973, The Long Goodbye remains one of the most brilliant deconstructions of classic Hollywood cinema ever put to film. Directed by maverick filmmaker Robert Altman and written by Leigh Brackett (who co-wrote 1946's The Big Sleep ), the movie takes Raymond Chandler’s iconic 1950s private eye, Philip Marlowe, and drops him directly into the self-indulgent, sun-baked landscape of 1970s Southern California.
The 2021 Blu-ray extras are for both casual viewers and scholars. Highlights include Tim Lucas’s commentary (essential for Altman fans) and Imogen Sara Smith’s video essay, which places the film in its cultural moment. The inclusion of technical material on Zsigmond’s cinematography is rare and valuable. The only minor absence is a full-length cast reunion or deleted scenes (none known to survive).
The 2021 Kino Lorber release is not merely an upgrade in picture quality; it is a vital archival project. The extras allow viewers to understand the immense collaborative effort that went into a film that was largely misunderstood upon its initial 1973 release.