Pretty Packaging: Germany Gives COMPANEROS A Mighty Salute
I saw Sergio Corbucci's 1970 western Compañeros during the video-boom of the early eighties, when suddenly an immense wealth of titles became available for home viewing, and renting a stack of videotapes was a part of each weekend's routine.
Not being into westerns, I initially skipped out, but the group of friends and family which had seen Compañeros wanted to see it again the next day, because it was such a fun film and "the music was so good". Huh? So I decided to join the second viewing, and ended up loving the film. Franco Nero and Tomas Milian made an excellent couple of anti-heroes, and indeed the soundtrack rocked.
Fast forward to more than thirty years later, with me vividly remembering the film (and its soundtrack) but never having seen it again. Suddenly I spot a special edition being announced in Germany by local distributor Digi-Dreams Studios, and my attention is caught.
Fast forward another month or so, and the object arrives on my doorstep. And indeed it looks mighty pretty. The film is in there on Blu-ray and DVD, in two versions: the German 1970 release which had 15 minutes of seriousness removed and a comedy soundtrack added (to make it look more like a Bud Spencer and Terence Hill kind of western), and the uncensored un-comedied 1977 release (which basically is the 1970 original Italian and American version). And it has Ennio Morricone's soundtrack on CD!
Technically this release isn't English-friendly, as you get German and Italian dubs, and German subs only. But lo-and-behold: in the extras they've put the 1970 US version, with an English dub, as well!
Also, there is a T-shirt and it's prettily packaged in a wooden box. Therefore, here is a gallery of shots. Click on the edge of the pictures to scroll through them, or at the centre of each to see a bigger version.
Not being into westerns, I initially skipped out, but the group of friends and family which had seen Compañeros wanted to see it again the next day, because it was such a fun film and "the music was so good". Huh? So I decided to join the second viewing, and ended up loving the film. Franco Nero and Tomas Milian made an excellent couple of anti-heroes, and indeed the soundtrack rocked.
Fast forward to more than thirty years later, with me vividly remembering the film (and its soundtrack) but never having seen it again. Suddenly I spot a special edition being announced in Germany by local distributor Digi-Dreams Studios, and my attention is caught.
Fast forward another month or so, and the object arrives on my doorstep. And indeed it looks mighty pretty. The film is in there on Blu-ray and DVD, in two versions: the German 1970 release which had 15 minutes of seriousness removed and a comedy soundtrack added (to make it look more like a Bud Spencer and Terence Hill kind of western), and the uncensored un-comedied 1977 release (which basically is the 1970 original Italian and American version). And it has Ennio Morricone's soundtrack on CD!
Technically this release isn't English-friendly, as you get German and Italian dubs, and German subs only. But lo-and-behold: in the extras they've put the 1970 US version, with an English dub, as well!
Also, there is a T-shirt and it's prettily packaged in a wooden box. Therefore, here is a gallery of shots. Click on the edge of the pictures to scroll through them, or at the centre of each to see a bigger version.
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