The True Story Of Hidalgo
Picture: C+ Sound: B- Extras: D Program: C+
The
History Channel DVD release of The True
Story Of Hidalgo (2004) was supposed to support and tie-in with the release
of the Disney film of the same name, but the picture was a financial disaster,
highly derivative of everything from David Lean’s Lawrence Of Arabia (1962) and Richard Brooks’ Bite The Bullet (1975) among others, but was not so good
either. It will still make sort of
history itself since it is part of a new trend in DVD as the format has passed
the point of being a novelty.
It is
being issued in the DVD+R format, which is a no-frills version of DVD. It plays more linear like a VHS tape or 12”
LaserDisc in that it has no menus and no set up. It just plays from beginning to end and that
is all. VCI is releasing titles in the
somewhat similar DVD-R format. What this
means is that titles that might tale longer to be prepared for DVD or simply
not merit an immediate regular DVD release will get released sooner.
As for
the main program, it turns out there is a debate as to whether the story (like
so much form the Wild West to begin with) is fact or fiction. There are good arguments for both, though the
ones based on lost documents are easier to argue against. In some cases, just because there are no
documents, no matter how well kept, does not mean his stories are lies. They are likely exaggerations to some extent. After the film, one could say “who cares?”
and move on, but the program does not give us much of a reason to care either
and has few conclusions. At least it is
here for the record, as this might be of more interest to those who can
actually sit through the film, or when something new comes along to tell us
more certainly about the Hidalgo.
The full
frame image is off of the analog professional NTSC source, but the DVD+R format
shows limits in the brightness and clarity of the image that would come through
on a regular DVD. This is very nominal
in this case, but it is here. The Dolby
Digital 2.0 Stereo has some good Pro Logic surrounds where applicable, but
there are no extras. Without menus and
such navigation, the only way to put extras on such a disc is after the program
like VHS or LaserDisc. I like the idea
of an immediate start, but also feel a bit compromised.
So there
you have it. It is what it is. Unless you are very, very interested in Hidalgo, skip it.
- Nicholas Sheffo
