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Blu ray review: 3 Days of the Condor


In 1975, actor Robert Redford was at the height of his powers. He was coming off a series of hits over the past few years that indcluded Jerimiah Johnson, The Candidate, The Way We Were, and The Sting, and about to movie into All The President's Men. That year he starred in 3 Days of the Condor, an exciting thriller that Kino Lorber has just released to blu ray in a new HD master from a 4K scan of the 35mm original camera negative.


It is significant to point out that this Sydney Pollack film was a lead in to Redford's starring opposite Dustin Hoffman in All The Presdient's Men. 3 Days of the Condor was released post-Watergate in the Fall of 1975 and it deals with CIA research expert Joe Turner (code name Condor) trying to avoid danger after discovering several co-workers have been murdered, while at the same time attempting to expose the culprits. Redford is supported by a strong cast including Faye Dunaway, Cliff Robertson, Max Von Sydow, and John Housman.


At the time of its release, the review in Variety called the film "a B movie with a big budget," and that is a reasonably accurate description. Along with the compelling story, there is a lot of visceral entertainment about Joe Turner/Condor being constantly on the run from assailants and never knowing just who his allies really are. Director Pollack maintains a discernible and consistent rhythm, while Don Guidice and Fredric Steinkamp's editing netted the film its only Oscar nomination.


Kino Lorber's blu ray has several excellent special features including an audio commentary by Sydney Pollack, as well as one by film historians Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson. Each of these commentary tracks are interesting and enlightening. Other extras include a 2003 Making Of documentary, and a 2004 doc on Pollack.


Highly recommended, the blu ray is available at this link: CONDOR


The film is also available in 4K




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James L. Neibaur
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