Hannie Caulder is that rare female-led Western with the added rape-revenge angle which would come to more prominence in the 1970s with the likes of I Spit on Your Grave. However, while the “scene” is troubling, the performance from Raquel Welch was fantastic with honorable mention going to Robert Culp.
Hannie Caulder
— Olive Signature —
(1971)
Genre(s): Western, Drama
Olive Films | R – 85 min. – $39.95 | November 15, 2016
Date Published: 11/21/2016 | Author: The Movieman
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PLOT SYNOPSIS
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| Hannie (RAQUEL WELCH) is a widow sworn to avenge her own brutal rape and husband’s murder at the hands of Emmett (ERNEST BORGNINE), Frank (JACK ELAM), and Rufus (STROTHER MARTIN), three of the most despicable scoundrels to have ever roamed the prairie. Eager for revenge but lacking the gunfighter’s know-how, Hannie soon discovers new confidence and skill when bounty hunter Thomas Luther Price (ROBERT CULP) teaches her the way of the gun. In no time, Hannie is strapping on her six shooter and setting out to put a few notches on its handle. |
SPECIAL FEATURES – 2.5/5 |
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This comes with a 6-page essay/photo booklet. Audio Commentary – Filmmaker/Author Alex Cox offers his insights into this western revenge flick. Exploitation or Redemption? (12:13; HD) is an examination of rape-revenge movies with film scholar Ben Sher, and spends a fair amount of time breaking down that aspect in Hannie Caulder. Win or Lose: Tigon Pictures and the Making of Hannie Caulder (21:17; HD) is a look at the film, as well as studio, with Cultural Historian Sir Christopher Frayling. Sympathy for Lady Vengeance is an essay by film critic Kim Morgan. |
VIDEO – 4.5/5 |
| Hannie Caulder arrives on Blu-ray through Olive’s Signature line presented in its original 2.35 widescreen aspect ratio and given a 1080p high-definition transfer from a new digital restoration, though not culled from a 2K or 4K resolution as others in these editions. Still, the picture looks great with absolutely vibrant colors even within the more naturally-toned western landscapes while detail, particularly close-ups, is sharp and nicely defined. There were a few minor dust marks here and there but for the most part, it is a clean looking video. |
AUDIO – 4.25/5 |
| The included DTS-HD Master Audio Mono track is reasonably robust all things considered. The bulk of the centrally localized audio is dialogue-driven which comes through quite clearly but when the bullets fly, there is a fair amount of depth, obviously limited, however. When you take into consideration this is a 45 year old film that probably didn’t get a major clean-up, I found it to be impressive. |
OVERALL – 4.0/5 |
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Overall, Hannie Caulder is that rare female-led Western with the added rape-revenge angle which would come to more prominence in the 1970s with the likes of I Spit on Your Grave. However, while the “scene” is troubling, the performance from Raquel Welch was fantastic with honorable mention going to Robert Culp. This Signature Edition from Olive Films offers some decent features while the video/audio transfers are both nicely done. |