Cheap Cabo Blanco/U.S. Marshal (DVD) (Charles Bronson) Price

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Customer Reviews of Cabo Blanco/U.S. Marshal

Good Movie; Very Good transfer (for a budget dvd)
"Cabo Blanco" is must-have DVD for true Bronson fans--and not the least reason is because you actually get to see the man act. But the most surprising thing about this Laserlight DVD is that the transfer, picture and sound, is actually quite good. And, unlike most budget dvds of contemporary films, this one is presented in widescreen. I know another reviewer mentioned that the film was originally shot in 'scope ("scope" is a term for generic Cinemascope techniques) but the aspect ratio here seems to be the correct one--no panning or scanning, and no actors cut in half on either side of the screen.
Now, it's certainly not a "restored" version of this obscure film, but they did find a very nice print which only shows wear at the reel-change spots.

And, as a bonus, you get to see a very young Bronson in an episode of the 1950s drama series "U.S. Marshall."

This is one of the few budget dvds of a public domain Bronson film that's actually worth buying.

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Casablanca...sorta
As far as ripoffs of Casablanca go, and I only know two offhand(this film and Barb Wire), Caboblanco is probably the best of the bunch. That's not saying much at all, but I think this film should take whatever praise it can get. So who do we have in place of Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains, and Conrad Veidt? Why, Charles Bronson, Dominique Sanda, Fernando Rey, and Jason Robards. Capable actors one and all(yes, even Bronson). But even if Casablanca never existed, Caboblanco would still be a pedestrian movie. Actually, pedestrian would be another compliment. This film is somnabulent. The story just unfolds before you without any enthusiasm(sp?), passion, excitement, whatever. Yet I resist giving it one star because I didn't have any strong hatred for it or found it offensively bad. The photography was nice and Jerry Goldsmith's score was okay. Otherwise, it's like cinematic novocaine, as oppose to truly bad films which make pass out from the pain. As for the DVD, Caboblanco was supposed shot in 'scope, which would mean an aspect ratio of 2.35 to 1. But the disc is framed more towards 1.85 to 1, which means a partial letterbox. Though the case says stereo, I think the movie is just 2 channel mono. The introduction by Tony Curtis is insignificant, which is too bad since he and Bronson made a movie together and it would have been nice to hear some personal recollections about Bronson beyond the standard issue biographical information.