Masters of Cinema stands off with THE GREAT SILENCE (review)

Jean-Louis Trintignant and Klaus Kinski star in the bleakest of Italian westerns ever created.  When an amnesty is granted against Utah outlaws, bounty hunters scramble to collect rewards on remaining criminals with an emphasis on DEAD than ALIVE.  A distraught mother and a desperate widow hire mute gunman Silence to avenge the innocent.

REVIEW LINK: Eureka (UK) Region B Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

THE GREAT SILENCE Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• English and Italian LPCM 2.0 Mono
• Optional English Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by author Howard Hughes and filmmaker Richard Knew
• Audio Commentary by filmmaker Mike Siegel
• Audio Commentary by director and Spaghetti Western aficionado Alex Cox, recorded live at the Hollywood Theatre, Portland
• "Austin Fisher on THE GREAT SILENCE" interview with the author of "Radical Frontiers in the Spaghetti Western: Politics, Violence and Popular Italian Cinema"
• "Cox on Corbucci" interview with filmmaker Alex Cox
• "Western, Italian Style" 1968 documentary on Italian westerns including prime behind the scenes footage from THE GREAT SILENCE
• Alternate "Happy" Ending with optional Audio Commentary by filmmaker Alex Cox
• Alternate "Ambiguous" Ending
• Italian Theatrical Trailer
• English-language Theatrical Trailer
• Still Galleries:
• "Filming Silenzio"
• "Promoting Silenzio"
• "Silenzio in Pictures"
• The first pressing of 3,000 copies comes with a collector's booklet featuring new writing by Western expert Howard Hughes, an O-card slipcase, a reversible poster featuring the film’s original artwork, and a set of 4 facsimile lobby cards.