Director: John Boorman
Screenplay: Alexander Jacobs, David Newhouse, Rafe Newhouse
Starring: Sean Connery, Robert Conrad, George Grizzard, Katharine Ross, Leslie Nielsen
Country: USA
Running Time: 92Â minutes
Year: 1967
Rating: 18
Point Blank (1967) is a disorientating dreamlike film noir. The sinister 60s thriller begins with our hero Walker, played by a smouldering Lee Marvin, shot in the belly and remembering the events that led him to bleeding out on the ground in Alcatraz Prison. A heist gone wrong, his partner in crime split with the cash and his adulterous wife. Walker must track them down, take his revenge and get his money back.
Criterion has released the Los Angeles crime film in a new 4K digital restoration. The US label says the process was supervised and approved by director John Boorman, and features a uncompressed monaural soundtrack. It also comes with Dolby Vision HDR, and comprises of two discs, with the extras on the second Bluray.
The film is based on 1962 crime noir pulp novel The Hunter. On paper, the plot sounds quite straightforward, even hackneyed, in its premise. However, the film feels ahead of its time as it’s presented with such originality by British director Boorman. A chameleon-like auteur, who would go on to direct Deliverance (1972), Excalibur (1981) and Hope and Glory (1987), among other respected works.
Young up-and-comer Boorman, 34, at time, was given license to experiment for several reasons. It was made when the Hollywood moral code, the Hays Code, was dying out. Boorman could afford to be more brutal with the violence and didn’t have to slink away from showing sex on screen. It was also made as the studio-system was coming to an end, and MGM held much less power than it previously had in previous decades. Through a contract arrangement with Marvin, Boorman was effectively given final cut privileges.
Boorman developed his own style for a film noir in colour – which he felt was a difficult proposition at the time. It’s a genre defined by the stylistic shadowy black and white era. Boorman ended up giving the film a peculiar and striking colour palette, with muted colours, like deadened greens, burn orange and harvest gold, in stunning Panavision. These are brought into sharp and subtle clarity with Criterion’s 4K restoration.
Cinematographer Philip H. Lathrop shoots the movie off mirrors, screens, decayed metal, and broken glass, which has a striking visual effect. Behind this movie, it feels like a coming together of New and Old Hollywood. This young director had a team of old veterans behind the camera working alongside him, not to mention the star of the vehicle Marvin, who had starred in a string of Golden Age hits, including The Wild One (1953), The Big Heat (1953) and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962).
The film also plays with dead air and silence. The score for the movie is very impactful. There are sequences where Walker doesn’t speak, remaining silent, which are highly effective, and there’s the noise of his footsteps, pounding the ground as he marches through a corridor of LAX, Los Angeles Airport, on his way to exact his revenge.
The performances across the board are all just marvellous. It’s a perfectly cast movie. Marvin is a cold-blooded killer with an air of menace, yet he seems just in his actions. The perfect balance of morals for a protagonist you can get behind. Angie Dickinson as Chris is sultry and conflicted, bringing depth to the character of Walker’s sister-in-law. Then the whole raft of supporting actors, such as John Vernon, Carroll O’Connor, and John Vernon, were just excellent.
Film:
DIRECTOR-APPROVED 4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
- New 4K digital restoration, supervised and approved by director John Boorman, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
- One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
- Audio commentary featuring Boorman and filmmaker Steven Soderbergh
- Interview with Boorman conducted by author Geoff Dyer
- New interview with critic Mark Harris
- New reflections on Point Blank by filmmaker Jim Jarmusch
- New program on the midcentury Los Angeles architecture featured in the film, with historian Alison Martino
- The Rock (1967), a short documentary on Alcatraz and the making of the film
- Interview with Marvin from a 1970 episode of The Dick Cavett Show
- Trailer
- English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- PLUS: An essay by Dyer
Audio Commentary – Boorman and Soderbergh’s commentary feels like a meeting of great minds, both equals, masters of their craft, yet Soderbergh is in awe of the old vet’s work. Boorman speaks extensively about the film, from ripping up the original script, and having final cut due to Marvin’s influence. He also discusses shot composition, how he achieved key sequences, and the use of colour to capture the dreamlike feel of the movie.
Interview with Boorman conducted by author Geoff Dyer (41:25) – The interview takes place in Boorman’s home. He speaks about the futility of Walker getting his money, Pinter’s and Marvin’s influence on the film, and faith the actor had in the director. Boorman also speaks about what he was up to in 2023. He discusses the importance of final cut, and how he came to only work with final cut.
New interview with critic Mark Harris (34:54) – This phenomenal interview feels more like a video essay. Harris speaks about so many aspects of the movie and the context behind it. He speaks about Marvin and Boorman’s careers. The original novel, and the film history of the Parker/Walker character. The context of the dying production code and how this affected action in the movie.
New reflections on Point Blank by filmmaker Jim Jarmusch (17:06) – The great director speaks about his love of noir and LA crime films, and explains why Point Blank is his favourite. He analysis sequences and scenes he loves, and the stylistic elements he enjoys.
New program on the midcentury Los Angeles architecture featured in the film, with historian Alison Martino (8:05) – Fantastic look at 11 locations in the movie. It delves into the history and what became of each place. A really well told feature.
The Rock (1967), a short documentary on Alcatraz and the making of the film (16:20) – A great double feature made during the filming of Point Blank with some fantastic behind the scenes footage. It was the first film shot in Alcatraz after the site closed as a prison. The second documentary is about a former prisoner. It is beautifully shot and dramatically scored. There are great shots of the young Boorman wandering around on set with a cigar in hand. Plus, there’s footage of Marvin chatting to co-star Keenan Wynn and Angie Dickinson speaking about how she was deeply affected by the sight of the prison cells.
Interview with Marvin from a 1970 episode of The Dick Cavett Show (22:27) – Cavette is a masterclass interviewer. It’s a cheeky delightful interview that reveals Marvin’s playful side. “I was shot in the ass,” remarks Marvin, in one funny moment when speaking about his war time experiences. This is followed by more in depth questions which lead to some insightful observations. There’s also a great moment of Truman Capote trying to nab Marvin for his next film.
Disc/package:
Criterion releases Point Blank in 4K on 4th May, 2026.