©1975 Universal Pictures. All rights reserved.

Catalog Number	14-003
Format	Standard Play CAV
MPAA Rating
Running Time	107 minutes
Release History

Standard Play Version

Mono Pressing Location DiscoVision Carson Label Color Blue Retail Price $15.95 Issued December 11, 1978

Side Frames Running Time 1 38,309 26min 36sec 2 39,529 27min 27sec 3 38,596 26min 48sec 4 38,855 26min 59sec 155,319 107min 50sec

Ratings Video Transfer Audio Transfer Replication

Packaging Large Open-Top Open-Top Side-Open Sticker Printed

Pressing Notes

Some collectors report that Rooster Cogburn is one of the most difficult discs to locate good copies of. There are reports of horrific tracking problems, even on the old Top-loading Tube LaserDisc players. Some attribute this to the very long sides (26 & 27 minutes), but other discs made at the same time sport sides of up to 29 1/2 minutes without tracking errors. Further reports show this to be a bit of an exaggeration, since there are multiple copies, located recently which are defect free and track without error.

The bumpers used by DiscoVision for this transfer are unique. They appear to be anamorphic bumpers, but are unsqueezed wrong so they appear as short and fat. This gives the appearance that they bow outward from the center. It is most noticeable on the opening graphics as the blue field comes out of the forming "V". Colors on the transfer are vibrant in the reds and blues. The dark scenes are too dark and the contrast changes even within the same camera shot. The entire video transfer of the Panavision film is unsqueezed, which would look terrific on a 16x9 TV set. The audio is clear throughout with all dialog very easily to understand. Even the clinking chains of the wagon carrying the Nitro-glycerin is unmistakable.

The scene on side 4 our three heroes shoot the rapids on a raft is light-years more believable that a similar scene made nearly 20 years later in Universal Pictures The River Wild. This alone is reason enough to watch this film.

Release History

MCA/Universal Home Video issued a 2 sided CLV Widescreen (2.35:1) edition in June 1994 (Catalog #: 41781). This new transfer is so stunning, it is almost like looking at a completely different movie. The film was also among Universal Studios initial releases in March 1998 on the DVD format. The DVD features a wonderful widescreen transfer in the full theatrical aspect ratio.