The Spoilers (1930)
Western, Action • 1h 26m
Director: Edwin Carewe
Not available on home video
This film has never had an official home-video release in any territory. Repertory screenings and archive prints are currently the only way to see it.
Best video release
Library of Congress has a 35mm copy see their blog
About the film
On a voyage to Nome, Roy Glenister, one of the several owners of a rich mine, The Midas, is captivated by Helen Chester, while he both fascinates and disquiets her by his primitive nature. He arrives to find his partners, Slapjack Simms and Joe Dextry, befuddled by a trio of no-gooders: Voorhees, the U. S. marshal, Judge Stillman, and McNamara, a politician. Their racket is to cloud title to the various mine claims, eject the miners, and make McNamara owner of the disputed properties.
- Featured Lists
Director: Leo McCarey
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · DVDBeaver (opens in a new tab)
> Germany Wicked Vision Blu-ray > US Flicker Alley Blu-ray see DVDBeaver caps
Director: Edgar Selwyn
4K restoration
Director: John Ford
Sources: ibb.co (opens in a new tab)
Warner Archive Blu-ray is 4K restoration from nitrate projection elements
Germany Filmjuwelen Blu-ray is AI upscaled https://ibb.co/album/mCJ7RQ
Director: Howard Hawks
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Director: Frank Capra
Director: William Dieterle
Video format: Only Unofficial Sources
Unofficial Streaming
Complete copies survive in Library of Congress
Director: William A. Seiter
Video format: Only Unofficial Sources
Unofficial sources ripped from TCM
Library of Congress has completed a digital restoration around 2018 but no release yet
Director: Frank Borzage
Video format: Only Unofficial Sources
Sources: moma.org (opens in a new tab)
Only has really bad public domain copies
New restoration done by Library of Congress with DCP has no release yet
Video format: HD Streaming
Library of Congress official HD Streaming https://www.loc.gov/item/00694367/
Sources: loc.gov (opens in a new tab)
Director: Billy Bitzer
Video format: HD Streaming
Library of Congress official HD Streaming https://www.loc.gov/item/00694394/
Sources: loc.gov (opens in a new tab)
Video format: HD Streaming
Library of Congress official HD Streaming https://www.loc.gov/item/00694192/
Sources: loc.gov (opens in a new tab)
Video format: HD Streaming
3min excerpt available on HD Streaming by Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/item/2023602024/
Sources: loc.gov (opens in a new tab)
No full copy available
Video format: HD Streaming
Library of Congress HD Streaming https://www.loc.gov/item/2023600536/
Sources: loc.gov (opens in a new tab)
Directors: William K.L. Dickson & William Heise
Video format: HD Streaming
Library of Congress HD Streaming https://www.loc.gov/item/00694133/
Sources: loc.gov (opens in a new tab)
Director: Edward Bland
Video format: HD Streaming
Official Library of Congress HD Streaming https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fE00fzXpI04
Sources: YouTube (opens in a new tab)
More Western on Blu-ray
Director: Samuel Fuller
Video format: 1080p Blu-ray
Criterion Blu-Ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Director: John Ford
TV series
4K restoration from Original Camera Negative for all episodes
Director: Anthony Mann
Video format: 1080p Blu-ray
Arrow Video Blu-ray
Arrow's deluxe presentation is a fantastic package with great supplements, art and printed materials. Sadly the master is a heavily processed Paramount affair. It has seemingly been severely grain managed and the mono audio is horribly thin when it shouldn't be. Stereo and 5.1 options are also given but they seem to be more of home video remixes. They do not have the fidelity issue of the compromised mono but also show marked differences as if they were remixed from stem sources. This seems to have suffered lesser degrees of the problems that plagued The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance's 4K master. This is the best version to date but one wishes Paramount could leave scans alone.
Director: Anthony Mann
Video format: 1080p Blu-ray
Arrow Video Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
The Arrow Video Blu-ray is the best iteration so far coming from a new restoration complete with great supplements and package. The original limited edition version included a second disc with the alternate 2.0:1 framed version. The primary disc is 1.85:1. Older releases pre-2008 were all in Academy ratio. 1.85 is the best compromise ratio for the visuals. As good as this release is, the master is showing its age and sadly has a number of frozen grain artifacts.
Director: Anthony Mann
Video format: 1080p Blu-ray
Kino Lorber Blu-ray reissue (4K restoration)
Massive picture upgrade as the 4K restoration addresses the massive color fringing that has plagued all previous dated masters. Oddly the titles are a different color now.
4K restoration is a gigantic and essential picture upgrade but only available on the Kino Blu-ray reissue. No UHD has been made or announced by anyone.
Director: Anthony Mann
Video format: 1080p Blu-ray
Eureka MOC Blu-ray
The film only exists in MGM letterbox masters and the HD version upgrades the DVD presentation. Sadly the film still needs a modern restoration and a better audio source. The master holds up very well today regardless and has a very natural appearance. The Eureka BD is far superior to the Kino in encode and extras making it easily the only version to consider.
Director: Anthony Mann
Video format: 1080p Blu-ray
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Criterion Blu-ray upgrade removes the pictureboxing of their old DVD transfer. New HD discussion extra added to the DVD supplements package and reprints the rare out of print source novel as a paperback.
Director: James Neilson
Video format: 1080p Blu-ray
Kino Lorber Blu-ray
2003 Universal DVD
The Universal HD master is appalling. This is a large format early Technirama film that has been hit with a massive amount of DNR resulting in a smeary appearance throughout with little detail. On one hand it is still a better scan than the old DVD with better color and element issues addressed. On the other it is barely above the DVD upscaled in other moments. The mono audio has been horribly processed to sound thin, canned and lacking in overall fidelity. The DVD clearly uses the same source element for picture and sound and here the sound is left alone. It sounds miles better. The Kino BD is technically the best US release but this master has been released in Europe where it likely has better encoding. The Kino BD adds a basic commentary. This film needs a proper transfer and audio presentation desperately. The HD master is so lackluster that the DVD despite its age is arguably preferable in visuals and certainly far superior in audio.
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