Convoy (1978) – Limited Edition 4K UHD + Blu-ray – Imprint Collection #368 Review

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

This 1978 actioner based on the song that gave it its name was ostensibly directed by noted director Sam Peckinpah (Pat Garret & Billy the Kid; The Wild Bunch). Truth be told, Peckinpah was so ill at the time of the film’s production, it has long been rumored that most of the directing duties fell upon other members of the staff. That may explain why this trite film doesn’t live up to the expectations of a movie bearing the filmmaker’s name.

Cashing in on the ’70’s CB (Citizen’s Band) radio craze and the success of Smokey and the Bandit, Convoy spins a yarn about a group of cross-country truckers, led by one in particular who calls himself “Rubber Duck” (Kris Kristofferson), who communicate by CB radio. Run-ins with the law lead them to form a “brotherhood” of sorts, but when they run afoul of one particularly corrupt lawman in Arizona, Sheriff Lyle ‘Cottonmouth’ Wallace (Ernest Borgnine), the group makes a run for it and form a nonstop convoy that attracts more truckers along the way, and grows into a national press story and movement, Rubber Duck becoming the face of it.

While the film does have a lighthearted appeal and certainly a visual style reminiscent of some of the classic westerns Peckinpah with which Peckinpah is associated – just take a look at some of those scenes of the truckers cutting through the desert – this narrative is haphazardly put together, hard to follow, and, frankly, silly. The idea of bucking the law and making a stand for freedom and independence in the face of oppressive law enforcement may strike a chord, but that simple idea is lost in the shuffle, particularly as the film goes on and the story reaches more ridiculous heights.

The Video

Convoy comes to 4K Ultra HD in a new 4K restoration from the original 35mm negative by StudioCanal, presented in Dolby Vision framed in 2.35:1.  Going all the way back to StudioCanal’s 2013 restoration on Blu-ray, they have always done well with this film and once again they have done the same for this one, which is being released in Australia by Via Vision’s Imprint label. The color grading offers a natural palette with just the right amount of redness in the flesh tones, and highlights are not super-bright and gimmicky, but bring a good amount pop to sunlight in the brighter scenes and things like sheen off the metallic parts of the trucks and headlights at night. The film grain looks thin and natural with only a few places where it heightens and get a little grittier, such as during the nighttime scene where the truckers are all showering and partying at a truck stop, but this is to be expected in the low light.

The included Blu-ray of the theatrical cut is also from the new 4K restoration. It looks brilliant as well, but the grain is noticeably harsher and not quite as finely layered, but it is something that would likely not be noticed unless you were able to put the two discs side-by-side. The included Blu-ray of the extended cut is from a lower quality Japanese print and is not from the new 4K restoration, which is obvious from the very opening credits.

The Audio

The original mono track is supplied in LPCM 2.0 along with a French dub in LPCM 2.0. Like the 2013 StudioCanal Blu-ray release, which included the mono track in DTS-HD 2.0, this is punchy and dynamic with little in the way of clipping or hiss. There is good dynamic range for a mono mix and the dialogue is clear as is the score and music.

The Supplements

The bonus features included by Imprint for Convoy include some of the bonus features from the 2013 StudioCanal release, such as Passion & Poetry, Trucker Notes from Norway, and Three Lost Scenes. They have all been upscaled for this release, however. Additionally, a new audio commentary and other new bonus features have been included. Imprint also houses the three-disc set in their “strictly limited” hardbox case with brand new artwork.

Disc One: 4K UHD

• Audio Commentary by filmmaker / Peckinpah scholar Mike Siegel (2024) (NEW)
• Audio Commentary by film historians Paul Seydor, Garner Simmons, and Nick Redman
• Interview with actor / comedian Franklyn Ajaye (2024) (1080p; 00:25:26) (NEW)
• The Lost Convoy – Video essay by filmmaker / Peckinpah scholar MIke Siegel (2024) (1080p; 00:21:19) (NEW)
• The Duck Trucks – featurette on Dan Bruno’s original Convoy truck and trailer, and Gerd Albrecht’s rebuilt Mack truck (2024) (1080p; 00:08:34) (NEW)
• Convoy Color Stills: 125 Rare Color Photos – a selection of rare colour photos (2024) (1080p; 00:11:02) (NEW)
• Filming Convoy – Part 1: White Sands & the Truck Stop – a selection of 100 rare behind-the-scenes photos (2024) (1080p; 00:10:31) (NEW)
• Filming Convoy – Part 2: The Trucks Are Rolling – a selection of 100 rare behind-the-scenes photos (2024) (1080p; 00:11:04) (NEW)
• Filming Convoy – Part 3: Showdown in Alvarez – a selection of 100 rare behind-the-scenes photos (2024) (1080p; 00:11:18) (NEW)
• Passion & The Poetry: Sam’s Trucker Movie (NEW 2024 revision & upscale) – a 70-minute documentary film by Mike Siegel with Kris Kristofferson, Ali MacGraw, Ernest Borgnine, producer Michael Deeley, Katy Haber, Garner Simmons, and Sam Peckinpah (1080p; 01:10:43)
• NEW 2K scan of the Original 35mm US Trailer (1080p; 00:08:16)
• US TV Spot (1080p; 00:01:10)
• US Radio Spots with animated colour & black-and-white photos (1080p; 00:03:31)
• Three Lost Scenes – Deleted Scenes illustrated with rare photos (2024) (1080p; 00:05:52) (NEW) 
• Injokes, Friends & Cameos – Guest appearances and in jokes Featurette (2024) (1080p; 00:06:04) (NEW)
• Trucker Notes From Norway – Norwegian Trucker expert Anders Loefaldli on the famous Rubber Duck Mack RS 700 truck (2024) (NEW) (1080p; 00:03:18)
• Promoting Convoy – Animated Gallery of international posters and lobby cards (2024) (1080p; 00:09:49) (NEW)

Disc Two: Blu-ray

• Audio Commentary by filmmaker / Peckinpah scholar Mike Siegel (2024) (NEW)
• Passion & The Poetry: Sam’s Trucker Movie (NEW 2024 revision & upscale) – a 70 minute documentary film by Mike Siegel with Kris Kristofferson, Ali MacGraw, Ernest Borgnine, producer Michael Deeley, Katy Haber, Garner Simmons, and Sam Peckinpah
• Three Lost Scenes – Deleted Scenes illustrated with rare photos (2024) (NEW) 
• Injokes, Friends & Cameos – Guest appearances and in jokes Featurette (2024) (NEW)
• Trucker Notes From Norway – Norwegian Trucker expert Anders Loefaldli on the famous Rubber Duck Mack RS 700 truck (2024) (NEW)
• Passion & Poetry with Peckinpah in Portugal Part 2 – featurette from the Portugese Peckinpah Retrospective 2022
• NEW Promoting Convoy – Animated Gallery of international posters and lobby cards (2024)
• Convoy  In Color – a selection of rare colour photos (2024) (NEW)
• Filming Convoy – Part 1: White Sands & the Truck Stop – a selection of 100 rare behind-the-scenes photos (2024) (NEW) 
• Filming Convoy – Part 2: The Trucks Are Rolling – a selection of 100 rare behind-the-scenes photos (2024) (NEW) 
• Filming Convoy – Part 3: Showdown in Alvarez – a selection of 100 rare behind-the-scenes photos (2024) (NEW) 
• NEW 2K scan of the 35mm US Trailer
• US TV Spot
• US Radio Spots with animated colour & black-and-white photos

Disc Three: Blu-ray Bonus Features

• NEW 1080p High-definition presentation on Blu-ray of the 115-minute Extended Cut
• The Lost Convoy – Video essay by Mike Siegel on the lost Peckinpah version of the film (includes Deleted Scenes) (2024) (NEW)

The Final Assessment

If you fashion a feature-length film out of a song, there’s only so much you can expect. Convoy still comes across a poor imitation of Smokey and the Bandit that has a few high octane, slow-motion action sequences and stunning visuals, but in the end its a brainless affair. This new release from Imprint does offer the film up in a stunning new restoration from StudioCanal in a gorgeous collectible package jam-packed with extras, so for fans of Peckinpah and collector’s, this is certainly still worth picking up.

Convoy (Limited Edition) is out on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray December 4, 2024 from Imprint Films

• Rating Certificate: AU: M
• Studios & Distributors: EMI Films | Robert M. Sherman Productions | United Artists | StudioCanal UK | Imprint Films
• Director: Sam Peckinpah
• Written By: Bill Norton (Screen Story & Screenplay) | Chip Davis (song) | Bill Fries (song)
• Run Time: 111 Mins.
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Video Format: HEVC 2160p (4K UHD)
• HDR Format: Dolby Vision (HDR10 Compatible)
• HDR10 Metadata:
  • MaxLL: 524 nits
  • MaxFALL: 88 nits
  • Max. Luminance: 1000 nits
  • Min. Luminance: 0.0001 nits
• Primary Audio: English LPCM 2.0 Mono
• Secondary Audio: French LPCM 2.0 Mono
• Subtitles: English SDH | French
• Street Date: 4 December 2024