Two Mules for Sister Sara 4K Ultra HD Review

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Two Mules for Sister Sara was the second collaboration between Don Siegel and Clint Eastwood, following Coogan’s Bluff (1968). The two would go on to further collaborate on the classics The Beguiled and Dirty Harry (both 1971) and Escape from Alcatraz (1979). Set in Mexico during the French intervention (1861–1867), former Northern civil war soldier Hogan (Clint Eastwood) rescues a naked woman (Shirley MacLaine) from a group of bandits. She later reveals herself to be a nun after she dons her habit. She continues to ride with him, begging his protection from French soldiers who are tracking her as an aid to Juarista rebels. Hogan’s entanglement in the rebel’s fight against the French and their puppet Mexican leader, Emperor Maximilian only deepens.

The film is not as gritty as the spaghetti westerns of Sergio Leone Eastwood starred in or even his own High Plains Drifter, but it is not without its own charms courtesy of Siegel’s direction and the gorgeous landscapes of Mexico’s Jantetelco, Morelos, that lends a different look to the typical western settings of Monument Valley or the various areas around Castilla y León and Andalucía Spain.  Even as this one does offer more hijinks and slapstick at times that straight-up gunslinging, it is still a fun watch for genre fans.

Purchase Two Mules for Sister Sara 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray on Amazon.com

The Video

Two Mules for Sister Sara is a brand new Dolby Vision master of the International Cut from a 4K scan of the 35mm original camera negative. It is presented on this 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray in a 2.35:1 HEVC 2160p (4K UHD) Dolby Vision encodement. The accompanying Blu-ray Disc is from the 2020 4K restoration of the Domestic Cut.

The 4K disc is a revelation. There is a crisp and natural layer of grain that is consistent, although there are some scenes where it gets a little coarse, a little soft, and shows just a hint of source damage, but these spots are very few and far less than what is seen on the also excellent and recently released KL Studio Classics 4K of Play Misty for Me. The colors are natural with a good rosy hue in flesh tones and there is extraordinary detail in the image. You can pick up the individual freckles on Shirley MacLaine’s arms, for instance.

The Audio

The audio for Two Mules for Sister Sara is a solid English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 as well as the original mono in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. The 5.1 mix brings more fullness and clarity to the dialogue and raises the level of some of the ambient effects, but it is not particularly discrete. You will not lose much in listening to the mono mix which is also pretty clean and dynamic for a mono mix.

The Supplements

There is one new audio commentary, an older audio commentary, and a vintage interview with Clint Eastwood.

Bonus Features:

• Reversible Sleeve
• At Home with Clint: Vintage Candid Interview with Clint Eastwood (1080p; 00:07:53)
• Poster and Image Gallery (1080p; 00:04:17)
• Audio Commentary by Author and Film Historian Justin Humphreys (NEW)
• Audio Commentary by Filmmaker Alex Cox, Author of 10,000 Ways to Die: A Director’s Take on the Italian Western

Blu-ray Only:

• Two Mules for Sister Sara – Radio Spots (1080p; 00:01:48)
• Two Mules for Sister Sara – TV Spots (1080p; 00:01:21)
• Two Mules for Sister Sara – Trailer (1080p; 00:02:36)
• More Clint Eastwood Trailers

The Final Assessment

A squinty-eyed, stubble-faced Clint Eastwood in a western is about as classic as cinema can get and this may not be his greatest western, but it is surely enjoyable, especially in this beautiful new restoration from Kino Lorber Studio Classics. Recommended.

Two Mules for Sister Sara is out on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray November 19, 2024 from Kino Lorber Studio Classics

Purchase Two Mules for Sister Sara 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray on Amazon.com

• Rating Certificate: GP
• Studios & Distributors: Universal Pictures | The Malpaso Company | Martin Rackin Productions | Sanen Productions | Kino Lorber
• Director: Don Siegel
• Written By: Budd Boetticher | Albert Maltz
• Run Time: 105 Mins.
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Video Format: HEVC 2160p (4K UHD)
• HDR Format: Dolby Vision (HDR10 Compatible)
• Primary Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1
• Secondary Audio: English DTS-HD MA 2.0 Mono
• Subtitles: English SDH