The Return of “One-Eyed Jacks”: Sold-Out Soundtrack Receives New Encore Edition

When we first reported on Kritzerland’s reissue of the soundtrack to 1961’s One-Eyed Jacks on Wednesday, August 25, 2010, the limited edition release had already sold out.  In fact, all 1,200 copies had sold out in a matter of hours.  But the label is bringing this in-demand title back as a new Encore Edition.  Strictly limited to 1,000 units, the Encore Edition re-presents the contents of the deluxe restoration of Hugo Friedhofer’s score. The new edition is scheduled to ship by the first week of May, but pre-orders placed directly through Kritzerland usually ship one to five weeks earlier.  For those who missed out the first time, here’s the scoop on this unusual western cult classic.

The first and only film directed by Marlon Brando, the 1961 western One-Eyed Jacks isn’t as well-remembered as many of the screen legend’s other accomplishments. But with a cast including Brando as bank robber Rio (inspired by Billy the Kid), Karl Malden as his former partner-turned-sheriff Doc Longworth and Ben Johnson as new cohort Bob Emory, and a revolving door of screenwriters including Sam Peckinpah and Calder Willingham, One-Eyed Jacks had much to distinguish it. It was the final film shot in Paramount’s magnificent VistaVision process, and Charles Lang was the cinematographer, and was duly rewarded with an Academy Award nomination for his work. Also among those notable qualities was its score by Hugo Friedhofer, nine-time Academy Award nominee and winner of the 1947 trophy for his score to the William Wyler-directed The Best Years of Our Lives.  Friedhofer brought to his score a mastery of many genres honed by his years as an orchestrator for the likes of Max Steiner and Erich Wolfgang Korngold, and his own diverse array of scores including The Young Lions starring Brando, Hondo and The Bishop’s Wife. Kritzerland’s 2-CD release preserves both the complete film recordings and the original Liberty Records LP presentation of Friedhofer’s score.