The Magnificent Seven is an MGM release and is titled as a special edition with Western Legends branded at the top. It s also a single-sided, dual layer disk containing several extra features and a newly expanded English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround soundtrack as well as both French and Spanish 2.0 mono tracks. This film has been released before in both VHS and LD formats that pale in comparison to the added resolution that the DVD format provides. Also notable is how well the digital transfer process cleaned up most of the blemishes that were apparent in the VHS version. Color saturation is well done as is the black level giving the film added depth and a more vivid richness that was sorely missing from the previous releases.
Flesh tones are consistent and within proper parameters.
The overall color palette is effectively rendered with most of the emphasis on reds and browns. Night scenes leave a little something to be desired as the detail gets lost in the background, but this is hardly meant as a criticism, just the facts of life with a film this old. Compression artifacts are minimal and so is edge enhancement. If you look close enough it s there, but it s not of the obtrusive variety. In fact, it s impossible in a film with this many outdoor scenes to not see it upon close inspection, but MGM should be complimented in using the process minimally here.