Tommy Lee Jones as a swashbuckler? Yes, tis be true mateys, Jones and Michael O’Keefe star in the cult action-adventure Nate and Hayes. New to Blu-ray from Kino Lorber.
The Film
You can see how they pitched Paramount on Nate and Hayes.
“It’s Butch and Sundance meet Indiana Jones!”
“Sold!!!”
The pirate swashbuckler can be added to the Indiana Jones clones of the 1980s as fun albeit terrible films to cash in on Spielberg’s perfect summer blockbuster. Nate and Hayes is so much so a clone they thought it necessary to copy shot for shot (and musical cues) the Raiders of the Lost Ark’s iconic opening. Though that is where most of the differences end. The film is more a swashbuckling rescue film than actual adventure treasure hunting film.
In fact, the film’s plot is oddly similar to the one concocted by Stuart Beattie and company for Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl. With the kidnaping of the young woman (Jenny Seagrove) during the day of her marriage to her young idealistic Missionary (Michael O’Keefe) by pirates. The Missionary only have one choice; to trust a pirate (Tommy Lee Jones) if he is to ensure his wife’s return.
The highlight of Nate and Hayes is the rambunctious performance by Tommy Lee Jones as Bully Hayes. As the real-life pirate (who was very different than portrayed in the film) Jones creates a character that is equal part Han Solo and Bugs Bunny. The star bounces from scene to scene always making the most entertaining of choices. Jones’ Hayes is a spiritual forefather to his character in Under Siege – a character you relish watching and miss when he is off screen.
Jones is so good that when the film veers away from him, which is quite often, it suffers as the supporting cast is passable. That goes for the direction as well. What most, if not all, the Indiana Jones clones lacked was its dynamic lean direction by Steven Spielberg. Nate and Hayes is a well mounted production it just doesn’t match the enthusiasm and talents of Tommy Lee Jones. It is still a damn good time, one of the best of those rip offs, just not in the same conversation even of the later entries in the Indiana Jones series.
The Transfer
The all-new HD Master – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative looks fantastic. It transfers is beautifully sharp with a wonderful patina of grain giving it the look of a flawless 35mm print. The image is free of any dirt, scratches, blemishes or artifacts through the runtime. The color reproduction and contrast levels are near perfect and the highlight of the transfer. Kino Lorber continues to marvel and amazing with the level of quality and care their transfer’s show.
The Extras
They include the following;
NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian and Author Dwayne Epstein
Audio Commentary by Action Film Historians Mike Leeder and Russell Wait
The first of two Audio Commentaries is a new track by Film Historian and Author Dwayne Epstein opens with his bonafides before diving into the track and the reason why he wanted to do this film – star Tommy Lee Jones. Some of the details include a discussion the career and personal history of Jones – with some great personal details and anecdotes about his family, growing up in Texas, his education (which eventually led to going to Harvard), how he got into acting, how he got his start on the New York Stage, the work in Soap Operas, eventually led to eventually his first role in Love Story, his friendship with Al Gore, some of the iconic early roles in the 70s he played, his iconic 90s run of starring and co-starring roles including the academy award nominees and wins, his work on TV – including Executioner’s Song and Lonesome Dove, and his later and current era work; the historical accounts of the real life characters from Nate and Hayes – including some great quotes from the historical author James Mitchner; a discussion of the development of the screenplay including the rewrites of John Hughes; the various directors that were attached including Andrew David and John Boorman; the production delays that took place; the work and personal history of co-star Jenny Seagrove; a discussion of the film’s failure at the box office and some of the reasons that this happened; a discussion of a various sets built and locations used in New Zealand; the alternate title that the film was released in the rest of the world; a larger discussion of the various films inspired by the success of Raiders of the Lost Ark that this was a part of; how director Ferdinand Fairfax came on board with the help of director J Lee Thompson; the critical response at the time; a discussion of the career and personal history of actor Michael O’Keefe; and much more. Epsein provides a wealth of information about the production and also its star Tommy Lee Jones on this informative track.
The second Audio Commentary is an archival one by Action Film Historians Mike Leeder and Russell Wait opens with their respective bonafides before diving into a discussion the alternate title outside of the US. Some of the details include a great discussion of the Indiana Jones rip off of the era on TV and Movies; a side conversation about Leeder meeting actual cannibals for a documentary 30 years prior; a great discussion of the rope bring action scene and the various films that have them including what makes The Man Who Would Be King’s version of it so legendary; a great discussion of Russell thinking he was in Lonesome Dove – but wasn’t rather in another Iconic 80s Western; a discussion of the history of colonization throughout South Pacific and Aisa; the current state of piracy, sex trafficking and slavers in the modern world which still exist; a discussion of the career of Michael O’Keefe; the release in the UK on home video/VHS and a discussion about Leeder’s history with the title; a larger discussion throughout of the issues they have with the film its plot and characters as well as what they liked as well; a larger discussion of the various actors that appear in the film; and much more. Leeder and Wait provide an enormously entertaining track that goes on various side tangents and discussion points about the film and also outside the film.
Tommy Lee Jones as a swashbuckler? Yes, tis be true mateys, Jones and Michael O’Keefe star in the cult action-adventure Nate and Hayes. New to Blu-ray from Kino Lorber.
The Film
You can see how they pitched Paramount on Nate and Hayes.
“It’s Butch and Sundance meet Indiana Jones!”
“Sold!!!”
The pirate swashbuckler can be added to the Indiana Jones clones of the 1980s as fun albeit terrible films to cash in on Spielberg’s perfect summer blockbuster. Nate and Hayes is so much so a clone they thought it necessary to copy shot for shot (and musical cues) the Raiders of the Lost Ark’s iconic opening. Though that is where most of the differences end. The film is more a swashbuckling rescue film than actual adventure treasure hunting film.
In fact, the film’s plot is oddly similar to the one concocted by Stuart Beattie and company for Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl. With the kidnaping of the young woman (Jenny Seagrove) during the day of her marriage to her young idealistic Missionary (Michael O’Keefe) by pirates. The Missionary only have one choice; to trust a pirate (Tommy Lee Jones) if he is to ensure his wife’s return.
The highlight of Nate and Hayes is the rambunctious performance by Tommy Lee Jones as Bully Hayes. As the real-life pirate (who was very different than portrayed in the film) Jones creates a character that is equal part Han Solo and Bugs Bunny. The star bounces from scene to scene always making the most entertaining of choices. Jones’ Hayes is a spiritual forefather to his character in Under Siege – a character you relish watching and miss when he is off screen.
Jones is so good that when the film veers away from him, which is quite often, it suffers as the supporting cast is passable. That goes for the direction as well. What most, if not all, the Indiana Jones clones lacked was its dynamic lean direction by Steven Spielberg. Nate and Hayes is a well mounted production it just doesn’t match the enthusiasm and talents of Tommy Lee Jones. It is still a damn good time, one of the best of those rip offs, just not in the same conversation even of the later entries in the Indiana Jones series.
The Transfer
The all-new HD Master – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative looks fantastic. It transfers is beautifully sharp with a wonderful patina of grain giving it the look of a flawless 35mm print. The image is free of any dirt, scratches, blemishes or artifacts through the runtime. The color reproduction and contrast levels are near perfect and the highlight of the transfer. Kino Lorber continues to marvel and amazing with the level of quality and care their transfer’s show.
The Extras
They include the following;
The first of two Audio Commentaries is a new track by Film Historian and Author Dwayne Epstein opens with his bonafides before diving into the track and the reason why he wanted to do this film – star Tommy Lee Jones. Some of the details include a discussion the career and personal history of Jones – with some great personal details and anecdotes about his family, growing up in Texas, his education (which eventually led to going to Harvard), how he got into acting, how he got his start on the New York Stage, the work in Soap Operas, eventually led to eventually his first role in Love Story, his friendship with Al Gore, some of the iconic early roles in the 70s he played, his iconic 90s run of starring and co-starring roles including the academy award nominees and wins, his work on TV – including Executioner’s Song and Lonesome Dove, and his later and current era work; the historical accounts of the real life characters from Nate and Hayes – including some great quotes from the historical author James Mitchner; a discussion of the development of the screenplay including the rewrites of John Hughes; the various directors that were attached including Andrew David and John Boorman; the production delays that took place; the work and personal history of co-star Jenny Seagrove; a discussion of the film’s failure at the box office and some of the reasons that this happened; a discussion of a various sets built and locations used in New Zealand; the alternate title that the film was released in the rest of the world; a larger discussion of the various films inspired by the success of Raiders of the Lost Ark that this was a part of; how director Ferdinand Fairfax came on board with the help of director J Lee Thompson; the critical response at the time; a discussion of the career and personal history of actor Michael O’Keefe; and much more. Epsein provides a wealth of information about the production and also its star Tommy Lee Jones on this informative track.
The second Audio Commentary is an archival one by Action Film Historians Mike Leeder and Russell Wait opens with their respective bonafides before diving into a discussion the alternate title outside of the US. Some of the details include a great discussion of the Indiana Jones rip off of the era on TV and Movies; a side conversation about Leeder meeting actual cannibals for a documentary 30 years prior; a great discussion of the rope bring action scene and the various films that have them including what makes The Man Who Would Be King’s version of it so legendary; a great discussion of Russell thinking he was in Lonesome Dove – but wasn’t rather in another Iconic 80s Western; a discussion of the history of colonization throughout South Pacific and Aisa; the current state of piracy, sex trafficking and slavers in the modern world which still exist; a discussion of the career of Michael O’Keefe; the release in the UK on home video/VHS and a discussion about Leeder’s history with the title; a larger discussion throughout of the issues they have with the film its plot and characters as well as what they liked as well; a larger discussion of the various actors that appear in the film; and much more. Leeder and Wait provide an enormously entertaining track that goes on various side tangents and discussion points about the film and also outside the film.
Rounding out the special features are trailers for Black Moon Rising (1:30); The Package (2:15); Blown Away (1:35); Rules of Engagement (2:21); The Hunted (2:22); Split Image (2:39);
The Final Thought
Kino Lorber has given this cult action adventure an all-around Blu-ray upgrade. High recommendations!
Kino Lorber’s Blu-ray Edition of Nate and Hayes is out now
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