No doubt inspired by The Warner Archive, Universal has kicked off their Vault Series of DVD-R releases — released exclusively through Amazon — of stuff they figure nobody but us geeks and obsessives will care anything about.
As you know, Universal-International put out a slew of Westerns in the 50s. They weren’t big-budget affairs, but some of them are excellent (Pillars Of The Sky, No Name On The Bullet, The Naked Dawn). Some are quite good (Cattle Drive). And the rest — well, I always liked ’em (The Star In The Dust).
However, I’m sorry to report that this first batch is Westerns-less. Not a one! (Well, there’s Shoot Out, but it’s from 1971, and I don’t know if I’d count the wonderful Ruggles Of Red Gap.)
The 1954 Dragnet feature is certainly nice to have, I’ve been wanting that one for years, and The Black Shield Of Farnsworth is really cool, but what about one of the six Joel McCrea U-I Westerns? An Audie Murphy picture? Or since they leaned heavy on Tony Curtis, how about Rudolph Maté’s The Rawhide Years (1955)?
The bulk of first string of titles:
40 Pounds Of Trouble (1962)
Black Shield Of Farnsworth (1954)
Blue Collar (1978)
The Chalk Garden (1964)
Death Takes A Holiday (1934)
Dragnet (1954)
House Of Seven Gables (1940)
Kitten With A Whip (1964)
List Of Adrian Messenger (1963)
The Perfect Furlough (1958)
Ruggles Of Red Gap (1933)
Shoot Out (1971)
Spawn Of The North (1938)
Just got my Blu-Ray of THE BLACK SHIELD OF FALWORTH from the UK. Curious about SHOOT-OUT, though.
Lemme know how that Blu-Ray FALWORTH looks. I’m really stoked about that one.
Please sign our Petition to bestow upon Audie Murphy the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honor in recgognition of his lifetime achievements to teh Nation.
It’s simple and takes 30 seconds or so:
Here is the Link:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/audiemurphy/
Thank you,
Dave Phillips
Done. And I encourage anybody else that wants to — have at it!
I too cannot believe that Universal have not included one Fifties Western in the first 25 releases in their new Vault series.
Just think about all the great Westerns starring Joel McCrea, Audie Murphy, Jeff Chandler, Rory Calhoun and Jock Mahoney. Of the McCreas SADDLE TRAMP and THE LONE HAND are really excellent. FRENCHIE is always put down as a pale DESTRY imitation but I think that its pretty good. None of Jock Mahoneys Westerns seem to be available on DVD anywhere in the World. I would love to get a copy of JOE DAKOTA; one of his best, also a Scope print of LAST OF THE FAST GUNS. Does anyone have a copy of the Spanish release of SASKATCHEWAN; is it a good print? That was an excellent Universal Western starring Alan Ladd directed by the great Raoul Walsh. There are stacks of great Universal Westerns issued in France lovely prints too, but I have yet to source a supplier at present. Lots of AUDIE MURPHY many in Scope issued in France as well.
If Universal wanted to, they could wage an all-out assault on my finances by scraping up some of their Westerns and putting ’em on DVD-R.
They’ve got so much stuff I’m dying to have.
If you come across a good source for those Spanish/French DVDs, please let me know.
I have yet to find a supplier from France.
For Spanish DVDs I recommend http://www.starscafe.com. I found them recommended on the Home Theatre Forum website. Their prices are good and their Website has an English option.Be warned there are 32 pages of Westerns on their Website so visiting it could seriously damage your wealth!
Another great Jock Mahoney Western I would love Universal to release is A DAY OF FURY. This was the last of three great Westerns starring Dale Robertson and directed by Harmon Jones. A DAY OF FURY is the best of the three in my opinion. It is a rather twisted view of the West and will appeal to those who admire Allan Dwans SILVER LODE and Budd Boettichers DECISION AT SUNDOWN. In many ways it pre-figures Eastwoods HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER with its lone corruptor of an entire town and symbolic use of the colour red. Dale is the bad guy this time round and Jock the hero. Both actors are first rate in this offbeat adult-themed Western.
FYI, THE RAWHIDE YEARS is coming up on TCM in Feb. or March I believe. Just check their web site schedule and find out when.