There’s been a bit of a theme going around here the last couple days about the Universal-International Westerns of the 50s — and about how scarce they are on DVD here in the States.
Lucky for us, Bounty Films out of Australia has licensed a handful of U-I titles, not all of them Westerns, for DVD release. I can’t wait to see how good they look, since this could open up another source for these things. Available now is Horizons West (1952), directed by Budd Boetticher and starring Robert Ryan, Rock Hudson, Julie Adams and John McIntire.
The Bounty product I have sampled so far is pretty good.
“Horizons West” has a slight buzz on the soundtrack
which does not bother me too much but the print quality
is super! “Ride Clear Of Diablo” is one of Murphys best
Westerns ever and the print quality is stunning!
I thought “Walk The Proud Land” was a nice scope print
too.Their prices will not break the bank either.
They seem to appreciate e-mail feedback as well so keep
those Universal suggestions coming.
While we are on the subjest of imports I am sad to report
that the recently released Spanish version of “Sierra Baron”
is terrible! I am sure if a decent copy existed it would have
surfaced in Spain some time back;especially with its central
theme of Spanish Nobility protecting impoverished settlers
and fighting Steve Brodies landgrabbing bad guys.
Its a pity that a decent print of this iconic and offbeat
Fifties Western does not exist.
Film cetrtainly is a nice showcase for Mala Powers and
any of her fans out there will want the film anyway in
spite of the dreadful quality of the print!
Does anyone have a link to Koch Media in Germany
When I looked them up the other day, this was the list of Westerns I came across. Wish I could actually read it!
http://www.kochmedia.de/haendler/shop/public/productlist.jsf
Border River. Wow.
That link doesn’t work for me, try this one:
http://www.kochmedia-dvd.com/
Seeing as you mention Border River, I have the Koch edition and I can assure you it’s a very nice transfer. You can see some screenshots here:
http://www.dvd-forum.at/23171/screenshots.htm
Thanks for those links. I’m really stoked about Border River. Those McCrea Universals have been on my list for Santa for the last few years!
I just happened to discover that HORIZONS WEST is showing on Encore Westerns this weekend. My DVR is ready to go! Looks like a good one.
Best wishes,
Laura