Coming in June from Universal, part of the TCM Vault Collection — The Audie Murphy Westerns Collection. This set is something a number of you (and I) have been wanting. Let’s hope it’s the first of many. It includes:
Sierra (1950) is an early one. Directed by Alfred E. Green, it also stars Wanda Hendrix (at one point Mrs. Audie Murphy), Burl Ives and Dean Jagger.
Ride Clear Of Diablo (1954), in Technicolor. Directed by Jesse Hibbs. This one features Susan Cabot, Dan Duryea and Russell Johnson.
Drums Across The River (1954) — Nathan Juran directs Walter Brennan, Mora Corday, Hugh O’Brien and Jay Silverheels. Technicolor.
Ride A Crooked Trail (1958), directed by Jesse Hibbs, in Eastman Color and CinemaScope. Written by Borden Chase. The cast includes Gia Scala, Walter Matthau and Henry Silva.
With a release date of June 6, it’s available for pre-order now.
This is great news. I had seen online that TCM was going to have a night of Audie Murphy movies in June, which is kind of unusual — how interesting that it’s apparently a tie-in to the release of this set!
Thanks for passing on the good news,
Laura
Great selection of Murphy films! “Drums Across the River” is one of Audie’s best.
Thanks Universal;and the day before my birthday to boot!
I already have two of the titles but I want “Drums Across
The River” big time.I will sell the titles that I have because
this is a must-have set.
Now if only those cats at Universal will give us a McCrea
Western set!
Happy birthday, John.
McCrea getting a similar treatment would be a fine, fine thing indeed.
Are any of these actually any good? Audie is such a stiff that when one of his films works, it’s usually in spite of him.
These are some of the better ones. Audie got better, or more relaxed, as time went on. Universal always gave his pictures a strong cast, which seems to help. These four are no exception.
Plus, I think they got better at writing to his capabilities.
While I’d hold up No Name On The Bullet as Audie’s best, the two Rides in this set may contain his best performances — maybe he and Jesse Hibbs got along well. Plus you get the added value of Dan Duryea and Walter Matthau.
Audi Murphy does a good job in the movies he was given. I saw SIERRA with him and Burl Ives. It was as good a western as came out in that era. Oscar worthy, NO, but entertaining and that’s what movies are about. His life as the most decorated war hero in WW 2 is much better than his movies. His life story is one that could make a good series for TV. A True American Hero.
I have the two “Ride” films already, but I might have to get it for the other two. Are they worth it? Anyone?
The other two are quite good, so I’d say the set’s worth it.
I especially like Drums Across The River.
This box set is a must buy for any western movie lover. I’ll be getting it for sure.
Hopefully we’ll get:
the Jesse Hibbs directed “Walk the Proud Land” (1956)
and
the George Marshall directed “The Guns of Fort Petticoat” (1957) in a later collection.
Mr. Even B., Norway
“Sierra” is possibly the rarest of Murphys westerns ;Ive
never seen it but it has a very strong supporting cast.
“Drums Across The River” is director Nathan Jurans best
western and is a must have for any Murphy buff.
“Walk The Prous Land” will be released shortly by Odeon
Entertainment in England in a lovely newly remastered
Scope transfer.”Guns Of Fort Petticoat” has been released
recently by Sidonis in France. Its a beauty of a transfer but
sadly has French subtitles that are not removable.
The German Koch Media version of “Hell Bent For Leather”
is another stunning transfer and is my personal favourite of
all of Murphys westerns.Extremely well directed by George
Sherman this one has Murphy up against a couple of really
nasty villians (Stephen McNally and Jan Merlin) Merlin as
a sort of Wild West psychopath is chilling!
Great news! I’m surprised Murphy is not better remembered. He was a capable actor and easily one of the best-looking western stars. Always easy to take and a pleasure to watch!
John,
Thank you very much for your helpful tips!
I’ll definitely buy “Walk the Proud Land” on UK region 2.
Even B.
According to the Home Theatre Forum website in April
MGM will release Don Siegels “The Gun Runners” (1958)
in its limited edition DVD/R series.
This is a non-western role for Murphy and has a script by
Dan Mainwaring (Invasion Of The Body Snatchers)
Solid supporting cast too:Eddie Albert,Everett Salone,
Richard Jaekel,Jack Elam.
Other new releases in this series are:
DAVY CROCKETT INDIAN SCOUT (Lew Landers 1950)
George Montgomery,Ellen Drew
Montgomery plays Davys Cousin in this low budget Edward
Small production
FORT DEFIANCE (John Rawlins 1951)
Dane Clark,Ben Johnson,Peter Graves.
Rather appealing little western with plenty of action and
rugged locations.Filmed in Cinecolor;check before buying
DVD as MGM have issued colour films in black & white in this series.
FORT BOWIE (Howard Koch 1958)
Ben Johnson,Kent Taylor
Johnson plays a character called “Tomahawk Thomson”
in this low budget Bel Air Production.
GERONIMO (Arnold Laven 1962)
Chuck Conners
So far I have found this series falls well below the standard
of the Warner Archive and the Columbia Screen Classics
series.For die-hard buffs; like yours truly,there are some
real rarities here!
Watched “Fort Defiance” again last night (Westerns Chanel
DVD/R) its a real little sleeper!Almost the whole film is
shot on location with some stunning scenery;add this to a
good story and very likable leads and you have an undemanding but fun oater!
If MGM/UA are releasing Fort Bowie;a real obscurity then
everything in their roster should surface. I would sure like to see more of these obscure Bel-Air epics like “War Paint”
“The Yellow Tomahawk,”Fort Yuma”"War Drums” and so on.
Also a couple of the better George Montgomery westerns
like “The Lone Gun” and “Gun Belt”
Also the rather highly regarded “Fury At Showdown” from
director Gerd Oswald.If the majors were not going down
the DVD/R MOD route I doubt if any of these film would
see the light of day.
Check out the cover art for “The Gun Runners” I hope the
DVD has the original trailer which had the tagline “He
shoved a steel fist into the hell ports of Cuba”
As a Don Siegel fanatic this is a must have for me!
Fury At Showdown is an excellent little movie.
It’s been ages since I last saw Fort Defiance or Fort Bowie.
These are the kinds of pictures that, in my opinion, make the whole DVD-R thing worthwhile. What are the chances of getting REAL DVD’s these things?
Are there any subtitles on this set? Thanks
I’ll have to look into that.
DUNCAN
I THINK DRUMS ACROSS THE RIVER IS A FANTASTIC FILM. IS THERE ANY CHANCE THEY WILL EVER RELEASE THIS ON ITS OWN
Can anyone help me ? I really would like to get this dvd for my father and I have been looking everywhere but the problem I have is it has to be in region 2 as I live in England.
Would really appreciate any ideas or help.
Thank you
Lisa
sorry its me again the dvd is Audie Murphy western collection that came out in june 2011