Directed by Thomas Carr
Produced by William D. Coates
Screenplay by Paul Leslie Peil & Robert Joseph
Story by Paul Leslie Peil
Director Of Photography: William Whitley, ASC
Film Editor: George White
Music Composed by Sid Cutner
CAST: Mark Stevens (Chip Coburn), Forrest Tucker (John Brazos), Gail Robbins (Lou Crenshaw), Vaughn Taylor (Ben Bodeen), John Ward (Slick Kirby), Kevin Hagen (Clem Haney), John Cliff (Sheriff Cass), Gail Kobe (Katy Porter), George Keymas (Hondo), Richard Reeves (Notches Pole), Bill Henry (Sheriff Blane).
__________
As the titles roll, we’re looking up into a large tree. Once “Directed by Thomas Carr” dissolves away, a noose is tossed over a branch of the tree, and the camera pans down for an establishing shot of a lynching, all in CinemaScope and nicely-preserved DeLuxe Color. It’s a stylish way to open Gunsmoke In Tucson (1958), an Allied Artists Western that really delivers—and maintains that visual flair and creativity throughout its running time.
Mark Stevens and Forrest Tucker are brothers on opposite sides of the law. Stevens is Chip Coburn, who wants to put his outlaw ways behind him and settle on a ranch of his own. Tucker is John Brazos, a marshal who doubts his brother will stay on the straight and narrow. Chip winds up in the middle of a rancher-farmer dispute and his forced to pick up his guns again.
Story-wise, it’s nothing new, but the writers—Paul Leslie Peil and Robert Joseph—manage to keep things fresh. As we all know, Westerns work well when they use one of the genre’s standard plots (or plots, in this case) as a springboard. Mark Stevens is really good at the intense, brooding, tortured tough guy, whether in Westerns like this one and Jack Slade (1953) or noir stuff like the excellent Cry Vengeance (1954), which he also directed. Of course, Forrest Tucker is always terrific. His 50s Western filmography is second to none. Gale Robbins is good as Lou, Chip’s saloon girl girlfriend. Gail Kobe’s part, as the good girl who’s loved Chip all along, doesn’t give her much to do. And Kevin Hagan, who plays farmer Clem Haney, is known the world over as Doc Baker on Little House On The Prairie. He does a good job, even though he’s forced to wear a lousy fake beard.
The bond, or conflict, between brothers was a common theme in 50s Westerns. It can be found in pictures like Horizons West (1952), Rage At Dawn (1955), The True Story Of Jesse James (1957), Night Passage (1957), Fury At Showdown (1957) and Face Of A Fugitive (1959, though Fred MacMurray’s brother doesn’t make it past the first reel). Forrest Tucker does a good job in Gunsmoke In Tucson, striking just the right tone in his brother-or-duty scenes and keeping the dialogue from coming off hokey.
Old Tucson was a busy place in 1958 and ’59. Buchanan Rides Alone. Rio Bravo. The Badlanders. The Lone Ranger And The Lost City Of Gold. The location adds tons of production value to this low-budget film, with director of photography William Whitley wisely letting us see the landscape surrounding the street set. The bridge that’s featured so prominently in Buchanan and Gunfight At The O.K. Corral (1957) gets some screen time as well. (I watch for that bridge like a favorite character actor.)
One of the things that really strikes me about Gunsmoke In Tucson, something that was mentioned in its reviews back in ’58, is William P. Whitley’s camerawork. Whitley worked for Sam Katzman at Columbia in the early 50s (Jungle Jim, serials, etc.), then got into television—The Adventures Of Superman, The Lone Ranger (the fifth, color season) and eventually Bonanza. He shot over 75 episodes of Bonanza before retiring. He did three pictures for Allied Artists, all released in 1958: Quantrill’s Raiders, Queen Of Outer Space and Gunsmoke In Tucson. All are in Scope and look terrific. Whitley seems to have enjoyed the chance to shoot for the wide screen–his shots are well-composed and inventive throughout Gunsmoke In Tucson. And he made sure Gale Robbins’ red hair popped in scene after scene.
We wouldn’t be appreciating Mr. Whitley’s work if it wasn’t so well presented by Warner Archive. It’s a bit soft, perhaps, but the color is really nice and the audio’s got plenty of punch. This is a really tough, solid little movie—the kind of forgotten treasures this genre, and decade, are full of. Recommended.
I’ve never seen this one, Toby, but it sounds very appealing indeed. I always enjoy Stevens’ work, whatever the genre, and the theme of brothers in conflict usually provides a bit of juicy entertainment. Another film that employs that theme, but not mentioned here, is Gun for a Coward.
How’d I forget Gun For A Coward? Stupid.
I was completely won over by Gunsmoke In Tucson. I had an expectation in my head and it went way beyond that.
Don’t forget Winchester ’73 — a great brother vs. brother western. 🙂
Yep!
How do you manage to come up with so many over-looked gems? I confess that I haven’t even heard of this one; now another film on my queue.
Thanks!
That’s the great thing about 50s Westerns. Even if you’re a student of these things and have been watching them all your life, there’s gonna be something you haven’t seen.
That’s exactly right. And I haven’t seen this one yet either. You sure make it sound like one to look forward to and am notching it up the list now.
“Brothers” Westerns never wear out their welcome for me.
Hey Blake! I think you’ll really dig this one. It’s got a lot of the elements we both like–and it’s the kind of overachieving cheap movie that makes all this stuff so much fun.
I saw this film (off TV) a few months ago and really enjoyed it. I like Mark Stevens as an actor though he doesn’t quite sit right in westerns for me. Forrest Tucker though (of course) is just great in westerns (or anything) and he is excellent here. Now I would really like to get this and see it in the widescreen process as intended.
Talking of Forrest Tucker – and that is always a pleasure – one of my favourite “Tuck” roles is as John Wayne’s nemesis in “CHISUM”. They have a fantastic knock-down, drag-out slug fest in it.
All I can say Jerry is,if you have only seen this as a pan & scan you
really have not seen the film at all!
I am indeed sorry that I got a P & S version of this film a few years back
and now really wished that I had waited,especially in view of how good
the Archive DVD looks.
I too really like Mark Stevens and there is a really fine article on him
over at the Where Danger Lives blog,the best I’ve seen in fact.
Of course Stevens’ considerable contributions to Film Noir are generally
overlooked,but I like him in the few Westerns he made as well.
He is very good indeed in the one Wagon Train episode that he appeared
in and he also directed 8 episodes of that classic show;including the
Major Adams story two-parter.
I really now want to see the one Rawhide episode that he appeared in
Incident Of The Hunter;directed by Thomas Carr.
Stevens’ acting style might be a tad too intense for some but it really works
for me.
A wonderful review Toby,and thanks for drawing attention to the generally
unheralded William Whitley,a DOP with a portfolio no B Movie lover could
resist. Very impressive vintage TV credits as well.
What impressed me about Whitney, and I shoulda put this in my post, is that he only shot four (I think) pictures in Scope. But he seems completely at home in it.
Throughout this one, he put his camera in unusual places that still seem just right. And the titles/opening shot really knocked me out.
That’s a great article on Stevens. Thanks for passing it along: I’m gonna work a link into the post so hopefully others can see it.
Great post. I always like Mark Stevens, especially in his noirs, though he was good elsewhere, as in Fate is the Hunter. Will be ordering this one.
Superb review! Thank you.
Jim B
This has been another great post Toby and everyone. I first came across Mark Stevens (at least that I was aware of) in the late ’80’s or early ’90’s when I saw the VHS tape that came out of “Cry Vengeance”. Really great noir movie, everything you want to see in a noir. John K and I seem to share a love of vintage TV as we do for vintage movies. I’ve seen all of Rawhide now and so many episodes had so much to be said for them. One of the best TV westerns, next to Gunsmoke, it’s my favorite. Ward Bond in Wagon Train is simply the best, really Wardy in that series. watch old TV shows everyday, old TV westerns on Friday nights. I’m stirring my chili already for my Friday Night TV Westerns.
I also got “Gunsmoke In Tucson” several years back but like John K, mine was a pan/scan version. I saw a brief clip of the new warner release in the Archive listing and it looks terrific in wide screen. The whole screen from left to right has something going on in it. Not just a lamp on the left that’s cut, actors doing their thing are not seen in pan/scan version. Looks like the Archive will be getting more business from me. Can’t wait to see this one wide eyed.
I have you down as the Number One man for espousing the TV westerns, Johnny G. I love the fact that you dedicate time to these episodes each week. After you, I put myself next maybe – I grew up with the TV western and they were a big part of my growing up. Still are a big part of my viewing pleasure and I would endorse your rating of the 2 CBS giants “GUNSMOKE” and “RAWHIDE” as the finest examples. They stand up so well today still, I think.
Have you seen “OUTLAWS”, I wonder? I liked that a lot back in the day and although I could certainly wish for “perfect” prints now, I think that series also stands up very well.
Thanks from me too, Toby, for a great post and a great recommendation to get this new release and see a fine film in its intended format.
Jerry, “Outlaws” is one I have but have not gotten to watching yet. I will have to schedule it next when one of my current Friday Night Western TV series runs out. Actually “The Texan” only has a couple episodes left. So may start “Outlaws” then!
Jack Slade sounds over the top interesting, will have to watch that one real soon too.
PREFACE
I’m going to do my usual trick of breaking this down into sections as I
seem to have a tendency to lose “epic” posts.
Before I get back on topic (Mark Stevens) I thought I would mention
a discussion I had with Laura over at her blog.
It’s all relevant to what will follow.
We were discussing the recent Warner Archive Glenn Ford releases
and I totally concur with her superb,albeit negative review of TRIAL.
Like the recently released RANSOM this is a film that I have never seen
and have been waiting ages for to appear on DVD.
Regarding RANSOM Laura mentioned she had not yet reviewed the film
due to the “child in peril” issues that she had with the film.
I totally get that and more importantly respect her views.
Having viewed RANSOM for a second time my initial negative opinion
has mellowed somewhat.
I thought the fact the kidnappers are never seen (apart from,briefly in
sillhoutte) was one of the films weaknesses but on a second viewing
became one of the films strengths.
At any rate there are no scenes of an imperiled Bobby Clark (Ford
and Donna Reed’s son)
BTW the same Bobby Clark is gunned down at the start of the austere
REBEL IN TOWN a film I understand Laura did not like.
Having said all that the 72 minute TERROR ON A TRAIN has far more
tension and suspense than TRIAL and RANSOM put together IMHO.
I guess that’s due to my love of taut little programmers.
All of this leads us onto JACK SLADE……..
MARK STEVENS and JACK SLADE
Before I go any further I should mention TERROR ON A TRAIN was
released in a previous set of Warner Archive Glenn Ford releases.
It goes without saying that I’m a huge Ford fan BTW.
In JACK SLADE kids are not only in peril but also gunned down by
crazed gunslingers or trampled beneath the hooves of drunken cowpokes.
As I have mentioned before it’s the most disturbing Western that I have
ever seen,it took me several days to shake the darn thing off.
The downbeat tone of the film never lets up from the grim,but striking
opening where a child kills an adult.
I know that Laura has watched at least part of the film…I don’t know how
far that she stuck with it.
The violence,while disturbing does contribute to an integral part of
the films main issue-redemption.
Firstly there is the pathetic,waif-like kid that Slade reckons that he will
adopt as a sort of surrogate son. This possibly could have saved Slade
from the demons that he is confronting.
A cruel fate intervenes and the kid is gunned down before him fueling
his descent into booze fed violence.
Later in the film a child is trampled beneath the hooves of a drunken
Slade. In a final attempt to gain some sort of redemption Slade
confronts the child’s mother only to be understandably, turned away
from her door.
From that moment on we know Slade is way beyond any form of
redemption.
The cruelest of all though is when Slade is forced to hang the cocky
guitar playing kid that he tried to prevent from turning to a life of crime.
This scene is almost impossible to watch.
Had JACK SLADE been directed by say Joseph H Lewis or Sam Fuller
it would now be a “cult” classic. I will keep championing this great
Western as it really needs a DVD release.
MARK STEVENS,WARREN DOUGLAS and CRY VENGEANCE
Firstly many thanks to Johnny Guitar for championing this great Noir.
Like JACK SLADE; CRY VENGEANCE was written by Warren Douglas.
In this film again Douglas and Stevens push the envelope beyond
accepted boundaries.
There is a very uncomfortable scene where Stevens gives a bullet to the
young daughter of his intended victim (Douglas Kennedy)
Again Douglas and Stevens are in very dark territory especially when
the physically and emotionally scarred Stevens bonds with Kennedy’s
daughter.
This is sometimes tough stuff to watch but both writer Douglas and
director Stevens manage to keep the whole thing on the rails and have
fashioned an incredibly tense film.
Just as I hope Laura will eventually review RANSOM,I hope Colin will
review CRY VENGEANCE. As always they both have an uncanny knack
for bringing stuff to my attention that I have totally missed.
Certainly CRY VENGEANCE is crying out (sorry) for the “Colin Treatment”
Finally a word regarding Douglas Kennedy both Jerry and I agreed
in a phone conversation the other night what a great asset he is to
any film. Both of us recalled how we were both enthralled as kids by his
gun twirling antics at the start of the TV show STEVE DONOVAN
WESTERN MARSHALL.
EPILOGUE
I keep promising myself to try to reign myself in on the “epic” posts but
with Toby highlighting films like GUNSMOKE IN TUCSON it ain’t easy!
It’s s shame Mark Stevens never made more Westerns or had a better
film career. By the time GUNSMOKE IN TUCSON was made it was virtually
“game over” as far as his Hollywood career was concerned.
Oddly enough Forrest Tucker is reduced to more or less a supporting
role in this one but as we all know his career endured for many years
after “Gunsmoke In Tucson”
After heralding Laura and Colin so much I thought I must mention our
gracious host Toby for highlighting films like this.
As I mentioned before a great review and all that stuff about Whitley
is terrific! Love that press ad BTW.
I am really looking forward to Toby’s take on OREGON PASSAGE I just
hope that he does not feel that I’ve hyped the film up too much.
I might add that this one really NEEDS to be seen in widescreen.
Ellis Carter’s scope compositions in this one are sensational.
As usual, John K., you have come up with much for thought and much for discussion. Well done, my friend!
“JACK SLADE” is a 50s western I have never managed to see and quite obviously I need to! These are the kinds of western, the kind of movie indeed, that continually fire my enthusiasm.
Well said Jerry. Johns description of the JACK SLADE film makes it sound like a “must see”. BTW John, thank you for the information regarding Wild Bill Elliotts bigger budget movies, though it sounds like I may be waiting a long time for any dvd releases.
A terrific review, Toby. After reading it I’m really excited to be reviewing this film soon as well! Sounds really good. What you say about there always being more interesting Westerns awaiting discovery is so very true — and true about movies in general. One of the things I love about sitting down to a new-to-me movie is you just never know when a movie’s going to have a little something extra-special.
I’m always happy to see Old Tucson pop up in a movie since I was able to visit it a couple times back in the ’80s.
I’m also honored to be “name-dropped” above and thanks so much for the kind words! I’ve really enjoyed following this conversation on so many topics of interest.
Really have grown to like Mark Stevens a lot. John, haven’t seen all of JACK SLADE — I just happened to turn on part of it in the middle — so am very curious how I’ll react when I see the whole thing as it sounds like it might be a difficult watch for me. I saw the part where Stevens gets together with Dorothy Malone and was like…wow. I think “feral” describes it. Eye-popping stuff.
Poor Bobby Clark had a difficult movie caree, with his characters kidnapped and killed. I’m glad to know the kidnappers aren’t seen in RANSOM, interesting. That was something that made Ford’s TORPEDO RUN doable for me, you don’t see the wife and little girl taken prisoner by the Japanese. (I never had trouble with this stuff till I had kids…I personalize it too much now.) Given how much I like Ford and Donna Reed I should rethink watching RANSOM. And John, thanks to you I put Ford’s TERROR ON A TRAIN on my future Warner Archive wish list!
As always, thanks to Toby for hosting these fun discussions!
Best wishes,
Laura
Great to see your most interesting feedback on this great thread Laura,
and I simply cannot wait to see your review of GUNSMOKE IN TUCSON.
Only negative bit as far as I’m concerned is Mark Stevens’ “Blue Chip
Bandit” outfit….rather silly I thought.
Of the two recently released Allied Artists Westerns I think I prefered
OREGON PASSAGE and I hope you get to review that one as well.
I don’t think TERROR ON A TRAIN will disappoint and I’m sorry
Glenn Ford never made more films with Ted Tetzlaff. In “Terror” and the
excellent THE WHITE TOWER Tetzlaff gave us the Glenn Ford that I
really like to see. I don’t think any other director handled him so well
until Delmer Daves came along.
Furthermore and this is just me,I thought Ford and Anne Vernon
were a far more convincing couple (not without problems in their
relationship) than Ford and Donna Reed.
I do have a slight problem with Donna Reed;and again it’s just me but I
find her rather “high-toned” in a lot of her films. Having said that she
has appeared in lots of films that I love:HANGMANS KNOT,GUN FURY,
THREE HOURS TO KILL,RAIDERS OF THE SEVEN SEAS,BACKLASH
and so on.
I really enjoyed TORPEDO RUN such a great widescreen transfer
one of the best yet I’ve seen from the archive.
It’s great that these much sought after Ford titles are now available to
buy.
1956 was certainly quiet a year for 12 year old Bobby Clark, not only
was he shot and kidnapped he also had to deal with the “pod people”
in INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS. Pretty heady stuff for a
12 year old!
That’s hilarious about Bobby Clark also having to deal with the pod people! Wow. Great trivia!
Best wishes,
Laura
I took your advice and watched Jack Slade tonight. I’m going to wait till I get the widescreen Gunsmoke In Tucson before I watch that.
Wow, talk about intense, Jack Slade starts that way and doesn’t let up till it’s over. Barton MacLane has never been nastier, in Jack Slade he’s one of the rottenest bad guys you’ll ever see. I won’t give away his dirtiest deed, but it was designed to hurt Slade in the worst way. You almost can’t blame Slade for his extreme reactions, he’s literally pushed to the edge.
In many ways Jack Slade reminded me of some of the more violent and dramatic Gunsmoke 1/2 radio shows. Very bad things happened to people in those Gunsmoke radio shows and Jack Slade was sort of like a Matt Dillon gone crazy. While Dillon would have taken the guitar playing punk in for trial, Slade just hangs him. While Dillon would most likely have waited for the bad guys to exit the hideout and warn them Slade just shoots anyone that moves. (Though there was one memorable episode done on both radio and TV where Dillon did kill in cold blood to rescue Kitty.)
KIds not only get walloped (a couple different kids each got a good clop) but they get savagely killed too. Very intense. It was b/w & I’m kind of glad. Near the end there’s a b/w close-up of Stevens’ face that is so filled with rage and intensity you wonder he doesn’t pop a vein.
Jim Bannon who also played Red Ryder is one of the many familiar faces (he’s one of the townsfolk who at first admires then turns on Slade). By the way, this was also a common early theme of Gunsmoke the townsfolk turning on Matt Dillon when they thought he was getting too violent in dealing with killers. Also in Jack Slade, at the bar was Lee Van Cleef, his scene was brief, but memorable. The early scenes of Dorothy Malone and Stevens meet and soon proposal are indeed intense with carnal desire, you can see it and feel it yourself. Dorothy Malone has never been sexier.
I see that a man I haven’t heard of Harold Shuster directed both this movie and the sequel “Return Of Jack Slade” that one starred Jon Ericson, who was in “Oregon Passage”. Looks like Harold directed a lot of great old TV shows and a few classic noirs, “Loophole” to name his most famous.
Jack Slade was one of the finest westerns I’ve seen. It was like an early Gunsmoke on steroids. John Meston’s writing was still several steps above the writing in this movie, but the emotion and the story itself are pure Gunmoke in extreme. I can really picture this movie as a last ever episode of Gunsmoke if Gunsmoke were to have ended in 1961, with Matt Dillon pushed to the Mark Stevens level.
That’s a good, vivid review of “JACK SLADE”, Johnny G. I have never seen this film or its follow-up (sort of) “RETURN OF JACK SLADE” and have wanted to many years. All the more now, after your commendation!
By the way, I would be very interested in your feed-back once you do start watching “OUTLAWS”. I am guessing you do not have a perfect set of prints either (but it is watchable) and the series is very good, I think, and somewhat unusual. When I was watching it back in 1960-62 its star Don Collier became quite a favourite actor for me. He is still around, living in the Old Tucson area, I believe.
After reading your synopsis of JACK SLADE, Johnny G on top of what has been previously written I feel we in the UK are being shortchanged. Hopefully one of our tv channels will pick this one up.
Johnny…..Great review,many thanks for spreading “the word”
Sadly many of Harold Schuster’s films are Allied Artists pictures not owned
by Warners but are in the clutches of the dreaded Paramount,and as
I have said many times before I do hope someone at Warner Archive
can sort this out.
Warner Archive have released the excellent LOOPHOLE in a lovely
widescreen transfer. Schuster pictures not owned by Warners are
SECURITY RISK.PORT OF HELL,FINGER MAN,RETURN OF JACK SLADE
and DRAGOON WELLS MASSACRE.
RETURN OF JACK SLADE is just a “cash in” on the original which did
pretty good box office. It’s still a good little Western with John Ericson
playing Slade’s son. Lots of very sexy ladies too like Marie Blanchard
and Angie Dickenson. Forget the likes of Gordon Ramsey and
Jamie Oliver you ain’t seen nothing until you have seen Neville Brand
make his “beer bread”
Would love to see a widescreen version of this film.
Totally agree Johnny,that Barton Maclane has never been nastier,oddly
enough in WESTERN UNION he plays a character called Jack Slade!
I have a friend in the entertainment industry who says that Paramount’s vaults are in a mess .I remember reading in the mid 90s about a fire there .
I received my copy of BANDIDO .It is a nice clear copy but a US release is needed.
A pal did me a huge favor recently he burned me a copy of BANDIDO
and also sent me a de-subtitled version of the French edition of
THE WONDERFUL COUNTRY.Blu-Ray.
I thought the vivid colors on BANDIDO were great
and it’s in the correct ratio too.
There did seem to be quite a bit of “flare” on the copy I received
or digital “noise” or whatever….this is Ludditesville UK checking in here.
It’s a big budget effort crammed with action and a huge body count.
I was amused at the beginning of the film to see the normally slick
Douglas Fowley play a really grimy,seedy character. I wish there had
been more of him in the film.
I do hope Kino Lorber (who are currently reissuing much of the United
Artists catalog on Blu Ray) give us a Blu-Ray edition of this film,it
certainly needs one and certainly does not lack star-power.
Visually the film is rather splendid and certainly needs the Blu-Ray
treatment.
There is not much depth to the film it’s more of a shoot ’em up or
I should say blow ’em up. Lots of grenades and Gatling guns and the
stunt people really earning their coin.
Jerry, one western series I had not heard of before that was a real pleasant surprise was “Gunslinger” st. Tony Young. This was a personal sleeper hit in my world. I really liked “Gunslinger” I only wish there were more episodes to see, I only have 4 out of mere 12 total. Dramatic and good acting.
Last night was a big ’50’s western night for me, after Jack Slade I watched “Reprisal” & then “Warpath”. “Reprisal” st. Guy Madison also starred the future wife of my favorite singer, Bing Crosby, Kathryn Grant was definitely a sweet young thing back then and I can see why Bing’s eyes must have bugged out when he met her. I didn’t particularly like the typical storyline the old “evil white people, sweet innocent Indians” clap trap. The 60 year guilt trip has grown rather weary. But it was interesting and the actors were all top notch.
Edmond O’Brien, one of my favorite actors, was great in “Warpath” he was also quite intense with a “mission” in mind. People’s favorite here Forrest Tucker was a bully type bad guy giving O’Brien a hard time. To me Forrest is OK, but I’m no big fan, he’s just too much of a loud mouth for me to take with ease. I liked him where I first encountered him as a kid when I used to watch “F Troop” (when it was new! Boy I’m old.) so now seeing him in these movies I give him a break I might not normally. The movie was in beautiful bright color (I love color ’50’s westerns even if they’re bad) and it also starred Harry Carey Jr. which really raised the status of the rather simple film. I liked both of these though.
Johnny,it’s very interesting that you say WARPATH was in beautiful
bright color because it was supposed to be released by Olive Films who
withdrew it saying the master copy was just not up to snuff.
I think they simply did not want to release the film.
They also withdrew Charlton Heston’s THE SAVAGE and I would be
very suprised if there was not a decent master of that one knocking
around.
Wow! JACK SLADE,REPRISAL! and WARPATH….what a triple bill.
BTW I’ve been having the odd smile regarding your previous “Gunsmoke
on steroids” comment…inspired stuff!
John K, the color was not totally perfect in WARPATH, but it was bright, not at all faded. Correct color might have been just slightly off, slightly that is, but the color looked good to me. Certainly good enough for a DVD release.
Bit of a typo in my review of Slade, meant that to say “1/2 HOUR episodes of radio Gunsmoke”, instead I just said “Gunsmoke 1/2”. The radio Gunsmokes were much more brutal than the 1/2 hour TV versions, even when they re-made the original Gunsmoke radio shows they were toned down and the extreme violence written out. It was the radio show that Slade reminded me of.
Johnny G, my poor old memory must be going but where did you get hold of a copy of “JACK SLADE”? Not available via Amazon – am I missing something here?
I am most interested that you also watched “WARPATH” and “REPRISAL”. I am also a big fan of Edmond O’Brien but preferably in thrillers and noirs rather than westerns where he seems somehow “out of time” to me. (However he was terrific in low-budget “COW COUNTRY” so I’ve just disproved my point!).
Thanks also for raising “GUNSLINGER” TV series. In 1961 this was shown on UK TV on Saturday nights but this was of course long before it was possible to record and avoid clashes. On another channel at the same time was “LARAMIE”, one of my favourite series, and so I only ever got to see 2 episodes. But it WAS good and would be an ideal candidate for a reissue on DVD by CBS.
John K ,I mean’t to mention there was a slight bit of flicker in one of the scenes in BANDIDO .Did you notice that? MITCHUM seemed to like playing gunrunners in movies .
Jerry, I didn’t see Gunslinger in 1961 either, I was 3 1/2 at the time, but saw it on DVD. I’m amazed at your almost total recall of movies and where you were at the time when TV series were on. LARAMIE happens to be one of the weekly westerns I’m watching now, I’m now in the color years. Laramie was a show I remember my grandmother used to like. But commercial DVDs are in very poor quality from Timeless on these LARAMIE’s. Looks like very poor privately taped copies were used as source for their DVD commercial releases. Good enough to watch, but quality wise very very poor. Not at all like Timeless’s commercial releases of THE VIRGINIAN, those look excellent, color picture, sharpness all excellent on The Virginian TV series. Both came from NBC, don’t know why Timeless couldn’t get original films of LARAMIE from NBC the way they did for VIRGINIAN.
Jack Slade was broadcast once on Encore Westerns that’s where mine comes from. Public forums are not the place to vomit personal information but if you want, ask Toby and perhaps he’ll give you my email address and we can talk.
Edmond O’Brien does seem to have been born for film noir. To be reluctantly critical of one of my favorite actors, he does seem to be ill at ease and very uncomfortable when in a fight and esp. when throwing a punch in “Warpath”. I don’t think he was ever a boxer.
But in film noir, perfect. Everyone remembers him in D.O.A. but I also really liked him in A CRY IN THE NIGHT, SHIELD FOR MURDER & HITCH HIKER. He was also a hoot as a 1/2 hammy actor and 1/2 private eye in his TV series JOHNNY MIDNIGHT. That was one show I was sorry when it ran out of episodes.
English is not easy for me – I am french- also I write in french, sorry. I was a teenager, when i saw for the first time ” Jack Slade” (Jack Slade, le damné), magnifique western noir. Selon William K.Everson, Stevens serait co-réalisateur du film, c’est un western qui rentre dans mon top ten et dont j’espère une sortie dvd. Mark Stevens était aussi très bien dans “cry vengeance” (la vengeance de Scarface) et “Timetable”, good noirs. J’aime aussi beaucoup ” Gun fever” with the grim flavor of “Jack Slade”, “Gun fever” is a cheap western but very interesting. I have 25 movies with Mark Stevens, merçi de le faire mieux connaitre. To see the french site : Western movies.
SHIELD FOR MURDER is a title never on home video as yet. I had hoped the MGM MOD program would release it, and now I guess maybe Kino or Shout would/could.
Ordered Gunsmoke in Tucson from Amazon, along with Short Grass and Fort Dobbs, and really enjoyed it. Thanks for the post.
You can’t go wrong with any of those. I’m a big fan of Fort Dobbs.
I am fascinated by the comments above. I too like Return of Jack Slade. Another obscure western which is also enjoyable is Taggart starring Tony Young. I do not know whether this is in the market. Best regards. .
“Taggart” is on dvd in France, region 2 with subtitles in French..French title : “5000 dollars mort ou vif “.
TAGGART from Universal France is a lovely widescreen transfer.
The French subtitles are removable BTW. English Western fans can pick up
this little gem for peanuts on Amazon UK.
Good latter day role for underrated Dick Foran.
Agreed with John this is a gem and most of us missed it when first release in the early sixties. This could also be due to the fact that Tony Young was unknown at that time. Best regards.
Hint: Taggart is coming soon to GRIT TV. Wednesday morn at 9 am to be precise.
Santa Fe has a heap of brothers
JACK SLADE est sur youTube
dvd Artus films JACK SLADE prévu pour le 19 janvier 2016 annulé (cancelled)