Tim Holt’s back with a third volume of DVD-Rs from Warner Archive. This is cause for celebration.
As I’ve said many times (and I’m not finished), these Tim Holt RKO pictures are among the best series Westerns ever made. They’re tight, a bit more adult, and benefit from the presence of real craftsman like cinematographer Nicholas Musuraca.
This collection contains Storm Over Wyoming (1950), Rider From Tucson (1950), Border Treasure (1950), Rio Grande Patrol (1950), Law Of The Badlands (1951), Saddle Legion (1951), Gunplay, (1951) Hot Lead (1951) Road Agent (1952) and Target (1952).
Already ordered! After Ben Johnson and John Wayne, Tim Holt is my favorite movie cowboy. He was a fine actor and I think he could have transitioned into the new style of 1950s Western very nicely if he’d had a mind to do so, but from what I read, he didn’t like the changes occurring in the movie industry at the time and instead retired from filmmaking at the ripe old age of 35 (although he made a few rare appearances on TV — an episode of The Virginian — and in films thereafter).
The Mysterious Desperado in the second Holt collection is especially interesting for Musuraca’s noirish cinematography — Lesley Selander directed.
I’ve been watching these “Saturday Afternoon” westerns now (for the first time) for the past year or so. So far I’ve been mainly watching Hopalong Cassidy & Roy Rogers. But I’ve recently started including some new additions, Rocky Lane, Sunset Carson & Wild Bill Elliott. These are short and sweet little westerns, lots of action and always fun. My favorite of the 2 I’ve seen most of, Hoppy or Roy, is Roy Rogers. I like his movies more, especially the ones in color. I guess I just like the Roy character better than Hoppy, but Hoppy is also very entertaining, esp. like Andy Clyde as his side-kick.
Thanks to this posting I will now add Tim Holt to my weekly hour long westerns viewing ritual. In fact, I’ll be watching my first Tim Holt western tonight from Vol. 1. I’ve only seen one Sunset Carson so far, but that one was filled with really bad actors, the only actor who was any good was Sunset himself. Now I won’t yet judge all Sunset Carsons I’ve only seen this one, but it was kinda bad. The rest of them have all been fun and interesting and in some cases exciting to watch. I look forward to seeing my first Tim tonight.
Toby- Been a big fan of Tim Holt for many years, longer than
I care to admit, but his films were to say the least, above the rest that were being released during the 50’s.
(please click onto link and enjoy_
Tim Holt Western Classics Collection Vol.3 (1952)
All three Western Classic Collections of Tim Holt are available
on Amazon.Com.
Hope other B-Westerns with Allan Rocky Lane (VCI Ent.), Wild Bill Elliott (VCI Ent), Don “Red” Barry, Charles Starrett (Durango Kid), George O’Brien, Johnny Mack Brown (VCI Ent.), Lash La Rue, Red Ryder, Sunset Carson @ Republic, Tim McCoy (VCI Ent.), Whip Wilson.
Once again Happy Thanksgiving and have a good weekend.
Mr. Jim
This is great! “Chito” (Richard Martin) was my grandmas brother. Its so fun to watch his movies and see his character.
Welcome aboard! Your great uncle (that right, isn’t it?) was terrific.
Tim Holt’s grandson stops by, too. Y’all should get together for lunch!