The onslaught on new releases continues, which is great news, with a batch of Paramount titles on the way from Olive Films — including a number of 50s Westerns (in addition to Nicholas Ray’s Run For Cover, which I covered in a previous post).
Silver City (1951): Byron Kaskin directs Edmond O’Brien, Yvonne De Carlo, Richard Arlen, Barry Fitzgerald, Gladys George and John Dierkes.
The Savage (1952): Directed by George Marshall. Charlton Heston stars. There was a bit of controversy over the title, with The Savage being switched out with Warbonnet (see below).
Denver And Rio Grande (1952): Byron Haskin and Edmond O’Brien again, this time with Sterling Hayden, Dean Jagger, J. Carrol Naish and Zasu Pitts in tow. Gorgeous Technicolor location work — and Hayden, as always, is cool.
Pony Express (1953): Charlton Heston is Buffalo Bill. Forrest Tucker is Wild Bill Hickock. Rhonda Fleming and Jan Sterling are in it. It’s written by Charles Marquis Warren . What more do I need to say?
The Hangman (1959): I’m dying to see this one again! Robert Taylor, Tina Louise, Fess Parker and Jack Lord make up a terrific cast. Directed by the great Michael Curtiz. Jack Lord was on a roll in this period — Man Of The West (1958), God’s Little Acre (1958) and Williamsburg: The Story Of A Patriot, the VistaVision short subject that has run continuously at the Colonial Williamsburg visitor center since 1957.
The Jayhawkers (1959): Jeff Chandler, Fess Parker and Henry Silva star in this picture, which holds up much better as a Western than as a history lesson about pre-Civil War Kansas. Henry Silva is in a lot of good 50s Westerns — The Tall T (1957), The Bravados (1958) and The Law And Jake Wade (1958), yet we don’t really associate him with the genre. It also features a terrific score by Jerome Moross.
50 Westerns From The 50s. 
“The Jayhawkers”? Jerome Moross rules! Gee, I must have been 12 years old the last time I saw it.
All films listed above are currently on NETFLIX instant, except THE HANGMAN.
I couldn’t find these films on Amazon and even when I found “Olive Films” they didn’t show them either. Where and when can you buy these films?
Even Classicflix.com who sent the announcement aren’t taking orders yet. Stay tuned.
Toby, these are the films in youth that was being filmed and with some of the best character actors in the business.
Many of them were just starting out, but then learning their craft they got a break and there was Charlton Heston, Edmond O’Brien, Yvonne De Carlo, Fess Parker, Forrest Tucker … many went into television and others like Heston rose to stardom in epic films.
But I still love an old B-Western to watch, you get lost in the film and the enjoyment is priceless.
Thanks Toby, for this site and bringing a little joy into each day with your postings.
Mr. Jim
Toby – always look forward to this site, Henry Silva one of the great movie heavies – pity someone hasn’t interviewed him for his memories of working with Randolph Scott, Audie Murphy etc on those super westerns he did in the 50’s – Also Skip Homier’s memoirs would be fascinating
Bruce
I was just thinking the other day that it’d be great to talk to Silva. I’ve been wanting to talk to Homeier, too, but I’ve heard he’s hesitant to do interviews. Both appear in such key 50s Westerns, their remarks would be a great thing to have.
Toby- Several of my favorite films with Henry Silva are:
“The Tall T” (1957), featuring Randolph Scott, Richard Boone, Maureen O’Sullivan, Arthur Hunnicutt, Skip Homeier & Silva.
also
“The Law and Jake Wade” (1958), featuring Robert Taylor, Richard Widmark, DeForest Kelley & Silva
also
“The Bravados” (1958), featuring Gregory Peck, Joan Collins, Stephen Boyd, Albert Salmi & Silva
also
“Ride a Crooked Trail” (1958), featuring Audie Murphy, Gia Scala, Walter Matthau & Silva
(This is one of my favorite Audie Murphy films, in which Matthau steals just about scene he’s in)
Henry Silva went on to do so many great television shows – Thriller (TV series), The Untouchables (TV series), The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (TV series), The Outer Limits (TV series), Wagon Train (TV series) – and so many more.
Wonderful character actor from Brooklyn, New York.
Toby- Love your site and all of the comments from the fans of B-Westerns.
Mr. Jim
““The Bravados” (1958), featuring Gregory Peck, Joan Collins, Stephen Boyd, Albert Salmi & Silva…”
Don’t forget Lee Van Cleef, fourth of the quartet of outlaws with Boyd, Salmi and Silva. Even allowing that he belatedly became a star of Italian Westerns, this was as good a role as Van Cleef ever had–he and Peck share one of the great scenes of all 50s revenge Westerns in the middle of the film. For me, these four made for one of the most beautifully cast group of outlaws ever, making Peck’s vengeful pursuit of them all the more compelling.
Blake – Agree with you totally, Van Cleef had those beady eyes and that chiseled face and his voice was one of a kind. Great character actor who also was one of the men after Gary Cooper in “HIGH NOON”. Also did some wonderful character roles on television from The Twilight Zone to The Lone Ranger, Gene Autry Show.
Was given a chance to read and review the following book from BearManor Media… which is a wonderful coffee table book.
[Please click onto link]
Lee Van Cleef: Best of the Bad [Paperback] ~ Michael G. McGlasson (Author),
http://www.amazon.com/Lee-Van-Cleef-Best-Bad/dp/1593936176/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322241013&sr=1-2
Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving.
Mr. Jim
An enjoyable Charles Marquis Warren directed film was Trooper Hook. It starred Joel McCrea and Barbara Stanwyck. The supporting cast included Celiva Lovsky, Susan Kohner, Earl Holliman and Michael Ansara as the Indian chief who was out to get his son. Barbara was the mother. She had been kidnapped several years before and had, after having a child with the chief, escaped. Joel was helping to rescue her. A group of travelers were riding a stagecoach with the Indian chief in pursuit. It was quite well directed, the action was good and there was plenty of tension. Things turn out well fo Barbara and Joel. Earl Holliman was especially winsome as a fellow traveler.
I hope this isn’t a mistake, but Classicflix says three of these – “Run for Cover”, “Silver City” and “Denver and Rio Grande” – will also be released on Blu-ray. Release date is May 22:
http://www.classicflix.com/olive-westerns-cover-silver-city-denver-grande-a-1182.html