We did a 50s Westerns Want List a couple years ago and it was a blast — and a surprising number of our wishes have since come true! So it seems about time to do another one. Last time around, I polled a few people offline, but I’ve since learned that a lot of the fun comes from watching y’all feed off each other as you load up the comments box.
So send in your lists. I’ll compile and sort the responses — then see if I can get them to someone who can actually do something about it.
I’ll start. Reprisal! (1956) and The Hard Man (1957), both from George Sherman and starring Guy Madison, and Fred MacMurray and James Coburn in Face Of A Fugitive (1959) — all from Columbia. Then there’s a Blu-ray John Sturges/Kirk Douglas/VistaVision twin-bill of Gunfight At The O.K. Corral (1957) and Last Train From Gun Hill (1959). I could go on and on.
UPDATE: I’m compiling and sorting all your requests and will post them Christmas day.
My most urgent wishes:
SADDLE TRAMP (1950)
BRONCO BUSTER (1952) (hope a rodeo movie directed by Boetticher qualifies as a Western, grin)
FOUR GUNS TO THE BORDER (1954)
A MAN ALONE (1955) (think Olive has the rights?)
COPPER SKY (1957)
MAN OR GUN (1958)
Have been able to see most of these in various ways, but nice DVD releases would be a definite “buy” for me, and I’d love others to be able to see them on DVD too.
Best wishes,
Laura
The Regalscope films like Copper Sky, Frontier Gun and The Quiet Gun are WAY up on my list. You can’t beat black and white Scope.
Laura, you threw Saddle Tramp on there but forgot its younger brother, The Lone Hand (which i prefer). You must’ve been in a hurry.
John got us all started on a Rod Cameron tangent and I’m coming a lot of his pictures I wanna see.
Is it a blessing or a curse that they made so many Westerns in the 50s?
Blood on the Moon (1948) Robert Mitchum. I can’t understand why this has never been released in the US. It’s one of the best westerns ever.
Gunman’s Walk
How stupid that I didn’t think of that one.
Ditto on GUNMAN’S WALK.
Also would wish for:
DESTRY (1955)
THE SPOILERS (1956)
FOUR GUNS TO THE BORDER (1954)
MAN WITHOUT A STAR (1955)
RUN OF THE ARROW (1957)
WALK THE PROUD LAND (1956)
THE TREASURE OF PANCHO VILLA (1955)
PONY SOLDIER (1952)
JESSE JAMES VS THE DALTONS (1954)
Going to look into all these intriguing titles everyone’s mentioned on here. These are the ones I’ve been waiting years for:
Blood on the Moon (1948)
The Big Sky (1952)
Run of the Arrow (1957)
The Lusty Men (1952)
Man Without a Star (1955)
These two deserve to be on DVD, at the very least:
Hellfire (1949)
The Showdown (1950)
And while not a 50s Western, I badly want this one more easily accessible:
The Robin Hood of El Dorado (1936)
YES!!! THE BIG SKY (1952), very worthy of quality dvd release!
I have some of the titles mentioned on region-2 and region-4. Of the ones I can’t find anywhere in a decent transfer, here are 35 titles:
ABILENE TOWN
AT GUNPOINT
BLACK HORSE CANYON
BRIMSTONE
CANADIAN PACIFIC
CARIBOO TRAIL, THE
CHARGE AT FEATHER RIVER
DAKOTA INCIDENT
DAY OF FURY
DAY OF THE BADMAN
DOMINO KID, THE
DOOLINS OF OKLAHOMA
DRAGOON WELLS MASSACRE
FOUR GUNS TO THE BORDER
GREY FOX, THE
GUN BELT
GUNFIGHTERS (1947)
GREAT DAY IN THE MORNING
HARD MAN, THE
HEAVEN WITH A GUN
LAST OUTLAW, THE (1936)
LAW AND ORDER (1932)
LONE HAND, THE
MAN ALONE, A
REPRISAL
RIDE THE MAN DOWN
ROAD TO DENVER
RUN OF THE ARROW
SADDLE TRAMP
SAGA OF HEMP BROWN
SAVAGE HORDE, THE
SHOWDOWN AT ABILENE
SOUTH OF ST. LOUIS
SUGARFOOT
WALKING HILLS, THE
Oops. Forgot two good George Montgomery westerns: THE TEXAS RANGERS and CRIPPLE CREEK.
The Gambler From Natchez
I badly want to see A Great day in the Morning. I believe Olive have plans for A Man Alone, which needs a decent release. And speaking of a decent release, it’s shameful that Sam Fuller’s Run of the Arrow has been neglected for so long.
What is so inspiring about this list is the number of obscure titles that
have filtered through into the mix. Its great to see titles like MAN OR GUN
and JESSE JAMES Vs THE DALTONS mentioned.
As Mike mentions many of these films have appeared in other territories.
MAN WITHOUT A STAR surfaced several years ago in South Korea of all
places but has since turned up in Australia and the UK.
I will try to come up with a few titles not already mentioned; but the lists
are so good its really hard!;
I will kick off with JACK SLADE (1953) the most grim,bleak Western you
will ever see.
THE PATHFINDER (1952
STAGE TO TUSCON (1952)
THE SILVER WHIP (1953)
JACK McCALL DESPERADO (1953)
THE YELLOW MOUNTAIN (1954)
ARROW IN THE DUST (1954)
STRANGER AT MY DOOR (1956)
RAW EDGE (1956)
APACHE WARRIOR (1957) Top-notch Regalscope film
THE TALL STRANGER (1957)
SIERRA BARON (1958) In scope and a decent transfer unlike the
Spanish horror issued a couple of years ago!
OREGON PASSAGE (1958) Probably not great;but its an Allied
Artists picture in scope and color and one I have never seen.
Finally a guilty pleasure;its not a Fifties Western and not even American
but I loved it as a kid and REALLY want to see it again.
Really just HIGH NOON set in South Africa starring Richard Todd,
and in Tecnhirama as well!
THE HELLIONS (1961)
Whoops……I forgot two top budget early Fifties Paramount Pictures…
RED MOUNTAIN (1951)
FLAMING FEATHER (1952)
Speaking of Paramount REGASA in Spain are about to release
THUNDER IN THE SUN (1959)
Do I recall someone saying there are quality issues with Regasa?
Shame cos they recently released SOUTH OF SOUTH LOUIS.
Why cannot someone get their act together and get these films released
in America.
Blood on the Moon was released in the U.S. — on laser disc. I have it. 🙂 But I’d really love to get it on Blu-ray. 😉
Two of the titles mentioned above on the way: The Warner Archive is working on a 16×9 remaster of Heaven with a Gun, and Twilight Time will release Pony Soldier on Blu-ray on February 12 (3000 copy limited edition).
I’d really like to see Wild Bill Elliott get some DVD love, and have WAC release some more Tim Holt films. I’m especially anxious for Holt’s early title Wagon Train.
My big 1950s movie wants are (no surprise) two Ben Johnson titles:
Wild Stallion. Cinecolor, Monogram, 1952. Supposedly WAC is working on this but last time I asked they do not have any information about a release date.
Slim Carter. Universal, 1957. Somewhere in limbo. Enjoyable film starring Jock Mahoney as an irresponsible western bar singer who becomes a singing cowboy movie hero and after various shenanigans, grows up. Julia Adams is the movie producer. 😉 Ben Johnson plays Jock’s stunt double and gets to do a little roping. Probably also needs a widescreen remaster.
I’d also like to see Rebel in Town and War Drums remastered in their proper widescreen format.
Also on my list — Black Horse Canyon, with Joel McCrea and Mari Blanchard and a gorgeous black horse.
And squeaking into the 1960s — One-Eyed Jacks, of course!
How about STAGECOACH TO DANCER’S ROCK (1962)? It’s not from the 50’s, but close. Saw this on tv in mid-1960’s. I recognised Martin Landau from MISSION IMPOSSIBLE in the cast. Haven’t seen it since and remember it as pretty bleak; people in a stagecoach revealing their true selves in a time of desperation, stranded in the desert.
Coincidenally, Richard, Stagecoach To Dancer’s Rock was just on Encore Westerns just about 2 days ago, luckily I saw it was coming just in time to record it. Always pays to look at the upcoming 24 hours schedule every day like I do. You never know what surprise will pop up out of nowhere. I had never heard of this movie but saw it was still made in the right time frame for westerns & that Martin Landau was in it, that convinced me to get it.
Johnny Guitar, I don’t have Encore Westerns, just basic cable, but missing STAGECOACH TO DANCER’S ROCK is a pretty good reason for upgrading. Still, wouldn’t mind seeing it come out on dvd, maybe even as part of a set … Say hello to the Dancin’ Kid for me.
The funny thing about these wish lists;there is always something
that you forgot that comes into your mind later.
I am totally with Toby on how great Westerns look in black & white
scope and heres one I forgot to add to my list.
THE HIRED GUN (1955)
Warner Archive should have the rights to this one and at least with them
we know the film will be released on DVD in widescreen.
Yep, I’m wanting this one, too.
Regalscope westerns: Ride A Violent Mile, Frontier Gun.
Paramount AC Lyles productions: Law Of The Lawless, Stage To Thunder Rock, Young Fury, Waco.
Universal International: Star In The Dust.
Universal: Incident At Phantom Hill.
MGM (UA}: Barquero
The Rawhide Trail.
Last Stagecoach West.
Thanks for bringing up those Regalscopes! I love Frontier Gun — what a cool little B movie it is.
Oh my…Bought a movie poster of RIDE A VIOLENT MILE about a quarter of a century ago and have still not seen the film.
I have to move this to the top of my “Most Wanted” list of dvd releases.
A few others to mention…
(MGM/UA) Ride Out For Revenge, Beast Of Hollow Mountain.
Regalscope—both of these supposedly forthcoming from Olive Films—
Ambush At Cimmaron Pass, Showdown At Boot Hill
Is it just me…………but it would seem that the companies with the best MOD
programs (Warners/Sony) are also cleaning up at the box office.
Warners of course have their Harry Potter and Batman franchises which
have made them billions. Added to which the just released The Hobbit
looks like to clean up.
In return us vintage film fans get a slew of Warner Archive releases
EVERY WEEK! Whoever thought we would see Monogram Cowboy sets
or Bowery Boys collections.
Sony have had a good year too their Spider Man and Men In Black
re-boots have done big international business. The latest James Bond film
(which Sony distribute) is not far off $1 billion globally.
Sony while not as prolific as Warners produce about a dozen MODs
every month.
We know with these two companies many of the obscure films we crave
are going to see the light of day;and in top-notch quality too.
It is sure good to know other folks are after the Regalscope films;the problem
is most of the Regalscope films are owned by Fox. The Fox MOD
program is the worst of the lot;there are serious quality issues and
the way they keep releasing DVDs of Cinemascope films as pan & scans
is terrible.None of us,I feel would buy any Regalscope title as a P&S.
Someone recently gave me an “off air” copy of SIERRA BARON one of
my prime wants. Although pan & scan the color is far,far superior to the
dreadful Spanish DVD of a few years ago.
Should Fox issue this title as a P&S what is the point of me buying the DVD?
Fox need to seriously up their game or their MOD series will go the same way
as the MGM/MOD series.
The Universal Vault MOD program continues to improve;no quality issues
there either.
Which only leaves Paramount the only major without an MOD program.
Sadly Paramount also have control of the Republic catalog.
They do lease titles to Olive Films but being a small independent Olive
understandably take ages to release the films we really want.
I would love to see some of that latter day Republic stuff mainly filmed in
widescreen Naturama. I am thinking about titles like THUNDER OVER
ARIZONS,SPOILERS OF THE FOREST,MAN OR GUN,HELLS
CROSSROADS,THE LAWLESS EIGHTIES and LAST STAGECOACH
WEST. I doubt if any of these films would ever figure on Olive Films
radar.
There has been a certain “buzz” about some distribution deal between
Warners and Paramount all I can say is bring it on.
With The Archive in control not only would we get the Republic titles
but also the Paramount A.C.Lyles titles which should at least get an MOD
release. I recall TOWN TAMER being the best of the lot;and would love
too see how it stands up now.
As I have said before its just great to know people are interested in these
obscure “lost” films.
A couple of MIA Alan Ladd titles—
The Big Land (Warner)
Drum Beat (Fox)
In the realms of TV shows—
More of, or the rest of, Rawhide
Last season of Have Gun Will Travel
Speaking of some of these old fifties westerns, my nominees for the most ludicrous portrayals of American Indians are: Jay C. Flippen (Walking Coyote) in RUN OF THE ARROW, Larry Dobkin (Chickamon) in BADGE OF MARSHAL BRENNAN, and Ted DeCorsia (Chief Buffalo Horn) in OKLAHOMA TERRITORY. Any others?
My favorite, Joey Bishop, TX Across The River. Now there’s an indian.
Hi Texican,
The Alan Ladd titles you mention were both Warner Bros releases
but Warners no longer hold the rights to them because they were
produced by Ladds own production company Jaguar.
The same goes for GUNS OF THE TIMBERELAND and the much
sought after (non Western) HELL ON FRISCO BAY.
DRUM BEAT was released recently in Australia by Bounty Entertainment
in an OK scope transfer.All refs fo Warners are removed from the DVD.
The rights to these most wanted Ladd titles are in limbo probably tied up
with Ladds estate.
Mike,
Nice diversion from thread; my two entries for most ludicrous portrayal
of an Indian are as follows:
FORT VENGEANCE Michael Granger as Sitting Bull
10 times worse:
GUN THAT WON THE WEST Robert Bice as Red Cloud
All I want for Christmas is Fox MODs in the right aspect ratio.
One of my oldest VHS tapes that I transferred over to DVD was a TBS showing of “Showdown At Boothill” st. C. Bronson in about 1987 or ’88, it was in full screen aspect ratio of course (this was before TV even dreamed of showing letterbox movies in original format) but the movie was a good one and I coudn’t tell it was supposed to be in widescreen format from watching it. It was a neat little movie though and the reason I recorded it was it had Bronson as the star, I never heard of Regal Studios back then.
Also, if they could be found in color:
Flesh And The Spur
Woman Of The North Country.