Posted in 1957, Angie Dickinson, DVD reviews, releases, TV, etc., James Garner, Randolph Scott, Warner Bros. on July 24, 2014| 103 Comments »
As part of an all-day tribute to James Garner on Monday, July 28 (at 8AM ET), TCM is running a hard-to-find Randolph Scott Western, Shoot-Out At Medicine Bend (1957). Directed by Richard Bare, it stands as Garner’s only 50s Western — and a rather oddball entry in Scott’s final decade as a Western star. It’s also noteworthy as one of Angie Dickinson’s first films. (They’re not listing this as being letterboxed, but we’ll manage.)
Warner Archive, what’s holding this one up?
Posted in 1956, Character actors, Forrest Tucker, Hank Worden, Lippert/Regal on July 23, 2014| 6 Comments »
Hank Worden (born Norton Earl Worden)
July 23, 1901 – December 6, 1992
Let’s salute one of the greatest character actors of them all, Mr. Hank Worden, on his birthday. That’s him on the far left in this still from The Quiet Gun (1956), a fine Regalscope Western starring Forrest Tucker.
Posted in 1958, Anthony Mann, DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews, Gary Cooper, John Dehner, Kino Lorber on July 22, 2014| 54 Comments »
Buy this Blu-ray or Cooper gets it!
One of the toughest, slimiest, most brutal and just plain best-est 50s Westerns of them all, Anthony Mann’s Man Of The West (1958), is getting a much-needed upgrade this November from Kino Lorber.
It’s hard to put my finger on just why I love this one so much. For starters, it’s one of the finest Westerns ever made. But there’s other stuff, too. Like the awful Cleggs in Wagonmaster (1950), the bad guys here are of unbelievable scuzziness. (It’s hard to believe this is the same Jack Lord I love in Hawaii Five-O, not a hair out of place.) There are very few movies that impact me the way this one does: Mann is at the absolute top of his game here, twisting us around and ringing us out like a dishrag. (Just looking at this still is giving me the willies.) And Cooper brings incredible depth to Link Jones, maybe the ultimate Mann Western character—sorry, Jimmy—and certainly one of Coop’s best performances.
If you can watch this one and not be affected, check your pulse. You’re dead.
Thanks to Dick Vincent for the news. And Blake, if you don’t have a Blu-ray player yet, you’ve run out of excuses, pal.
Posted in 1957, James Garner, John Sturges, Randolph Scott, Television on July 20, 2014| 24 Comments »
James Garner
1928 – 2014
Some celebrities, you’d swear you actually knew them. Maybe you invite them into your home every week (through your TV). Perhaps you can’t remember a time when you weren’t aware of them. Or it could be that they just come off so real. All of those apply to James Garner.
Garner didn’t make much of a mark on the 50s Western, at least not in theaters. (1957’s Shoot-Out At Medicine Bend is the only one he did.) But his Maverick is still a milestone in Westerns on TV. And John Sturges’ Hour Of The Gun (1967, above) is one of the best post-50s Westerns out there, largely due to Garner’s performance — and one of the most sadly overlooked.
I was 10 years old when The Rockford Files (below) debuted, and after binge-watching it countless times over the years, I’m convinced it’s the greatest TV show ever. If I ever fall into a lot of money, you can bet that a gold mid-70s Pontiac Firebird Esprit will find its way to my driveway.
But there’s so much more. The Great Escape (1963). Grand Prix (1966). Marlowe (1968). Those great Doris Day pictures. Support Your Local Sheriff (1969). I’m just getting started.
I’m not making a lot of sense here. Thinking of James Garner and his body of work is a bit mind-boggling right now, and I’m struggling to find a coherent thread through it all. So I’ll just say I miss him already and thank God we can continue to benefit from his talent.
Visit Laura’s place for her thoughts on Garner. An obituary is here.
Posted in DVD reviews, releases, TV, etc., Henry Fonda, John Ford, Pre-1950, Tim Holt, Victor Mature, Ward Bond on July 16, 2014| 22 Comments »
John Ford’s shadow hangs over the Western to a huge degree. How huge? Well, My Darling Clementine (1946) is one of the finest Westerns ever made, yet I can think of several he made that I think are better.
But who cares what I think? Criterion is giving Ford’s tale of the O.K. Corral the treatment it deserves. It’s due in October on both DVD and Blu-ray. And that’s certainly something to hoot and holler about.
Thanks to Dick Vincent for the tip.
Posted in Festivals, screenings, Joel McCrea, Pre-1950, Raoul Walsh, Virginia Mayo on July 10, 2014| 26 Comments »
This one’s cool, folks. A 35mm print of Colorado Territory (1949) will run at San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Center For The Arts on Sunday, July 27 as part of their Invasion Of The Cinemaniacs series.
I don’t know about you, but Raoul Walsh’s Colorado Territory is one of my favorite Westerns. It’s the movie that made me go nuts over Joel McCrea. And Virginia Mayo is absolutely wonderful in it.
Jonathan Knapp, who looks at this blog on occasion, is the cinemaniac who picked it. Boy, do I wish I could get to this one.
And another thing: I’ve been waiting months to use that artwork (above)!
Posted in 1950, Errol Flynn, Gene Autry, Television on July 9, 2014| 3 Comments »
Dick Jones
(February 25, 1927 – July 7, 2014)
Dick Jones passed away this week. He’ll be remembered by most as the voice of Pinocchio (1940). But Westerns fans, we’ll remember Buffalo Bill, Jr. and The Range Rider on TV. And, of course, a string of appearances in Gene Autry movies and his TV show. He’s seen above with Gene in The Strawberry Roan (1948).
He had a great role in the underrated Errol Flynn Western Rocky Mountain (1950).
Posted in 1950, Dorothy Malone, DVD reviews, releases, TV, etc., Joel McCrea, Pre-1950, Ray Enright, Warner Bros. on July 8, 2014| 31 Comments »
Directed by Ray Enright
Starring Joel McCrea, Alexis Smith, Zachary Scott, Dorothy Malone, Douglas Kennedy, Alan Hale, Victor Jory, Bob Steele, Art Smith, Monte Blue.
South Of St. Louis (1949), a rock-solid Joe McCrea picture, is due September 23rd from Olive Films on both DVD and Blu-ray. With gorgeous Technicolor from the great Karl Freund and a terrific score by Max Steiner, this remake of the James Cagney gangster picture The Roaring Twenties (1939) is a winner all the way. Released the same year as McCrea’s Colorado Territory, and just before Saddle Tramp and Stars In My Crown (both 1950), this is Joel McCrea at the top of his game.
The climactic scene, with the bells on the three partners’ spurs jingling as they blast away, has to be one of the most satisfying wrap-ups in all of Westerns. Ray Enright made plenty of good Westerns in the 40s and 50s. Don’t want to start a big debate (or maybe I do), but I’d hold this one up as his best. Can’t wait for September!
Thanks for the tip, Laura!
Posted in 1956, Festivals, screenings, Hank Worden, Harry Carey Jr., Jeffrey Hunter, John Ford, John Wayne, Ward Bond, Warner Bros. on July 7, 2014| 6 Comments »
Short notice, for sure. But certainly worth your while. And I’d be wasting my time to think I needed to tell you how great this film is.
Click on either image for ticket information.
Posted in DVD reviews, releases, TV, etc., Gail Davis, Gene Autry, Ray Nazarro, Television, VCI Entetainment on July 3, 2014| 5 Comments »
All of us in the 50s Westerns From The 50s bunkhouse are really excited about this latest project from VCI: The Annie Oakley TV Collection. My daughter Presley really really digs this show.
Working with Gail Davis’ daughter Terrie, VCI promises plenty of photos and other memorabilia, and there’s a documentary is in the works.
The show ran from 1954-57 in syndication, produced by Gene Autry’s Flying ‘A’ Productions. If Gail Davis isn’t cool enough for ya, episodes featured folks like Slim Pickens, Lee Van Cleef, L.Q. Jones, Denver Pyle and James H. Griffith. And one of our favorites, Ray Nazarro, directed about a dozen of the 81 episodes.
Release-wise, Annie and Target should come riding into your living room this fall.
50 Westerns From The 50s. 