Directed by Edwin L. Marin
Produced by Jules Levey
Screen play by Harold Shumate
From the novel “Trail Town” by Ernest Haycox
Director Of Photography: Archie J. Stout, ASC
Film Editor: Richard Heermance
Cast: Randolph Scott (Marshal Dan Mitchell), Ann Dvorak (Rita), Edgar Buchanan (Bravo Trimble), Rhonda Fleming (Sherry Balder), Lloyd Bridges (Henry Dreiser), Helen Boice (Big Annie), Howard Freeman (Ed Balder), Richard Hale (Charlie Fair), Jack Lambert (Jet Younger), Dick Curtis (Ryker), Earl Schenck (Hazelhurst), Eddie Waller (Hannaberry), Hank Patterson (Doug Neil)
__________
After World War II, Randolph Scott would create a persona that would carry him through the rest of his career (he played his last non-Western role in 1947) and make him one of the Western’s true icons. He wore his age very, very well, and it gave him the kind of authority you find in Wayne or Cooper or Stewart.
At the same time Scott was maturing, so was the Western itself — and that maturity marks the 50s Westerns we’re so enamored of around here. Abilene Town (1946) shows both of these shifts, Scott’s and the Western’s, toward something more complex and a little darker.
Just a few years after the Civil War, Abilene, Kansas, is a town divided, literally. On one side of the street are the merchants and homesteaders, and on the other side, the saloonkeepers, gamblers and dance hall girls. In the middle stands Marshal Dan Mitchell (Randolph Scott). There’s a range war brewing, with the homesteaders laying down stakes to build a real community and the ranchers wanting to keep the range, and the saloons, open.
Of course, the rancher-settler conflict forms the backbone of many, many Westerns. This time around, there’s a lot of human nature woven into that familiar plot-line — the townspeople are reluctant to actually do anything about their situation, in a way that would become more common in the 50s. It’s certainly lighter here than what would come later, which provides a good role for Edgar Buchanan as an ineffective sheriff. Ann Dvorak gets plenty of screen time, and a number of songs, as Scott’s saloon-singer girlfriend. Lloyd Bridges and Rhonda Fleming get early roles. And Jack Lambert is at his creepy best.
Edwin L. Marin’s direction is very assured, and the action scenes are very well done.
Abilene Town is in the public domain, and when it turns up on TV or on DVD at the dollar store, it invariably looks terrible. Soft, washed-out, spliced-up — just plain lousy. For that reason, I’d never seen it all the way through. The new region-free Blu-ray from Panamint Cinema, mastered from a 35mm fine grain print courtesy of the BFI National Archive, is a revelation. There’s a sound glitch or two, and changeover cues are visible, but those are welcome reminders that you’re watching a movie. I miss such things. Archie Stout’s cinematography is just incredible — it’s hard to believe this is the same movie I’ve given up on so many times over the years. We all owe a big thanks to Russell Cowe at Panamint Cinema for seeing this one through — a movie that has been almost unwatchable for decades now shines like a diamond. Abilene Town is ripe for reappraisal and this Blu-ray should make it happen. Essential.
“…a movie that has been almost unwatchable for decades now shines like a diamond.\” Not that that has ever stopped me. Now, it will feel like a whole new movie.
Reminder: must check up on fantan one of these days.
It made me want to see how fan tan works, too!
What the h… is fantan please??
Toby and Patricia Nolan ,I am curious about Fan Tan .Jan & Dean had a song called Fan Tan , but I believe it was about a perfumed tanning lotion , but hmmmn ,looking at the lyrics and listening to the back ground instruments,it may not have been .
“Fan Tan Fannie” — that’s a number from Flower Drum Song. 🙂
A very welcome post and happy news indeed! The REAL start of Scott’s tenure as a bona fide western star, this is a fine western IMHO. It should be sought out by all (though I believe it is Blu-Ray only).
Love Ann Dvorak. Great costar for Scott.
I, too, was pleased with this Blu-ray. Since ABILENE TOWN had never even appeared on VHS or DVD in decent shape, it was the last title I was expecting to see on Blu-ray, and yes, it looks good.
Are Panamint Blu-rays region free?
I believe they are region-free (had a quick look on their website).
I have a DVD of this film that is pretty decent. It was put out in 2004 by Dynamic DVD in Region 2 only. I am sure the new release will be much-improved though.
Abilene Town IS region free.
Seeing as you are on a Panamint release and I missed out commenting on your INFERNO post, I’d like to ask a couple questions concerning INFERNO and this 3-D business. I take it that I would need a special 3-D Blu-ray player, a special 3-D television and set of 3-D glasses in order to watch this release in 3-D? Is that how these 3-D releases work? Just wondering what I would need before making any 3-D purchases.
Hello Richard, the answer to your your 3D questions, is yes to all three. You need 3D TV, blu ray and glasses. The glasses are usually free with the TV. A high money output to watch a few 3D films. A process that hasn’t really caught on with the TV buying public, though it does seem to come with most new TVs, whether you want it, or not !
Thanks, guys, for explaining about the fantan – I’d never have got it otherwise!
Paula ,thanks for putting that song from FLOWER DRUM SONG .
For all you Gene Autry fans ,GENE AUTRY COLLECTION 11 is up for pre-order from Movies Unlimited .
I watched the movie last night. It was very entertaining, esp. scenes with Edgar Buchanan, he seems to always play an old guy, even when he was young. He looks practically the same in the ’40’s as he did 20 years later on Petticoat Junction. My DVD of this was pretty good looking too, the was only one brief scene that lasted about 10 seconds that was overly bright and washed out, after that 10 seconds it was back to good again. I watched it fro a DVD set called Randolph Scott Western Collection http://www.amazon.com/Randolph-Scott-Western-Collection/dp/B003YCL136/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1440381516&sr=1-1&keywords=randolph+scott+western+collection+dvd
Put out by “Pop Flix” or “Allegro” depending on which label you want to settle for, they’re both on the DVD set. At any rate the picture was decent (no not perfect) but certainly very watchable. So I have no complaints with my DVD version. But if I were to go blu ray I’d certainly order this new version.
As for the movie, I thought aside from the fact that it would have looked great in color, but it’s only b/w, was Ann Dvorak.. I didn’t find her any raving beauty though it looks like she thought she was and her endless songs one then another and then another UGH, it was too much. She can’t sing in the first place, I wound up fast forwarding thru her endless warbling to get back to the story. Aside from b/w and Ann’s over doing it on singing I like the movie a lot.
Toby,congrats on a very fine review of this most welcome Blu-Ray.
Some folks are of the opinion that high def black & white often
looks too perfect, too pristine.
Panamint have tried here to give the viewer as close as possible
experience to what audiences in 1946 would have see at their local cinema.
The original UK censors A certificate is visible at the start.
There is a moment in the film that the late great Ratmond Durgnat
would have called “Hawksian moral sadism.”
Durgnat influenced a whole generation of cineaste scribes with his
great perceptive essays on film.
Anyway in ABILENE TOWN Rhonda really whacks a hapless cowpoke
over the head with his own gun.
Randy: “nice work”
Rhonda: “I didn’t mean to hit him so hard”
Randy: “How do you feel?”
Rhonda (grinning broadly) “fine!”
This recalls a moment in Tourneur’s STRANGER ON HORSEBACK
a scene much admired by Durgnat.
Somewhat placid sheriff Emile Mayer finally accepts the need for
violence and blasts away at the bad guys with a shotgun.
Joel McCrea: “how do you like it”
Mayer (grinning broadly) “loathesome!”
Johnny G…totally agree about the dreadful musical numbers,they
really kill the momentum of the film.
I wish Ray Enright had directed this one!
(way) off topic,
I finally got around to listening to Tom Weaver’s narration over the
recent Kino release of MONSTER THAT CHALLENGED THE WORLD.
(always one of my fave Fifties Creature Features)
There is lots of great (new to me) info about Tim Holt especially in his
later life. Apparently the producers Laven Gardner Levy tried to
interest Tim is a TV series which would eventually end up as
THE RIFLEMAN.
Lots of cool facts about Laven Gardner Levy and how after a few
Noirs they got involved in low buget Horror stuff.
MONSTER THAT CHALLENGED THE WORLD was the largest
budget of the four “drive in” type films they made costing about
$240,000.
Arnold Laven directed “Monster” and the other three films (THE VAMPIRE,
RETURN OF DRACULA and FLAME BARRIER) were directed by Paul
Landres a master at making something out of nothing.
Hard to believe but the three Landres pictures were budgeted at a mere
$100.000 each. Never seen FLAME BARRIER it’s impossible to track
down but RETURN OF DRACULA is as good as a poverty row Horror
gets. THE VAMPIRE is not without merit either.
Apparently when MONSTER THAT CHALLENGED THE WORLD was
paired with THE VAMPIRE at London’s lovely London Pavillion cinema
it broke all records for that cinema.
Arnold Laven reckoned having “Monster” on his c.v prevented him
from getting hired on other more prestige projects,.
At any rate his partnership with Gardner and Levy endured and he later
made a few decent Westerns. GERONIMO,THE GLORY GUYS and
SAM WHISKEY. I certainly need to re-visit the first two films which
hopefully will surface on Blu-Ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.
I remember enjoying them both very much at the time.
THE GLORY GUYS was written by Peckinpah and he was the original
director,replaced by Laven.I do agree with Sam,though that the casting
of the two male leads hindered the film greatly
Still,having said all that I have always considered Arnold Laven to be
a decent,if generally unheralded director..
As there have been various discussions regarding 3D here
I thought that I would mention that the recent Koch version of
REVENGE OF THE CREATURE includes the 3D version,
that can be viewed in 3D on a “normal” TV (red/green glasses
supplied)
Interestingly both versions of the film are in 1.37 not 1.85
as noted on the Koch website.
Furthermore the “flat” version of Creature is nowhere near as
impressive as previous Koch high-def versions of TARANTULA!
and THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN.
Overall,with impressive extras a very good package,although I
would add all Koch Blu-Rays are region B
john k, REVENGE OF THE CREATURE 3-D was made for viewing with polarized glasses. When properly projected or mastered in 3-D the film offers state-of-the-art depth that is easy on the eyes and a pleasure to experience. The film was not intended to be shown in the Anaglyph process of red and green tints. Anaglyph is an inauthentic fraudulent system that produces extremely poor 3-D that causes eyestrain. Look, the red and green glasses are just NOT the same thing as authentic 3-D. Not only is The Koch edition unauthorized home-made conversion of a flat print in a fraudulent 3-D system, it’s also in the wrong aspect ratio. Avoid it.
While polarized glasses may be the best way, unless you’re going to spend thousands to get the right TV, glasses, and special DVDs you’re totally out of luck. So to put it the way 98% of the people will put it, “forget it”. However the red/blue glasses method is readily available and cheap. I’ve used it for years and mostly it is really quite effective. The only place where it’s not so great is if the picture is in color that you’re watching, then it takes away from the color that’s supposed to be in the picture. But even then it still works, example the 3-D red/blue version of “Polar Express”, very nice throughout most of the movie. But if the movie’s in b/w the red/blue method is very effective indeed. Best example I can think of is the 2 3 Stooges shorts released commercially. The picture is exactly 3-Dee, the boys sitting at a table in a room looks very real. But for color movies red/blue is not so good, for b/w it’s perfect. Just my opinion based on 30 years of watching red/blue 3-D stuff. As for creature film, when you see his hand coming out of the hole in the ship (I believe) it really looks 3-D. I have no complaints and it doesn’t cost thousands to enjoy either. That don’t hurt none.
The marketing of anaglyph conversions is destructive to the public’s understanding of 3-D and to the industry’s willingness to release authentic 3-D films. Why should the studios bother with the expense when people readily buy the cheap, fraudulent alternative. The anaglyph transfer you’re watching was made in 1983 for vhs. It isn’t hi-def. It isn’t even from a 3-D prints. You’re looking at tints applied to a standard flat print. It’s the tints, not the film, that create a pseudo-stereoscopic effect. The actual 3-D perspective is very different from what the tints do. It is ridiculously inadequate compared to authentic 3-D. To encourage people to buy this is to turn the clock back on technology 40 years.
As for spending thousands of dollars on an authentic 3-D system — no. Like millions of other people, I spent less than one thousand dollars on my 3-D blu-ray player, JVC screen & glasses. I spent about $800. It may not be the best system on the market but it’s light years ahead of anaglyph.
You may not like it, and guess what, you don’t have to. But all I know is what I’ve seen for myself with my very own eyes, and YES the red/blue method DOES work, I’ve seen some beautiful examples of it, of which I already mentioned. You don’t like it? Fine, don’t. But don’t try to tell me that I’m not seeing 3-D when my eyes are seeing it as plain as the 3-D pie headed to your face if you ever watch the stooge short w/your red/blue glasses on. It’s coconut cream, I believe. “If I only had some coffee.” All I know is what I see and I see it working (most of the time, or all of the time if you’re watching b/w movies) so bring on the red and blue. Or lower the high prices of polarization, one or the other.
This issue seems to be polarizing.
Johnny Guitar:
That is the argument of a child. How nice for you to know what you like. Go ahead and watch all the crap red & blue conversions that you want. But don’t try to convince the grown-ups that the film was intended to be seen that way or that there is actual 3-D, because there isn’t. Fact: you are looking at the dis-coloration of a flat, one-eyed print that gives the false and fleeting impression of depth. Stereoscopic technologists know that anaglyph works only fleetingly before the human retina and the mind behind the retina begins to correct for it. That’s if you have a mind. Which begs the question, if someone throws a pie in your face, do you have the brains to realize you’re wearing it? After the first few minutes of a fake conversion, you’re just kidding yourself. Why would I watch the Three Stooges in fake anaglyph when I can watch them the way they were meant to be seen, in actual stereo, by dual projection for slightly polarized glasses? I’ve seen each Three Stooges 3-D short exactly three times at the World 3-D Expos. So at least I have an authentic 3-D experience to compare the anaglyph crap to.
I have sympathy for you because you can’t afford an authentic 3-D system. If I were rich, I’d gift you one. But when you try to refute basic / simple / elementary / stereoscopic science that everyone knows is true you only make a fool of yourself.
Again, with conscientious experts working and negotiating behind the scenes to get classic 3-D movies released on blu-ray in the authentic process, specifically including Revenge of the Creature, it is important not to encourage the cheap, fraudulent alternatives released in Germany. This is not the time to settle for second best nor give ill-advised recommendations on the ‘net.
I think someone needs to take a chill pill. I explained already that I know 3-D when I sees it and I saws it quite clearly and impressively in the examples I already cited. Just re-read, I don’t like chewing cud twice. To be fair to you I also noted color film’s problem w/blue red 3-D method. That was my extended olive branch, by the way, that you broke. Hondo being in color was pretty lousy looking in the red/blue 3-D method. But I already admitted color films disadvantage with red/blue.
So to each his own, now have a spoon of my nerve medicine, courtesy of Mr. Wilson. Some things just aren’t worth getting your panties in an uproar over.
Whoops! I seem to have started some cyberspace version of
the Lincoln County War.
At least sheriff Toby is keeping a low profile,,,gone fishing…yet again! 🙂
I only got the Koch version of “Creature” because I wanted to see it in
High Def and at 1.85.
I had no idea the 3D version could play on a “normal” TV
I DO have several 3D films that I cannot play (HOUSE OF WAX,
INFERNO) and possibly will invest in a 3D system in the future,at least
I have very good “flat” versions to play.
It remains to be seen if films like CHARGE AT FEATHER RIVER,
FORT TI,THE MAZE,THE MAD MAGICIAN,SANGAREE,THE STRANGER
WORE A GUN and many others will surface in that format…an “arm
twister” as far as I am concerned.
BTW Richard,Koch have an exculsive deal with Universal….all their
releases are legit and supplied by Universal.
I am certainly hoping that they give us a Blu Ray edition of THIS ISLAND
EARTH. The so far unreleased Joel McCrea Universal Westerns (SADDLE
TRAMP,LONE HAND,BLACK HORSE CANYON) would be most welcome too!
john k:
“I only got the Koch version of “Creature” because
I wanted to see it in High Def and at 1.85.
I had no idea the 3D version could play on a “normal” TV”
The 3-D version does not play on a “normal” TV. That’s why Universal sent Koch an anaglyph conversion made for the 1983 vhs in Japan. The anaglyph version was made for “normal” TV’s forty year ago, but try to understand it’s fake 3-D.
Today, in the 21st century, hi-def TV screens enabled for 3-D are normal TV’s. Soon, all hi-def TV’s will routinely be equipped with a 3-D option. The delay is in the fact that the technology is advancing so rapidly they’re waiting for it to standardize so that they can standardize the software to match it. Some industry insiders think it’s coming with the general widespread upgrade to 4K, but I’m not so sure.
“I DO have several 3D films that I cannot play
(HOUSE OF WAX, INFERNO) and possibly
will invest in a 3D system in the future, at least
I have very good “flat” versions to play.”
Right now there are some low-priced smaller 3-D screens that you can get real cheap. I recommend you get one if you can afford it , even though the screens are not so big. For example JVC had a passive 3-D enabled screen at 47 inches that was selling for under $400. for awhile. The specs are rated much higher, competitive with larger $2,000 screens. The polarized glasses come with it and extra glasses can still be bought for $10 a pair. The picture quality was outstanding. There are many other bargains like that and better if you look for them at places like Walmart, CostCo, Sam’s Club, amazon, ebay etc.
“It remains to be seen if films like CHARGE AT
FEATHER RIVER, FORT TI, THE MAZE, THE
MAD MAGICIAN, SANGAREE, THE STRANGER
WORE A GUN and many others will surface in
that format…an “arm twister” as far as I am
concerned.”
THE CHARGE AT FEATHER RIVER is a first-rate western and an outstanding, state-of-the-art 3-D experience. I love this film. Over sixty years later and it’s still a crowd-pleaser in 3-D. I hope you get to see it in 3-D, if not on blu-ray, then projected at some festival somewhere. Warner Home Video controls it. Although their blu-rays of HOUSE OF WAX 3-D, DIAL M. FOR MURDER 3-D and KISS ME KATE 3-D are financial successes, Warner Home Video has backed away from releasing their other 3-D films. I know industry players who are really fed up trying to deal with them. They are adversarial and obstructive even to the studio’s own best interests. The two guys running it have their own interests and their own agenda and 3-D is not on their radar.
STRANGER WORE A GUN is at Sony together with the other Columbia 3-D films you mention. The transfer may need a little work, from what I’ve seen. Some clean-up and registration correction. But for all I know Grosver Crisp of Sony may have a hi-def transfer already. He is the best film preservationist and image masterer in the business. I would hope that if and when they release it in 3-D they’ll convert the flat shots into 3-D (there’s only a couple) to provide a seamless viewing experience, and put an option on the menu to watch it in 3-D with the flat shots for purists.
“BTW Richard,Koch have an exculsive deal with
Universal … all their releases are legit and supplied
by Universal.”
I’ve bought a few Universal westerns on blu-ray from Germany that haven’t been released in hi-def here.
It was a terribly cynical and inattentive thing for Universal to do, sending the 1983 anaglyph fake to Koch. Time and technology have marched on and left anaglyph 40 years behind, but some industry players haven’t caught up. They know they can still make a few dollars off the gullible and the stupid.
Bits ‘n bobs,
Well folks,we have wandered far away from ABILENE TOWN.
On the subject of Koch (and for Duke completists) they are
releasing THE CONQUEROR on Blu Ray in October (licensed from
Universal) The disc will have several extras and is presented in 2.55
widescreen.
Kino Lorber are getting aboard the 3D revival and presenting early
Sixties cult item THE MASK in “proper” 3D (i.e Richard friendly!)
Eureka Entertainment in the UK seem to have some sort of deal
going with Paramount-a whole raft of Paramount Blu-Rays are in the
works (most have had domestic releases)
THE QUIET MAN (Paramount/Republic) SHANE,ROBINSON CRUSOE
ON MARS,SECONDS and one I’m really “stoked” about THE NAKED
PREY.
Is it too much to hope for that we may finally see the Paramount Westerns
that have NEVER had a DVD release:FLAMING FEATHER,THE GREAT
MISSOURI RAID,THE SAVAGE,WARPATH,RED MOUNTAIN,THUNDER
IN THE SUN.
john k:
“Kino Lorber are getting aboard the
3D revival and presenting early Sixties
cult item THE MASK in “proper” 3D
(i.e Richard friendly!)”
It is not about me, john k.
Julian Roffman’s THE MASK has been restored by the 3-D Film Archive who are also responsible for preserving and releasing DRAGONFLY SQUADRON, 3-D RARITIES, THE BUBBLE and soon, GOG. They invent their own hard-owned money and time and restore the films with meticulous care. The quality of their work is impeccable.
Here’s a sample of the low prices and good deals on 3-D screens w/ glasses:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=3D%20TV&_udhi=420&_trksid=p2045573.m1684.l5985
A more extensive search would no doubt unearth even better deals.
“invent” should be “invest” and “hard-owned” should by “hard-earned”. Sorry for the typos.
Just received HELL’S FIVE HOURS and watched it for the first time last night .A great crime drama that had me glued to the screen with great perfomances from the three lead and supporting actors.
Johnny Guitar ,I should receive THE TALL STRANGER from Germany soon so I will let you know if the print is any better then the Spanish copy I have .
I just received a shipping notice for the GEORGE SHERMAN WESTERN COLLECTION and BULLWHIP is not far down the postal trail .
Hi gcwe1,
This is the new Koch collection on Sherman, I guess? Can you tell me the titles on it, please? From the cover, 3 films can be seen -‘RIVER LADY’, ‘RED CANYON’ & ‘LAST OF THE FAST GUNS’ but you also mention ‘BULLWHIP’ – or have I found a different set?
I certainly would love to have the ‘scope print of ‘LAST OF THE FAST GUNS’ at the very least.
Jerry Entract ,I am getting the Sherman collection from Koch because of RED CANYON and RIVER LADY which I don’t have and have never seen .I have LAST OF THE FAST GUNS on the Spanish DVD which John K mentions .If I had of known LAST OF THE FAST GUNS was included on the Koch DVD I probably wouldn’t have bought the Spanish one .
John K ,I guess I’m a sucker for nice packaging ,but I may have to scale back a little, what with the Aussie dollar the way it is at the moment and the treasurer now wants to apply the GST to internet purchases .I will certainly let you know on the picture quality when they arrive. One of the problems with buying these foreign DVDs is that they sometimes get released in the US ,which is a good thing -ie THE WONDERFUL COUNTRY ,PONY SOLDIER etc which were hard to get not so long ago.
I wish to make a correction to the above comment . I have the French Sidonis copy of LAST OF THE FAST GUNS ,not the Spanish copy .
Thanks for the clarification, gcwe1.
Hi Jerry,
The three titles you mention are the ones on the Koch
Sherman collection with RED CANYON making it’s Worldwide
DVD debut.
If you only want the widescreen version of LAST OF THE FAST GUNS
please refer to Colin’s review where he gives a link as to where to
pick up the Spanish version for a mere few Euros!
gcwe 1,
I must say that I admire your dedication on these German
Film Jewels releases and would be most interested to hear your
comments regarding the quality.
Like Laura I’m on a real Adele Mara kick at the moment and had
more or less forgotten that she turned up in CURSE OF THE
FACELESS MAN another low budget creature feature from my mis-spent
youth. Always had a fondness for that one and I am very pleased that
Kino are giving it the high-def remastered treatment soon.
Never cared too much for Edward Cahn’s Westerns of that period but
always thought his Sci-Fi Horrors were terrific fun.
Kino are smart enough to know that hardcore Creature Feature buffs
(suckers?) like myself will jump at widescreen high-def versions of these
little gems.
John K ,I just received DER GROSSE FREMDE- THE TALL STRANGER DVD from Filmjuwelen .It is in Widescreen .Picture quality and colour is about the same as the Spanish DVD, however there are more lines in the opening credits but throughout there are a lot less .The bad news is that about 30 mins into the film when Barry Kelley is fighting one of his men because he suspects him of stealing cattle ,the Audio goes from English to German with English subs for a couple of minutes then swiches back to English audio for the rest of the film .They done this with the Explosive Media copy of THE BIG GUNDOWN ,only a lot more often .This may explain why they were going to include English in BRIMSTONE and then changed their mind .Maybe the English soundtrack was damaged, but that’s only a guess .The opening credits are in German .
Johnny Guitar, the good news is that the freeze which is on the Spanish copy of THE TALL STRANGER is not on the German copy .
I also received today a DVDr copy of DRAGOON WELLS MASSACRE .In my opinion, one of the best B grade westerns from the 1950s.
WOW ,what a coincidence ,I received 2 movies on the same day with 2 actors ,Leo Gordon and Jack Elam who normally play tough guys ,playing sympathetic characters .
Ha! I love it when these “Randy” threads start crashing record
hits…although we wander far off-topic.
I must admit my first port of call when online nowadays is to see
what those cats at Kino-Lorber are up too next.
Their high-def remastering of old classics is setting new standards
of excellence.
I simply cannot wait to see their remastered widescreen version
of MAN WITH THE GUN.
There is a very fair review of Tourneur’s final feature WAR GODS
OF THE DEEP over at DVD Savant. The film has never looked so
good as on Kino’s jaw dropping Blu-Ray.
The film has always generated mixed reactions among fans,but I
feel the film has many merits,super production values,a most
engaging cast and all in all a decent swan song for Tourneur.
Masochist,I may be,but I certainly hope Kino give us a high-def
widescreen version of THE BLACK SLEEP…a film that certainly has very
mixed opinions among fans. For all the films many faults I find the film
strangely endearing.
Also I am a great admirer of screenwriter John C Higgins.
Higgins had a very long working relationship with producer Aubrey
Schenck, right from Noir classics like T-MEN through the Bel-Air days
right through the years when Schenck went independent again with fare
like ROBINSON CRUSOE ON MARS.
THE BLACK SLEEP is hardly a highlight in Higgins’ career but I for one
find it a guilty pleasure.
Well guys ,I have a confession to make .In a previous post I said I had ordered the Alive AG German copy of SARTANA DOES NOT FORGIVE .Well I cancelled it and then just had to give in and reordered it .It is a pretty good film ,but if Gilbert Roland and Jack Elam were not in it and if there were no English sub titles I would not have bothered ,I know it is annoying watching American made films with no English soundtrack ,but I know what Elam’s and Roland’s voices sound like so I just had to imagine that in my head when the subs came on ,although in some scenes the subs were slightly out of sync with the voices .I did however start to watch BRIMSTONE which doesn’t have English or English subs and had to turn it off.
I ordered a DVDr copy from my local store of DRAGOON WELLS MASSACRE and it has arrived ,so they have posted it out to me and it should arrive early next week .I have never seen this one but the trailer looks good ,so I can’t wait to see it .The trailer had one scene where Jack Elam showed a softer side when he rescued the little girl .
Received my copy of THE REBEL the complete series this morning.
Ordered last Friday,posted Saturday…great service from Amazon USA
it arrived in less than a week!
Amazon USA seem to have a new arrangement where they charge the
import duty which means UK fans at least don’t get the whacking £8.00
handling charge from the UK Post Office.
I was very impressed with the packaging,space wise it takes up about as
much room on the shelf as two standard DVD’s
In fact the whole thing is only slightly larger width wise as the wonderful
Boetticher/Scott collection Sony issued several years back.
The p.q. is not as good as the Warner Archive TV sets but for me it
seems more than watchable.
A nice bonus disc of extras as well.
It would seem that Olive Films deal concerning classic Republic titles
is not done yet. They have a couple of interesting items due for release
in October.
Firstly for the legion of Marie Windsor fans they have a very rare little known
Noir THE OTHER WOMAN from 1955. This B flick also stars John Archer,
Nancy Gates and Richard Crane.
Secondly,and this is their second Republic Serial in a row we have
FLYING DISC MAN FROM MARS (1950) starring Walter Reed.
Although the Republic titles have slowed down to more or less a whimper,
it’s still good to have them all the same.
Whoops!
Like Dirty Harry,in all this excitement,I plumb forgot the title of the
aforementioned Marie Windsor film.
It should have read NO MAN’S WOMAN…sounds like a little gem,actually.
Richard W,
If you are still out there,thanks for all the 3D info.
I might add that I have seen,fairly recently,well 2005…ish
lots of 3D films at London’s National Film Theatre
including HOUSE OF WAX,THE MAZE,CHARGE AT FEATHER RIVER,
JESSE JAMES VS THE DALTONS,INFERNO,THE MAD MAGICIAN,
THE NEBRASKAN,DRUMS OF TAHITI, and many others.
I am of the vintage to remember seeing ARENA and HONDO at
the original time of release in 3D.
As long as I can get “flat” Blu-Rays of 3D classics included with the
3D version I will go for it,and hopefully upgrade my kit when the time
comes. At the moment I spend far too much money on Blu-Ray’s and
DVD’s to entertain a kit upgrade.
Still,these things always become more affordable over time.
Very interested in the 3D version of GOG that you mention,strangely
enough it’s one of the very few Fifties Sci-Fi movies that I have never seen.
I would be more than happy with a “flat” high def Blu Ray of this one
especially with the outstanding work Kino are doing with their
re-mastering these days.
Now Richard,a couple of questions, I perhaps wrongly,understand
HANNAH LEE with John Ireland,Joanne Dru and Macdonald Carey
is a “lost” 3D movie…is this so?
I for one would love to see even a “flat” version of this film as it’s
one of the very few Fifties Westerns that I have never seen.
Also….was SILVER LODE actually originally made in 3D but possibly
never shown in that format.
Finally Richard,thanks for your informative input on all this even if
myself and Johnny G have managed to ruffle your feathers somewhat. 🙂
john k,
I’m not a pheasant. I don’t have feathers to ruffle. I care very much about 3-D cinema and the state of affairs in the 3-D marketplace.
I find GOG interminably slow-moving, but the 3-D photography is outstanding. I’ll certainly buy it.
HANNAH LEE is not lost, but it needs work. I saw it projected at the World 3-D Film Expo. As I understand it, one eye was shrunk making registration and synchronization impossible. It was difficult to watch. But I’m glad they showed it. It’s a solid western, an independent production. Later, after the Expo, a better copy of the shrunken side showed up. Somebody was selling field-sequential 3-D DVD-Rs on ebay. I bought it. Bob Furmanek of the 3-D Archive has investigated HANNAH LEE and tried to restore it. He knows the status of the film. He’s very good about answering emails, so why don’t you contact him:
http://www.3dfilmarchive.com/home/contact-us
and let us know what he says.
RED SUNDOWN (1956) and THE APPALOOSA (1966) have just been released on individual blu-rays in Germany.
Richard W , I emailed Bob Furmanek and he said the rights to HANNAH LEE are available and they are doing their best to negotiate a licence but nothing definite at this stage .I don’t remember seeing HANNAH LEE but I have seen the trailer.
gcwe 1
Many thanks for your feedback from Mr Furmanek-it sounds as if
there is a ray of hope there.
There is a nice story on imdb that stars John Ireland and Macdonald
Carey were not happy with certain elements of the script.
Both heavy drinkers at that time they would both engage in late
night drinking sessions doing re-writes.
Somehow,these days I cannot imagine Tom Cruise and friends engaging
in the same thing.
Give me the old days any day!
Furthermore gcwe1 now you have a dialog going with Mr Furmanek
would it be too much trouble to ask about the status of THE YELLOW
TOMAHAWK.
Mr Furmanek did state some time ago on this blog that a color neg
does exist. As Kino-Lorber are releasing loads of old United Artists films
perhaps they might consider THE YELLOW TOMAHAWK.
I have put in a request for this film on Kino’s Facebook page.
Kino Lorber’s artwork keeps getting better and better the artwork
for ROBBER’S ROOST is just up and it looks beautiful.
John K ,I did ask Bob Furmanek about THE YELLOW TOMAHAWK but I have not heard back from him as yet .According to the message board on IMDB about this movie one comment said -” The only prints MGM had left are B&W .A friend of a friend has a colour 35mm print and may be reselling it back to MGM .” That post was dated June 22 2011 so I wouldn’t be getting too excited .I have a B&W DVD r copy which I will watch tonight.
Now I’m (yet again) delving into Hannibal-8 territory.
Also I’m treating this as a exercise to see if folks (apart from gcwe1)
actually read old threads!
Kino Lorber have just uploaded the artwork for TWICE TOLD TALES
and again it’s beautiful. The film is certainly one of the very best efforts
from the highly variable director Sidney Salkow.
From a personal point of view I’m getting very fed up with being the
sole contributor at Toby’s very fine Hannibal-8 blog…it’s getting to be
a very lonely experience!
So if anyone is still with this thread go visit Hannibal 8 it’s a real fun
place to visit!
John, thanks for continuing to plug The Hannibal 8. It’s growing slowly but steadily — at about the same rate 50s Westerns was in the early days.
What is interesting is that the traffic does not come through with comments in the numbers the Western folks do. Interesting.
I have a 2-D version of HANNAH LEE but haven’t watched it yet, sounds like a good choice for tomorrow’s Saturday night western. My YELLOW TOMAHAWK DVD is in color but it’s certainly less than perfect, would love to get a “restored” version of this. I’ve read of NO MAN’S WOMAN and it sounds like a good one for Marie Windsor fans, this is one I’d like to see too.