Directed by Phillip Borsos
Starring Richard Farnsworth, Jackie Burroughs
Working in video stores in college, I used to push The Grey Fox (1982) off on anybody I could. “You liked Beverly Hills Cop? Then you’ll love this!” I’m happy to say that almost everyone I persuaded to take home the old Media VHS tape ended up liking it.
I’m so happy it’s coming to Blu-ray (region free!) from Panamint Cinema, folks I’m sure will treat it right. It remains one of my favorite films of the 80s, a decade that didn’t knock me out movie-wise. Panamint lists the release date as November 16. Highly, highly recommended!
50 Westerns From The 50s. 
A great movie with a lot of character. Thanks for the heads up. This is great news!
I finally saw this a few months back— on a lousy VHS copy. SO glad to see this fine film getting an overdue release on Blu Ray. Farnsworth brought a ton of warmth and humanity to that role. Elevates a made for TV feeling movie to something truly memorable.
This was one of the last Westerns that I hoped would regenerate the dying genre, along with THE LONG RIDERS and BARBAROSA. I felt that these Westerns, released within a few years of each other, might magically catch-on and save the film format that I loved the most. Alas, it was not to be…..Western or not, THE GREY FOX is an outstanding film, even an art film by many standards, and veteran Farnsworth is simply outstanding, Academy material, as is this film. One of the best Westerns of any decade. I double the recommendation, highly recommended.
P.S………just popped into my brain that HARRY TRACY starring Bruce Dern was another Western released at the same time with the same look and feel to it. I was really hoping that these releases would be a spring board to rejuvenating the Western.
Very good news.
Yeah, I really liked this too (and I don’t even like “Beverly Hills Cop”–ha ha).
I must agree the 80s were pretty arid for movies generally. There are always exceptions of course but I relate when you say it didn’t knock you out. And it’s not as if the much over touted 70s was not a pretty checkered time already.
The 80s was especially a discouraging time for Westerns fans. Too little seen (though I’m sure appreciated by those who did see it) “The Grey Fox” was a beauty and was easily my favorite Western of that decade. The only other one I can say I really admire is “The Long Riders.”
At a gathering once I had the good fortune to meet Richard Farnsworth. He had not yet done a lot of acting (if you ever liked him don’t miss “The Straight Story” which he did later–he’s again really great in a lead role there). We briefly talked and I told him how much I loved him in “The Grey Fox” and what a wonderful actor he was to add to his stunt man laurels.
He said (in all sincerity) “I’m very limited.”
Well, OK, I guess–but they used to say that about John Wayne, too.
The first time I became familiar with Farnsworth was when I watched STRAIGHT STORY. What an excellent movie and it was one of my Dad’s favorite’s too, cause he too wanted to drive his lawnmower down the road when he couldn’t drive anymore. Very natural actor was Farnsworth, believable style in the same way Tracy had, he was believable in any role.
Now for some good news completely unrelated to this. If there were a message board I’d announce it there but since not, here it is. There will be a not available on DVD and never seen before (least I haven’t seen it anywhere on cable before) that’s Tim’s 1948 movie WESTERN HERITAGE. This is great news it will be on Saturday nite at 1:15 a.m. EST (technically Sunday morning to you sticklers for detail out there), that’s this coming Saturday night at 1:15 am. BE THERE! My DVD recorder will be fired up.
Here’s the movie poster of WESTERN HERITAGE. (Don’t know if this will be visible here or not, but I’m trying to let you see it anyway. Fingers Crossed and hitting post.
Great Scott, just read what I posted late last night and realized I didn’t state the channel, it’s TCM for Tim Holt’s WESTERN HERITAGE Sat. night at 1:15 am (officially Sunday morning). OK that should be clear enough.
RED MOUNTAIN with Alan Ladd is now on DVD from Italy ,English included.