Directed by Jacques Tourneur
Produced by Walter Wanger
Screenplay by Ernest Pascal
Adapted from the Saturday Evening Post story by Ernest Haycox
Director Of Photography: Edward Cronjager
Film Editor: Milton Carruth
Cast: Dana Andrews (Logan Stuart), Brian Donlevy (George Camrose), Susan Hayward (Lucy Overmire), Patricia Roc (Caroline Marsh), Ward Bond (Honey Bragg), Hoagy Carmichael (Hi Linnet), Fay Holden (Mrs. Overmire), Stanley Ridges (Jonas Overmire), Lloyd Bridges (Johnny Steele), Andy Devine (Ben Dance), the Devine Kids, Frank Ferguson, Ray Teal
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There seems to be a general consensus around here that Canyon Passage (1946) is a damn good Western, typically fine work from Jacques Tourneur, and a picture that has been unjustly overlooked over the years. We also tend to agree that the DVD from Universal is a terrific example of how to present three-strip Technicolor on our hi-def TVs. So much so, that a few folks have commented that they couldn’t imagine how much difference a Blu-ray upgrade would make.
Well, the new Blu-ray from Panamint offers up a stunning example of just what Blu-ray can do — that beautiful transfer of Edward Cronjager’s Technicolor photography is, well, even more beautiful than it was before. Sharper, crisper, more detailed — and with a real sense of depth. After viewing this, the old DVD seems way too bright by comparison. The extras — from newsreel footage of the premiere to a series of radio shows to a nice booklet on the film — really make this a premium package.
Patricia Roc and Jacques Tourneur
Then there’s the movie itself. Director Jacques Tourneur’s first Western, and his first time working in Technicolor, Canyon Passage is a big, beautiful, complex tale of the Oregon territory in 1856. Dana Andrews runs a freight business and winds up in a love triangle with Susan Hayward and Brian Donlevy — while dealing with both Indians and a positively evil Ward Bond.
Ward Bond and Dana Andrews duke it out
It’d be easy for Canyon Passage to get bogged down in melodrama, but Tourneur’s too smart for that. He treats us to incredible vistas of the Oregon locations (Crater Lake is one of them), gets top-notch performances from the entire cast and offers up a great fistfight between Andrews and Bond. Bond deserves special mention: he’s a real scumbag in this one, a sharp contrast to roles that came later like Wagon Master (1950) and The Searchers (1956).
Jacques Tourneur came to this film with some classic horror movies under his belt — Cat People (1942) and I Walked With A Zombie (1943), and he’d follow it with one of the finest noirs, Out Of The Past (1947). Tourneur’s body of work is certainly worth seeking out. Case in point: his other Westerns include Stars In My Crown (1950) and Wichita (1955).
It’s easy to recommend Canyon Passage — both the film and Panamint’s high-definition, Region B presentation of it. It takes a good thing and makes it better.
I have the wonderful German Blu-ray from Koch
Stop telling me this stuff! I’ll never be satisfied with what I already own.
The DVD was gorgeous before the Blu-ray and it still is. I think it comes down to how much you like the film.
I’m hoping we don’t crank the upgrading/re-buying debate back up!
A superb film by a master director, but we all know that. I have the Koch Blu-ray and if the Panamint version is anything like it, then it should look a treat.
The DVD did look terrific of course, but terrific transfers like that will always show a leap in HD. I agree that color, detail and depth are enhanced and it’s the kind of movie that shows off the benefits of HD very well indeed.
DVDBeaver likes it too. http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film5/blu-ray_reviews_73/canyon_passage_blu-ray.htm
A number of frame grabs with this review.
Looking at these screenshots I agree with Gary Tooze that the image is quite dark and green. I don’t recall the German Koch looking like that. I’ll check later today.
The Koch is darker than the DVD but not as green as the Panamint Blu.
Any one notice right at the end of the film when Hoagy Carmichael is following Dana Andrews and Susan Hayward he stops and almost turns around .
I love this film – it has a fabulous cast, and own the prior DVD. The fact that it’s region B may save me from making a purchase as my player isn’t modified for region free discs. I did buy the Panamint – Abilene Town bluray which was great & region free –
I will say this blog is doing it’s job to stimulate the world economy – just in the last month alone I pre-ordered Night of the Grizzly, Gun the Man Down, Yellow Sky, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon & The Cariboo Trail – plus a couple of John Payne noirs after watching Rails Into Laramie – it’s a good thing I am retiring at the end of the year – so I can stop buying and have more time for watching:)
Lyson ,I have been retired 5 years and probably spend more time on the computer buying DVDs then I did when I was working .I have also discovered films and stars that I had never seen before. I also have GUN THE MAN DOWN.
Well on the one hand you aren’t encouraging on the other hand there are way worse ways to spend our money! If you have watched Gun the Man Down let me know what you think – it may be 2019 before I get to it:)
Lyson , I have watched and enjoyed GUN THE MAN DOWN .
Ha! my cover has been blown and only Lyson noticed,previously.
Great write-up Toby and as you correctly note there is really
something about 1940’s Technicolor which is jaw dropping in high def.
Like Colin,I already have the Koch Blu Ray and it’s wonderful-I really
wish DVD Beaver had compared the two Blu Ray versions.
For lovers of 40’s Technicolor Koch have another treat next month
as John Farrow’s CALIFORNIA is making it’s Blu Ray debut.
While Farrow’s film is not in the same league as Tourneur’s masterpiece,
it should look breathtaking in high definition.
Nice shopping list Lyson-I thought the high def restorations of SHE WORE
A YELLOW RIBBON and CARIBOO TRAIL were wonderful.
CANADIAN PACIFIC is far from top-drawer Scott but the Blu Ray version
is so good that it raises the film several notches.
I never really saw the point of giving us GUN THE MAN DOWN on Blu Ray
the film is middling at best. I would have much rather Olive Films have
given us Blu Ray versions of two other United Artists Westerns both made
in color and widescreen….THE INDIAN FIGHTER and GERONIMO (Chuck
Conners) I know the latter title divides opinion but I rather like it.
I note that Kino-Lorber are releasing a Paramount title
the Jerry Lewis vehicle DON’T GIVE UP THE SHIP.
While this will be of scant interest to Toby’s followers it’s interesting that
Kino now have their toes in the Paramount pond.
According to folks over at Home Theater Forum this deal will include
Paramount/Republic titles.
If sales go well for Kino’s CANADIAN PACIFIC and CARIBOO TRAIL
perhaps Kino might consider some of the vintage Republic Westerns that
we all crave.
At any rate it’s good news that two imprints are now keen to release
Paramount titles. I guess I’m in a minority but I’d love to see the A.C.Lyles
Western TOWN TAMER (with Dana) on Blu Ray
Hi Linnet – I recall someone in a previous thread spotting you but to be fair to them it wasn’t me – now If you had gone with Logan Stuart or Lucy overmire I might have had a chance:! I haven’t got around to seeing Gun the man down yet but I didn’t own it before; the price was right for a Blu-ray – $14 – it had James Arness, Robert Wilkie as a villain, early Angie Dickinson & a Burt Kennedy script so I felt it was worth a shot.
I get great pleasure out of the undiscovered Westerns or at least undiscovered by me – some recent examples – Rails into Laramie, Stage to Tucson (Rod Cameron & Wayne Morris) & the George O’Brien box set –
By the way I very much enjoy you in Season 1 of the TV series Laramie – which is another guilty pleasure of mine.
Lyson, I have to tell you that retirement opens wonderful watching opportunities but if you think your buying will stop………….
I am intrigued by your last comment to Hi Linnet there about Season 1 of “LARAMIE”(????). Very much a pleasure of mine, guilty or otherwise LOL.
John Payne is great in everything he did – except Restless Gun, which would put a horse to sleep.
Tom – even though I have seen Miracle on 34th street a few times I didn’t really remember John Payne – then 20 minutes into Rails to Laramie I said to myself who is this actor – next thing I know I own KC Confidential, 99 River Street, Rails into Laramie etc!
Well the buying has to at least slow down – I am so far behind that I need a buying moratorium which I was hoping retirement would trigger – as for Laramie I am a big fan – especially the first 2 years.
I think they’ve indicated that one Roy Rogers western, previously on a Republic video VHS, will be coming out. Also, it has been stated there will be two serials
(though I don’t know if they are westerns).
Don’t forget that Olive also appears to have some more Paramount-owned things, so who knows what might appear from Kino or Olive yet?
Kino has announced the John Wayne movie DAKOTA.
This is one of my favorite films.
But looking at the DVD Beaver image captures, I am simply put off from buying the Panamint release — it just appears overly dark and overly green. The emperor has no clothes. I could be totally wrong but I’m guessing not. Region B is a drawback in the States.
I have the Koch Blu-ray, which happened to be Region B locked as well. Koch’s The Tall Men and Western Union, which I bought at the same time from the same source, played without incident in my Region A player. Those two look fabulous. I had anticipated Canyon Passage would have played similarly, but, alas and alak, not so.
So. I’m hoping the three strip OCN still exists and some studio will rescan and restore this classic to its bright and clean Technicolor glory. It’s a highly enjoyable film and merits special treatment.