The music label Cherry Red out of the UK has released (or is about to release) a 3-CD set Music From The Westerns Of John Wayne And John Ford. Featuring music from Stagecoach (1939), Fort Apache (1948), Three Godfathers (1948), She Wore A Yellow Ribbon (1949), Rio Grande (1950), The Searchers (1956), Horse Soldiers (1959) and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962). Of course, music is always a huge part of a John Ford picture, so there’s plenty of good stuff here.
Sometimes it’s the original soundtrack (Rio Grande, Horse Soldiers), sometimes it’s from other sources. You can see a track listing here. This promises to be a very cool set. Can’t wait.
Thanks to Mr. Richard Vincent for the tip.
50 Westerns From The 50s. 
The first few notes of the score of a Ford film conjure up so many memories. This will be a wonderful set to own.
Seems very attractive!
This looks interesting and probably a good set to own,but I don’t know if I’ll buy it as I already have a huge box set from Bear Family Records called JOHN WAYNE’S WEST with original songs and music (no re-recordings) from his films.It also includes trailers as well.
Please excuse the hi-jack but things are moving so fast here and
over at the H8 (will explain later) I would like to expand on a theme
raised by Walter a few threads back.
I described the excellent DEATH OF A GUNFIGHTER as a “last days of the
West” type of film. Walter,quiet correctly preferred the term as “changing
times” Westerns,I sure take his point.
Apart from other films brought into the mix I would like to add a few more.
THE WALKING HILLS rather underrated,I feel, takes us from 1948 America
back to the Frontier Days.
In the excellent MAN WITHOUT A STAR Kirk Douglas’ drifter Dempsey Rae
is bemused that “Boss Lady” Jeanne Crain has in indoor bathroom.
Dempsey loathes barbed wire which is a symbol of constraining his
freedom.
In the later LONELY ARE THE BRAVE the Douglas character has not only
to cope with barbed wire but also super highways and trucks.
The ending is deeply ironic.
Another “changing times” masterpiece is Siegel’s supreme THE SHOOTIST
Siegel’s earlier COOGAN’S BLUFF has Arizona lawman Clint Eastwood
still tracking down renegade Native Americans. Toby and indeed myself love
the line “put your pants on chief” Interestingly the term “chief” becomes
derogatory in the underrated and overlooked FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS
when various folks address Ira Hayes.
At any rate Coogan is transported to New York in the psychedelic 60’s
an interesting culture clash if ever there was one.
Walter and myself have discussed the virtues of BRONCO BILLY
elsewhere and we both love the small town America depicted by that film.
This is further explored by the flawed but interesting HONKYTONK MAN
and the generally flawed PINK CADILLAC,both films have elements
of the Old West that still exist beside .current day America; 1938 in the case
of HONKYTONK MAN.
Although no date is given the weapons alone suggest that JOE KIDD is
also a “changing times” Western,furthermore the landscapes are among
the finest in any Sturges film
Even PALE RIDER suggest times are indeed changing with it’s “raping of
the land” techniques employed by the mining company.
I have of course only scratched the surface but it’s been nice to include
films by two of my favourite actors Kirk and Clint not to mention the great
Don Siegel.
Another changing times Western which could have been great but undone
by violence and sadism is THE LAST HARD MEN.
Finally some great news,over at the Hannibal 8 Toby has announced that
he is now “gainfully employed” so that means even more regular
FWOTF and H8 action,though I must admit that the H8 has been going
gangbusters of late.
Toby,so glad that you liked my “scuffling around for work” quote I’d love
to claim it as one of mine but I’m sure many others have used it many
times before.
Typo alert….the above should have read “an” indoor bathroom.
While on the subject of Don Siegel and indeed Arizona I failed to
mention the very wonderful EDGE OF ETERNITY “a changing times”
Western if ever there was one; Supreme use of landscape; widescreen as
it should be used. If the Twilight Time Blu Ray is too expensive I highly
recommend the Sony MOD…remember them..
Other “modern day” set Westerns that fit into Walter’s “changing times”
generic include Joe Kane’s HELL’S OUTPOST,Jack Arnold’s MAN IN THE
SHADOW and Alfred Werker’s CANYON CROSSROADS-and Roy Baker’s
INFERNO as mentioned before I have not even scratched the surface
and even,so far, failed to mention BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK.
BTW Toby congrats on the new gig,I wish you every success and hope that
you will still find time for many more splendid commentaries.
Over at Laura’s there is a link to her fab selection of personal Western
favorites very well chosen films I might add.I was stoked to find SADDLE
TRAMP included.
Thanks for the mention of my new Classic Movie Hub column, John! I’ll take your previous suggestion, hoping Toby won’t mind, to alert all here that the first entry in my new monthly Western Roundup column went live yesterday:
http://www.classicmoviehub.com/blog/western-roundup-exclusive-guest-post-by-laura-grieve/
There’s actually a tie-in with Toby’s post on this nifty-looking Ford music set, as one of the favorite Westerns I wrote about was a Ford film, partly chosen for its beautiful music.
Best wishes,
Laura
Way to go, Laura! That’s terrific. Can’t wait till the next one.
Laura ,I had a look at your column at classic movie hub and it was great .Looking forward to more .I know that you are a Robert Taylor fan,so did you ever get around to checking out the collection that I mentioned to you a while back from Impulso Records Spain .I have it and can highly recommend it.
Thank you, so glad to know you enjoyed! I haven’t been able to look at getting that collection yet (time and money…LOL) but I’m definitely interested and appreciate the tip! Always great to exchange info with another Taylor fan. 🙂
Best wishes,
Laura
Laura,
Even better news that your Western reviews are going to be a regular
item so that’s great.
BTW in case anyone misunderstood my “scuffling around for work”
comment over at The Hannibal 8 was directed at one time esteemed English
directors now reduced to cheapo Brit TV swashbucklers and B movies.
I do try,but sadly to no avail try to direct folks over to the H8…it’s much more
than a Horror/Sci Fi site and as mentioned before going gangbusters at
the moment.
Music from the Westerns of John Ford. Music is so important in any movie, but I so enjoy the music used in Ford Westerns. LORENA the ballad of lost love, which is played in THE SEARCHERS(1956) and THE HORSE SOLDIERS(1959). The song was a favorite during the Civil War and seems to be to this day mostly associated with that War of Rebellion. Composer Max Steiner used it so masterfully during the opening scene of THE SEARCHERS and again during the homecoming scene at the end. RIDE AWAY music and lyrics by the very talented Stan Jones(General U.S. Grant in THE HORSE SOLDIERS). Composer David Buttolph using LORENA in THE HORSE SOLDIERS and Stan Jones writing the music and lyrics for I LEFT MY LOVE. So memorable and unforgettable.
John K, what a list of fine “Contemporary” Westerns. As you know, not all “Contemporary” Westerns have to do with “changing times,” but many of them do. There have been many good stories set in the “Modern” West. The real West is still with us and the reel West is also.