When I started doing DVD and Blu-Ray commentaries, it no longer felt appropriate to survey the best 50s Westerns DVD and Blu-Ray releases for the year. So, as a substitute (maybe a poor one), here’s a reminder of a few things we were treated to this year — and we’ll let all the praise, complaints or ranking come from you in the comments. Part 2 can be found next door at The Hannibal 8.
2018 didn’t see a lot of 50s Westerns turn up on DVD, but what turned up was certainly worthwhile.
The Durango Kid Collection
Mill Creek has come through with some terrific multi-picture sets over the last few years. They’re often Columbia pictures, and many have been available already as MOD releases, but they look great, the prices can’t be beat, and they’re big space savers as we watch our collections gobble up our square footage. The Durango Kid movies are fun, and this set gave me an excuse to really wallow in them for a while.
The Fastest Guns Of The West: The William Castle Western Collection
Another Mill Creek set, this offers up eight William Castle Westerns, most of them done for Sam Katzman. This was very eagerly awaited around here, and many of us are hoping for a second volume.
The True Story Of Jesse James (1957)
Twilight Time gave The True Story Of Jesse James a Blu-Ray release, giving us all a great opportunity to re-assess this Nicholas Ray picture — which was mangled by 20th Century-Fox. CinemaScope really benefits from 1080 presentation, and Ray is known for his great use of ‘Scope.
Five Tall Tales: Budd Boetticher & Randolph Scott At Columbia
It was about time somebody got around to the Ranown cycle in true high definition. So, where’s Seven Men From Now (1956)?
A Man Alone (1955)
This under-appreciated Ray Milland Western got a thorough restoration from Paramount — and a nice DVD and Blu-Ray release from Kino Lorber. It even played at the Museum Of Modern Art.
So there’s a few to get us going. What Western DVD and Blu-Ray releases stood out to you this year?
50 Westerns From The 50s. 
All of the ones you mention here I had to buy. Not enough were turned out as you mentioned, but what came out was certainly worthwhile.
Toby ,the only reason I can think of why 7 MEN FROM NOW was not included on the boxset was that it belongs to a different studio.All the others were Colombia.
That is precisely the reason — it was a Batjac picture and those were released on DVD by Paramount (and originally distributed by Warners). Of those Batjacs, only Hondo has made it to Blu-Ray.
I REALLY want Seven Men From Now on Blu-Ray.
As far as I am concerned, Westbound counts, and that is from WB.
I have to add the Roy Rogers Trucolor release from Kino, TRIGGER JR. It looks terrific and has a commentary track from some guy named Toby Roan. Hopefully, TRAIL OF ROBIN HOOD will join this release and last year’s SUNSET IN THE WEST in the future.
I was glad to get Explosive Media’s Blu Ray of POSSE FROM HELL,certainly
one of the most brutal of Audie Murphy’s Westerns-but very good with a
strong supporting cast.
A MAN ALONE is a stellar transfer and THE LAST COMMAND arrived today,
but I have not had time to preview it yet.
Kino Lorber/Paramount have done sensational work on these Republic masters
and let’s hope they re-new the contract in 2019.
LISBON is possibly the best picture quality of the lot-I will comment on that
over at Hannibal 8 when part 2 appears.
I’ve yet to pick up on Koch’s WHEN THE DALTONS RODE Blu Ray-it’s on my
list of things to get.
As mentioned previously I’m very excited about the rare Universal Westerns
hopefully arriving next year from ESC Editions France.
I would like to see the following Universal obscure Westerns on Blu Ray
FRONTIER BADMEN
THE DALTONS RIDE AGAIN
THE MICHIGAN KID
THE VIGILANTES RETURN.
The latter two films,starring Jon Hall were made in Cinecolor and despite
being B Movies had A Movie production values.
Mill Creek have announced a Blu Ray Spaghetti Western double bill that
was postponed earlier but now back on track.
FORT YUMA GOLD with Giuliano Gemma and Dan Vadis
ONE DAMNED DAY OF HELL with John Ireland and Robert Woods.
Whoops-Sorry! the above Spaghetti should have read
DAMNED HOT DAY OF FIRE.
According to imdb THE MICHIGAN KID was Universal International’s
first Western. Director Ray Taylor’s bio on imdb is all rather sad.
Loved the Durango set, my intro to that series, and I got the Castle set but still need to dig in to those. I noticed the Five Tall Tales set was picked up and enjoyed by a lot of friends not usually into westerns.
Part 2 is already up at The Hannibal 8 but there’s a glitch I’m not able
to comment and am being re-directed all over the shop.
Firstly,great to see Kristina make a “guest appearance” here and very
interesting that her friends not normally into Westerns picked up on the
Boetticher set.
Bert has already commented on LISBON and Barry,elsewhere, has already
stated that he’s watched the film four times.
I’ve watched it twice and enjoyed it more the second time-it’s very much a
dialog driven movie with not much action but very interesting as well.
Quiet subversive as well I thought especially Claude Rains casual sadism.
It’s pretty Noirish as well especially with the twists and turns and certain
characters becoming the total opposites of which we initially thought they
were. Hit man Francis Lederers’ lusting after Yvonne Furneaux (who can
blame him!) was nicely done too.
All in all I enjoyed the film far more than I thought I would-there’s more going
on in LISBON than meets the eye!
Not sure what happened, but comments are back on at TH8.
I had the same problem the other day at Hannibal 8.It said my password was wrong,but everything is A OK now.Now that I’ve joined the BLU RAY club I really don’t see all that much difference in the picture .
,after all you have to have a good master to start off with.Maybe my eyes are going on me.The only reason I bought a BLU RAY player is because some releases are BLU RAY only ,but I have no regrets .My only complaint is that you have to change the region code when you have a multiregion player .Now they high definition .I mean,how good is good??!!
I watched DANCING WITH WOLVES yesterday and it was better then I expected but as for Costner’s westerns ,I prefer OPEN RANGE.
Watching THE BLUE KNIGHT the other day I was surprised to see a young Sam Elliott .If you like William Holden ,you’ll love this series .Highly recommended.
I only mention that because sadly so few movie friends my age are into westerns at all, so any interest, especially enough to purchase a set of classics like that, seems encouraging. Hope they sell a lot, so we all get more! The Boutique bluray companies are putting out some very cool stuff
There were definitely some highlights for me, this past year in blu. Not that I purchase a whole lot. Maybe average about two discs per month. I was particularly thrilled with “The Covered Wagon” (1923), as the sharp-looking remastering really brought out the spectacle, and made me enjoy and appreciate the film far more than before (even if the lead hero is still a bit of a drip). Extremely happy with the blu.
Two other discs I was thrilled with that I bought this year, actually came out late last year I believe. One was ClassicFlix’ release of “Raw Deal” (1948), which I always liked, but hadn’t seen in about thirty years. Sometimes when I revisit films like this, I’m a tad disappointed, but this one remained hugely enjoyable. The other disc, along similar lines, was Twilight Time’s “Inferno” (1953), which I happily found just as fun and entertaining as my late-show viewing of it long ago. Extremely pleased with those two.
Another big winner for me was “Trigger, Jr.” (1950), with its stunning restoration. Loved it. Such quality prints just breath new life into such proceedings. Same thing with the otherwise average “Singing Guns” (1950), whose visuals are like non-stop eye candy. I was also completely ecstatic with Criterion’s “King of Jazz” (1930) release, which itself was such an intoxicatingly visual and aural jaw-dropper, and a massive improvement over the dark, choppy copy that used to circulate. Also very pleased with Kino’s release of the previously all-but-unseen “You Never Know Women” (1926), even though it’s admittedly a bit of a lightweight fluff. But I just always found Florence Vidor so darned fetching, in a kind of delicately reserved manner.
Then, there was a host of other minor but highly pleasing little b-oddities (and old favorites of mine) like “Highway Dragnet” (1954) and “A Strange Adventure” (1956). I can never get enough stuff like that. Enjoyed getting Warner Archives’ recent release of “Tarzan’s Greatest Adventure” (1959), and Kino’s Ray Milland duo, which were so marvelous to see again. The only real misfire for me this year was getting “A Lady Takes a Chance” (1943), that little comedy with John Wayne and Jean Arthur. I saw it decades ago, and it really didn’t impress me much back then. I thought maybe it deserved a reevaluation after all those years, with the benefit of a vastly improved print via Kino. After all, a lot of people seem to find the film charming. Eh, the film still didn’t click with me, I’m afraid.
You’re so right about The Covered Wagon. The male lead is pretty weak. But the magnitude of that picture is just incredible. All those real covered wagons!
All you mentioned are top for me and I just purchased A Man Alone from Kino and I hope to get it soon! I have to agree with john k, Posse from Hell was a good transfer.
New Blu-rays that stood out to me released this year were; The Proud Ones (WVG Medien, Germany), Young Mr. Lincoln (Criterion), The Hanging Tree (WarnerArchive), Along Came Jones (ClassicFlix) and Twilight Time’s The Bravados was a great release in all!
I look forward to Warner’s, Kino’s and Twilight Time’s catalogs this year, but I hope there will be at least a classic western on 4k this year.
Not bought a lot this year, saving the pennies I’m afraid. However, I have to say The Ranown set is my standout release.
WBs The Hanging Tree has been mentioned – was that a 2018 release. If so, I’ll give it a vote – one of my all-time favorites and looking better than ever.
Agree with many of the choices here e.g. Durango Kid, 5 Tall Tales, a Man alone, The Covered Wagon, Trigger Jr., Iron Horse, Along came jones, The Wake of the red Witch – it makes me realize I spent a lot of money on blu-rays & DVDs last year LOL. Now I have to find the time to watch them! Like toby and others have mentioned I am wishing for 7 Men from Now & how about other Scotts like Coroner Creek or Thunder across the Plains, Hellfire- well the list goes on and on. I do love William Holden so off to order the Blue Knight set from warners. I have said it before – reading this site is both an educational pleasure and a drain on my finances!
Lyson ,you will not be disappointed with THE BLUE KNIGHT purchase.THE EARTHLING arrives mid March from Kino Lorber .Just received HANG ÉM HIGH from Shout .It comes with a slip case and a couple of commentaires but for a 50 th Anniversary edition ,they could have included a few more extras.Maybe I’m just hard to please .HA,HA.
Oh, yes. “Coroner Creek!” I’m glad you mentioned that one. I’d certainly welcome it on blu. Pretty famous fight scene in it. I hope Sony has good elements for it.
Warner Archive has announced a DVD of 1938’s color HEART OF THE NORTH starring Dick Foran.
Quiet encouraged reading the above comments that certain folks are
actually buying Westerns-why are the re-issue labels not releasing more?
I too endorse Rick’s view of Spirit Media’s THE PROUD ONES a vast
improvement over the DVD.
Spirit’s PONY EXPRESS is also very good and I cannot wait to see those
Joshua Trees in high def when they release INCIDENT AT PHANTOM HILL.
Another worth a mention is Criterion’s Forty Guns. This is my favorite Fuller movie, and they’ve done a great job with it. The B&W ‘Scope looks terrific.
A Man Alone and 5 Tall Tales are great. I’m not a fan of Robert Wagner so will pass on True Story of Jesse James.