Directed by King Vidor
Starring Kirk Douglas, Jeanne Crain, Claire Trevor, William Campbell, Richard Boone, Mara Corday, Jay C. Flippen, Eddy Waller, Sheb Wooley, George Wallace, Roy Barcroft, Paul Birch, Jack Elam, Myron Healey, Jack Ingram
Kino Lorber has announced the upcoming Blu-Ray release of Man Without A Star (1955). That makes two U-I 50s Westerns announced within a week of each other. I’d sure like to see that trend continue.
Kirk Douglas put the movie together through his new production company, and it made him a lot of money. The picture’s got a great cast — look at all those character actors! It was shot by Russell Metty in Technicolor to be cropped to 2.00 to 1, a short-lived standard at Universal (This Island Earth and The Mole People were also 2:1). Highly recommended.
50 Westerns From The 50s. 
A favourite of mine. I had it on VHS tape. I have it on DVD. I guess there’s just no hope for me and possessing these movies.
A favorite of mine, à l’origine de ma passion pour le western..
Wasn’t A MAN CALLED GANNON with Anthony Franciosa and Michael Sarrazin a remake of this? Plus, I seem to remember an episode of THE VIRGINIAN TV series re-using the storyline.
On Boyd Magers Western Movies site, a fine interview with Mara has been posted. Worth checking out for her comments, especially Man Without A Star.
Just watching FOUR FACES WEST and noticed something I’d never seen before .When McCrea and Dee are making their escape ,they notice the possee coming toward them and go a different way .Two men sitting on a rock hoping to kill Mc Crea to collect a bigger reward notice this and one lowers his rifle.In the shot of the posse coming toward them I noticed two men on horseback toward the mountain range who seemed to be going the other way but then joined the possee .At I first I thought it was the two who were going to kill McCrea but they got off the rock later.Anyone else notice this,and no,it wasn’t my imagination .Maybe it was just the way the scene was set up.
The same director who directed this,also directed BADLANDS OF DAKOTA.
Graham’s sharp eye comes through once again. FOUR FACES WEST(1948) a truly fine Western; well written; with really good performances; and gorgeous photography. A Classic Western.
I came across an obituary of Theodora Lois Sherman, better known as Teddi Sherman. She passed away on January 19, 2019 at age 97. She co-wrote the screenplay of FOUR FACES WEST.
Teddi Sherman R.I.P.
http://www.malibutimes.com/obituaries/article_776a71d2-3622-11e9-a8d3-77bb1298a652.html
It should read Teddi Sherman passed away on January 16, 2019 at age 97. Teddi was a writer, producer, actress, and teacher. I really enjoyed viewing the documentary A CONVERSATION WITH TEDDI– HOLLYWOOD’S CINEMA COWGIRL(2010).
Teddi Sherman R.I.P.
http://1895films.com/project/a-conversation-with-teddi-hollywoods-cinema-cowgirl/
Walter ,thanks for those links.She seemed like a talented lady.I noticed those two men on Kino’s copy of FOUR FACES WEST which was taken from the original elements.I checked my Spanish copy which is darker then Kino’s making it harder to see the two men.As I’ve mentioned before there is a great interview with John Sturges,Robert Aldrich ,Mark Rydell and Joel McCrea where Joel talks about FOUR FACES WEST and RIDE THE HIGH COUNTRY on TVO.ORG.Just wish I knew how to provide a link.
Graham, I think this is the link to the really good interviews you mentioned.
https://www.tvo.org/video/archive/the-western
Walter ,yes that’s the one.Essential viewing for all 50s western fans.Just watching APACHE at the moment .Some familiar faces in that one.
Yep! A MAN CALLED GANNON is a direct re-make of MAN WITHOUT
A STAR,in the UK it was awarded an “X” certificate (over 16’s only)
for sex and violence-cannot recall too much about the film except that the
fist fights were rather graphic. As I’m on a Universal 60’s and 70’s Westerns
kick I would probably give this one a go if a Blu Ray suddenly appeared,
especially as the film was in 2.35 widescreen.
By accident,I came across a very interesting Kirk Douglas interview
circa 1971 with Kirk looking incredibly handsome beard & long hair ‘n all.
As Walter is the “linkmeister” perhaps he can improve on my link below:
kirk douglas doesn’t see eye-to-eye with john wayne-dick cavett show-youtube
Yes,Barry that Mara interview is first rate,there again,Mara has never
been backward about coming forward.
John K, here is the entire Dick Cavett interview with 54 year-old Kirk Douglas,which aired on June 29, 1971. The show is 58 minutes long, with all movie clips intact. Kirk is plugging A GUNFIGHT(1971) co-starring Johnny Cash. One note, this wasn’t Johnny’s first movie. FIVE MINUTES TO LIVE(1961) was his first. Also, he had been in several TV Westerns during the late 1950’s and early 1960’s.
Thanks so much Walter.
Walter, (Linkmeister)
Thanks so much for the Westerns Interview link-I’ve only watched the McCrea
bit so far (loved it) will watch the others over this weekend.
According to Blu Ray.com Kino have announced Jack Arnold’s
MAN IN THE SHADOW a contemporary thriller in a Western setting.
I DO hope Kino have the smarts to give Toby the commentary on this one;
he’ll have a field day…Gene L Coon,Albert Zugsmith…I’ve always wanted to
see Toby let loose on a Zugsmith flick.
Kino would be insane not to give Toby this gig,especially with the rave
reviews that he is getting from DVD Beaver and Cinesavant.
John k ,when I spoke to TVO some time ago ,they said some their content may disappear .As I mentioned earlier in this thread ,Alfred Green directed BADLANDS OF DAKOTA ,so McCrea was incorrect when he said that Green had never made a western before .I hope that ESC do a better transfer with RAILS INTO LARAMIE then they did with KIT CARSON.
Graham, I think ESC Editions because of previously agreed contracts
were duty bound to release KIT CARSON and LAST OF THE
MOHICANS which had intended to be released by the now
out of business Movinside.
If these two films will ever be given proper restorations
remains to be seen.,
So far I’ve only got BADLANDS OF DAKOTA and BORDER RIVER
from ESC and I’m more than happy with those two.
The “off air” copies of RAILS INTO LARAMIE are in pretty good shape
so I don’t see why ESC’s version should not be either.
Generally those 40’s Technicolor Westerns (CANYON PASSAGE,
CALIFORNIA) look wonderful in high definition,and I’m really
looking forward to seeing THE VIRGINIAN in this format.
Yeah, I’d love to do Man In The Shadow.
By the way, forgot to mention I’m doing a commentary for Man Without A Star.
Good deal! I know you will do a great job.
I really hope that you get MAN IN THE SHADOW,so much to
cover there.
Those Universal’s just keep comin’
The info is a tad scant at the moment,and perhaps Cole can enlighten us;
but it would seem ESC Editions have a July 2nd date for RAILS INTO LARAMIE. At the moment Amazon France only have it listed as a DVD release,
but I’m sure there will (hopefully) be a Blu Ray version as well.
RAILS INTO LARAMIE is one of the very few Universal Westerns that have,
so far, never had an “official” release on disc.
ESC have also,for July 2nd announced the Joel McCrea version of
THE VIRGINIAN….a Paramount release,now owned by Universal.
Hi John, Yes it would seem we will only get a DVD for Rails into Laramie which isn’t a good sign if the result is the same as Last of the Mohicans. To my knowledge, this John Payne film has never gotten a DVD yet. If there was a good print available, one label would already have released it. I wish Universal would restore it in HD !
Dear westernmovies.fr (Cole?)
Shame about RAILS INTO LARAMIE being DVD only,yes it’s correct
this film has never had an “official” DVD release.
The off air copies I have seen of this film look in very good shape,
obviously something wrong with Universal’s master.
You have noted THE YELLOW MOUNTAIN as 2.0 widescreen,I hope this
is correct if I intend to upgrade. The Koch DVD was nothing special,I thought,
otherwise they would have put out a Blu Ray.
I note both Sidonis and Koch are releasing SIX BLACK HORSES as DVD
only,the Euro Universal DVD of a few years back looked very weak.
Yet again, problems with Universal source material.
Also Sidonis have WILD & THE INNOCENT as a future release,I guess it
will be 4×3 like the Universal France one of a few years back,unless a
CinemaScope master has been sourced,which I very much doubt.
Another Universal film very much sought after and so far unreleased is
SADDLE TRAMP.
I note on your listing of all of ESC’s future releases you have noted
THE MIDNIGHT STORY on Blu Ray. This film has lots going for it,
Tony Curtis,Gilbert Roland, (underrated) Joseph Pevney,Russell Metty
and striking SF locations in sharp black & white CinemaScope.
Black & white CinemaScope looks stunning in high definition,that’s also why
I’m looking forward so much to MAN IN THE SHADOW.
I may be wrong and I’m sure Cole and Toby’s crew will put me straight,
but there seem to be so few A Westerns made in black & white ‘scope
(2.35) The two main ones I can think of off the top of my head are FORTY
GUNS and THE FIEND THAT WALKED THE WEST. I’m not counting
the RegalScope pictures and the last gasp Republic Naturama B pictures or
things like FOUR FAST GUNS. I’ll have to check out Joe Pevney’s impressive
THE PLUNDERERS,I’d sure like that one on Blu Ray.
John, I am afraid you are right. There is no way to tell for sure for The Yellow Mountain at the moment but I believe there is already an HD print in 2.0.
Six Black Horses might have been a casualty of the fire in 2008.
Like you, I doubt The Wild and the innocent will get a decent copy since no Blu-ray has been announced.
As for B&W scope, I think Color was a better fit for the genre (at least from the studios point of vue). The few exceptions are either low budgets productions (Regalscope : check this post from Toby : https://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/2009/10/16/whats-so-regal-about-regalscope/) or “film noir” westerns that gained from B&W.
I’d love to see Charles Marquis Warren’s The Black Whip in widescreen!
Cole
Great link Cole,from Toby’s back pages.
Two other A Westerns in B & W ‘scope LONELY ARE THE BRAVE
(Panavision) and GOLD OF THE SEVEN SAINTS (WarnerScope)
If the rumoured Eastwood project THE BALLAD OF RICHARD JEWELL
actually happens this time, it will be the first time he worked for Fox
since AMBUSH AT CIMARRON PASS. Now,of course we are talking
Fox/Disney. I hope that the cats at Disney have more respect for
Fox’s back catalogue than Mr Murdoch did!
The RegalScope I’d love to see in widescreen is Paul Landres’
THE LONE TEXAN.
Yeah, I’m dying for that one, too.
And Stagecoach To Fury. It was nominated for an Oscar for Walter Strenge’s B&W Scope cinematography.
Just checked out THE PLUNDERERS on imdb it’s 1.78 widescreen.
Such a cool little movie.
Before Walter totally smokes me,I am only talking about A Westerns so
cool little movies like THE HIRED GUN don’t count.
Watched the Kino PANIC IN YEAR ZERO last night the stunning high def 2.35
transfer certainly raises the game of that one,which was pretty darn good
in the first place,.
A couple of Paul Newman starrers as 2.35 B & W ‘scope A Westerns
HUD; THE OUTRAGE
When I first heard about WB celebrating the 60th Anniversary of RIO BRAVO ,I thought great,they might give us a new BLU RAY release with extras and all the bells and whistles etc,but it looks like that may not be the case,with no announcements on their Facebook page .I read some reviews on the last BLU RAY release of this film and people said it was pretty ordinary.A lot needs to be released from WB ,HAWAIIAN EYE ,SURFSIDE SIX ,77 SUNSET STRIP which folks have been asking for ,for years but music issues are always the reason they give for not releasing them,but can someone explain how a series like MIAMI VICE with just as many music issues gets released .Maybe they think there are not enough baby boomers around for them to sell.Anyway,back to RIO BRAVO,maybe someday our dreams will come true.One can only hope.
Graham – I have the Blu Ray of Rio Bravo and the prior DVD version as well since it is one of my 10 favorite Westerns. My recollection is that the Blu Ray was a little grainy at the start during the opening credits but I thought it was fine after that. Will check again tonight – and report back.
I asked ESC about RAILS INTO LARAMIE and they said it would be DVD only and the studio did not have a HD master .I also asked about DRAGOON WELLS MASSACRE and they said they would not be releasing this in the forth coming months.
Hi Graham,
As far as I know ESC have no deal with Paramount at the moment,
who now own DRAGOON WELLS MASSACRE.
ESC have lots of Universal films in the pipeline and do release the
occasional Fox title at the moment.
They lease quiet a few of their Universal films from Hollywood Classics
a UK based company and oddly enough Hollywood Classics on their
website do say that they have a high def version of RAILS INTO LARAMIE.
Next time you contact them could you please ask if they intend to release
any Audie Murphy Westerns on Blu Ray.
Although not a Western,but I note that Hollywood Classics have a high def
version of KISS OF FIRE on their books. I am very keen to see this Jack
Palance picture which,so far has not even had a DVD release.
Which is the best way to contact ESC I’ve tried from their website but
never received any reply-are you contacting them through Facebook?
Any help you may provide will be much appreciated.
I also note that Hollywood Classics say that they have a high def version of
FRONTIER BADMEN which I am also very keen to see get released,
especially as ESC seem to favor these 40’s Westerns.
John k,my first order from ESC didn’t turn up and I contacted them who in turn contacted me.They do have a contact section on their home page ,but my contact is Emmanuel.greseque@esc-distribution.com.He is the one who confirmed their releases for 2019 .As noted by Cole ,you can also contact them by Facebook.
John, is there even a Scope copy of Dragoon Wells Massacre ? This film is way overdue on DVD & Blu-Ray.
You can contact ESC via Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/escdistribution/ I just posted about the HD copy of Rails into Laramie. Please make your voice heard !
Graham and Cole,
Thanks for the links,I will try to communicate with them regarding Facebook.
I don’t see why a ‘scope copy of DRAGOON WELLS MASSACRE should
not exist,sadly it’s one of several Allied Artists Westerns that was sold to
Republic decades ago.
The AA Westerns sold to Republic,now owned by Paramount are as follows:
JACK SLADE,RETURN OF JACK SLADE,LAST OF THE BADMEN,AT
GUNPOINT,THE TALL STRANGER and DRAGOON WELLS MASSACRE.
There are also some oddball/minor films in the mix like NAKED IN THE SUN,
as well as later titles like BLOOD ON THE ARROW.
Warners have often complained that the AA/Monogram (especially the latter)
masters were not treated with the care and attention that they should have
been,but having said that most of the AA/Monogram fare that Warner Archive
have released has been in pretty good shape with the exception of Paul
Landres’ impressive OREGON PASSAGE-the colour is way off at times in that
one. The AA CinemaScope Sci Films that Warners put out on Blu Ray
(WORLD WITHOUT END,QUEEN OF OUTER SPACE) look stunning-I’d love
to see WICHITA in that standard of high-def.
Returning to Universal I find it most odd that virtually all of their Horror/
Sci Fi titles (30’s 40’s 50’s) seem to have survived in good shape yet there
are all these missing masters of not only CinemaScope Westerns but also
A pictures like ISTANBUL and NEVER STEAL ANYTHING SMALL.
Someone has yet to convince me that these films are not locked away in a
fire proof vault somewhere.
Universal has the smarts to know that Horror and Sci Fi sell,there’s always
a new generation of kids hungry to see the vintage stuff-perhaps that’s why
they seem to go the extra mile regarding their back catalogue on vintage
fantasy fare.
Some of those AA things turned up in 1.78 versions a while back, which would indicate that the Scope stuff is out there somewhere. A lot of it’s simple economics: If there was a better market for these things, there’d be better effort to get them out there. They’re not gonna drag that stuff out and redo because a handful of people who read some goofy blogs about old cowboy movies em.
You hear a lot about fires at Universal that have effected things over the years. Something happened to the material on Thunder Bay, for example. What is weird about Universal is that when they do it right, it’s stunning. Other stuff, not so much.
I think Columbia does a great job with their stuff, as the Kit Parker noir sets prove. Even the cheapest little pictures get the A treatment. If only they’d do more of em! Wait till you see Fred Sears’ The Miami Story on Blu-Ray!
Bad news : ESC has answered to my Facebook post and said that Hollywood Classics are mistaken and that there is no HD print for Rails into Laramie at the time.
Blu Ray.com has just announced the titles for Volume 3 of the Kit Parker
Noir sets,quiet a selection Fuller Siegel and De Toth in the mix.
The two Brit Flicks (THE LONG HAUL,PICKUP ALLEY) should look wonderful
in black & white widescreen,on Blu Ray.
Toby,you know my feelings regarding your first paragraph;couldn’t agree more!
Yes,Columbia do a stellar job on their high def masters,let’s hope ESC can
put out some of their Westerns.
Cole,I’ve added to your comment on ESC’s Facebook page and thanks for
supplying them the Hollywood Classics link.
Cole,have you noticed Hollywood Classics main rival Scotland’s Park Circus
have several of the restored,remastered Republic titles in their portfolio.
In the past these would have been released by Kino Lorber,if these
films will have any takers is anyone’s guess. I hope ESC are aware of these
titles as Park Circus supply lots of Euro imprints.
The titles in question are THE PLUNDERERS (Joseph Kane) THE OUTCAST
(William Witney) and two Kane non Westerns FAIR WIND TO JAVA and the
Trucolor/Naturama Noir ACCUSED OF MURDER.
What a joy to see those film noir boxsets released in good quality. If only, they’d consider doing westerns sets as well !
ESC’s is more about Hollywood A pictures, horror flicks and other stuff. I don’t see them going through the trouble of releasing lesser known Republic pictures (except for films like Johnny Guitar). All the current releases are presumably from the rights already negociated by Movinside (that ESC wouldn’t have dealt with otherwise…).
However, Sidonis might be more suitable for the job.
To me, this kinda thing — from the Mill Creek themed DVD sets to these noir Blu-Rays — is how I’d like to see old movies released form now on. I’ll scoop up stuff like this all day long.
I can’t wait for Noir 2&3.
I refuse to watch Sidonis releases,I get peeved when I see
them release one of my “most wanted” Westerns.
I want to watch the movie;not ******* subtitles.
Elephant,ESC and other great French imprints don’t have
forced subs,why must Sidonis be different-it’s nothing to do with
demands from the distributors,it’s just sheer bloody mindedness!
Yikes!!!!
How did I miss this out;among the high def Republic titles Park Circus
hold is Toby’s fave HELLFIRE.
I wonder what’s gonna happen to these Republic restorations,are Paramount
hoping to enter them into the streaming market,or something,none of the
re-issue imprints seem to be interested at the moment.
I did hear through the grapevine that Park Circus want a lot more money
for their films than Hollywood Classics.
I might add that both companies distribute films globally for most of the
majors to everywhere outside of America.
Well, this thread is still continuing to roll on the river. First of all, congratulations to Toby for getting called on to do the commentary for MAN WITHOUT A STAR(1955). He will do a fine job. This 1950’s Western is such a good story and I have enjoyed it in all of its versions. I first viewed A MAN CALLED GANNON(1968) on NBC TV in 1970. During he Summer of 1970 I watched a re-run of the “Duel at Shiloh” episode of THE VIRGINIAN TV series, which first aired on January 2, 1963. Finally I got to view MAN WITHOUT A STAR on the WREC-TV Channel 3 LATE MOVIE later on, but still during the early ’70’s. I like all three versions and its not really fair, for me, to compare the three, because they are different takes on the same story. Fact is, if you read the really fine 1952 novel MAN WITHOUT A STAR written by DeVerl(Dee) Linford, you will have another different version. This is what makes it all very interesting too me and “Fun.”
Again, I would commend producer Howard Christie for doing his part in keeping Western movies alive at Universal Pictures during the post-Audie Murphy years. His A MAN CALLED GANNON is a good effort and Simply Media put an uncut widescreen version on DVD in 2016 for you Region 2 Western fans.
I also wish that more Western Movies would be released, on DVD and Blue-ray, but as we know when it gets down to brass tacks, economics rules the day. That said, I still think we should try to convince the suits to release more. Thanks to Cole and Graham for the links, Although, I don’t do Facebook.
John K, regarding big budget widescreen black and white Westerns, I really can’t think of any, at the moment, other than the ones you have already named. Although, THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE(1962) wasn’t in 2.35:1, but it was in 1.85:1. Now that I think of it, DEAD MAN(1995) was in black and white and in 1.85:1 ratio.
I think that it is neat that MAN WITHOUT A STAR is Chip’s origin of his passion for Western Movies.