Directed by Jacques Tourneur
Starring Dana Andrews, Brian Donlevy, Susan Hayward, Patricia Roc, Ward Bond, Hoagy Carmichael, Andy Devine, Lloyd Bridges
Canyon Passage (1946) is a large-scale tale of the Oregon Territory. Jacques Tourneur’s first Western and first color film, it was a big hit back in 1946. It’s got a great cast (Ward Bond is terrific — and very scary) and incredible Technicolor photography from Edward Cronjager, who also shot Lang’s Western Union (1941).
It’s coming to Blu-Ray from Kino Lorber later this year. You can bet it’ll look great.
50 Westerns From The 50s. 
Very happy to hear this – love this movie! And boy does Ward Bond play a rough character! Beautiful photography – Toby I’m hoping that KL asked you to do the commentary!
Thanks, that’s a real ego-booster! Right now, I’m working on Man Without A Star.
Great news, might have to double dip if the transfer looks great. I had purchased the Koch Media version a few years ago and that copy looked great.
A dream come true. Now, I just have to convince my sister with the Blu-Ray player that this is a long cherished dream of hers!
With Western releases from the “second string” Western stars becoming
rarer and rarer I note Sidonis have announced UTAH BLAINE in September
on DVD only.
Hopefully,Sidonis will continue their recent practice of not having “forced”
subs on their releases.
This film ticks at least three boxes for Toby-Rory Calhoun,Sam Katzman
and his favourite director (well almost),Fred F Sears
DVD Classik have reviewed ESC’s Blu Ray of Jesse Hibbs THE YELLOW
MOUNTAIN and provided 20 or so screen grabs of the 2.0 transfer,looking
good! THE YELLOW MOUNTAIN was only available previously as a Koch,
Germany DVD as a 4×3.
List Time…..
We have not done this for some time,but I thought I’d make a list
of 20 important Westerns that thus far have not been released on
Blu Ray and several are still awaiting a DVD release.
This time,I’ve tried to hone in on A Westerns for the most part or
Westerns featuring major Western stars/directors.
In keeping it to 20 I’ve had to omit lots of titles that I would have loved
to have included for instance two Steve McQueen films NEVADA SMITH
and TOM HORN. I included FIRECREEK just to complete my James Stewart
in “high def” collection.
There are several titles here worthy of the Criterion treatment,furthermore
I have not included key films released in Europe like GUNMAN’S WALK.
I have also not included THE SONS OF KATIE ELDER as it’s just been
released in Germany as part of a 9 film collection. Gary at DVD Beaver,
quiet rightly feels this film deserves better treatment than this and surely
cramming 3 full length colour films onto 1 Blu Ray is not the way to go.
I’m pretty sure over time most if not all these films will make their way to
Blu Ray,unlike sadly DRAGOON WELLS MASSACRE or HELL CANYON
OUTLAWS.
COLORADO TERRITORY
WAGON MASTER
THE NAKED SPUR
SADDLE TRAMP
THE BOUNTY HUNTER
THE LAWLESS BREED
CHARGE AT FEATHER RIVER
SILVER LODE
THE COMMAND
WICHITA
TRIBUTE TO A BAD MAN
SEVEN MEN FROM NOW
THE VIOLENT MEN
FASTEST GUN ALIVE
FROM HELL TO TEXAS
LAST TRAIN FROM GUN HILL
HELL BENT FOR LEATHER
CHEYENNE AUTUMN
PAT GARRETT & BILLY THE KID
FIRECREEK
Any suggestions,additions,deletions welcome.
Once we get a few people chiming in on this, I’ll put the gather them up as a post. Might be fun.
Kino Lorber have just announced THE SECRET WAYS with Richard Widmark who produced and part directed it .MADIGAN and TIME LIMIT also starring Widmark are also getting released by Kino .All 3 are on my purchase list.
John K, a really good and hopeful list. Here are some to add. Some might be on Blu-ray somewhere in the World. If they are please feel free to inform me.
AMBUSH(1950)
DEVIL’S DOORWAY(1950)
BRANDED(1950)
ACROSS THE WIDE MISSOURI(1951)
ALONG THE GREAT DIVIDE(1951)
BEST OF THE BADMEN(1951)
INSIDE STRAIGHT(1951)
THE REDHEAD AND THE COWBOY(1951)
RED MOUNTAIN(1951)
THE SECRET OF CONVICT LAKE(1951)
WESTWARD THE WOMEN(1951)
VENGEANCE VALLEY(1951)
THE BIG SKY(1952)
BUGLES IN THE AFTERNOON(1952)
THE LUSTY MEN(1952)
THE STORY OF WILL ROGERS(1952)
UNTAMED FRONTIER(1952)
THE GREAT SIOUX UPRISING(1953)
LAST OF THE COMANCHES(1953)
THE LAST POSSE(1953)
There are so many. I didn’t get of the early 1950’s.
Great list,as I would expect from Walter.
As far as I know none of these films are available on Blu Ray
anywhere on the Globe.
I have the German DVD of GREAT SIOUX UPRISING
and while quiet watchable the film does look as if it could
need some restoration work.
It’s one of the most violent Universal 50’s Westerns,little kids
getting gunned down at point blank range and Lyle Bettger
having his appendix removed without anesthetic!
BUGLES IN THE AFTERNOON originally a Warner Bros release
is now owned by Paramount.
A couple of the Columbia titles might turn up on Sidonis and
hopefully they will continue their recent trend of no forced subs.
There are also a few titles that I hope Warner Archive might get
’round to:DEVIL’S DOORWAY,ALONG THE GREAT DIVIDE,
WESTWARD THE WOMEN.
Finally the German DVD of UNTAMED FRONTIER is a real
beauty so I see no reason why it will not make it’s way
to Blu Ray eventually….criminally underrated picture.
Great lists! I’ll make one correction to John’s list. I have a Sidonis widescreen Blu-Ray of THE VIOLENT MEN (1955). The French title is LE SOUFFLE DE LA VIOLENCE. It includes the original English version.
I love the lists – And will add a few late 40’s – 50’s films – some of which are maybe not the greatest Westerns but I enjoy them just the same as guilty pleasures!
Coroner Creek
Ride the Man Down
No Name on the Bullet
The Nevadan
Albuquerque
Backlash
Ride to Diablo
The Last Wagon
Short Grass
Dawn at Socorro
Escape from Fort Bravo
Hangman’s Knot
The Silver Whip
I’ll just stop as this could go on for a while:)
Lyson,super list I might add that the following are available on Blu Ray
in Germany:
NO NAME ON THE BULLET
BACKLASH (widescreen)
THE LAST WAGON
It’s a funny old world…………….
CANYON PASSAGE on Kino’s Facebook page gets 44 “likes”
whereas BILLY THE KID VS DRACULA (a film so bad it cannot even
get featured on The Hannibal 8) gets 247 “likes”
It’s funny that you noticed that I skipped over Billy The Kid Vs. Dracula.
As much as I love junk movies, I hate to shame people like John Carradine, Olive Carey, Roy Barcroft, Harry Carey, Jr. or even William Beaudine. I’d rather lift em up than tear em down.
Quite…..
And the same goes for JESSE JAMES MEETS FRANKENSTEIN’S
DAUGHTER which wastes John Lupton,Jim Davis,Rayford Barnes and
Nestor Paiva.
The point I was attempting to make is that there seems to be far more
appetite for these things than say HELL CANYON OUTLAWS or
DRAGOON WELLS MASSACRE.
You made your point very well, and I sure wish it wasn’t the case.
Greetings from Italy! I’ve been following Toby’s blog for a few years but I’ve never posted anything so far–finally decided to chime in with my personal wishlist of titles (mostly 1950s) that haven’t been released on blu-ray anywhere in the world:
THE NAKED SPUR (n°1)
THE FAR COUNTRY (n° 2)
A DISTANT TRUMPET (n° 3)
Then, in no particular order (I’ve tried to avoid previously-mentioned titles):
APACHE DRUMS
FACE OF A FUGITIVE
NORTHWEST PASSAGE
DAKOTA INCIDENT
PASSION
TENNESSEE’S PARTNER
CHUKA
GREAT DAY IN THE MORNING
YELLOWSTONE KELLY
REPRISAL!
SMOKE SIGNAL
THE MAVERICK QUEEN
THUNDER IN THE SUN (still awaiting a dvd release)
SHOTGUN (still awaiting a dvd release)
WARPATH (still awaiting a dvd release)
Also including a few titles that’ve had a European blu-ray release but in my opinion deserve a (hopefully better or richer) US or UK edition:
THE LAST WAGON
BACKLASH
THE LAST FRONTIER
APACHE
CHIEF CRAZY HORSE
First, thanks for chiming in. Next. you’re a man after my own heart! Apache Drums, Face Of A Fugitive, Reprisal! and Tennessee’s Partner were on my list, too.
Great post,I hope we hear from Stefano on a regular basis.
Super choices,YES to A DISTANT TRUMPET and YELLOWSTONE
KELLY I hope Warner Archive are listening,.
Fine to see the Allan Dwan titles make the list
GREAT DAY IN THE MORNING reportedly being restored by Warners.
THE FAR COUNTRY has been announced now for ages by Germany’s
Explosive Media but I understand there is a delay with the new 4K master
supplied by Universal.
SHOTGUN was released by VCI as part of their Darn Good Westerns series
collections a few years back….perhaps Toby would be kind enough to supply
a link.
Indeed —
https://www.amazon.com/Shotgun-Sterling-Hayden/dp/B00HRYH5WI/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=shotgun+dvd&qid=1560796297&s=gateway&sr=8-3
This is a standalone release (from Kit Parker via VCI), the set is now out of print.
Good to know that SHOTGUN did have a dvd release…but it’s well worthy of a blu-ray upgrade, especially for the Technicolor cinematography (by the great Ellsworth Fredericks) in the Sedona, AZ landscape.
Thanks Toby!
Twilight Time is doing a blu ray of THE TALL MEN, and Warner Archive has announced one for BRONCO BILLY.
Texican ,my contact at Twilight Time says THE TALL MEN will be released on August 20th .Details to be announced.
Man oh man! Keep the lists riding up the trail. Welcome Stefano from Italy. I also followed Toby’s blog for some years before having time to join in. I like that you listed PASSION(1954) a tale of Spanish California.
Texican and Graham, that is good news about THE TALL MEN(1955). Clark Gable should have done more Westerns, because he was a natural. Also, Clint Eastwood in BRONCO BILLY(1980) is a favorite.
Walter,one of the best pieces of music from a western is THE CATTLE from THE TALL MEN .Victor Young in my opinion was up there with the greats – Max Steiner,Dimitri Tiomkin etc.I have THE CATTLE on CD.
Not just your opinion, but Victor Young is and was one of the greats. An example — his marvelous work on Buckskin Frontier.
Graham, Victor Young did a great job of composing on THE TALL MEN(1955). What a magnificent breathtaking scene of heading cattle, horses, and wagons north accompanied by the artfully done musical score. The movie was a big winner at the box office and put Clark Gable back in the top ten stars at the box office. Gable should have made more Westerns. This movie would really be something to see on the big screen in all of its 2.55:1 CinemaScope glory.
Walter, I’m in absolute agreement with your paragraph about THE TALL MEN, a film GABLE was born to play–and what an epic from Raoul Walsh! It’s really a shame, indeed, that he didn’t make more westerns–THE KING AND FOUR QUEENS , which followed, seemed like a giant rest period for the two of them, and not much of a ”western” there in comparison. His earlier ACROSS THE WIDE MISSOURI was an bad-edit as we all know, ruined by the studio. You know, what really irks me is that MAYER had the world’s BIGGEST STAR value with GABLE; and NOT ONCE did he appear in a COLOR film for the studio (just compare with ERROL FLYNN at WARNER BROS. IN TECHNICOLOR EPICS). As soon as Mayer left, GABLE certainly had a career boost; the decade 1950 brought him a final string of pictures which were his absolute BEST.
Walter ,Clark Gable was great in westerns and I wish he had of made more of them,but according to IMDB he had to stand on a box in several scenes to look taller then 6’4″ co-star Robert Ryan .He also had to wear lifts.
Clark Gable was six foot one inch. No box. And IMDB is not always a viable reference.
I found it a bit hard to believe that Gable would stand on a box for some scenes.
,but if he were 6ft1ins and Ryan was 6ft4 ins that’s 3 ins taller .
Not that great a differential and not required, the camera angle takes care of everything. Check out the slight Montgomery Clift with John Wayne in Red River. Now there was a differential, and no box. This is the kind of ‘progressive’ bullshit fed by those who want to bring down the top guy. And Gable was that.
Rock Hudson and James Dean in Giant. No box.
Barry ,I have the original soundtrack cd of THE TALL MEN from FSM,and I’m pretty sure it says in the liner notes that some of the snow was fake ,foam trucked in .I found that hard to believe because the snow looks real especially in the first 15min or so of the film .They may have used foam in close up shots,but who knows.
I agree with you but don’t know. Probably both, but the liner notes on the soundtrack album are generally untrustworthy. For example, Jane Russell is quoted as saying she put a weight around her waist so that Gable would have a problem picking her up, and that is the same anecdote Olivia de Havilland told about the scene he carries her out of the house in Gone With The Wind. If it happened at all, certainly not twice. Oh, and the Imbecile who wrote that piece has Clark dying of cancer, when his death was and is very much in the culture following a major coronary after shooting The Misfits. These people are not only dishonest, they are downright foolish to presume no one knows. Well, in the current generation, perhaps they have a point.
My wishlist of titles…..WARPATH 1951, THE GREAT MISSOURI RAID 1951, THE SAVAGE, 1952, RENEGADES 1946, AMBUSH AT TOMAHAWK GAP 1953, THE OUTCAST 1954, DEVILS CANYON 1953, CITY OF BAD MEN 1953, STREETS OF LAREDO 1949,BRANDED 1950, WHISPERING SMITH 1948, PALOMINO 1950, JACK MCCALL DESPERADO 1953, CATTLEQUEEN OF MONTANA 1953, WYOMING RENEGADES 1954, YOUNGER BROTHERS 1948, THE VIRGINIAN 1946, THE BLAZING FOREST 1952.
Good list Rob as are all the others.I made up my own list ,but it got lost in cyberspace and I was too slack to make up another one,but I would like to add AT GUNPOINT .This has had a couple of European releases,but all without English.
Great wishlist Rob and well researched as well.
Plenty of Paramount titles there,cannot for the life of me see why films
like THE SAVAGE and THE GREAT MISSOURI RAID have not even had
an “official” DVD release.
THE VIRGINIAN makes it’s Worldwide Blu Ray debut next month
courtesy of France’s ESC Editions.
Sidonis seem to be keeping to not using forced subtitles on their recent
releases as the review of BUCHANAN RIDES ALONE on DVD Classik
informs us. This is good news as they are releasing more and more
Columbia titles so there’s hope they may get ’round to JACK McCALL
DESPERADO and WYOMING RENEGADES.
ERROL FLYNN in two from 1950, his last westerns: MONTANA, and ROCKY MOUNTAIN. Also in need of BR release is GORDON DOUGLAS’ YELLOWSTONE KELLY, and FORT DOBBS (1958). And WHEN OH WHEN will we have the cult favorite THE CHARGE AT FEATHER RIVER released in a BR-3D edition? Also, can’t figure a logical reason why FROM HELL TO TEXAS has not even had a DVD RELEASE! Come on, TWILIGHT TIME.. can this overlooked, ignored HENRY HATHAWAY EPIC possibly get a release from you folks, or maybe you could have a note as to WHY NOT? FROM HELL TO TEXAS is one of the screen’s ABSOLUTE BEST reflections, for sure.
My wishlist–
WOMAN OF THE NORTH COUNTRY
STAR IN THE DUST
RIDE A VIOLENT MILE
FRONTIER GUN
LAW OF THE LAWLESS
STAGE T THUNDER ROCK
YOUNG FURY
WACO (1966)
Let’s hear it for Frontier Gun!
And THE LONE TEXAN!
stevens 733…..mighty fine to see more love for YELLOWSTONE KELLY
which would look stunning on Blu Ray.
FROM HELL TO TEXAS was released on DVD by Germany’s Koch
Media but I think it’s now out of print.
It was also released on Fox’s wretched MOD series,this great Western
deserves far better than that-Twilight Time is a good bet.
Texican…an inspired list STAR IN THE DUST was released on Blu Ray
by Koch in a very nice widescreen version,sadly it’s going to take more than
a miracle for the others…do I detect that you are a John Agar fan?
These lists have been great uncovering many “lost” gems…we live in hope!
I’ve got the bulk of this list pulled together. What a stack of terrific movies. Will post this thing some time next week.
A color release of FLESH AND THE SPUR would be good also.
Two B’s well worth mentioning and recalling: Sam Fuller’s I SHOT JESSE JAMES (1949), and a LIPPERT/JOHN IRELAND sort of follow up ’cause JESSE lives on!” with THE RETURN OF JESSE JAMES(1950).