No specifics yet, but Kino Lorber is preparing quite a few Universal Westerns for DVD and/or Blu-Ray.
They come from the 1940s through the 70s, and they feature folks like Audie Murphy, Jeff Chandler, Rock Hudson, Randolph Scott, Fred MacMurray, Alan Ladd and Clint Eastwood. More news as it turns up.
Sounds promising!
These titles at the moment are anybody’s guess-that Toby he’s
such a tease!
Easy,though to narrow down the Scott title I guess it must be
ALBUQUERQUE a Paramount picture now owned by Universal.
For me ALBUQUERQUE is the least of the Ray Enright/Scott Westerns
but nice to have in high def.
For me another minus point is George Cleveland one of my least
favorite “coots” in Westerns and to make matters worse he’s the heavy
as well.
With Alan Ladd it’s gotta be WHISPERING SMITH another Paramount
picture that Universal now own. On the other hand it could be
SASKATCHEWAN which would be wonderful if Kino could source a
widescreen (1.85) version.
I note with interest that in ALBUQUERQUE Scott plays a character
called Cole Armin……where have we heard that name before?
Toby,where did you hear this news from ?Western releases are always welcome but unreleased ones are more welcome.
This is potentially very exciting — if they release more films such as the forthcoming WINGS OF THE HAWK which haven’t had a Region 1 release. Anxiously awaiting developments!
Best wishes,
Laura
Grapevine Video has a blu ray out of the 1956 serial Blazing The Overland Trail.
Well since John K opened the gate we might as well have some fun driving potential choices out of the corral! I’ll pick Blu-rays of Randy Scott’s – Coroner Creek & The Gunfighter. I already have Albuquerque. For Fred mcMurray how about Gun For a Coward & Day of the Badman.
This could be fun.
My choice would be for BOSS OF BULLION CITY (1940), a good comedy western with Johnny Mack Brown.
I’d love a set of Universal Johnny Mack Brown titles similar to what Warner Archives have done with their Monogram releases.
I’m not going anywhere! I can wait. Patiently. Patiently waiting.
Any news yet?
The list I got was of Westerns that needed commentaries. There was some good stuff on there, even a few titles that will get chapters in my 50s Westerns book (which has a dozen chapters almost done). I picked a few and asked about another, which it turns out had been claimed by someone else — which means there were some titles not on my list. Good stuff on the way, folks!
I’d like to see a release of those non-westerns that John Wayne did at Universal in the late 30’s. They have never been available at all.
Toby, this great news from Kino Lorber. These Western Movies probably won’t be on the release list, but it would be nice to have some Richard Dix Westerns from the Paramount corral. CHEROKEE STRIP(1940), THE ROUND UP(1941), and TOMBSTONE: THE TOWN TO TOUGH TO DIE(1942).
Cole Armin our fellow Western Fan from over France Way. Good name
Oddly enough Walter Hollywood Classics International have high def
versions of CHEROKEE STRIP and TOMBSTONE,THE TOWN TOO
TOUGH TO DIE in their portfolio.
They also have a high def version of FRONTIER BADMEN a wonderful
little A- B+ Western from Ford Beebe.
I knew I had stumbled onto the right place,when years back Toby announced
a John Ford commemorative postage stamp and one commentator asked
when does Ford Beebe get his stamp.
Hollywood Classics supply major studio Westerns to all international
territories,excluding the USA.
There is no reason why Sidonis,Koch,Explosive or other Euro labels
could not lease these titles. At least it’s comforting,if the information is correct
that high def versions of these films exist.
I’m still waiting for some enterprising Euro label to release the newly
remastered Republic Westerns that Park Circus hold:THE PLUNDERERS,
HELLFIRE,THE OUTCAST.
One Euro label owner did tell me that he can lease films from Universal
direct cheaper than what Park Circus charge so I guess that may be
the reason nobody’s releasing these titles.
BTW Walter I was merely being facetious regarding our French buddy
Cole Armin, things are pretty quiet in France sadly with Sidonis only
releasing previously released titles and ESC having given up on Westerns
altogether.
Kino Lorber now seem to mainly concentrate on big star names in their
Western releases but it’s good to know there are some Audie Murphy
titles on the list. I would love a high def upgrade on the following Murphy
Westerns: THE KID FROM TEXAS,WALK THE PROUD LAND
DRUMS ACROSS THE RIVER and HELL BENT FOR LEATHER.
To close I will list just a few Universal 50’s Westerns that I would love
to see be given a Blu Ray release: APACHE DRUMS,SADDLE TRAMP,
HORIZON’S WEST and THE LAWLESS BREED.
Message to Toby….
The H8 seems to be off air for some reason,or at least the comments
section is…just to point out THE BEGINNING OF THE END is
GIANT Grasshoppers!
Thanks for the correction! How dare I make such a stupid mistake!
Not sure what’s going on with TH8. It’s set up to allow comments.
Some updates and a question: ESC Classics (France) has out a beautiful Blu-Ray of BADLANDS OF DAKOTA (1941) with Richard Dix and a young Robert Stack; excellent print which plays also in American zone Blu-Ray players. I got my copy from DaaVeeDee importers. May we hope that someone overseas (or in the US) will also release CHEROKEE STRIP, TOMBSTONE: THE TOWN TOO TOUGH TO DIE, and THE ROUND UP?
Hollywood Scrapheap offers several Wild Bill Elliott A- films, so you might wish to check them out. Any news of official releases? Elliott is a major gap in Western DVD releasing.
And I echo the plea for more Republic products…not just John Wayne.
I would love to see the BOUNTY HUNTER on Blu-Ray, and any decent release of Fighting Man of The Plains. Randolph Scott movies seem to get better with age. We re-watched a bunch of westerns in the last couple weeks and his better Westerns really hold up great. And TOMBSTONE is such an awesome Western! We’re lucky that a 1990s western turned out so well.