Directed by George Stevens
Starring Alan Ladd, Jean Arthur, Van Heflin, Brandon deWilde, Jack Palance, Ben Johnson, Edgar Buchanan, Emile Meyer, Elisha Cook Jr., Douglas Spencer, John Dierkes, Ellen Corby
The Graham Cinema in Graham, NC, is running George Stevens’ Shane (1953) tonight through Thursday at 7PM.
Tuesday, November 17 thru Thursday, November 19 at 7:00 pm
Graham Cinema
119 N Main Street, Graham, NC 27253
It’s a great old theater, a real favorite of mine. Of course, Shane is terrific, too. And Loyal Griggs Oscar-winning cinematography really needs to be seen on the big screen.
50 Westerns From The 50s. 
Well, I hope they’re showing a 35mm print of it, as these modern digital hard drive things definitely don’t have the same feel as projected film.
I completely agree. The Graham Cinema has converted to digital, and while it’s not film, they have the best digital image I’ve seen.
Toby,with a name like the Graham Cinema ,if I lived in the USA ,I would have to attend,HA,HA!!!As I live in Australia ,I will have to watch it on BLU RAY.SHOOTOUT is not the best latter westerns,but it’s not the worst with a few familiar faces in the cast.
Kino Lorber have announced SHOWDOWN (Dean Martin Rock Hudson) and
SHOOT OUT (Gregory Peck) on Blu Ray.
SHOWDOWN is actually very good an attempt by Universal to see if
there was any life left in traditional old style Westerns (there wasn’t)
The German Blu Ray looked great so I guess the Kino version will
be equally good. SHOWDOWN also stars Susan Clark who I always liked
in Westerns or anything else for that matter.
SHOOT OUT is another matter altogether certainly Henry Hathaway’;s
worst Western and one of Peck’s worst as well,at least McKENNA’S
GOLD was ever lousier.
What gets my goat is that we often get multiple Blu Ray versions of
Westerns that were not very good or downright lousy (DOC,THE HUNTING
PARTY,THE HILLS RUN RED…….)
Kino are certainly going for A List stars in their Westerns nowadays,the likes
of Rory Calhoun and George Montgomery are well off the radar.
The artwork for SHOOT OUT is wonderful,far better than the film itself.
What gets my goat even further is the number of very fine Westerns that have
yet to debut on Blu Ray like SEVEN MEN FROM NOW,LAST TRAIN FROM
GUN HILL,FROM HELL TO TEXAS,WICHITA,YELLOWSTONE KELLY,
THESE THOUSAND HILLS,RUN OF THE ARROW,BANDIDO,REPRISAL!,
THE BADLANDERS,DRANGO,THE TIN STAR,THE LAWLESS BREED,
HORIZONS WEST,COLORADO TERRITORY, all of which and many many
others are far superior to SHOOT OUT.
Companies like KL can only license what’s made available to them, so the blame has to go to Universal and the like. These pictures coming out from various companies around the world only hurts the overall sales, which will slow down the release of Westerns in the future. It’s a real shame.
KL has done a terrific job with what they’ve done to date, and there are a few more on the way.
And John, how dare you profane this blog by mentioning McKenna’s Gold!
I’m not knocking Kino in particular,their transfers are fine,too bad their
deal with Paramount/Republic never continued.
I wish I’d waited for the Kino versions of JOE KIDD and HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER
especially for the neat extras ‘though the earlier Universal Blu Ray’s are stellar.
I did get the Kino TWO MULES FOR SISTER SARA,my least favorite Clint
Western,and Siegel too but the transfer is stunning and the addition of the
lengthier export cut. I’m on a bit of a Clint kick at the moment as I’ve just
ordered Kino’s THE BEGUILED,PLAY MISTY FOR ME and THUNDERBOLT
AND LIGHTFOOT all three are first timers in my collection and I’m so glad
I held out for the Kino versions.
I guess it’s only a matter of time before Kino treat us to a de luxe edition of
HANG ‘EM HIGH no classic but would be wonderful to have with a Toby
commentary,stacks of stuff to cover there.
Can you believe Clint’s at the moment filming his latest CRY MACHO in
Mexico,cast details are scant so as to keep the crowds at bay for obvious
reasons,actually CRY MACHO sounds closer to a Western than anything
he’s done for ages,it souinds as if it will have lots of Western type landscapes
if nothing else, and I believe his character is an old ex Rodeo Rider.
I’m in total lockdown/isolation at the moment,hopped up on prescription
pain killers,alcohol free (since January) with nothing to do but buy and
watch old movies.
It’s amazing how watching an old Western or classic Noir in high def lifts
ones spirits,we’ll all get through this thing, but right now classic movies
give us one hell of a lift,I feel we need them more than ever right now.
So many wonderful releases in the pipeline and fine that Film Noir is
so popular these days,I don’t know how future Western releases will pan out
but I’m sure there will always be the occasional unexpected gem to part us
from our cash.
Cole at Western Movies has very kindly,through Facebook invited me to
join in with his Podcast,I’m incredibly flattered but I’m also the most hardcore
Luddite alive,I’m so low tech recording such a thing would be beyond me I’m
afraid but I’m highly flattered anyway,besides any contribution Toby makes is
going to totally smoke anything that I could cobble together…so Cole if you are
out there thanks a whole bunch!
It’s very simple — and a lot of fun. Do it!
The problem is,Toby I don’t own a computer,
I spend far too much money on Blu Ray’s to entertain
such things,I use a communal computer room shared
by the tenants of the apartment block that I live in,it’s
pretty basic but it gets me to comment on the various
blogs.
A young computer whizz was going to educate us old timers
and make us more tech savvy but The Plague has put that
on hold,sadly-basically what I’m saying I don’t know
how to record let alone get involved in a podcast-
you are dealing with “Luddite Corner” here but I must
say I was “chuffed to bits” with Cole’s invatation,
and the fact that he enjoys reading my ramblings means
a heck of a lot to me!
I’m not exactly sure how this works, and with it being both France and the UK, it might get more complicated, but I believe you could do an internet to phone call and capture it that way. Don’t hold me to that, but I believe it could work.
Yes, absolutely, I suggested to John K to do it over the phone !
Glenn at Cinesavant has given a glowing review to Criterion’s 4K
restoration of THE GUNFIGHTER. I’m really going to have to double dip
this time for the sensational extras alone.
The Explosive version,which I already have is fine and does have a couple
of trailers not included on the Criterion.
I love the way,in his review Glenn brings Kim Spalding into the mix,Toby is
the only other cat I know that would include such an audacious name drop. 🙂
I was also heartened to note that Glenn notes that Coop’s screen persona
was far too noble for an audience to believe that he could have previously
rode with scum like Doc Tobin (Lee J Cobb) in MAN OF THE WEST.
THE GUNFIGHTER is a film that improves with each viewing,I know we say
that about lots of films but with THE GUNFIGHTER it’s really true!
I look forward to spotting Mr Spalding in particular when I view The Criterion
version.
Regarding the previously mentioned McKENNA’S GOLD Gary at DVD
Beaver has just reviewed a film made when J Lee Thompson was making
really good movies YIELD TO THE NIGHT. I don’t know what happened
to Thompson’s later career but that guy should never have been let anywhere
near a Western-THE WHITE BUFFALO is equally dire-a stellar cast junk heaped.
YIELD TO THE NIGHT is classic Brit Noir and certainly Diana Dors finest
hour. Gary states that the Blu Ray of YIELD TO THE NIGHT is
“astronomically” better than the DVD.
Toby,
Can you please supply a link to your podcast on the Western Movies
site I’ve looked but cannot find it.
BTW,I saw your name among the people who made a financial contribution
to the AFRICA SCREAMS restoration. Classicflix do great work and the
AFRICA SCREAMS package is sensational with wonderful extras and
the restoration is beautiful. AFRICA SCREAMS is a region free Blu Ray I might
add.
As soon as the link is posted, I’ll post it here. We had fun talking cowboy movies — hope it’s as fun to listen to as it was to record.
The Africa Screams Blu-Ray is stunning. They’re doing Jack & The Beanstalk next.
The editing is taking longer than I thought. I had an issue with the primary source of recording. Sorry about that.
Hi Cole,
We will try to sort something out now we can communicate via e-mail.
I note from your excellent site Sidonis have announced RED MOUNTAIN but
sadly as a DVD only. This title is interesting as it’s a Paramount title and
furthermore it’s not one of the Paramount titles that was released by Olive
Films-what I’m trying to say is most Paramount titles released by Sidonis so
far were already released by Olive-does this mean Sidonis have now
reached a deal with Paramount to release titles that have never appeared
on disc before.
As we all know there are a wealth of Paramount titles in the vaults as well as
the Republic and Allied Artists titles that they now own. It would certainly
make Chip’s day if Sidonis could Release JACK SLADE which I understand
Paramount now own as well as other gems like DRAGOON WELLS MASSACRE and AT GUNPOINT.
I note that Sidonis still seem intent on releasing WILD AND THE INNOCENT
which Universal France released several years back as a 4×3 pan & scan,
it would be sensational if Sidonis could source a CinemaScope version.
I also note Sidonis have announced WAR DRUMS on Blu Ray not a great
choice in my opinion but I guess it will be the first Bel Air Western to make
it to high definition-WAR PAINT I thought would have been a better choice.
Just thought I’d list the Westerns on Universal Germany’s Western Collection
Volume 2 Nine Blu Ray Set.
This time ’round the collection is top heavy with Audie Murphy titles.
SIERRA,
DRUMS ACROSS THE RIVER
WALK THE PROUD LAND
DUEL AT SILVER CREEK
RIDE A CROOKED TRAIL
TOMAHAWK
PILLARS OF THE SKY
RED SUNDOWN
BORDER RIVER
This set has just been released and is up on Amazon.de
Sadly as mentioned previously this set was to include DAY OF THE BADMAN
but this title has been withdrawn,I guess because Universal failed to source
a CinemaScope print.DAY OF THE BADMAN has been replaced by SIERRA
but all the same there are five Westerns on this set making their Worldwide
Blu Ray debut.
I have this on order from a German company JPC.Would have liked less Audie Murphy as I have all those films.
Hi Graham,
Can you recommend an Australian company that deals in DVD’s/Blu Ray’s.
I used a very good outfit several years back but they have since gone out
of business.
This new Australian label Imprint are constantly releasing obscure and
worthwhile films but never seem to be available on Amazon or ebay.
I’m very interested in RAGE with Glenn Ford which has a commentary by
Toby Roan no less.
John k,if you mean reissue companies,Umbrella Entertainment,Via Vision and Imprint are good.I don’t particularly like Shock Entertainment,for although they issue a lot of TV shows they tend not to print the eposides on the box and you have to play the lot to find a particular eposide.I just bought the the 2 Benny Hill shows from the 70s and 80s from Via Vision because JB HI FI have 30% off at the moment.You can buy direct from Imprint,but they can be expensive.I bought a couple of titles from them and should have bought them from JB HI FI because they regularly have 20% off sales .I bought MAJOR DUNDEE from Imprint and it cost me $65.00.You have to be quick with these Imprint titles as they are usually limited and sell out fast.I had trouble getting THE CARPETBAGGERS but eventually found it.
Thanks Graham,
I was interested in the Sci Fi title WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE but it’s impossible to find at an affordable price but that’s the problem with Fantasy/
Horror/Sci Fi especially with such low print runs.
I don’t however think there will be the same demand for RAGE.
I also think Imprint are re-issuing some titles when they go out of print.
I guess as a William Holden fan,Graham you will be interested in Imprint’s
BRIDGES AT TOKO RI one of Holden’s very best.
At any rate Imprint do seem to be upping their output which can only be a
good thing.
Hello again Graham,
I’ve just come across an Australian ebay seller called Two Laughing Dogs
(HA! they would have to be Australian with a name like that 🙂 ) who have
RAGE for pre order at a reasonable price and they have a 99% approval
rating.
What I like about Imprint is that they seem to love really obacure titles
and they are now starting to get reviewed on DVD Beaver.
I guess there is hope for DRAGOON WELLS MASSACRE after all.
I always prefer ebay as there is no hassle and I find them ultra reliable
and I get Nectar points as well (UK points system that I spend on groceries.)
John k ,thanks for letting me know about THE BRIDGES AT TOKO RI,one of my favourite films.I do have it on DVD,but will upgrade when it gets released in February.How did you ever find it because Imprint don’t have an upcoming release section?I love films with jets and aircraft carriers and I actually go out to Amberly Air Force Base just to watch the F18s fly over.My daughter who is in the Navy (she’s in Perth at the moment) can get me a visitor’s pass on to the base.Next week when the borders open ,I will head down to Williamstown base.When I was in the UK,I was waiting for a train near this Air Force base and these jets flew over.On that day I learn’t how they land,following each over one by one.
I did see that horse scene in MACHO CALLAHAN and thought it was quite revolting .They should never have been allowed to get away with that.I did ask Imprint about DRAGOON WELLS MASSACRE and AC LYLES,but I’d imagine they’d get released on Via Vision.
Coming from Imprint films in February 2021 are-
BREAKDOWN 1997
THE BRIDGES AT TOKO RI 1954
THE BAD NEWS BEARS 1976
THE APOSTLE 1997
FIVE 1951
BLACK SUNDAY 1977
A Randolph Scott collection gets released on 16 th December from Via Vision
containing-
THE TEXANS
WHEN THE DALTONS RODE
CORVETTE K-225
GUNFIGHTERS
CORONER CREEK
THE DOOLINS OF OKLAHOMA
THE WALKING HILLS
SANTA FE
My family headed out of town for the Thanksgiving holiday and were without Internet access. Thanks to all of y’all who kept things going around here!
That Scott set sounds really interesting.