Directed by Marvin Chomsky
Starring Roy Rogers, Clay O’Brien, Andrew Robinson, James Hampton, Joan Hackett, Billy Greenbush, Luke Askew
Roy Rogers’ last feature, Mackintosh And T.J. (1975) has been announced for Blu-Ray release in May from The MVD Rewind Collection. It’s a good little movie, and Roy’s terrific in it. So glad to see that it’s being given the 4K treatment it deserves.
50 Westerns From The 50s. 
Thanks for sharing the good news.
Toby, this is good news. MACKINTOSH AND T. J.(1975) is a good movie. I first saw it back in the day on the big screen. I wish Roy Rogers had made more movies like this one, in his later years. The only drawback is that Roy doesn’t sing any songs, but Waylon Jennings is pretty good. Here is a good segment behind the scenes of the movie.
That’s great stuff. Hope they end up sticking that on the disc.
And to answer someone’s question — no, I’m not doing a commentary for it.
Years ago l had this on VHS, then a pal transferred it to DVD.
Roy is very good and natural in this, and film much better than the low key release it originally had. Not certain if it made the big screen in U.K.
MVD are quite a high price, which could affect sales, especially if buying from U.K.
I’m not really a big fan of Roy Rogers or Gene Autry films .I love their singing.I will buy this film when it gets released on BLU RAY and although I’ve never seen it the trailer looks good.One reviewer mentions it’s not really suitable for children .I always thought that Roy had good values,deploring the use of violence and rubbish used in a lot of films.
Graham, I think that you would like this movie. Also, I think children can handle this movie, especially during these troubling times.
A very nice film that Roy Rogers could have been rightly proud to have made. I saw it on UK TV many years ago and never seen it since.
I would love to buy this but sadly importing anything from the U.S. has become prohibitive. Won’t give up yet though……
Mike, do you remember about where and when you obtained your VHS copy of MACKINTOSH AND T. J.? Jerry, do you remember about when you saw this movie on UK TV?
I got to thinking about this movie that Toby brought to our attention. Why has it been so hard to find the last forty-four-and-a-half-years? I’ve never seen it on TV and it should have played there in the late 1970’s and 1980’s here in the USA. Apparently it didn’t, or am I wrong?
Concerning the movie’s low key release, it started out well with a special preview premiere in Charlotte, North Carolina on November 15, 1975. Roy Rogers did a lot of promotion in and around the Charlotte area and it was well received. MACKINTOSH AND T. J. had a general release premiere in Lubbock, Texas on February 5, 1976. Producer Tim Penland had signed a deal with ABC Theatres in the South and Southwestern states of the USA to pay for several hundred release prints and promotions. The movie played throughout the South and Southwest and in July, 1976 the movie opened in Los Angeles and New York City. The reviews were good, especially of Roy Rogers’ natural acting ability. Then, the movie was gone from the theaters. What happened and why?
Cheryl Rogers-Barnett, Roy’s daughter, has said that the movie was pulled from the theaters because the producers sued each other. I went and took a look-see at the IMDb site to see who produced the movie. In 1975 the movie was produced and distributed by Penland Productions. As of 2020 Verdugo Entertainment has world-wide all media distribution.
Producer Tim Penland died about four years ago and his daughter Kristin currently runs Penland Productions. Tim Penland and now his daughter have been selling DVD’s of MACKINTOSH AND T. J. for many years. Also, on this DVD is a 13 minute onsite feature of the actual production of the movie.
The 4K Restoration is presented by Verdugo Entertainment and Penland Productions. The World Premiere of the 4K Restoration of MACKINTOSH & T.J. was during October 9-12, 2020 at The Lone Pine Film Festival’s “Western Watch Party.” The festival was done virtually this past year and I’m sure Laura and Caftan Woman can tell us more about that.
MACKINTOSH AND T. J.’s exclusive network television premiere was on the INSP Network on Saturday night October 17, 2020 at 8:00 EDT(Eastern Daylight Time). That night more than 83 Million households were able, if they wanted, to watch this much neglected Roy Rogers movie, finally. Streaming and Electronic sell-through will be available April 6, 2021 through Giant Pictures. The fully restored from 35MM film in stunning 4K/HDR Dolby Vision, will be available in Blue-ray and DVD on May 18, 2021 by way of MVD Entertainment Group.
This has been a long forty-five-year road for Roy’s last movie. I think it is worth it. Cheryl Rogers Barnett said, “I think it is one of Dad’s best performances and a beautiful movie.”
The following is the trailer from The Lone Pine Film Festival.
Walter, after reading our really fascinating account of Mackintosh and TJ’s life after production, I put Penland Productions and Cheryl Penland individually up on IMDBPRO and came back with very little. They can be tracked down, seem to be working out of Orlando, but they are about as inactive as I have been recently. Nothing coming up with the Roger’s film is listed..
Walter, great write up, more info than l ever knew.
OK, now putting brain into overdrive. Before l saw the film l bought the RCA soundtrack LP, expecting to hear Roy, but as l found out later, he doesn’t sing in the film. Though not a bad LP, and l still have it.
I bought the VHS tape sometime mid to late 1980s, I’m sure it was NTSC, with very similar cover to the film poster. About 10 years later, my pal Alan had a VHS to DVD set up, and he made a DVD copy for me.The tape was sold at a B Western convention couple of years later.
Jerry is right, there was a U.K. television showing, but l can’t remember the channel, back then it was probably a 4 x 3 version, same as the tape.
Mike, thank you. Toby re-triggered my interest in this neglected movie. Do you remember what company put out the VHS copy? Was it Penland Productions?
Sorry Walter, l can’t remember the company. Wish I’d made a copy of the cover.
Mike, it looks like MACKINTOSH AND T. J. was out there in VHS and later DVD. I just missed it during those years, along with many other people.
…should be ‘your’ not our.
Barry, thank you. Like you, I didn’t find much information on Tim Penland or Penland Productions on IMDb. Apparently, Tim Penland only produced one movie. From what I have run across, Mr. Penland was a born-again Christian marketing consultant who later helped to promote CHARIOTS OF FIRE(filmed 1980, released 1981) and THE MISSION(filmed 1985, released 1986) for Warner Bros. Also, in 1988 he was hired by Universal Pictures to be a liaison to evangelical leaders concerning Martin Scorsese’s THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST(filmed 1987, released 1988). He later resigned from that position when he discovered the film portrayed Jesus as lustful and vacillating. He then joined other Christians in protesting the movie.
In 1989, Mr. Penland along with the Rev. D. James Kennedy of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale, Florida attempted to start a movie company with some Southern California movie makers. which would produce movies with “uplifting and inspirational” themes rather than overtly religious. However, Penland said that, “every film, secular or religious, has a sermon in it. And the sermons in many of them are devastating to society. You may see adultery and avarice in our films, but you will not see them rewarded.” This sounds like what he did with MACKINTOSH AND T. J. As far as I know, nothing came of this proposed production company, but as we well know making movies is a business and that takes a lot of money.
I remember seeing this in the theater as a kid, and then on VHS when I was in college. I’m really looking forward to seeing it again.
Toby, thanks for re-triggering my interest in MACKINTOSH AND T. J. Do you remember what company put out the VHS tape in the 1980’s?
I don’t, but I should. Worked in a few video stores in college and saw the package all the time. It had the poster art on it.
Toby, I realize that it is hard to remember something like this from over 35-years ago, but who knows. I ran across this about the old DVD. Besides the 13 minute feature of behind the scenes, producer Tim Penland had an insert in the DVD of his comments regarding the movie and Roy Rogers. I hope all these features are in the new Blu-ray.
A really interesting account there from Walter. I will try to answer your question about the one and only time the film was shown on UK TV. The BBC has a Genome website which is tremendously useful. Of course it might not have been shown by them though but by one of the commercial channels.
“MACKINTOSH AND T.J.” was indeed broadcast by the BBC on 17th May, 1978. Only showing and thankfully I saw it then.
Jerry, thank you. This is good information, BBC on May 17, 1978 and only one showing. I don’t know of any TV showing in the USA during that time period, but If anyone out there does, please post it here.
HORIZONS WEST on BLU RAY getting released by Kino on May 11th.This will be for BLU RAY fans so I won’t be double dipping.Robert Ryan is always great though.
Horizons West is going to be part of another of those cool Western Blu-Ray sets from Kino Lorber. I’m doing a commentary for it (recording it next week).
I’m also doing Quantez, which I’d say is the best commentary I’ve ever done.
The third picture in the set is Gun For A Coward.
Toby:
Congratulations on the continuing success of your commentary jobs. I really enjoy the work you put into these.
I’m a little confused by the KL set you reference – I thought Gun for a Coward was the third film in a set with Pillars of the Sky & The Redhead from Wyoming which I pre-ordered from KL. Has that changed & is now paired with Quantez & Horizons west?
Nope, you’re right. It’s in that set with Pillars Of The Sky. It looks like Horizons West and Quantez might be stand-alone releases. Sorry for the confusion.
No worries – & happy to see all these movies being released! You’ve got me stoked for the Quantez commentary!
Toby, congratulations on doing the commentary for these fine Western Movies. Good Ole Universal-International Pictures. This studio released some outstanding Westerns during the Post World War II years.
50’s Westerns have been thin on the ground lately so these releases are
welcome,I understand HORIZONS WEST is making it’s Worldwide Blu Ray
debut. Sidonis,France are releasing Sam Katzman’s CALIFORNIA CONQUEST
on Blu Ray directed by Lew Landers.
The best thing about CALIFORNIA CONQUEST is Ellis Carter’s stuning
photography of the lovely California scenery.
The film has the most abrupt ending of all Westerns,almost as if they had
run out of budget,and knowing Sam perhaps they had.
I hope Sidonis can release on Blu Ray some better Columbia programmers
especially REPRISAL! and THE HARD MAN.
I re-watched THE LAST POSSE recently and Burnett Guiffey’s sensational
lensing of the Lone Pine locations would look awesome in high def.
Another little film that seems to have an odd, abrupt ending is “Roaring Timber” (1937-Columbia) with Jack Holt. The film is generally well-made, well-paced, and seems to be building up to an exciting conclusion… but poof! It just sort of winds down and ends. It also gave off the impression that the budget just ran out. Very strange and left things with an unsatisfying note.
Bert, this is the first time I’ve ever read anything about ROARING TIMBER(1937). Where can it be found?
Hey there, Walter! Got my copy of Columbia’s “Roaring Timber” several years back, at the Williamsburg Film Festival, from a dealer whom I understand is now retired. I think he made the transfer from a 16mm himself, but I’m not completely sure. A copy should be floating around in the collecting circles, but it’s admittedly a bit on the uncommon side.
The stars Jack Holt and Grace Bradley (Mrs. Hoppy!) had already headlined a film together the previous year for Universal in its waning Laemmle-era days, “Dangerous Waters” (1936), which I’d like to check out.
Bert, always good to hear from you. I’ve seen DANGEROUS WATERS(filmed 1935, released 1936) and it is a cracker jack of a movie. A really good cast, all in a fast paced and exciting movie. Pell-mell at sea, to say the least. Grace Bradley is a “bad news” wife and she is good in her role. There is even a Busby Berkeley influenced scene in the movie. It is worth a watch, I just wish that a better print had been available.
John K, I’m with you when it comes to there being better Westerns out there to put on Blu-ray. I agree with the three you named. I realize this is just continuing to beat a dead horse, but it would have been nice to have viewed SIERRA BARON(1958) in a proper restored release.