Directed by John Ford
Starring John Wayne, James Stewart, Vera Miles, Lee Marvin, Edmond O’Brien, Andy Devine
Just saw that John Ford’s The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) is coming to 4K in April — the first Ford or Wayne picture to do so.
It’s hard to imagine this looking any better than the Blu-Ray, but who’s to complain? It’s one of the finest Westerns ever made.
Image swiped from John Wayne.
50 Westerns From The 50s. 
One of the greatest news I’ve heard this year, I can’t think of any western to be on 4K then this Paramount classic. I am surprised Warner didn’t do The Searchers on 4K yet, the Blu-ray of that is one of the best. Hope 2022 is a good year for Wayne or Ford on 4K.
I’m with you, this is great news.
Have heard that a new transfer of The Searchers is in the works. It sure needs it, the thing we have is WAY too yellow. I’ve seen real Technicolor prints of that movie many times and it never looked anything like that Blu-Ray.
As incredible as B&W can look on Blu-Ray, I’m looking forward to seeing how it works in 4K.
Reading Cinisavant and his review of Hard Days Night in 4K he makes the point that it is a mild improvement in b/w but one needs a real big system or technician to spot much improvement. I know they can make The Searchers better but man it still looks great to me on that early blu. Everybody wants The Wild Bunch too in 4k but that early blu is still impressive. Its so sharp I spotted a truck in the background when they ride up to the bank in Starbuck! Oh how I enjoy high def Westerns and War movies on a big TV.
I’m a big hi-def fan, too. I’m all for 4K, but I don’t have the system, or the eyes, needed to get the full benefit of the increased definition.
Every time I see a color, on-set photo for Valance, I thank the heavens it was shot in glorious black and white. Otherwise, I don’t think Stewart would’ve pulled it off.
I agree, B&W really works for the movie (and for Stewart). So does it’s more set-bound look.
The Western is dead…..Long live the Western.
In 2021 I only purchased 6 Westerns an all time low for me at least.
These are my 2021 Blu Ray purchases:
WINGS OF THE HAWK
THE RIDE BACK/MAN FROM DEL RIO
ESCAPE FROM FORT BRAVO
LAST TRAIN FROM GUN HILL
SANTA FE TRAIL
THE NAKED SPUR
Not counting “bootleg” editions as recently as 2017 there were over 50
Westerns given official releases on Blu Ray many from Europe,especially
Germany.
In a few short years everything has changed with Westerns releases getting
sparser and sparser ,what the future holds,who can tell but as collector/fans
I guess we must be grateful for the releases that we already have.
Wow, those are some pretty depressing statistics there, John.
I think “catalog” releases are down in general thanks to streaming, but I think other genres are seeing a lot higher numbers than the Western.
However, I’m really happy with the quality of what we are seeing. These things are really getting the attention and care they deserve.
I was glad Mill Creek finally put out the Randolph Scott Collection on Blu. I felt they did right by it. Waited most of the year for it. Arrow and their exceptional release of Major Dundee was a highpoint too for my Western purchases last year. Oh and getting Canyon Passage a year late with Toby’s excellent commentary.
The Scott set is nice. Only gripe — wish they’d done Stranger Wore A Gun in widescreen. It was the first feature shot to be shown 1.85 (and 3-D). Kind of ironic that it’s still full-frame.
Hangman’s Knot and Man In The Saddle look great!
Thanks for the kind words about Canyon Passage!
I wish they would have got Stranger right but overall I was impressed. Another great Western release I meant to mention was Criterion’s Blu of The Furies. That was a sweet set. Plus their putting Colorado Territory on the Blu of High Sierra were two more important Western HD releases.
I still have to get to your commentary on Charley Varrick. Such a great movie.
I was impressed with that set, too. Maybe one day, the folks at The 3-D Archive will get the chance to revisit Stranger for a 3-D disc. Then, 3-D TV or not, we’ll get a top-notch presentation in 1.85. (I’m not holding my breathe waiting for this, mind you!)
Charley Varrick is a great movie indeed. I could watch it every day — and working on that commentary, that’s exactly what I did!
I’m not into streaming and I refuse to watch movies on-line and I avoid
bootleg editions of classic films. Hollywood Scrapheap provide a good service
because there is no hope in “official” releases of the Westerns of Forrest
Tucker,William Elliott and Rod Cameron.
I also gave up “trading” over 4 years ago-I class myself as a serious collector
and nowadays only want classic films in pristine quality.
On the positive side it’s wonderful to see films like FACE BEHIND THE MASK,
STEP BY STEP,FIVE,OUTRAGE and I WOULDN’T BE IN YOUR SHOES
getting such pristine restorations.
The restorations of LAST TRAIN TO GUN HILL and THE NAKED SPUR
were very welcome indeed.
I’m not a fan of streaming. I stay away from bootlegs and stuff for the most part. With the incredible transfers or today, it’s hard to watch some of the stuff we were fine with 15 years ago.
Could not agree more, then again 15 years ago we had no choice if
we wanted to see these rare films,once we experience the Wonderful World
Of High Definition we just cannot return to watching films ‘through a haze of
Medieval murk!
Not ’50s, but still waiting on a Blu Ray of WILL PENNY. Instead of 4K updates of movies already on BLU, how about BLUs of movies not yet on the format?
I agree. Movies can still be done up so beautifully on Blu.
Regarding WILL PENNY I feel the best hope of a Blu Ray would be
Australia’s Imprint who have mined the Paramount vaults unlike any other.
I’d also like Imprint to release SEVEN MEN FROM NOW (originally Warner
Bros but now owned by Paramount) and Kirk Douglas’ POSSE.
Like Mike I’m totally happy with Blu Ray and am none too keen to go down
the 4K route ‘though I think seeing films like RIDE THE HIGH COUNTRY in
4K may be a long way off.
I cannot see Imprint releasing any of the A.C. Lyles Westerns but I have an idea
for a swell A.C. Lyles set-firstly his Noir directed by James Cagney (Cagney’s
sole direction credit) SHORT CUT TO HELL then ARIZONA BUSHWHACKERS
directed by Lesley Selander with a Cagney commentary then Selander’s
TOWN TAMER arguably the best of all the Lyles Westerns,it certainly had
the most impressive cast and finally Lyles’ Neo Noir ROGUES GALLERY
in Techniscope with the usual fine veteran cast directed by prolific TV director
Leonard Horn. This mini 4 film Lyles set would have great appeal to me.
Other Paramount Westerns that I’d love to see on Blu Ray include NEVADA
SMITH and THUNDER IN THE SUN it’s not as if both lack star power.
Yes, SEVEN MEN FROM NOW is also one of my most wanted in a hi-def format. I took the 4k plunge a few years ago. I’ve replaced several of my blu-rays with 4k, but I’m certainly not going to replace them all. And I’d much rather have a well mastered blu-ray of WILL PENNY or SEVEN MEN FROM NOW than replace my blu-ray of the b/w MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE with a 4K version. In fact, I won’t upgrade. If you’re new to collecting movies, I can see buying the 4k of a movie you don’t already own. However, I have 193 4Ks and 4449 blu-rays and have no intention of trying to reverse those numbers.
Yes, Imprint seems to be a great line. I got their blu of Waterloo and it was first rate. Excellent picture and sound of a favorite of mine.
Regarding the 4×3 presentation of STRANGER WORE A GUN it also appeared
as 4×3 on the Explosive Media Blu Ray.
I guess it’s all down to what exists in the vaults.
Glenn Erickson complained that Imprint’s recent THE NAKED JUNGLE is
4×3 when it should be 1.85 although imdb has the film listed as 4×3.
As far as I’m concerned Paramount only went full tilt into 1.85 widescreen
when they launched their high def Vista Vision process.
Seeing THE NAKED JUNGLE back in the 60’s in the UK THE NAKED
JUNGLE was certainly screened as 4×3,anyway I don’t mind because the
Imprint Blu Ray looks sensational. There’s lots more twisted romance
rather than ants as I recall but the lovely looking Blu Ray makes for compelling
viewing.Once things got going Paramount even released lots of their minor
films in VistaVision like SHORT CUT TO HELL and THE SPACE CHILDREN.
Vista Vision films on Blu Ray generally look fabulous.
I fully endorse Chris’ recommendation of Criterion’s HIGH SIERRA a
wonderful package with great extras especially a wonderful and revealing
Raoul Walsh documentary.