Directed by Paul Landres
Starring Dale Robertson, Brian Keith, Rosanna Rory, Dick Kallman, Don Megowan, Mike Lane, Buddy Baer
Mr. Banker, a DVD/Blu-Ray label out of Germany, has announced their upcoming release of Paul Landres’ excellent Hell Canyon Outlaws (1957).
This nasty, terrific little Western, originally distributed by Republic, has been way too hard to find over the years (though you could get a decent copy from Sinister Cinema). I swore I’d release it on Blu-Ray myself if I ever won the lottery. Now, maybe that’s not necessary.
I don’t buy a lot of import DVDs and Blu-Rays, and I’ve never heard of Mr. Banker, but this is one worth taking a chance on. Highly recommended.
Thanks to Mr. John Knight for the news.
50 Westerns From The 50s. 
When I saw this announcement I got it mixed up with DEVIL’S CANYON ,which I don’t particulary like .Both films star Dale Robertson .It’s going to be hard for me to purchase,but I think I know a place where I can get it.
Toby, That’s great news. We need more Republic pictures out there !
I haven’t seen this Western since April, 1958, when I was eleven. I can’t ever recall it being shown on television over here in the UK, where the title was THE TALL TROUBLE.
I have a copy ordered from a place in the UK called Grooves inc.There is a choice of two covers for this,one being two dollars dearer for some reason.
Toby and John K, I had never heard of, or noticed a Mr. Banker Films before today. Looks like it could be a bootleg operation too me out there in “gray area” video land.
I see that Mr. Banker Films had Disney’s SAVAGE SAM(filmed 1962, released 1963) listed in 2021 on dvd. I would think that Walt Disney Company Germany, Switzerland, & Austria jumped on that like stink on a skunk, unless there was a licensing deal cut somehow, or other. In today’s world, who knows.
As far as I know, HELL CANYON OUTLAWS(1957) never played on tv in my neck of the woods when I was a youngster, or adult. So, I’ve never viewed it. I wonder about this, because I viewed a lot of Republic Pictures movies on tv during the 1960’s and ’70’s.
I’ve posted the same message here twice now and both times it never worked. As I said before posting here with word press is definitely a hit or miss basis.
OK, maybe try #3 will be a winner, here goes:
Since I discovered this site some years ago I started keeping a log of every western I see. Looking at the list I see last time I saw this was in August or September of 2016. I wonder if we were talking about this film then? Unfortunately the only thing I remember about it was enjoy seeing Brian Keith in a Dale Robertson western. That’s the extent of my review. Who says being senile has no advantage? So this means I’ll be “screening” (as the snooty pros call watching a movie) this movie again.
Mr Banker does seem like a p.d. outfit and they also seem to feature lots
of exploitation type movies in their roster.
On the plus side I’ve managed to track down reviews of some of the Euro/
Spaghetti Westerns they have released and the picture quality comments
are positive.
It would be an outrage if the p.q. on HELL CANYON OUTLAWS is bad
especially considering the price they are charging.
I must say that the packaging is very attractive with a slipcase and booklet
(all in German,I should imagine)
HELL CANYON OUTLAWS was an independent production,released by
Republic and was shot by Floyd Crosby and edited by Elmo Williams.
Also in May Explosive Media are releasing SEVEN WAYS FROM SUNDOWN
on Blu Ray and that might be worth a post as there are so few Westerns
of that type getting released these days.
Explosive Blu Ray’s are normally region free but Mr Banker’s seem to be
region B locked.
So Lee R has another “screening” soon I just hope the guy (or gal) who
tears the tickets gets union rates 🙂
Mr Banker may be a bootleg outfit as I just got an email from the supplier saying that the goods are supplied without shrink wrap.
Graham, is this particular Blu-ray/dvd of HELL CANYON OUTLAWS in the correct aspect ratio of 1.85:1 or is it pan/scan?
Walter,I have no idea what ratio it is or if it’s pan and scan.I’m not very good with the technical details.I just watched my Sinister copy and it was barely watchable with all the flaws,so let’s hope this one is better.If it is better,where would they have got the copy.We’ll just have to wait and see and fingers crossed.
Graham, thanks. Well, you’re right, because we’ll just have to wait and see.
Walter,
On bluray-disc.de HELL CANYON OUTLAWS is noted as 1.85 from a 2K
scan,of course this all depends what shape the master is in.
It could,of course be a download from a Euro high def TV station or
streaming service in which case it should look stellar.
BTW pan & scan only applies to 2.35 ratio,Cinemascope,and the like.
Many films shot in 1.85 were shown in cinemas as 4×3 especially in the UK
4×3 versions of 1.85 films don’t look too bad and these days with certain films
the 4×3 version is all that seems to exist,THE STRANGER WORE A GUN
being a prime example.
I will be getting HELL CANYON OUTLAWS on day one unless I read a
negative review on Amazon de so wait until I review the film here to avoid
wasting your money.
It would seem Explosive Media’s SEVEN WAYS FROM SUNDOWN will
be in 1.85 so I cannot wait for that release.
Explosive’s excellent transfer of BULLET FOR A BADMAN gave us the choice
of 4×3 and 1.85 and looked fine in both versions.
I’m also rather fond of Audie’s last Universal Western GUNPOINT but sadly
by that time they were cutting the budget by using stock footage,lots of it
in fact, most notably from NIGHT PASSAGE. Audie even wears his NIGHT
PASSAGE outfit to match the previous material. GUNPOINT is far from Audie’s
best but I still rather like it especially with the always entertaining Warren
Stevens on board. I’d buy a 1.85 Blu Ray in a heartbeat.
Just in case there is any confusion to what I posted above 1.85 versions
are “cropped” to fit the 4×3 ratio (i.e. normally lots of “dead space” especially at
the top of the frame) furthermore many UK cinemas never adapted to
widescreen in the 50’s in particular and right into the 60’s so they could
only show 4×3 prints. It was not uncommon to see UK cinema 1950’s
listing to make the following disclaimer “not showing in Superscope (2.0)
as they had not yet adapted. BTW the new Kino Lorber restoration of
VERA CRUZ looks fantastic in the appealing 2.0 ratio. The lion’s share of
Superscope pictures were 2.0 but some were shown in the 2.35 ratio.
A UK TV channel showed the 60’s Techniscope Western JOURNEY TO
SHILO as a 4×3 pan & scan only yesterday and it looked horrendous.
I avoid watching Westerns on TV these days.
Whoops….sorry I missed the H on SHILOH.
Whoops…..Sorry about missing the H off SHILOH
Update to my previous comment. I read in a German review that there is an English version on the dvd. I have yet to check it out. But bluray is only in German. I will post once I check the dvd.