Kino Lorber’s second hi-def batch of Audie Murphy Westerns is coming in June. This set includes Sierra (1950), Kansas Raiders (1950) and Destry (1954).
Sierra (1950)
Directed by Alfred E. Green
Starring Wanda Hendrix, Audie Murphy, Burl Ives, Dean Jagger, Tony Curtis, James Arness, Jack Ingram, Houseley Stevenson, I. Stanford Jolley
Audie and his dad, Dean Jagger, have been hiding in the mountain for years. A chance meeting with Wanda Hendrix brings civilization to their doorstep, where it’s not welcome.
Wanda Hendrix and Audie Murphy were newlyweds when production began on this one. They were separated before its release. Some really nice horse stuff (some of it lifted from 1949’s Red Canyon) and a great cast of character actors.
I’m doing a commentary for this one.
Kansas Raiders (1950)
Directed by Ray Enright
Starring Audie Murphy, Brian Donlevy, Marguerite Chapman, Scott Brady, Tony Curtis, Richard Arlen, Richard Long
U-I mangles history again, but who cares? Murphy is Jesse James, Brian Donlevy is Quantrill. Yet another solid Western from Ray Enright, with typically-gorgeous cinematography from Irving Glassberg.
Destry (1954)
Directed by George Marshall
Starring Audie Murphy, Mari Blanchard, Lyle Bettger, Thomas Mitchell, Edgar Buchanan, Lori Nelson, Wallace Ford
For this 1954 remake, U-I puts Murphy and Mari Blanchard in the roles played by James Stewart and Marlene Dietrich in 1939’s Destry Rides Again. George Marshall directed both versions. (There was a semi-remake in 1950, Frenchie, with Joel McCrea, Shelley Winters and Marie Windsor.) In this one, it’s good to see Murphy play against type a bit, and it’s always great to see Wallace Ford. Of course, Mari Blanchard looks terrific.
All three of these pictures boast the usual U-I 50s Western Technicolor sheen. (Destry should be widescreen.) They’ll look wonderful on Blu-Ray. Highly recommended.
50 Westerns From The 50s. 
It’s always great to see Audie Murphy. I would really love to see Six Black Horses on Blu-Ray.
These are all to my taste, all of which I have seen at the time of their initial release. So, I am in, when available here.
Well I was hoping for another KL Audie Murphy set of Blu-Rays as I loved the first set. So this is welcome news.
Agree with Verel that Six Black Horses would have been nice as would Hell Bent For Leather & Ride Clear of Diablo –
However, I’ll be ordering this even though I already have Kansas Raiders on a Western collection set and Destry from the Hollywood Scrapheap. Looking forward as always to your commentary Toby!
good films but already have them.
Barry Lane,I know that this reply is a little late,but you said that Presidents Kennedy and Reagan were both shot which was correct,but did you see the joke that Reagan made when he was being taken to the medical room.He said “I hope none of you are Democrats”.
Of course, I saw the joke, I am more concerned that The Warren Commission report has still not been released to the public, and that disgusting Hinckley is walking around.
I’ve been reading Don Graham’s bio of Audie. I know it goes without saying but what a story! Graham tells it so well too. Glad to see these Blus released. Now if somebody would do a modern cinematic retelling of his life.
I’m also glad these are coming (and there MIGHT be more on the way).
A new film about Audie would be great in that it might get more folks interested in him, but I doubt a new movie could touch To Hell And Back.
His WWII exploits are so unbelievable. As Graham puts it the real Audie would have the fake Rambo for breakfast.
I’ve always loved Audie Murphy in THE KID FROM TEXAS.Some people have said his performance was a little wooden but it was one of his early roles.
It’s interesting to watch Audie’s movies in order, you can really see his confidence grow from film to film — and he took a giant leap with The Red Badge Of Courage.
I always wish when I watch my DVD of ‘Red Badge’ it would have that missing twenty or thirty minutes. Huston should have fought more for the film. As a Civil War studier it looks so right! A photograph from the war come to life. When they arrive on the battlefield so doomy the attacks feel real the black and white fantastic. I wonder if WAC will ever touch it for Blu with extras?
I read somewhere that Huston and Murphy tried to get ahold of the film to re-release it full-length, but couldn’t make it happen. Don’t think the longer cut still exists anywhere, but you never know. Stranger things have turned up!
Toby, I think Audie Murphy was a good actor. Audie had a likeable screen persona and because of his background he brought forth authenticity to any role. He wasn’t a showy actor, and he portrayed, with his naturalism, the cool, calm, and reserved frontiersman to the hilt. Audie was really good in NO NAME ON THE BULLET(filmed 1958, released 1959).
I have never watched THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE and now after watching the trailer I want to.Given Audies record as a WORLD WAR 2 hero I thought it was about that war.THE RED BAD OF COURAGE and ACROSS THE WIDE MISSOURI looks as though they suffered the same fate.Both made in 1951.MGM if they do have the masters should be ashamed.I could not see it on any of his collections(and I have a few) .Some good supporting actors John Dierkes,Andy Devine and Arthur Hunnicutt are also in it.Bravo to Audie Murphy and John Huston for trying to purchase it.
You have hit it, both films abused by tasteless studio executives, essentially after Mr. Mayer had been ousted.
THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE(filmed 1950, released 1951), which is most probably a butchered masterpiece. Although, the 69-minute version left is really good, and well worth viewing. While watching it, sadly, you can tell they took the scissors to it. I think that if the studio suits had left the movie intact there would’ve been no need for James Whitmore’s narration. The MGM suits had no thought of the flow of continuity, much less creative integrity.
Even in its butchered state THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE has a lot going for it. The battle scenes are realistically staged, and the acting is top-notch, especially Audie Murphy, Bill Mauldin, John Dierkes, Arthur Hunnicut, Royal Dano, and Andy Devine.
I would like to thank everyone for the wonderful feedback I’ve had lately ( 6 in the last week ) considering my comments got lost twice in cyberspace .Yesterday it was my birthday and after a week at home waiting for tradies who don’t turn up and those that do plus taking our dog to the vet who was not feeling the best (he’s a lot better now) i decided to do one of my favourite pastimes which is watching F 18s take off and land ( 9 altogether ).I reckon if I were a couple of years younger they would be offering me recruitment papers..
Graham, a belated Happy Birthday!
Barry, sometimes I can’t recall birthdays, so Happy Birthday!
Thanks for the Birthday wishes and Happy Birthday to Barry.I have no trouble recalling my Birthday but at my age I’m not so keen to celebrate it.
WB Archive has a link to HIGH-DEF DIGEST previewing the RANCHO NOTORIOUS BLU RAY.Check it out.
Graham, is this the site for the RANCHO NOTORIOUS preview?
https://bluray.highdefdigest.com/112935/ranchonotorious.html
Walter,that’s the link .It looks good but I’m not sure if I’ll upgrade.I’ve just ordered this Audie Murphy collection DVD from Italy and it includes RED BADGE OF COURAGE.I have a war and western collection from this same company and their transfers are good.These collections come in a Digi Pack and one of the films included is MAN OF THE WEST which I just watched.
Recently viewed the RANCHO NOTORIOUS BluRay and Warners have even surpassed the high quality achieved with previous remastered vintage RKO flicks like GREAT DAY IN THE MORNING , UNDERWATER , and FLYING LEATHERNECKS.
RANCHO NOTORIOUS is jaw dropping in picture quality and the film stands up really well. The 50’s was hardly Lang’s golden decade but the restored versions of RANCHO NOTORIOUS and MOONFLEET are well worth a re-visit both in terms of artistic merit and both films stunning use of color-no serious Lang student should be without the Warner Archive Blu Ray’s.
What would be fantastic if in Universal’s vaults they could uncover the master neg of the CinemaScope version of WILD AND THE INNOCENT. The film was not only one of Audie’s best and would look stunning in HD.
If by some remote chance they could also uncover the CinemaScope versions of DAY OF THE BADMAN and SAGA OF HEMP BROWN……WOW! what a triple treat that would make from Kino.
Iv’e just ordered Kino’s latest Noir set on Amazon at a very keen price UNDERTOW-OUTSIDE THE WALL and HOLD BACK TOMORROW……….any views on Hugo Haas Toby I love him;most folks don’t
Hot on the heels of this set Kino have announced another Murphy set their strongest yet with SHOWDOWN, POSSE FROM HELL and HELL BENT FOR LEATHER.
Note to Toby I hope you are doing the HELL BENT FOR LEATHER commentary.
I am doing Hell Bent For Leather. It’s gonna be a fun one, so much to talk about!