Blu-Ray News #370: The Tin Star (1957).

Directed by Anthony Mann
Starrings Henry Fonda, Anthony Perkins, Betsy Palmer, Michael Ray, Neville Brand, John McIntire, Lee Van Cleef

I’m really excited to announce this one. Arrow is bringing Anthony Mann’s The Tin Star (1957) to Blu-Ray in late April, and I had the extreme honor of doing a commentary for what will certainly be an incredible disc. You should see the list of extras on this thing!

The in-progress file I worked from was unbelievable — highlighting Loyal Griggs’ remarkable B&W Vistavision cinematography. What he and Anthony Mann do with the format’s deep-focus will really knock you out.

The Tin Star doesn’t get the credit it deserves since it’s often compared to the Westerns Mann made with James Stewart. But this one more than holds its own, especially when seen in high-definition. Essential!

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Happy Birthday, Randolph Scott.

George Randolph Scott
(January 23, 1898 – March 2, 1987)

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Randolph Scott, my favorite actor and most probably the source of the obsession that spawned this blog (and eventual book), was born 126 years ago today.

Here he is in Andre de Toth’s Thunder Over The Plains (1953), a cool little movie that has been overshadowed by the Ranown cycle and Ride The High Country (1962). The best of the de Toth Scotts, such as Man In The Saddle (1951) and Carson City (1952), are terrific.

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Blu-Ray News #369: Colt .45, The Complete Series (1957-1960)

Warner Archive has announced a Blu-Ray set of the complete Colt .45 TV series. One of Warner Brothers’ Western shows of the 50s, airing on ABC from October ’57 to September 1960, it’s been hard to see for quite a while.

Loosely based on the 1950 Randolph Scott movie directed by Edwin L. Marin, the series has 67 half-hour episodes. It originally starred Wayde Preston as Christopher Colt. Preston left the shows and was replaced  by Donald May as Preston’s cousin Sam Colt. Wayde Preston eventually returned, but he was made a minor character. The directors include Edward Bernds, George Waggner, Oliver Drake, Paul Landres and Lew Landers.

Warner Archive has restored all 67 episodes from their camera negatives, so this should be a real treat. It’s exciting to think what might follow from the WB TV archives. Coming in February.

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Wish My Mom Could See This.

27587, a magazine out of Wake Forest, NC, has an article on me, DVD/Blu-Ray commentaries and this blog in its Winter 2024 issue. Turns out one of the magazine’s designers, Bob Bogert, actually looks at this thing from time to time. (Howdy, Bob!)

A big thanks to Philip Read. I really appreciate his attempt to make me sound more interesting than obsessive.

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