Happy Birthday, William Witney.

William Witney
(May 15, 1915 – March 17, 2002) 

William Witney was born 108 years ago. He was a true innovator in how action makes its way to the movie screen. He was working at Republic Pictures, and while on location for the 1937 serial The Painted Stallion, the director, Ray Taylor, was too drunk to work. Witney took over at just 21.

Watching Busby Berkeley put together one of his famous dance numbers, Witney realized that fight sequences could be choreographed and shot the same way. He under-cranked the camera to speed up the action — merely fast became death-defying. He experimented with the best place to put the camera car when tracking a chase — along the side of the car or stagecoach vs. shooting head-on, with horses charging straight at the camera.

After serving in a Marine combat camera unit in World War II, Witney returned to Republic for his last serial, The Crimson Ghost (1946), then took over the Roy Rogers movies. Dialing up the action, putting less emphasis on the music and bringing in a decidedly darker, more violent tone, Witney breathed new life into Roy’s final films.

William Witney was a genius, and his contribution the cinema has been pathetically under-appreciated.

Photo up top: William Witney and Cheryl Rogers on the set of Trail Of Robin Hood (1950). Photo courtesy of Jay Dee Witney.

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The Exhibitor, 1950.

We looked at Exhibitor magazine’s top cowboy stars for 1951 a while back. Here’s the 1950 list.

By the way, this was the year that Gabby Hayes left theaters with the Randolph Scott picture The Caribou Trail.

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Here’s To Packy Smith!

Packy Smith came up yesterday and I thought it was about time to pay tribute to him. He passed away in 2019.

Morton Packard “Packy” Smith was the absolute authority on B Westerns. And he was a real joy to hang around with. No matter if you ever met him or not, you owe him a debt.

Packy produced the Happy Trails Theater show with Roy Rogers on TNN. He was a founder of a lot of the stuff that goes on in Lone Pine, from the museum to the film festival. And he wrote, edited or published some of the best books on Western films. I’ve got a stack of ’em around here — you probably do, too.

Jennifer and I grabbed something to eat with Packy at a Krystal during the Western Film Festival, years ago, and I think of him every time I go there.

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The Exhibitor, 1951.

Exhibitor magazine’s top cowboy stars for 1951. Not a bad batch.

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The Carbon Arc Podcast, Episode 2: Son Of Paleface (1952) With Guest Bob Madison.

Here’s the second episode of The Carbon Arc Podcast. This time, we focus on Frank Tashlin’s Son Of Paleface (1952).

Hope you enjoy it. And a big thanks to Bob Madison for playing along.

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Roy Rogers And Trucolor And DVD And Blu-Ray (Updated).

THIS IS AN UPDATE OF A POST FROM JULY OF 2012. It continues to be a really popular post, and it seemed due for a refresh. This will be further updated as time goes on.

Henry Cabot Beck of True West Magazine and I were emailing back and forth about the color Roy Rogers pictures (Trucolor, to be precise), how wonderful they are, and how terribly they’re represented on DVD. It’s a matter that has been beaten to death on a number of newsgroups, which shows just how important this really is. With these pictures in mind, a hastily-constructed post seemed in order.

The official releases worth your time and money are (where appropriate, clicking on the art will take you to a seller):

DVD

Bells Of Coronado (1950) is the only Roy Rogers picture Lions Gate got around to putting out on DVD during their handling of the Republic Pictures catalog. Unfortunately, Olive Films’ time with the Republic titles didn’t result in a single Rogers disc.

Bells Of Coronado is a good one, with Dale Evans, Trigger, Grant Withers and Pat Brady adding their usual support. William Witney lends his masterful direction, the songs are great and the Trucolor looks good. I think this is out of print, but it’s still listed here.

VCI’s Roy Rogers Western Double Feature Volume 1 presents Under California Stars (1948) and The Bells of San Angelo (1947) — both uncut and both looking just fine. California features Jane Frazee and Andy Devine, while San Angelo has Dale Evans, Andy Devine and Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers. Witney directed both. It’s also a deal, available through their website for just four bucks! Trailers are even included. So mosey on over and pick one up.

 

Springtime In The Sierras (1947) came out from Film Chest (in 2016) and The Film Detective, transferred from a complete 16mm print. It might be a bit soft, but it’s a good one and it’s complete.

 

 

 

 

 

BLU-RAY

Kino Lorber took over from Olive Films and released some nice stuff, including a couple of color Rogers films, from restored materials. They’re available on both Blu-Ray and DVD, and both feature commentaries from some Bozo named Toby Roan. They’re absolutely beautiful.

Sunset In The West (1950) looks incredible. It’s got Penny Edwards instead of Dale Evans, and there’s terrific  support from Gordon Jones, Will Wright and Paul E. Burns. The climax, with Trigger chasing down a locomotive, has some really amazing stuntwork.

Trigger Jr. (1950) has Dale Evans, Pat Brady, Gordon Jones, Grant Withers and Foy Willing And The Riders Of The Purple Sage. It really focuses on Trigger, so there’s a lot of great horse stuff in it.

I wish this was a lot longer post, with the rest of the color Rogers pictures listed. But at this time, Paramount owns the rights and no one has licensed anything. Maybe someday.

Till then, “may the good Lord take a liking to you.”

 

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RIP, Marie Harmon.

Marie Harmon
October 21, 1923 – January 25, 2021

Marie Harmon, who was under contract at Republic in the late 40s, has passed away at 97.

She was in pictures like Night Time In Nevada (1948) with Roy Rogers and The El Paso Kid (1946) with Sunset Carson.

Her daughter Cherie Currie was a member of the band The Runaways.

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Blu-Ray News #318: Mackintosh And T.J. (1975).

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.

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Happy New Year!

You’re looking at Roy Rogers with the saddle he (and Trigger) used in the Rose Bowl Parade on New Year’s Day, 1952. He was the Grand Marshal.

At this point, Roy had left Republic and features for TV, though Paramount’s Son Of Paleface would arrive later in ’52.

Here’s wishing everybody out there a great 2021. And as Roy used to say, “May the good Lord take a likin’ to ya!”

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Merry Christmas!

Here are a couple of trading cards from the Sears Happy-Time Toy Town, circa 1951. Hope everybody out there has a safe and happy Christmas.

And if you haven’t done it already, think about dragging out your copy of Trail Of Robin Hood (1950). And remember, “ev’ry day is Christmas in the West!”

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