It’s rare for me to want to head north of the Mason-Dixon line — if I’m gonna travel, I wanna head West, but this is really tempting. From June 5 through July 3, the Museum Of Modern Art in New York is running a series of Universal Westerns, going from the silents into the 70s. It’s a great batch of movies, for sure — I’ve done commentaries for four of them on Blu-Ray.
A few folks have already asked which ones to see if you can’t see them all. That’s easy, since a few of my favorite U-I Westerns are here that aren’t available on Blu-Ray.
Apache Drums (1951)
Directed by Hugo Fregonese
Starring Stephen McNally, Coleen Gray, Willard Parker, Arthur Shields, James Griffith, Clarence Muse
Val Lewton’s last film, only Western and only picture in color. And guess what? It plays like a Val Lewton movie with cowboys — tight, efficient and suspenseful. In his fairly small part, Clarence Muse is incredible.
The Naked Dawn (1955)
Directed by Edgar G. Ulmer
Starring Arthur Kennedy, Betta St. John, Eugene Iglesias
Edgar Ulmer pulls off another minor miracle, making a Universal International Western in 10 days. Kennedy is a drifter who turns up to corrupt St. John and Iglesias. Ulmer could always make something out of nothing.
A Day Of Fury (1956)
Directed by Harmon Jones
Starring Dale Robertson, Mara Corday, Jock Mahoney
This is a terrific movie. A mysterious stranger (Dale Robertson) comes to town, and his very presence turns that town inside out. Robertson said he played his part as if he was the Devil. It works.
A Star In The Dust (1956)
Directed by Charles F. Haas
Starring John Agar, Mamie Van Doren, Richard Boone, Coleen Gray, Leif Erickson, James Gleason, Paul Fix, Harry Morgan, Clint Eastwood
Look at that cast! This has an interesting take on the cattlemen vs. farmers thing — both groups have their own reasons to be worked up about the hanging of a gunslinger (Richard Boone), with sheriff John Agar caught in the middle.
All four of these pictures get chapters in my someday book, 50 Westerns From The 50s. All are difficult to track down and highly, highly recommended. Wonder why they didn’t include an Audie Murphy picture? Hell Bent For Leather (1960) would’ve been my choice.
Thanks to Charles Miles.
50 Westerns From The 50s.
Toby, yes, it would be something else to be able to attend the “Universal Westerns” film series at the Modern Museum of Art in New York City. 28 Western movies from John Ford’s STRAIGHT SHOOTING(1917) to Fred Schepisi’s BARBAROSA(filmed 1980, released 1982).
I like your question, “Wonder why they didn’t include an Audie Murphy picture?” Murphy made 24 Westerns for Universal, so you would think the MOMA Curator Dave Kehr could have selected at least one. Also, Joel McCrea made Westerns for Universal, but none of his were chosen.
Part of the fun with a series like this is passing judgement on the films selected. This one is a home run, minus the Murphy thing. And one of the McCrea’s would’ve been nice.
A most interesting list;but more designed for cultists,rather than fans,George Sherman gets a nod hence his recent “discovery” by Tarantino-“Hey Quent, FWOTF regulars(& Mr Kher) were way ahead of you dude!”
Yes,shameful no Murphy,considering the fortunes he made for the studio in his glory days.
Rory Calhoun should have been given a nod, especially RED SUNDOWN from UI cult director Arnold.
THE BEGUILED is NOT a Western, as much as I admire Siegel’s Southern Gothic masterpiece.
BTW Toby APACHE DRUMS is still available on Blu from Germany’s Explosive Media and STAR IN THE DUST and A DAY OF FURY were released on Blu by Koch Media now OOP but Spanish bootlegs are still around.
Germany used to be a goldmine for Universal Western HD releases with now only Hansesound holding the fort.
Hansesound’s HD premier of GUNSMOKE was stellar and later this month will release on Blu Ray the truly excellent RIDE CLEAR OF DIABLO, neat prices to boot.
I went looking for some of those Blu-Rays not too long ago and came up empty-handed. But I’m a lousy international DVD/Bl-Ray shopper, and I’ve tended to focus my blog, especially in the earlier days, on US releases.
John K, yes, Rory Calhoun made several good Western Movies for Universal-International in the 1950’s and some others did, also. Fred MacMurray and Jock Mahoney come to mind. Although, the MOMA is showing A DAY OF FURY(filmed 1955, released 1956), which stars Dale Robertson, Mara Corday, and Jock Mahoney.
Of course, THE BEGUILED(filmed 1970, released 1971) isn’t a Western. It’s a Southern Gothic War for Southern Independence(War of the Rebellion) melodrama. A good Audie Murphy Western could’ve been in that slot.
If Quantez has made the list, I would’ve given a trip to NYC some serious thought.
THE APPALOOSA is an odd choice which might have worked with a decent leading man, Paul Newman or Burt Lancaster to name but two.
Sidney J Furie lost me ’round about LITTLE FAUSS & BIG HALSEY, but his early work is more than interesting.
Just viewed Hammer’s wonderful restoration of THE SNAKE WOMAN an ultra cheap, six day shoot, unknown cast sort of thing but in HD it looks sensational.
Furie’s The Ipcress File (1965) is one of my favorite films. His stylistics fit the subject matter just perfectly in that one.
Toby, I think THE IPCRESS FILE(filmed 1964, released 1965) is one of the best spy thrillers ever made.
I 100% agree. I like the other two Harry Palmer films, but they can’t touch The Ipcress File.
John K, I rather enjoyed THE APPALOOSA(filmed 1965-66, released 1966), especially John Saxon’s performance. Marlon Brando and director Sidney J. Furie didn’t get along during the making of the movie, which wasn’t any surprise.
The only other Western that Sidney J. Furie worked on was TV’s LONESOME DOVE: THE SERIES(1994-96). Furie directed the first three episodes, which I think were pretty good.
I have been waiting for someone to release Furie’s THE BOYS restored and in the right ratio (2.35) the DVD is woeful.
This superb courtroom/social drama really is ripe for rediscovery.
Many years back I stumbled upon this very fine blog,the lead story was a John Ford commemerative stamp. A commentator stated “when is Ford Beebe going to get his stamp? I knew that I had found just the right place.
Speaking of Mr Beebe the sort of picture I long for the MOMA to restore is FRONTIER BADMEN (1943) a wonderful A- B+ Universal shoot ’em up. FRONTIER BADMEN is a gem with a wonderful cast and moves like a rocket. As the last Robert Paige fan on the Planet I wish he had made more Westerns-did Jimmy Stewart copy Paige’s Western Gait??
Another Universal gem ripe for rediscovery is THE VIGILANTES RETRURN (1947) a Cinecolor “Special” with a great cast and Jon Hall’s last gasp for Universal and Warners second string lead Margaret Lindsay in between Lindsay Parsons big budgeters ALASKA and LOUISIANA the latter just beautifully restored by Warner Archive.
Frontier Badmen is a cool one. We had a print of that for a while when I was a kid. It’s got a great cast: Paige, Anne Gwynne, Lon Chaney Jr., Andy Devine, Leo Carillo and Noah Beery, Jr.
Ford Beebe is yet another solid director who’s been largely forgotten.
Robert Paige is in a terrific Columbia (pre-Katzman) serial Flying G-Men (1939). He’s also in Son Of Dracula and A&C Go To Mars. Hard to beat a resume like that!
John, I bumped into some old family info the other day, concerning my mom’s grandparents, the Knights of Breckenridge, Texas. I’ve decided we’re cousins.
Toby and John K, I think that we’re all distant cousins. I’ve mention this before, that by way of my mother’s side of the family, my great-grandmother Martha “Mattie” Victoria Knight Davis(1863-1934). The Knight family of Knight’s Cove and Marcella, Arkansas.
So, when’s the Knight family reunion? I’ll bring the fired chicken and watermelon!
My Paternal Grandmother’s name was Rooney,so as a kid I hoped that I was a distant relative of “The Mickster” who I later found out was really Joe Yule Jr.
I seriously doubt if Toby,Walter & i are related, but we do have a common bond-the love of vintage movies, and that’s all that matters really.
When I was kid in the late forties and early fifties and saw the UI logo, it became immediately clear that it was to be the best part of the picture.
Barry, do you actually mean the UI logo was the best part of that studio’s movies?
Yes, I didn’t care for UI films, especially their westerns.
Barry, okay. I can live with that. I just wanted to make sure that I understood correctly. Everyone has different likes and dislikes, and that’s what makes life so interesting, especially in a free country.
John K, we might not be related, but some years ago you got a kick out of the fact that my great-great grandfather John Knight served in both the Confederate Army and the Union Army during the War for Southern Independence(War of the Rebellion), Although, not at the same time.
Yes, we do have a common bond-the love of vintage movies, and also, I think we are friends.
Yes, Walter, I do regard your good self and Toby as friends.
I really enjoyed Warner Archive’s Blu Ray of LOUISIANA a bigger budget Monogram picture from Lindsley Parsons. The other Lindsley Parsons “special” from the same era was ALASKA which also headined Margaret Lindsay and I hope a restored version appears on a future Monogram set.
I was wondering if the film would include Jimmie Davis’ political opponents handing out Davis’ early blues records which were very risque,to say the least.
The film DID include this incident but the music was more Hillbilly than Blues, this amusing try to discredit Davis had no effect at all and I’m glad the film included it, albeit in a milder way.
John K, I’ve never viewed LOUISIANA(1947) or ALASKA(1944). So, are they good entertaining movies, in your opinion?
Walter, I think you would enjoy both ALASKA and LOUISIANA,the latter is rather charming Americana and shows Phil Karlson’s early promise. ALASKA is a Northern Western with a great cast,Lindsley Parsons really pushed the boat out on this one and even hired a second unit to shoot some impressive snowbuond footage. Of the cast I felt John Carradine was tops and I find it interesting Parsons chose Margaret Lindsay to star in his more ambitious Monogram Pictures. I always liked Margaret in her Warner Bros B leads and the Parsons pictures as well as THE VIGILANTES RETURN.
Warners own ALASKA and I’m pretty sure it will turn up in a future Archive Monogram edition.
John K, thank you for bringing up some more movies that I haven’t viewed before. I’ll seek them out.
Hi Walter- LOUISIANA has just been restored/released by Warner Archive in their Monogram Matinee series. The support feature is a Jimmie Wakely Western with some really fine music as well.
ALASKA I reckon will be a future Warner Archive release,I’d love to see this film get a decent restoration as the copies floating ’round leave much to be desired.
This A- B+ film provides good entertainment.
A nice HD treat for Glenn Ford & Bob Wills fans