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.