Came across this while doing a little book research. So close to our old house. But I missed it by 61 years.
Archive for the ‘Dorothy Malone’ Category
Winston-Salem, NC — March 1964.
Posted in 1957, 1958, Audie Murphy, Columbia, Dorothy Malone, Fred MacMurray, Glenn Ford, Jimmy Stewart, Universal (International) on June 14, 2025| 3 Comments »
Olive Films: A Westerns Checklist.
Posted in Allan Dwan, Audrey Totter, Ben Cooper, Brian Donlevy, Budd Boetticher, Burt Lancaster, Charlton Heston, Clark Gable, Clint Walker, Dorothy Malone, DVD/Blu-Ray News, Edwin L. Marin, Ernest Borgnine, Fess Parker, Forrest Tucker, Frank Ferguson, Gary Cooper, George Sherman, Glenn Ford, Glenn Strange, Gregory Peck, Hank Worden, James Arness, Joe Kane, Joel McCrea, John Ford, John Sturges, John Wayne, Lydecker Brothers, Margia Dean, Marie Windsor, Maureen O'Hara, Nicholas Ray, Olive Films, Paramount, Paul Fix, Peggie Castle, Raoul Walsh, Republic Pictures, Robert Mitchum, Roy Rogers, Scott Brady, Skip Homeier, Sterling Hayden, William Castle, William Witney, Zachary Scott on August 27, 2023| 11 Comments »
You may remember a recent post about Olive Films shutting down. They put out some great DVDs and Blu-Rays over the years, particularly things from Republic and Paramount. (In fact, I watched their The Night Riders this morning, one of my favorite B Westerns.)
Some of these titles have already been re-issued by others (or are on the way). But some may never see the light of day again, given the current state of physical media. From Republic’s Three Mesquiteers series with John Wayne to a handful of Regalscope pictures, there are some real jewels here.
For those trying to pick these things up before they’re either gone or getting crazy collectors’ prices, here’s a list of their Westerns, ranging from the Silents into the 60s. If I missed anything, please let me know.
Special thanks for Laura from Laura’s Miscellaneous Musings, who was a HUGE help with bringing this thing together.
Wagon Tracks (1919)
Neath The Arizona Skies (1934)
The Lawless Nineties (1936)
The Lonely Trail (1936)
King Of The Pecos (1936)
Overland Stage Raiders (1938)
Red River Range (1938)
Santa Fe Stampede (1938)
Pals Of The Saddle (1938)
The Night Riders (1939)
Three Texas Steers (1939)
Wyoming Outlaw (1939)
Westward Ho (1939)
Man Of Conquest (1939)
Frontier Horizon (AKA New Frontier) (1939)
Dark Command (1940)
In Old Oklahoma (AKA War Of The Wildcats) (1943)
Ramrod (1947)
Angel And The Badman (1947)
Pursued (1947)
The Fighting Kentuckian (1949)
South Of St. Louis (1949)
Rio Grande (1950)
Silver City (1951)
Bullfighter And The Lady (1951)
Only The Valiant (1951)
High Noon (1952)
Denver & Rio Grande (1952)
Pony Express (1953)
Woman They Almost Lynched (1953)
Johnny Guitar (1954)
Run For Cover (1955)
The Americano (1955)
King And Four Queens (1956)
Stranger At My Door (1956)
Gun The Man Down (1956)
The Quiet Gun (1957)
Showdown At Boot Hill (1958)
Ambush At Cimarron Pass (1958)
The Hangman (1959)
The Jayhawkers! (1959)
McLintock! (1963)
The Hallelujah Trail (1965)
The Night Of The Grizzly (1966)
I’ll forever appreciate the folks at Olive Films. Night Of The Grizzly was my first commentary track.
The non-Westerns list is now available over at The Hannibal 8.
Blu-Ray News 322: The Randolph Scott Collection.
Posted in 3-D, Andre de Toth, Arthur Hunnicutt, Budd Boetticher, Burt Kennedy, Cameron Mitchell, Claire Trevor, Claud Akins, Columbia, Dorothy Malone, DVD/Blu-Ray News, Edgar Buchanan, Ernest Borgnine, Forrest Tucker, Frank Faylen, Glenn Ford, Gordon Douglas, James Coburn, John Russell, Joseph H. Lewis, Karen Steele, Lee Marvin, Lee Van Cleef, Mill Creek Entertainment, Noah Beery Jr., Randolph Scott, Richard Boone, Richard Dennings, Skip Homeier on March 25, 2021| 14 Comments »
Mill Creek has announced the six-disc, 12-movie Blu-Ray set The Randolph Scott Collection, which gives us a great batch of Scott’s Westerns for Columbia.
The Desperadoes (1943)
Directed by Charles Vidor
Starring Randolph Scott, Claire Trevor, Glenn Ford, Evelyn Keyes, Edgar Buchanan
Scott plays a sheriff after two separate bands of outlaws who rob the same bank at about the same time. Turns out the first robbery was an inside job.
The Nevadan (1950)
Directed by Gordon Douglas
Starring Randolph Scott, Dorothy Malone, Forrest Tucker, Frank Faylen and George Macready
Scott’s a Marshal who lets an outlaw (Forrest Tucker) escape so he can recover $250,000 in stolen gold.
Santa Fe (1951)
Directed by Irving Pichel
Starring Randolph Scott, Janis Carter
Scott’s trying to help build a railroad, with even his own brothers trying to stop him.
Man In The Saddle (1951
Directed by Andre de Toth
Starring Randolph Scott, Joan Leslie, Ellen Drew, Alexander Knox, Richard Rober, John Russell, Alfonso Bedoya, Guinn ‘Big Boy’ Williams, Clem Bevans, Cameron Mitchell, Tennessee Ernie Ford
Scott’s a farmer who locks horns with Alexander Knox, who wants his land. The first, and maybe best, of the Scott pictures directed by Andre de Toth.
Hangman’s Knot (1952)
Directed by Roy Huggins
Starring Randolph Scott, Donna Reed, Claude Jarman, Jr., Frank Faylen, Richard Denning, Lee Marvin
Confederate soldiers, led by Scott, steal a shipment of Yankee gold and end up with a posse after ’em.
The Stranger Wore A Gun (1953)
Directed by Andre de Toth
Starring Randolph Scott, Claire Trevor, Joan Weldon, George Macready, Alfonso Bedoya, Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine
This time, Scott’s a Confederate spy who’s in in a big robbery but has a change of heart. Originally in 3-D, widescreen (1.85) and stereophonic sound, it’ll be interesting to see what we get here.
A Lawless Street (1955)
Directed by Joseph H. Lewis
Starring Randolph Scott
Then we get four of the Budd Boetticher/Burt Kennedy Ranown cycle, some of the finest Westerns ever made. What’s missing from the unofficial series are Batjac’s Seven Men From Now (1956) and Warner’s Westbound (1959) which aren’t available on Blu-Ray.
The Tall T (1957)
Directed by Budd Boetticher
Starring Randolph Scott, Richard Boone, Maureen O’Sullivan, Arthur Hunnicutt, Skip Homeier, Henry Silva
Scott and Maureen O’Sullivan are held captive at a way station by a bunch of crooks. This is an incredible movie, based on a story by Elmore Leonard.
Decision At Sundown (1958)
Directed by Budd Boetticher
Starring Randolph Scott, John Carroll, Karen Steele, Valerie French, Noah Beery Jr., John Archer, Ray Teal
Scott rides in Sundown to kill John Carroll., who had an affair with his wife.
Buchanan Rides Alone (1958)
Directed by Budd Boetticher
Starring Randolph Scott, Craig Stevens, Barry Kelley, L.Q. Jones
Tom Buchanan (Scott) rides into the border town of Agry and is robbed and framed for murder. Naturally, Scott isn’t happy about this and does something about it. This was my entry point into the films of Randolph Scott, and it remains a favorite.
Ride Lonesome (1959)
Directed by Budd Boetticher
Starring Randolph Scott, Karen Steele, Pernell Roberts, Lee Van Cleef, James Coburn
Ben Brigade (Scott) is a bounty hunter trying to take Billy John to Santa Cruz and turn him in. Standing in the way are Billy John’s brother and a group of Indians.
Comanche Station (1960)
Directed by Budd Boetticher
Starring Randolph Scott, Claude Akins, Nancy Gates, Skip Homeier
Scott rescues a women from the Comanches, not knowing her husband has a $5,000 reward for her return, dead or alive. Along come some dirtbags, lead by Claude Akins, who know about the five grand and want her for themselves.
This set is essential. Some of these are available on Blu-Ray elsewhere, some are not. Order yours now.
Blu-Ray News #319: Horizons West (1952) And Quantez (1957).
Posted in 1952, 1957, Budd Boetticher, Dorothy Malone, DVD/Blu-Ray News, Fred MacMurray, Harry Keller, James Arness, John McIntire, Julie Adams, Kino Lorber, Robert Ryan, Rock Hudson, Universal (International) on January 21, 2021| 24 Comments »
Quantez (1957)
Directed by Harry Keller
Starring Fred MacMurray, Dorothy Malone, James Barton, Sydney Chaplin, John Gavin, John Larch, Michael Ansara
Just finished recording a commentary for Harry Keller’s Quantez (1957), a film I appreciate more every time I see it. It feels awkward to plug these things when I work on ’em, but this one is something special. The movie is ripe for rediscovery — and I think it’s the best commentary I’ve done.
It’s also a picture with superb art direction and cinematography, so high-definition will be a big plus.
Horizons West (1952)
Directed by Budd Boetticher
Starring Robert Ryan, Julia Adams, Rock Hudson, John McIntire, Raymond Burr, James Arness, Dennis Weaver
Horizons West (1952) has the great cast of contract players — Adams, Hudson, McIntire, Dennis Weaver — and gorgeous Technicolor we expect from Universal International Westerns of the early 50s. It’s a post-Civi War story of Ryan’s ambitions getting the best of him. Budd Boetticher keeps it short on running time and long on action.
The color will make this one really pop on Blu-Ray. I’ll be recording a commentary for it next week. Both pictures are expected in May from Kino Lorber.
There haven’t been many 50s Westerns riding up on DVD or Blu-Ray lately. These will help make up for it.
Blu-Ray News #317: Western Classics II.
Posted in 1953, 1956, 1957, Bob Steele, Dorothy Malone, DVD/Blu-Ray News, Fred MacMurray, George Marshall, Jeff Chandler, Jeffrey Hunter, Kino Lorber, Lee Marvin, Maureen O'Hara, Universal (International), Ward Bond, Willis Bouchey on December 17, 2020| 1 Comment »
Kino Lorber’s second set of 50s Westerns on Blu-Ray serves up some good ones: The Redhead From Wyoming (1953), Pillars Of The Sky (1956) and Gun For A Corward (1957). It’s due April 6.
The Redhead From Wyoming (1953)
Directed by Lee Sholem
Starring Maureen O’Hara, Alex Nicol, William Bishop, Alexander Scourby, Robert Strauss, Gregg Palmer, Jack Kelly, Dennis Weaver, Stacy Harris
Maureen O’Hara runs a saloon and ends up in the middle of the usual cattlemen vs. settlers thing. It’s short, fast and beautifully shot by Winton C. Hoch.
Pillars Of The Sky (1956)
Directed by George Marshall
Starring Jeff Chandler, Dorothy Malone, Ward Bond, Keith Andes, Lee Marvin
Jeff Chandler is a calvary officer trying to keep his troops and Dorothy Malone from being scalped. Harold Lipstein shot it in CinemaScope on location in Oregon. Filmed right after The Searchers wrapped, it features a number of the same players (Ward Bond, Walter Coy, Olive Carey, Beulah Archuletta).
Gun For A Coward (1957)
Directed by Abner Biberman
Starring Fred MacMurray, Jeffrey Hunter, Janice Rule, Dean Stockwell, Bob Steele
This one weaves a family struggle into a cattle drive and rustlers story. It looks great in CinemaScope and MacMurray is terrific.
All three come with a trailer and commentary (I’m doing Pillars Of The Sky). And given Kino Lorber’s track record with their Universal movies, they’ll look terrific.
50s Westerns Blu-Rays News #276: Law And Order (1953).
Posted in 1953, Chubby Johnson, Dorothy Malone, DVD/Blu-Ray News, Nathan Juran, Ronald Reagan, Russell Johnson on June 4, 2019| 13 Comments »
Directed by Nathan Juran
Starring Ronald Reagan, Dorothy Malone, Preston Foster, Alex Nicol, Ruth Hampton, Russell Johnson, Chubby Johnson, Dennis Weaver, Tom Steele
Just a reminder that Nathan Juran’s Law And Order (1953), a solid Western from Universal-International, is coming to Blu-Ray next month from Shout Factory. Can’t wait to see Clifford Stine’s gorgeous Technicolor photography in high definition.
Ronald Reagan’s a fed-up lawman who decides to hang up his guns. But you know how those things work out — soon he’s having to strap em back on to settle an old score. Reagan’s cool, Dorothy Malone is beautiful in three-strip Technicolor, and director Nathan Juran settles in for a good run of Westerns at U-I.
I don’t care what your politics are, this one comes highly recommended.
50s Westerns Blu-Ray News #276: Law And Order (1953).
Posted in 1953, Dorothy Malone, DVD/Blu-Ray News, Nathan Juran, Ronald Reagan, Russell Johnson, Shout Factory, Universal (International) on April 10, 2019| 41 Comments »
Directed by Nathan Juran
Starring Ronald Reagan, Dorothy Malone, Preston Foster, Alex Nicol, Ruth Hampton, Russell Johnson, Chubby Johnson, Dennis Weaver, Tom Steele
It’s good to have another 50s Western making its way to Blu-Ray. It’s been a bit of a desert out there. Shout Factory has announced a July release for Nathan Juran’s Law And Order (1953), a solid Technicolor picture from Universal-International. The DVD is quite nice and I’m eager to see how much better Clifford Stine’s gorgeous cinematography comes off in high definition.
Ronald Reagan’s a fed-up lawman who decides to hang up his guns. But you know how those things work out — soon he’s having to strap em back on to settle an old score. Reagan’s cool, Dorothy Malone is beautiful in three-strip Technicolor, and director Nathan Juran settles in for a good run of Westerns at U-I.
I don’t care what your politics are, a Universal 50s Western is coming to Blu-Ray — and that always gets my vote. Recommended.
RIP, John Gavin.
Posted in 1957, Dorothy Malone, Fred MacMurray, Harry Keller, Universal (International) on February 10, 2018| 10 Comments »
John Gavin
(April 8, 1931 – February 9, 2018)
John Gavin, who played Jack Loomis in Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960) and Julius Caesar in Kubrick’s Spartacus (1960) has passed away at 86. He also appeared in the sublimely wonderful Quantez (1957, above), a sadly under-appreciated 50s Western from Universal-International, starring Fred McMurray and Dorothy Malone (who just passed away herself) and directed by Harry Keller.
Gavin was almost cast as James Bond for Diamonds Are Forever (1971). He served as ambassador to Mexico during the Reagan administration. He was married to Constance Towers.
RIP, Dorothy Malone.
Posted in 1957, Dorothy Malone, Fred MacMurray, Harry Keller on January 20, 2018| 13 Comments »
Between takes on Quantez (1957).
Dorothy Malone (Dorothy Eloise Maloney)
January 30, 1924 – January 19, 2018
One of my favorites actresses (especially in Westerns), the great Dorothy Malone, has passed away.
I first remember seeing her in The Big Sleep (1946), as the sexy girl in the Acme bookstore. And she made a huge impression on me in Harry Keller’s Quantez (1957), a sadly under-appreciated Fred MacMurray Western from Universal. She won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Douglas Sirk’s Written On The Wind (1956). But for me, it’s Quantez.
Her other Westerns include South Of St. Louis (1949), The Nevadan (1950), Saddle Legion (1951), Tall Man Riding (1955), Pillars Of The Sky (1956) and Warlock (1959). Oh, and The Last Voyage (1960) is terrific.
DVD (Re-)Review: The Lone Gun (1954).
Posted in 1954, Dorothy Malone, Douglas Kennedy, DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews, Frank Faylen, George Montgomery, Neville Brand, Ray Nazarro, Robert J. Wilke, Skip Homeier, United Artists on October 25, 2017| 7 Comments »
Directed by Ray Nazarro
Screen Play by Don Martin and Richard Schayer
Story by L.L. Foreman
Director Of Photography: Lester White
Film Editor: Buddy Small
Cast: George Montgomery (Cruze), Dorothy Malone (Charlotte Downing), Frank Faylen (Fairweather), Neville Brand (Tray Moran), Skip Homeier (Cass Downing), Douglas Kennedy (Gad Moran), Fay Roope (Mayor Booth), Douglas Fowley (Bartender), Robert J. Wilke (Hort Moran)
__________
I covered Lone Gun (1954) shortly after it appeared on Shout Factory’s four-movies-on-one-DVD package, Movies 4 You Western Classics. A solid George Montgomery picture, it’s worth a second look.
It’s easy to dismiss a movie like The Lone Gun as just a programmer. From its original reviews to DVD reviews, that’s the way a lot of folks have seen it. The plot’s nothing new. They were obviously working on a tight budget and short schedule. They ride past the same Iverson rocks you’ve seen in dozens of pictures like this.
But in some ways, these things that seem like liabilities are some of the key strengths of The Lone Gun. Because, interestingly, they let us see what a huge difference good writing, direction and acting can make to something familiar.
Mayor Booth (Fay Roope): “Robert Booth’s the name. I own the Malpine Hotel.”
Cruze (George Montgomery): “Mine’s Cruze. I own this shirt and those two horses out there.”
The story’s so simple. Montgomery ends up the marshal of Malpine, and he’s soon on the trail of the Moran brothers (Neville Brand, Douglas Kennedy and Robert J. Wilke), brothers/rustlers/killers/trash who are hiding their rustled cattle among the small herd of Charlotte and Cass Downing (Dorothy Malone, Skip Homeier), siblings trying to keep their small ranch afloat. Also on hand is Fairweather (Frank Faylen), a gambler who’s cleaned out the pockets of just about everybody in town — and one of Cruze’s only friends.
Glance back at that previous paragraph (above the Moran brothers), and consider those names. That’s one helluva cast, and it’s a joy to spend 74 minutes with them. Ray Nazarro is an old hand at stuff like this, and his direction is as brisk and efficient as you’d expect. Everyone else involved, from editor Buddy Small to director of photography Lester White, is up to the same high standard.
The Lone Gun is in color “by the Color Corporation Of America.” That translates to SuperCinecolor. It was shot to be projected at 1.66. The Shout Factory DVD offers pretty decent color — remember, this is SuperCineColor. It’s full frame, with plenty of that annoying dead space at the top and bottom. My TV lets me zoom it a bit to approximate the original 1.66, which looks a whole lot better.
The reason folks dismiss movies like this is often because there are so many of them. Which for those of us who can’t get enough of these things, is good news indeed. The Lone Gun, thanks largely to its cast, is one I like a lot.
Oh, and another thing. It’s original title was Adios, My Texas. If you ask me, they were wise to change it.
50 Westerns From The 50s.