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 ‘Glenn Ford’ 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.
DVD News #364: Critics’ Choice Double & Triple Features.
Posted in Audie Murphy, Columbia, Critics' Choice, DVD/Blu-Ray News, George Montgomery, Glenn Ford, William Holden on August 21, 2023| 3 Comments »
We were all really stoked about the DVD sets from Critics’ Choice (and Mill Creek) when they started turning up. Then, the announcements stopped. And now, the existing titles are on sale for just $8.29 each. This is a great time to fill in the gaps in your collection.
There’s the Audie Murphy set above (click on the picture). There are also Western sets featuring Glenn Ford, William Holden and George Montgomery. There’s some really good non-Western stuff, too, like a great Boston Blackie set.
Blu-Ray News #360: The Fastest Gun Alive (1956).
Posted in 1956, Chubby Johnson, Dub Taylor, DVD/Blu-Ray News, Glenn Ford, Glenn Strange, John Dehner, John Dierkes, John Doucette, MGM, Noah Beery Jr., Warner Archive on June 7, 2023| 16 Comments »
Directed by Russell Rouse
Starring Glenn Ford, Jeanne Crain, Broderick Crawford, Russ Tamblyn, Allyn Joslyn, Leif Erickson, John Dehner, Noah Beery Jr., J. M. Kerrigan, Rhys Williams, Virginia Gregg, Chubby Johnson, John Doucette, Paul Birch, Glenn Strange, Kermit Maynard, Dub Taylor, John Dierkes
Warner Archive has announced The Fastest Gun Alive (1956) for its next batch of Blu-Ray releases (July, I believe). Glenn Ford made so many terrific Westerns around this time — Jubal (1956), 3:10 To Yuma (1957), Cowboy (1958), etc., and I’ve always felt Fastest Gun gets lost in the crowd. (That’s why it gets a chapter in my book.)
It’s a really terrific movie and George Folsey’s cinematography will look great in hi-def. And look at that cast! Highly, highly recommended.
Thanks to Mr. Richard Vincent for the news.
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 Review: The Man From The Alamo (1953).
Posted in 1953, Budd Boetticher, DVD reviews, releases, TV, etc., Glenn Ford, Hugh O'Brien, Julie Adams, Mill Creek Entertainment, Neville Brand, Universal (International), Victor Jory on June 20, 2020| 12 Comments »
Directed by Budd Boetticher
Produced by Aaron Rosenberg
Screenplay by Steve Fisher and D.D. Beauchamp
Story by Niven Busch and Oliver Crawford
Music by Frank Skinner
Cinematography: Russell Metty
Film Editor: Virgil W. Vogel
Cast: Glenn Ford (John Stroud), Julie Adams (Beth Anders), Chill Wills (John Gage), Hugh O’Brian (Lt. Lamar), Victor Jory (Jess Wade), Neville Brand (Dawes), John Day (Cavish), Myra Marsh (Ma Anders), Jeanne Cooper (Kate Lamar), Mark Cavell (Carlos), Edward Norris (Mapes), Guy Williams (Sergeant)
__________
It took Budd Boetticher a while to find his cinematic sweet spot with stuff like The Killer Is Loose and Seven Men From Now (both 1956). But he made some terrific pictures in the meantime. The Man From The Alamo (1953) is one of the best of those. It’s a short movie completely filled with action — from the attack on the Alamo to a number of fist fights to the climactic wagon train scenes. It’s all handled perfectly, and when you learn this was a shoot plagued by injuries, it’s easy to see why.
John Stroud (Glenn Ford) is the one man who left the Alamo after Travis drew his line with his sword, and he’s been labeled a coward. We know he’s not. Stroud sees the chance to help other families make their way to safety as a way to clear his name — and get his revenge on Wade (Victor Jory), the leader of a band of mercenaries who have hired on with Santa Anna.
We get an early version of the usual Boetticher hero — an outsider obsessed with a personal mission, a character Randolph Scott played to perfection in pictures like The Tall T (1957). Glenn Ford does a good job here as a man who’s lost everything, even his good name. Not many movies have us rooting for a character so clearly burned out and cynical. That’s where Ford really comes through, always showing enough of the decent family man to keep us from writing him off. It also keeps us from wondering why Julie Adams would be interested in him.
Victor Jory is Wade, the soldier for hire responsible for the death of Ford’s family. Jory is a great bad guy, and he’s at his absolute slimiest best here — though it’s hard to top him in South Of St. Louis (1949). He’s given some sweaty, sneering closeups that’ll make your skin crawl.
Julie Adams is so beautiful in Russell Metty’s Technicolor — she was perfect for Universal International’s bright, colorful Westerns of the 50s. And she’s always able to pull something out of an underwritten part. Neville Brand is terrific, too. Chill Wills can be a bit grating, as usual.
Back to Russell Metty. He was a master, and his Technicolor work here is incredible. In a picture that takes place largely in rocks and sand, he manages to find enough of a color palette to create plenty of vibrant visuals.
And that’s what makes this new Blu-Ray from Mill Creek such a treat. It’s a gorgeous transfer of the original material, and the movie really benefits from the boost in definition, a solid improvement on the old DVD (which was nice to begin with). The color is really terrific. Mill Creek has paired it with Robert Rossen’s They Came To Cordura (1959), which also looks splendid. A pair of movies like this, looking this good, at such a great price — you can’t get too many of em. Highly recommended.
50s Westerns Blu-Ray News #295: The Man From The Alamo (1953) And They Came To Cordura (1959).
Posted in 1953, 1959, Budd Boetticher, Columbia, DVD/Blu-Ray News, Gary Cooper, Glenn Ford, Hugh O'Brien, Julie Adams, Mill Creek Entertainment, Neville Brand, Universal (International), Van Heflin on February 13, 2020| 17 Comments »
Mill Creek has announced a twin-bill Blu-Ray of The Man From The Alamo (1953) and They Came To Cordura (1959).
The Man From The Alamo (1953)
Directed by Budd Boetticher
Starring Glenn Ford, Julie Adams, Chill Wills, Victor Jory, Hugh O’Brien, Neville Brand
Glenn Ford leaves The Alamo before the siege to notify families of what’s to come, and he’s branded a coward for it.This is a beautiful Technicolor Universal-International Western. Ford’s good, Julie Adams is gorgeous and Victor Jory is despicable. Just what you want in a 50s Western.
They Came To Cordura (1959)
Directed by Robert Rossen
Starring Gary Cooper, Rita Hayworth, Van Heflin, Tab Hunter, Dick York
This one’s in Eastmancolor and CinemaScope, with Gary Cooper and his men after Pancho Villa. Dick York was injured making this, and it plagued him for years. It’s why he had to leave the role of Darrin Stephens on Bewitched.
Let’s hope this is the beginning of a trend with Mill Creek. Their two-fer Blu-Rays of Hammer and William Castle horror films are terrific.
50s Westerns Blu-Ray News #291: Cimarron (1960).
Posted in Anthony Mann, DVD/Blu-Ray News, Glenn Ford, Harry Morgan, MGM, Royal Dano, Warner Archive on December 21, 2019| 10 Comments »
Directed by Anthony Mann (and Charles Walters)
Starring Glenn Ford, Maria Schell, Anne Baxter, Arthur O’Connell, Russ Tamblyn, Mercedes McCambridge, Vic Morrow, Robert Keith, Charles McGraw, Aline MacMahon, Harry Morgan, Edgar Buchanan
Warner Archive is bringing MGM’s sprawling 1960 version of Edna Ferber’s Cimarron to Blu-Ray. Anthony Mann directed about half of it, leaving after a series of disagreements with the producer, Edmund Grainger. The big Land Rush sequence is incredible and makes this Blu-Ray something to spring for.
While you could certainly argue that Mann was better suited to smaller films like Raw Deal (1948) or Bend Of The River (1952), Cimarron would see him head in an epic direction — his next pictures being El Cid and The Fall of the Roman Empire.
50s Westerns Blu-Ray Want List.
Posted in Allan Dwan, Andre de Toth, Anthony Mann, Audie Murphy, Barbara Stanwyck, Barry Sullivan, Ben Johnson, Budd Boetticher, Burt Kennedy, Clayton Moore, Clint Walker, Dale Evans, Dale Robertson, Delmer Daves, DVD/Blu-Ray News, Frank Ferguson, Fred F. Sears, George Montgomery, George Sherman, Glenn Ford, Gordon Douglas, Guy Madison, Hank Worden, Jack Arnold, Jacques Tourneur, James Coburn, James H. Griffith, Jay Silverheels, Jeff Chandler, Joel McCrea, John Ford, John McIntire, John Payne, John Sturges, John Wayne, Julie Adams, Kirk Douglas, Lesley Selander, Lippert/Regal, Mara Corday, Marie Windsor, Paul Landres, Phil Karlson, Randolph Scott, Ray Nazarro, Republic Pictures, Richard Widmark, Robert Mitchum, Rory Calhoun, Roy Rogers, Sam Katzman, Sam Peckinpah, Sterling Hayden, The Lone Ranger, Universal (International), William Castle, William Elliott, Yvonne DeCarlo, Zachary Scott on September 4, 2019| 22 Comments »
A while back, I asked for Want Lists of the 50s Westerns still lost on the high-def trail. Here they are, presented in chronological order. The titles in bold are the ones that were brought up most frequently.
With the recent news about Fox/Disney’s lack of interest in their back catalogs appearing on shiny silver circles, getting this finished and posted seemed very timely. Many of these, mind you, haven’t even turned up on DVD yet.
The Virginian (1946)
Albuquerque (1948)
Coroner Creek (1948)
Whispering Smith (1948)
3 Godfathers (1949)
Colorado Territory (1949)
Hellfire (1949)
Streets Of Laredo (1949)
Ambush (1950)
Branded (1950)
Devil’s Doorway (1950)
The Nevadan (1950)
Saddle Tramp (1950)
Short Grass (1950)
Showdown (1950)
Trail Of Robin Hood (1950)
Across The Wide Missouri (1951)
Along The Great Divide (1951)
Apache Drums (1951)
Best Of The Badmen (1951)
The Great Missouri Raid (1951)
Inside Straight (1951)
Man In The Saddle (1951)
Red Mountain (1951)
The Redhead And The Cowboy (1951)
The Secret Of Convict Lake (1951)
The Texas Rangers (1951)
Westward The Women (1951)
Vengeance Valley (1951)
Warpath (1951)
The Big Sky (1952)
Bugles In The Afternoon (1952)
Hangman’s Knot (1952)
The Lawless Breed (1952)
The Lusty Men (1952)
The Naked Spur (1952)
Ride The Man Down (1952)
The Savage (1952)
The Story Of Will Rogers (1952)
Untamed Frontier (1952)
Ambush At Tomahawk Gap (1953)
Charge At Feather River (1953)
City Of Bad Men (1953)
Devil’s Canyon {1953)
Escape From Fort Bravo (1953)
The Great Sioux Uprising (1953)
Jack McCall, Desperado (1953)
Last Of The Comanches (1953)
The Last Posse (1953)
The Silver Whip (1953)
The Stranger Wore A Gun (1953)
Wings Of The Hawk (1953)
Tumbleweed (1953)
Apache (1954)
The Bounty Hunter (1954)
Cattle Queen Of Montana (1954)
The Command (1954)
Dawn At Socorro (1954)
The Law Vs. Billy The Kid (1954)
The Outcast (1954)
Ride Clear Of Diablo (1954)
Silver Lode (1954)
Wyoming Renegades (1954)
The Yellow Tomahawk (1954)
At Gunpoint (1955)
Chief Crazy Horse (1955)
The Last Frontier (1955)
The Man From Bitter Ridge (1955)
Shotgun (1955)
Smoke Signal (1955)
Tennessee’s Partner (1955)
The Violent Men (1955)
Wichita (1955)
Backlash (1956)
Dakota Incident (1956)
Fastest Gun Alive (1956)
Fury At Gunsight Pass (1956)
Great Day In The Morning (1956)
The Last Wagon (1956)
The Lone Ranger (1956)
The Maverick Queen (1956)
Reprisal! (1956)
Seven Men From Now (1956)
Stagecoach To Fury (1956)
Tribute To A Bad Man (1956)
Copper Sky (1957)
Domino Kid (1957)
Dragoon Wells Massacre (1957)
Hell Canyon Outlaws (1957)
From Hell To Texas (1958)
Frontier Gun (1958)
The Lone Ranger And The Lost City Of Gold (1958)
Face Of A Fugitive (1959)
Last Train From Gun Hill (1959)
No Name On The Bullet (1959)
Thunder In The Sun (1959)
Yellowstone Kelly (1959)
The Alamo (1960)
Hell Bent For Leather (1960)
Cheyenne Autumn (1964)
Firecreek (1968)
Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid (1973)
As this was being compiled, a few titles actually made their way to Blu-Ray, one of them being the exquisite new Wagon Master (1950) from Warner Archive.
Happy Birthday, William Castle.
Posted in 1955, Budd Boetticher, Glenn Ford, Sam Peckinpah, William Castle on April 24, 2019| 5 Comments »
William Castle
(April 24, 1914 – May 31, 1977)
I’m always on the lookout for a photo of William Castle working on one of his Westerns. This one, from the set of The Americano (1955), is the only one I’ve come across. (He became a lot more visible when he started producing his own horror movies.) He’s seen here with executive producer Sam Wiesenthal and Ursula Thiess. The Americano — with Glenn Ford, Frank Lovejoy, Cesar Romero and Miss Thiess, was a troubled production begun by Budd Boetticher in Brazil and finished some time later by Castle.
William Castle might be my favorite filmmaker. From the Whistler series to gimmicky stuff like House On Haunted Hill (1958), he sure made the movies fun. The low-budget Westerns he did at Columbia for Sam Katzman — pictures like Masterson Or Kansas and The Law Vs. Billy The Kid (both 1954) are among my favorites.
50 Westerns From The 50s.