A plain-speaking western hero makes a lonely stand against a gang of outlaws. The clock ticks down. The townsfolk cower. A train steam-bellows down the tracks, its arrival presaging a shootout and near-certain death for the hero. That's "High Noon" all right, one of the most famous American westerns. But it's also "3:10 to Yuma," a lesser-known … [Read more...]
‘Man Who Shot Liberty Valance’ on DVD
Imagine you're a studio executive and it's 1961. The pitch comes in: How about a western directed by John Ford, starring John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart. Sound pretty good? Nah. Incredibly, "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" was a black-sheep project, made only because of Wayne's clout. Paramount declined to green-light the movie, even with its … [Read more...]
Uneasy riders: ‘The Furies’ on Criterion
Anthony Mann looks like the man of the year on DVD. The late director's "El Cid" and "The Fall of the Roman Empire" received the regal treatment from The Weinstein Co. as it debuted its new Miriam DVD collection. Despite some quibbling, these are considered two of the year's best home video titles. Now comes "The Furies," Mann's emotionally … [Read more...]
The return of ‘True Grit,’ ‘Rio Bravo’
John Wayne's belated Oscar came for 1969's "True Grit," a rousing entertainment that didn't stand quite as tall as, say, "Red River" or "The Searchers." Paramount Home Entertainment rereleased the the old favorite in a double-disc DVD set as part of the studio's 100th-year Wayne promotion with Warner Home Video. The Duke plays one-eyed bounty … [Read more...]
‘The Searchers’ finds new life on DVD
No one needs an excuse to revisit the "The Searchers." Here's one anyway: Warner's newly restored and remastered version of the 1956 John Ford-John Wayne masterpiece finally brings home the film in an approximation of its original theatrical glory. Colors are remarkable, and images seem complete. Owners of previous versions should upgrade without … [Read more...]
