Warner Western Classics Collection

[Ashirg]

From DVD Times:

Warner Home Video have announced the Region 1 DVD release of the Warner Home video Western Classics Collection on 26th August 2008. Celebrating the western genre Warner brings 6 titles – each newly remastered for this release – to DVD.. Priced at $59.92 SRP for the collection or available individually at $12.97 SRP each, the only extras are original trailers.

The films…

Escape from Fort Bravo (1954)
Union officer William Holden contends with Confederate prisoners inside Fort Bravo…and fierce Indians outside. John Sturges (The Great Escape, The Magnificent Seven) directs.

Many Rivers to Cross (1955)
Trapper and resolute bachelor Bushrod Gentry comes to Kentucky, where a marriage-minded lass is waiting. Robert Taylor and Eleanor Parker team in a comedy/adventure.

Cimarron (1960 remake)
Oklahoma is theirs…if they can tame it. Glenn Ford stars in the decades-spanning tale of the famed land rush and of settlers sinking deep roots. Anthony Mann (Winchester ’73) directs this two-time Oscar® winner.

The Law and Jake Wade (1958)
Lawman William Holden is sworn to uphold the law but destined for a showdown with his
outlaw past when former partner Richard Widmark resurfaces. Directed by John Sturges.

Saddle the Wind (1958)
Blood for blood; brother against brother. An ex-gunslinger’s attempts to go straight meet a fury of violence ignited by his brother. Robert Taylor stars in Rod Serling’s taut tale.

The Stalking Moon (1968)
A suspenseful manhunt saga. A relentless foe tracks Army scout Gregory Peck as he attempts to lead a woman (Eva Marie Saint) once held captive by Apaches to safety.

[bjeggert82]

I've only seen the John Sturges titles, which are entertaining as hell--like most of his work. I'll probably pick them up separately.

[OliverB]

Why pick them up separately when you have a great film by Anthony Mann and two other underrated Robert Taylor vehicles, the likes of which have so far been far underrepresented on DVD... it's probably cheaper to just buy the whole box set anyways. That's what I love about Warner Bros!

I've been waiting years for a R1 release of The Law and Jake Wade and I can't wait for this set; it's possibly among my most anticipated of 2008 next to the Fox Western Classics w/ The Gunfighter and Popeye Vol. 2 Collection!

[tryavna]

I agree that Law and Jake Wade is a criminally underrated western, but most of the other titles in this collection are fairly mediocre, in my opinion. Cimmarron is probably my least favorite Anthony Mann film (apart from his early b-musicals) -- a few good moments, like the shooting of Charles McGraw's character, but the material is pretty weak to begin with. (I'm not a fan of Edna Ferber.) I've not seen Saddle the Wind, which is I assume the second of the two Taylor films you were talking about. I hope so, 'cause Many Rivers to Cross is kind of boring.

[domino harvey]

Warner's made the classy decision to put the late great Richard Widmark on the cover of the box! =D>

[MadJack]

Classy and fitting, as his performance in Jake Wade is the best thing about that movie (and therefore, in my opinion, the box set). "You'll never meet anyone better than me - just prettier" - fantastic.

[Person]

I see that the great Henry Silva is in The Law and Jake Wade - is his character/performace good?

[tryavna]

I see that the great Henry Silva is in The Law and Jake Wade - is his character/performace good?

Yes! His interactions with Widmark are particularly good. (My impression was that Widmark had better chemistry with Silva than with Taylor.) Here's a typical exchange:

Silva's character: I said I was sorry, I didn't think.

Widmark's character: We'll chisel that on your tombstone.

[Props55]

Tryavna, you must be a real fan of TLAJW to recall the dialogue so well! My favorite is Widmark's reaction to the failure of the six-shooter Taylor digs up with the loot: "Well it could have gone off like a canon. And think how silly I would have felt!"

I had the great opportunity to see TLAJW on the big screen at about age seven at a friends birthday bash. It was the second feature in support of THE ADVENTURES OF HUCK FINN (have only the vaguest memory of that one) and was probably my second or third Widmark western. I saw THE ALAMO at age five and Widmark made at least as vivid an impression on me as the Duke. At some point around the same time I saw GARDEN OF EVIL at the same theatre AFTER having seen it on NBC's Saturday Night at the Movies. Great that both these films are finally being released at last. Now if only Universal would see fit to release Sturges' BACKLASH!

TLAJW is a top drawer "journey western" sub-species "let's find the loot in the ghost town/mining camp" and three of the best feature superlative Widmark performances. The others being GARDEN OF EVIL and Wellman's YELLOW SKY. Not as laconic and stoic as the Boetticher-Scotts or as elegant and physically violent as the Mann-Stewarts these films feature colorful performances, interesting locations and camerawork and (for GOE at least) a great score. Won't dis the rest of the boxset out of hand (I have fond memories of ESCAPE FROM FORT BRAVO but haven't seen it in decades) but I agree that CIMARRON is the most disappointing of all the Mann westerns. I'd almost buy the box just for the Widmark photo art (actually from TLAJW not just some other western under the corporate umbrella) but will probably opt for just the single title. And where the hell is THE HANGING TREE?

[tryavna]

Tryavna, you must be a real fan of TLAJW to recall the dialogue so well! My favorite is Widmark's reaction to the failure of the six-shooter Taylor digs up with the loot: "Well it could have gone off like a canon. And think how silly I would have felt!"

Yeah, it's one of those movies that used to come on all the time on TNT and/or TBS, so on average, I probably saw it twice a year when I was growing up. Even though it's not my favorite Western, it's pretty damn entertaining, and I usually end up sitting through the whole thing if I happen upon it while I'm channel-surfing.

I think my absolute favorite moment in the film is when Widwark throws the knife at Taylor, missing Taylor's head by an inch or so, and Taylor doesn't bat an eye. It's one of those instances where Taylor's dead-pan style is an asset. But a close runner up is this exchange:

Widmark: Well, did you say a few words over the boys?
Robert Middleton: Yeah. "Goodbye."
Widmark: Very touching....

It's an extremely quotable movie.

[domino harvey]

Just picturing Widmark saying these lines is making my day