Customer Reviews

Classic Western Round-Up, Vol. 1 (The Texas Rangers / Canyon Passage / Kansas Raiders / The Lawless Breed)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is volume I of the two volume set of Classic Westerns to be issued by Universal, and it includes four excellent oaters, and if past history is any guide, Universal will give us great transfers in excellent color (where the movies are in color). Fred MacMurray (THE TEXAS RANGERS) was an accomplished Western actor, with not only THE TEXAS RANGERS to his credit but classics such as AT GUNPOINT, GUN FOR A COWARD, GOOD DAY FOR A HANGING, QUANTEZ, and others demonstrating his prowess in the genre. He doesn't disappoint here. CANYON PASSAGE was one of Dana Andrews finest roles, and it's a excellent picture, with Hoagy Carmichael providing some delightful music. Audie Murphy stars in KANSAS RAIDERS, and doesn't disappoint (his legion of fans will be delighted!). Finally, Rock Hudson, again a fine Westerner, is very fine in THE LAWLESS BREED. In sum, four very fine and entertaining Westerns, which, along with volume II, should please Western fans and movie viewers in general.

"Canyon Passage" with Dana Andrews, Susan Hayward, Brian Donlevy, and Hoagy Carmichael is the best movie in this set and is good enough to make this set a worthwhile purchase. "Canyon Passage" was filmed in the Diamond Lake area of Oregon and has wonderful scenery featuring Mt. Thielson as the background in many of the scenes. Mt. Thielson is a sharply pointed peak just north of Crater Lake National Park and Crater Lake is briefly seen in the background as Dana Andrews and Susan Hayward ride past it. The story is interesting and well written and the acting is believable by all the actors which includes Ward Bond and a young Lloyd Bridges. The addition of Hoagy Carmichael singing his songs during the film, especially "Ol' Buttermilk Sky", make this a classic western which should have been released separately but at least it is now available on DVD.

The biggest shortcoming with this collection is the inclusion of the 1936 film "The Texas Rangers." A big hit in its day, it has not weathered the years at all well. It was Fred MacMurray's first western and he looks decidedly uncomfortable - especially in his scenes with the irritating Jack Oakie. Universal would have done better to use the 1949 remake
entitled "Streets of Laredo" with William Holden and William Bendix playing the same parts and making it all believable. ( Don't pay any attention to Leonard Maltin's put-down of "Laredo" - it's ten times better than "The Texas Rangers" and it's in technicolor too ). The Audie Murphy film "Kansas Raiders" is adequate western fare and the Rock Hudson first starring role "The Lawless Breed" is a very solid piece of story telling, but it's Jacques Tourneur's expertly crafted 1946 western "Canyon Passage" that makes this release worthwhile. Beautifully photographed, well-written and perfectly performed by an excellent cast, it's everything a western should be. Dana Andrews is a believable hero with certain character flaws such as stubborness, Susan Hayward is an attractive female lead who can't seem to make up her mind which man she really wants and Brian Donlevy manages to be both likeable and villainous at the same time as a weak willed gambler. And Ward Bond is a magnificent town bully. I would have paid the price just to get this film on its own. If Universal had given us "Streets of Laredo" instead of "The Texas Rangers" I would have given this a full five-star rating.

Bought the Classic Western Round-Up, specifically for the notable movie Canyon Passage for a variety of reasons, including the scenic views of central Oregon (Bend, Sister area in 1945). I was very much pleased with the cinema-photography, the acting, and other aspects of the film. If you liked the movie "Bend in the River" (1951), shot on Mt Hood, you'll like Canyon Passage.

Well going in I had high hopes based on earlier reviews concerning Canyon Passage. That turned out to be a pretty good old style western. If all of the other movies had the same standard then the disk would have been rated 5 stars. The others are good but not as good as CP and that is what brought it down. All of the fils were pretty well played, good plot development and any fan of the old stuff should like this collection.

All four films here are worth seeing but "Canyon Passage" is the standout. It's a thoughtful, character-driven film with good actors and an engaging story and certainly not without its share of warmth and humor. I wanted to see it simply because Hoagy Carmichael's in it, albeit in a minor role. But I've simply taking a liking to the film as a whole. To me, it's a gem.

Fred McMurray in "Texas Rangers", Rock Hudson in "The Lawless Breed" and Audie Murphy in "Kansas Raiders" are all quite good in their roles. There's not a dud film in this collection. These are not typical oaters. They lean more toward introspection than shoot-em-up fare though that element is present as well.

A great round-up and recommended.

The four movies on this set are the old-style of westerns that I find most enjoyable. They are made with good story lines, good production values, and excellent casts and direction. All four movies are recommended.

"Canyon Passage" - One of the most beautifully-filmed westerns ever made. Made on location in the spectacular scenery of Oregon. Beautiful Technicolor. Dana Andrews is the believable star and Ward Bond is the really evil bad guy. Susan Hayward does well and never looked better. Brian Donlevy, always good, here plays a likeable but fallible gambling addict. Hoagy Carmichael is really enjoyable as a sort of a wandering minstrel character, and sings his Academy Award-winning composition, "Ole Buttermilk Sky". If you enjoy good, solid westerns with beautiful Technicolor photography this is possibly the ideal western for you. This 1946 movie is the reason I bought this set.

"The Lawless Breed" - Rock Hudson does an excellent job in this highly sanitized biography of John Wesley Hardin, possibly the worst killer in the old west. Julie Adams has a great role. This movie surprised me as to how good it is.

"Kansas Raiders" - An early (1950) Audie Murphy action western. Audie plays Jesse James but with a conscience. Really! Highly fictionalized. Brian Donlevy is the notorious Quantrill, an evil character of so many older westerns. Tony Curtis is in an early role. A typical drawback I notice about so many westerns is that, whereas this is supposed to take place in Missouri and Kansas, the filmmakers chose to film the movie midst all the rocks, mountains, and forests of California. You're not supposed to notice those details but I always do.

The Texas Rangers" - This 1936 western was a surprise to me. Fred MacMurray in a good action western. Excellent story and production values. One drawback, for me, is the overdone ebulliance of Jack Oakie which is a bit much at times. A pleasant surprise was a cameo by Gabby Hayes as the judge; and another cameo by the great bad guy, Fred Kohler. Very enjoyable movie.

You cannot go wrong with this set.

Fine picture of mostly non-violent pioneers in the Pacific Northwest. A loyal rendering of Ernest Haycox's novel. Dana Andrews stalwart as Logan, the shopkeeper, Susan Hayward as sweet and loyal Lucy, Brian Aherne as Lucy's fiancee, with a problem with gambling. Hoagy Carmichael is a townsman, who introduced his theme song "Old Buttermilk Sky," Lloyd Bridges a gold prospector, Ward Bond a sweaty ruffian. One for kids to see it wasn't all saloons and gunmen who settled the West.

All of these Westerns have been remastered from the original archival prints. While a couple might not be enjoyable Westerns, they have never been released to DVD before. Kudos to Universal for releasing them and at an affordable price!

Excellent and very fast service. DVD was in perfect condition as advertised. It came very fast and I have been enjoying the westerns of yesterday. Thank you. Cliff