Customer Reviews

Great American Western V.20, The

5 star:		(3)
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This review refers to "The Great American Western - Vol 20"(Platinum Disc)....

Okay, so the first thing I have to tell you is that my 5 star rating is not for all the great cinematic moments you will find in these films. It is though, for the inclusion of the Documentary "Great American West" which features Western greats John Wayne, Henry Fonda, and Jimmy Stewart swapping stories and revealing some fond memories of filmmaking with the great one... John "Pappy" Ford. Made in the early 70's, the stars get up close, personal, and a bit sentimental with their mentor, from the sets and gorgeous locations, of films like "Stagecoach", "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance", "The Searchers", "Young Mr. Lincoln", and "My Darling Clemintine" among many others.

The admiration and respect these greats of Hollywood have for this wonderful director, exudes onto the screen, and I smiled through the entire hour. This is a must have for fans. The moments are priceless. Even Andy Devine makes a "quick" appearance. This makes this volume more than worth the price of admission.

The other films included are:
"Bells Of San Angelo"..From 1947 directed by William Witney, this is a corny but fun film, starring Roy Rogers, Trigger(Yes, Trigger gets top billing), Dale Evans and Andy Devine. There's trouble amiss in the local silver mine that borders Mexico. Can Roy save the day and still have time to get in a few tunes, you bet! It's a modern western, but Roy and the boys still ride horses and carry 6 shooters, while everyone else takes the bus! The case says it is a 47 min color film, but it is acutally around 1 hr 15 min and is in black and white.

"Kentucky Rifle"..1955/Color directed by Carl Hittleman. This has some great character actors to spend some time with. Chill Wills, Sterling Holloway, Henry Hull, Lance Fuller and Cathy Downs. Don't expect too much though, in the way of plot or cinematogrpahy. A wagon load of Kentucky Rifles, must be protected at all costs, including any passengers who may be along, from the Comanche(who get a pretty bad rap in this one).

"White Comanche"...1967/Color. Oy Vey...This was probably the worst of all. Even a die hard oater lover like me had a hard time with this one. I thought with Joseph Cotton and William Shatner, I would find some redeeming value, but alas I did not.
Twin brothers who are half white and half Comanche(both played by Shatner, and I forgive him for this), have conflicts between them and with their identities as well. Probably worth the view for a few good laughs.

Don't expect anything like a big studio transfer, or the attention that is paid to the classics. They show their age with some scratches, and "White Comanche" looks completly faded out, and there are even times in the films when the voices don't match the lips. They all have pretty decent sound though and are all enhanced In DD 5.1.

Also 5 stars to Platinum Disc for putting together so many of these Good Ole Oaters for us to choose from. They may purchased in single volumes or in sets(of up to 10 discs). Enter Great American Western in the product search to see all of them. This one is also included in "Great American Westerns" Vol 2 of the 10-pack.

Get this for the John Ford Documentary and just have some fun with the others.

Happy Trails....Laurie

Volume 24 in the Great American Western series, features 5 old John Wayne films from the 1930's. Four from the Lone star series, and one other oater.They are all wonderfully corny. Each runs less then an hour, so for well over 4 hours you could get comfy with The Duke.

In the Lone series we sometimes find our guy as some goverment agent, working incognito to bust the bad guys. He's not the same agent everytime though. And of course, there's always a girl. In "Riders of Destiny"(1933), He's "Singin Sandy Saunders.Everyone thinks he's a bad hombre gun fighter but in reality he's out to save the water from the land grubbers. Forrest Taylor also stars.

"The Trail Beyond"(1934) finds Rod Drew(Wayne) searching for long lost friends in North West Canda. He has to prove one has been unjustly framed for murder. Noah Berry Sr. and Jr. star as well.

"West of the Divide"(1934)has The Duke searching for the killers of his parents. Along the way, he discovers he has a little brother(how lucky for that kid!).

"Texas Terror"(1935) A sheriff(Wayne) is blaming himself for the death of his best friend. He had to follow the letter of the law though. He takes up prospecting and leaves the law behind.

"Winds of the Wasteland"(1936) is not one of the Lone Star films.Once Pony Express riders, now stagecoach operators, are scammed out of their money on a run-down coach and a ghost town line. Can they right this wrong and bring the town to life??Well..you know.

The films are very old. This is not a big studio release. The films, show their age. Although, there are a couple that look pretty darn good.And there isn't anything to take away from the enjoyment of these cinematic treasures. The sound is enhanced in Dolby 5.1. One of the films, did though have a hissing noise through most of the film. All the films are on one side, no need to flip the Disc.

These may not be the best Westerns ever made, but I have to go 5 stars for the historical film value to fans of The Duke.This films are sure to give you a smile. And also to Platinum Discs, for putting so many of these Oaters out on DVD for us to enjoy.

If You just can't get enough of the Duke, this DVD may also be found in a two-pack:John Wayne, Great American Western, 2 DVD with 4 more of his films including the entire 3 hour Shadow of the Eagle serial.


Check my listmanias for more John Wayne Westerns and more GAW volumes in the series I have reviewed so far.

Saddle Up, and Happy Trails To You

Laurie

I don't know how many films Wayne did for Lone Star Productions but I do know that these Platinum Discs are worth their weight in gold. For my taste these early westerns had a certain real ambience about them that are missing even in the films of the 1940s. These early films are just one step ahead of the silent films, and at times you have stretches of music to cover the action. It's just great.

If you want to see John Wayne, when he was still becoming John Wayne, you gotta watch these old classics. I got on to them through Encore Westerns several years back and then later bought these Platinum discs.

Another note, the later LEGENDS OF THE WEST (5 volumes) by Platinum also collects all these older movies. No matter which sets you have they are mighty interesting, on some of the Lone Star series of films George 'Gabby' Hayes, 'George Hayes' as he was then known, shows up as Wayne's co-star. Great stuff.

Semper Fi.