Customer Reviews

Republic Pictures Story [VHS]

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

 

 

a great documentary, about one of the greatest picture studios of a byegone age, a trip down memory lane seeing the great films and stars of republic pictures, with interviews of.... the late great frank coughlan jnr... (billy batson...) the adventures of captain marvel.. republic pictures 1941... the finest serial ever made.. as any collector of serials will tell you, this is a great documentary, that is a must for anyone who remembers with great affection the great pictures from rebublic pictures with lots of great stars, such as john wayne, roy rodgers, and my hero... frank coughlan jnr... who sadly passed away aged 93yrs, in september of 2009, i can recommend this video, which will bring back those happy memories of great pictures that will be remembered always with great affection..

The Republic Pictures Story is a story of the B western, serials, and, with the exception of John Wayne/John Ford features, scores of otherwise unknown movies shot on a shoe string and designed to fill the B part of a double bill. Republic Pictures pioneered and perfected what is now the manner in which TV shows are produced. This tape is narrated by Ed Herlihy, famous announcer and newreel narrator. While whimsical at times, this is an informative and entertaining story of how the little guy in Hollywood found it's place and prospered in the 30's, 40's and 50's. I recommend it if you're over 60.

This is a TERRIFIC video detailing the life of the "thrill studio" of the 30's - late 50's, REPUBLIC PICTURES. Best known for their serials, REPUBLIC PICTURES story also reveals a bit about their magnificent "B" westerns and then their gradual move into "A" films and finally to their decay and close. When Repubolic Pictures closed their doors, it was the end of an era. Excellent video, well worth the time and money spent.

AS A MOVIE BUFF IT WAS A SHAME IT WASNT ON DVD, ENJOYED EVERY MINUTE OFF IT

This documentary on the Republic movie studio reveals that they released few classics, or if they did, they aren't mentioned here. Republic was only a small operation formed in 1935 yet it managed to stay productive until 1959 when it was wiped out by the advent of TV. It thrived in the 30's and 40's when it's major output was weekly serials featuring Dick Tracy and The Lone Ranger, and westerns starring singing cowboys like Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. These films were indicative of the studio's limitations since they were made on a shoe-string budget, generally with time for only one take. The pompous narrator, who sounds like he's calling a baseball game, tells us that because of their success, the studio was able to create minatures that "the major studios envied". Hmm. Since a film could be made so easily it allowed for experimentation and also tended to attract people who no-one else wanted. Republic promoted the bumpkin Judy Canova and other obscure vaudeville performers, gave a career to Czech ice skater Vera Hruba Ralston, and dabbled in propaganda pieces like The Red Menace. Orson Welles made a black and white Macbeth in 1948 which the studio spent months re-dubbing since he had insisted on authentic Scottish accents, which they found to be inaudible. Nicholas Ray directed Joan Crawford in the sado-masochistic Johnny Guitar in 1954. John Wayne made 33 films at Republic, including John Ford's The Quiet Man, which is shown in lush colour. This documentary is perverse in the way it tends to skip over known titles and performers and dwell on the little known. Uncovering material is one thing, but giving undue attention to mediocrity is quite another.