Customer Reviews

The Tall Texan

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After over fifty years this little western still holds up very well. Director Elmo Williams put together a great cast with Bridges, Cobb, Windsor and the wonderfully hateful Luther Adler, in a tale of gold, Indians, and rugged action. The final scene, with Bridges fending off Indians as he claws his way through the rocks is classic. If you liked "High Noon" "Treasure of Sierra Madre" or "Stagecoach" this one is for you!

We have a monthly event in our town called "The Art Walk", and Elmo Williams is a frequent contributor to the entertainment. On November 10, 2007, Elmo told the story of the difficulties encountered in making this film with a budget of only $104,000 and about some of the personalities involved with the production. You may or may not like this film, but it will be worthwhile seeing what a great filmmaker can do with a fraction of the money available to some of his contemporaries.

VCI Entertainment presents "The Tall Texan" (1953) (Dolby digitally remastered)...an Lippert Pictures production featuring Lloyd Bridges, Lee J. Cobb, Marie Windsor, Syd Saylor and Luther Adler...story line has the star of this drama Lloyd Bridges a convicted murderer is being transported to prison...on the coach is Marie Windsor, Syd Saylor, Samuel Herrick who is bringing in Lloyd Bridges to the state prison...along the way they meet up with Luther Adler who is up to no good and not a very nice person...a lone indian brings gold to the camp and they're off to a rich vein in Indian Territory...will greed and danger tempt this group of misfits...the big strike of gold is on an Indian burial ground...can Bridges and his little band of gold seekers control themselves and not go past the safety markings.....don't leave the theater just yet, this drama is headed for dangerous times with gold and a dedicated Indian tribe watching this group of outsiders ...Bridges and this small cast make it work and you're drawn completely into the film.

Under director Elmo Williams, producer Robert L. Lippert Jr, screenplay by Samuel Roeca, additional dialogue by Elizabeth Reinhardt, music composed by Bert Shefter, stunts by Calvin Spencer (stunt double for Lloyd Bridges)...the cast include Lloyd Bridges (Ben Trask), Lee J. Cobb (Captain Theodore Bess), Marie Windsor (Laura Thompson), Luther Adler (Josh Tinnen), Syd Saylor (Carney), Samuel Herrick (Sheriff Chadborune), George Steele (Jaqui), Dean Train (Jerome Niblett)...............special footnote, actor Lloyd Bridges made the transition from movies to TV by starring in "Sea Hunt" (1958), one of the more successful syndicated shows during that era, on the big screen "High Noon" (1952 - as Deputy Marshal Harvey Pell), "Airplane" (1980 - as Steven McCrosky) and "Hot Shots!" (1991 - as Adm. Thomas 'Tug' Benson), Lloyd Bridges sons Beau and Jeff Bridges went on to leave their mark in the world of films........there is a great deal of entertainment here for "B-Western" fans out there...all courtesy of VCI Entertainment, who in my humble opinion is the best there is in restoring early serials and features like this one.

BIOS:
1. Lloyd Bridges (Lloyd Vernet Bridges)
Birth Date: 1/12/1913 - San Leandro, CA
Died: 3/10/1998 - Los Angeles, CA
2. Lee J. Cobb
Birth Date: 12/08/1911 - New York, New York
Died: 2/11/1976 - Hollywood, CA
3. Marie Windsor
Birth Date: 12/11/1919 - Marysvale, Utah
Died: 12/10/2000 - Beverly Hills, CA
4. Luther Adler
Birth Date: 5/04/1903 - New York, New York
Died: 12/08/1984 - Kutztown, PA.
5. Elmo Williams (Director)
Birth Date: 4/30/1913 - Oklahoma City, OK
Died: not shown

SPECIAL FEATURES:
1. Original Theatrical Trailer
2. Behind the Scenes photo shoot booklet "The Making of 'The Tall Texan' by Elmo Williams
3. Audio Reminiscences by Ross May, Horse Wrangler for "The Tall Texan"
4. Chapter One from "Secret Agent X-9" (1945)

Own them now on DVD....if you crave action, drama and plenty of adventure then this is the place for all of the above...if you enjoyed this feature check out another as VCI Entertainment presents "Tennessee Partner" (1955) (Dolby digitally remastered), featuring John Payne, Ronald Reagan and Rhonda Fleming is based on a Bret Harte writings as our story takes place in a gold mining town in California where gambler John Payne finds it easier to take money at the poker table than digging for gold...a stranger riding into town played by Ronald Reagan saves Payne...Reagan known as Cowpoke becomes Tennessee's partner....but the place is full of rough characters....the story lines are excellent with outstanding action scenes and production with over an hours worth of entertainment

Great job by VCI Entertainment for releasing the "The Tall Texan" (1953), digital transfere with a clean, clear and crisp print...looking forward to more of the same from the '50s vintage...order your copy now from Amazon or VCI Entertainment, stay tuned once again with a top notch Westerns from VCI...so saddle up and get ready for some hard riding and adventure that only VCI Entertainment (King of the Serials) can deliver...just the way we like 'em!

Total Time: 82 mins on DVD ~ VCI Entertainment KPF-539 ~ (1/17/2006)

Very good DVD presentation of this film by VCI. Good quality print and informative, interesting audio reminscences of the film.