Product Details

• Actors: John Wayne, Ann-Margret, Ella Raines, Rod Taylor, Ben Johnson
• Directors: Burt Kennedy, Edwin L. Marin
• Writers: Burt Kennedy, Gordon Ray Young, Michael Hogan, Paul Fix
• Producers: Michael Wayne, Robert Fellows
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• DVD Release Date: January 31, 2006
• Run Time: 179 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000BPL2HO
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #130,061 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "The Train Robbers / Tall in the Saddle" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

TRAIN ROBBERS/TALL IN THE SADDLE - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Two Wayne Westerns, Two Eras..., January 17, 2006

By 

Benjamin J Burgraff (Las Vegas) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Train Robbers / Tall in the Saddle (DVD)

Packaging "Tall in the Saddle", one of John Wayne's best-loved 'B' westerns of the 1940s, with "The Train Robbers", a lesser Wayne western effort from the 1970s, is, at first glance, a strange pairing, as the films have virtually nothing in common, other than both being westerns, and both starring the Duke.

But setting aside the lack of 'common ground', if you are a Wayne fan (as I am), both films are worth owning on DVD. "Tall in the Saddle" (1944), with a screenplay co-written by Wayne's lifelong friend, character actor Paul Fix, and produced by future Wayne business partner, Robert Fellows, is, in truth, a murder mystery set in the Old West, as Wayne investigates the murder of his prospective employer. Befriended by crusty woman-hater Gabby Hayes (who Wayne had worked with, frequently, dating back to his 'Lone Star' quickie western days, the previous decade), he quickly finds himself up to his neck in suspects (including a too-genial 'judge', played by another life-long friend and collaborator, Ward Bond). Loaded with some of the best humor of any Duke film (after he pistol-whips a gunman expecting a shoot-out, he responds, when admonished for HITTING the man, "Yes, ma'am, just as hard as I could!"), and some combustible sex appeal (provided by sultry Ella Raines), the film is short, fast-paced, and exciting. It even offers Wayne's vision of his future, as, when hearing Hayes described as a "grumpy old cuss", he replies, "I like grumpy old cusses...Hope to live long enough to be one."

By the time of "The Train Robbers" (1973), Wayne had certainly achieved that goal! Produced at the twilight of his career, as the combination of deteriorating health and a lack of good scripts were taking their toll, the film is a lightweight, if good-natured entry, of a group of gunhands (headed by Wayne), hired by sexy Ann-Margret to recover and return a gold shipment stolen by her late husband. Filmed in the era of "The Sting", nothing is as it seems, and the group soon finds themselves pursued by outlaws and a mysterious stranger (Ricardo Montalban), all leading up to a 'twist' ending. The fun of this movie isn't in the plot, however, but in the obvious camaraderie between Wayne and another lifelong friend and co-star, Ben Johnson, as well as with Rod Taylor (in his only teaming with the Duke), and Christopher George (in his fourth, and final appearance in a Wayne film). The chemistry between Wayne and Ann-Margret is light, and sweet-natured; she flirts, he reminds her that his saddle is older than she is! This isn't anywhere near the best of the Duke's movies, even for the 1970s, but it is likable, and the Wayne persona is as charismatic as ever.

At a really terrific price, "Tall in the Saddle"/"The Train Robbers" is certainly worth owning, especially if your DVD budget is limited.

The Duke STILL delivers!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Boy, oh boy, has somebody come to town!", March 28, 2011

By 

H. Bala "Me Too Can Read" (Just moved to posh Marina Del Rey, CA - where if you drop a quarter, why, you just keep on walking) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Train Robbers / Tall in the Saddle (DVD)

- The outraged spinster: "I saw you strike that poor man!"
- John Wayne: "Yes, ma'am, just as hard as I could."

Rocklin was the sort of blunt, no-nonsense cowboy that John Wayne often played. A stranger to Santa Inez, Rocklin promptly begins to shake the trees and beat the bushes, as he investigates the murder of the rancher who had sent for him as the new hire. 1944's TALL IN THE SADDLE happens to be one of the Duke's finest early westerns, and you could say it's because of the film's wonderful character actors or the Duke being more Duke-y than normal, but you'd be more wrong than right. TALL IN THE SADDLE is terrific mostly because of that heat between John Wayne and Ella Raines. Once you this film, you can't call me a liar.

It's rare that the Duke finds himself in a scrape he can't shoot himself out of, but romantic triangles don't have much truck with blazing bullets unless the principals are inhabiting film noir country. Rocklin is a self-avowed misogynist which makes him the ideal compadre for a grizzled, boozy, woman-despising stagecoach driver like Dave. Dave is played by "Gabby Hayes," and if you know "Gabby" Hayes, then you know there's no western sidekick more iconic.

TALL IN THE SADDLE is graced with snappy dialogue and features several moments in which Wayne demonstrates sheer badassery. In one scene he absolutely cows a card cheat. In another, he intimidates an hombre challenging him to shuck leather out in the street. It'll take hard measures to put down a tough stud like Rocklin. Crooked counselor 'Judge' Garvey (Ward Bond) contemplates a few shifty ideas.

I mentioned Ella Raines, and this is the best I've seen her, or at least this is the role in which I find her the most appealing and attractive. You take in Raines and Wayne's combustible first encounter and you can sense the quality of the film simply elevate. Raines plays a fiery hellcat named Arleta Harolday ("Arly" to her intimates) and she sets such a hellified first impression on Rocklin that he straightaway walks into a saloon and orders whiskey. Ms. Harolday is feisty and contrary enough to hire Wayne as a ranch hand just so she could fire him. Wayne's chemistry with Raines adds dimension to his character, establishes him as more than a rugged gunfighter. Remember what they used to say about Ginger Rogers' effect on Fred Astaire? That he gave her class, but she gave him sex appeal? Ella Raines does the same for John Wayne, at least for this one oater. Audrey Long's chaste and prim Eastern girl - the third party in this romantic triangle - has her work cut out for her. And, oh yeah, there's even some ample shoot-'em-ups, a plot swerve or two, and, finally, justice meted out, western style.

1973's THE TRAIN ROBBERS has an opening that borrows some from Sergio Leone's classic slow burn opening in ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST, but don't get snookered. Made in the twilight of Wayne's career, this isn't a bad movie. It's just not as good as TALL IN THE SADDLE. On the plus side, shapely Ann-Margret adds spice to a creaky plot, and John Wayne is John Wayne, still solid as ever. The widow Mrs. Lowe (Ann-Margret) hires a gunman named Lane (Wayne) to recover half a million in gold hidden in Mexico, the plunder from a train robbery some years back. Mrs. Lowe's deceased husband was one of the locomotive bandits and he managed to pass on the gold's location to her just before he croaked. Now she intends to clear his name and raise her child proper by returning the gold and earning respectability. Lane gathers four gun hands to accompany him and Mrs. Lowe to Mexico. Except that the rest of the train robbers don't aim to share their ill-gotten loot.

THE TRAIN ROBBERS is a western done by the numbers and features a veteran cast the likes of Ben Johnson, Rod Taylor, and Ricardo Montalban (as a Pinkerton agent). Ann-Margret - who had to overcome her fear of horses to do this picture - tries her damndest to register sparks, but the disparity in age between her and Wayne is too telling. Even Wayne's character observes: "I've got a saddle that's older than you are, Mrs. Lowe." Still, it's worth it to stick around for the surprise reveal at the end and John Wayne's hilarious reaction to it.

Five stars out of five for TALL IN THE SADDLE. Three stars for THE TRAIN ROBBERS. This is one of them double-sided discs, which I sort of resent but whatever. THE TRAIN ROBBERS side of the disc shows the film in widescreen format (16x9 2.4:1) and offers these extras: the new featurette "Working With A Western Legend" - stuntmen from THE TRAIN ROBBERS reminisce about John Wayne (00:10:31 minutes long); the vintage featurette "The Wayne Train" which is a promo piece for THE TRAIN ROBBERS (00:04:07 minutes); and the John Wayne trailer gallery which includes the trailers for THE TRAIN ROBBERS and TALL IN THE SADDLE.

The TALL IN THE SADDLE side has the same John Wayne trailer gallery.

5.0 out of 5 stars Duke at his best, October 6, 2011

By 

Rick Lane (Sacramento, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Train Robbers / Tall in the Saddle (DVD)

This is a good double feature of John Wayne films. The reason I got this is for 'The Train Robbers' which was cheaper getting this. There is only one disc for each movie one each side. 'Tall in the Saddle' is one of his earliest films with 'The Train Robbers' as his older ones. These two movies star Rod Taylor, Ann-Margret, Ben Johnson, Ella Raines, Ward Bond, Ricardo Montalban, plus others. If you like John Wayne, westerns or any of these actors/actresses then this double feature is for you. I would recommend this anyone.