Customer Reviews

Young Land [VHS]

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This is a restored version of this interesting feature, actually completed in 1957 by Buena Vista (Disney) but canned for two years until Columbia rescued and released it, supposedly based upon an historic incident, and there is a good deal to appreciate here, in particular excellent camerawork under the aegis of director Ted Tetzlaff, known essentially as a cinematographer. The scenario places the action in the newborn state of California in 1848, relating of a homicide trial with the defendant, played by Dennis Hopper, accused of murdering a local Mexican/Californian during an observed gun duel, after which he is arrested by the local unofficially appointed and unarmed sheriff, portrayed by 18 year Patrick Wayne. One of the better of a blessedly rare genre, The Didactic Western, YOUNG LAND's primary motif becomes a question as to whether the United States system of justice will serve up fair verdicts for non-English speaking citizens, with the efforts of an imported State judge (Dan O'Herlihy) to organize a proper trial inside a sheep barn being particularly engrossing as the judge is not accustomed to such rude courtroom surroundings. Thanks to a rather large budget, art director Jack Okey creates a Mexican village including a plaza, cantina, jail, and other buildings, and Tetzlaff, favouring long shots shows the players in full along with the location settings, all used to good advantage in glorious Technicolor through strong performances by Hopper, O'Herlihy, Ben Stroud, and Ken Curtis as a fugitive converted into a deputy.

Let me start by saying that the film is decent. Dennis Hopper is in good form and the rest of the leads (with the exception of Patrick Wayne and a few of the supporting actors who are wooden and bland) do a decent job.

That said the DVD itself is a disaster. The picture is out of frame and slightly blurry, the color is washed out and the soundtrack is full of clicks, pops and other noises. What always makes these rip-off releases even more of a joke is they sport the phrases "Digitally Re-mastered" and "5.1 Digital Dolby Surround Sound" on the back. Try to imagine 5 speakers all blasting clicks, pops and other annoying noises. If the manufacturers would just be honest (and some are) and say that the disc contains anomalies, people might be more forgiving.

What a waste of money.

Western, staring Pat Wayne (the son of John Wayne), Yvonne Craig (later to become TV's Batgirl), and Dennis Hopper. Dennis Hopper plays a young malcontent who has goaded a respected Hispanic into a fatal gun battle in the new state of California in the year 1848. His jury trial is watched with great interest by the largely Spanish-speaking citizens of the new state, who consider it to be a test of the Anglo system of justice. Wayne plays the sheriff. Yvonne Craig plays Wayne's love interest, and has several scenes throughout the movie; this was her first major role. The film was shot in 1957. The movie would probably mainly interest the fans of Dennis Hopper and Yvonne Craig.

Restored???? Not a chance. Picture quality is poor.How can people get away with false imformation and reviews.I just dont understand.As Gomer would say.......SHAME SHAME SHAME