Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very fine RKO western ....and an excellent DVD, November 11, 2003
SILVER LODE may be the finest western that RKO released in the mid-1950s. With expert and taut scripting, high production values (it's one of producer Benedict Bogeaus' best), excellent direction under the veteran Allan Dwan, this little oater also has two of the best performances of its two male leads: John Payne and Dan Duryea. Payne, a veteran of numerous Westerns for Paramount [e.g., EL PASO and THE EAGLE AND THE HAWK] and Republic [e.g., THE ROAD TO DENVER], here turns in a tour de force as the innocent, but hunted and accused hero. He is very fine indeed, his lines crisply given, adding to the mounting tension. Duryea, one of Hollywood's finest "bad guys," almost outdoes Payne; Duryea is simply studpendous. The final scene between the two--in the town bell tower--is quite striking and remarkable.
Secondary starring roles are filled with some very competent Hollywood veterans---Robert Warwick, Emile Meyer as the town sheriff, Harry Carey Jr. and Alan Hale Jr. as members of Dan Duryea's "posse." Lisbeth Scott is Payne's love interest; she's does quite well.
VCI has given us a fine, clean print, and attaches the original trailer at the end, along with bios of the leading actors, all very helpful.
Silver Lode is the kind of movie that will repay watching from time to time. It is way above average as oaters go. Recommended highly both to those interested in good Western fare and, yes, to others interested simply in good cinema.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable B-Western but nothing special., August 19, 2007
Silver Lode was directed by: Allan Dwan in 1954. Dwan made many films in his career, which stretched from 1911 to 1961, although remained much the B-movie director in spite of his popularity in the 20s. The only film of any note would have to be the 1922 adaptation of Robin Hood starring Douglas Fairbanks Sr.
`Silver Lode' is an enjoyable if not brilliant B-western, which acts as an analogy of HUAC / McCarthy witch-hunts of the 50s which takes its ques from High Noon (1952, Zinnemann). Cinematography was by John Alton who shot 2 great film noir pictures in the 40s: T-Men (1947, Mann) and Raw Deal (1948, Mann). He would also shoot the defining noir picture `Big Combo' (1955, Lewis) the following year. I'll admit that I'm not fond of the colour cinematography in `Silver Lode' but that may have something to do with the fact that the film is not in good condition with the colour tending to fade in and out occasionally.
The film starred: Lizabeth Scott (Dead Reckoning, 1947), Dan Duryea (Criss Cross, 1948; Scarlet Street, 1945; Winchester 73, 1950) and John Payne (Miracle on 34th Street, 1947).
`Silver Lode' appeared in both `1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die' (Cassell Illustrated) and Jonathan Rosenbaum's `Essential Cinema: On the Necessity of Film Canons' (Johns Hopkins University Press) which lists 1000 essential films.
The dvd transfer is only adequate with no significant extras.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"great cast Payne, Scott & Duryea ~ Silver Lode (1954)", October 30, 2005
VCI Entertainment presents "Silver Lode" (1954) (Dolby digitally remastered)...an RKO Pictures production featuring John Payne, Lizabeth Scott and Dan Duryea...story is drama at its best, very similar to "High Noon"...four men ride into the town of "Silver Lode" with a warrant for John Payne led by Duryea, with Carey Jr, Hale Jr and Whitman as the deputies...is Payne guilty of murder and taking $20,000, can he find some proof that these charges are false and unwarranted...is the town standing behind him or they split right down the middle of his innocence...Duryea is the brother of the man Payne is accused of killing in Discovery, will they take him alive or dead...can Payne depend on Rose the saloon girl who still carries a flame for him...will four desperate men claiming to be lawmen who are bent on revenge find an innocent victum for their next target of murder...watch as the screens most exciting manhunt begins when one man fights against mob violence and his survival...is it my imagination or is this close to the McCarthy witch hunt for communists in the film industry during '50s...however the point is well take as this is a very good western with fine performances...so pop some popcorn, sit back and enjoy the movie.
Under director Allan Dwan, producer Benedict Bogeaus with original story by Karen DeWolf, music composed by Louis Forbes...the cast include John Payne (Dan Ballard), Lizabeth Scott (Rose Evans), Dan Duryea (Ned McCarthy-marshall), Dolores Moran (Dolly), Harry Carey Jr (Johnson-deputy), Alan Hale Jr (Kirk-deputy), Stuart Whitman (Wickers-deputy), Morris Anktrum (Zachary Evans), I.Stanford Jolley (Bit part), Myron Healey (Rider), Lane Chandler (Man at fire), Frank Sully (Paul Herbert), Emile Meyer (Sheriff Wooley), Robert Warwick (Judge Cranston), John Hudson (Michael 'Mitch' Evans), Roy Gordon (Dr. Elmwood), Hugh Sanders (townsman), Florence Auer (Mrs. Elmwood), Ralph Sanford (Joe-bartender), Al Haskell (Sheriff's Deputy), John Dierkes (Blacksmith), Edgar Barrier (Taylor).....special note on actor John Payne played Vint Bonner in "Restless Gun": (1957-59) legendary gunfighter hero who drifts in and out of towns during the old west helping the underdog...and actor Dan Duryea was outstanding in the Bette Davis film "The Little Foxes", but remembered in the 1948 Universal Film "Black Bart", as the black garbed highwayman making away with Wells Fargo bounty in a series of stagecoach holdups, wonderful hard riding scenes over the technicolor plains....familiar veteran actors supporting the cast with Morris Ankrum (Hoppy films as the villain), Lane Chandler (Duke Wayne's sidekick in many B-Westerns), Myron Healey (the cowboy picking on Dean Martin in the saloon scene "Rio Bravo"), Robert Warwick (played everything from Indian Chief to Judge in the '40s) and one of my favorite character actors I.Stanford Jolley who was always in the thick of rustling, bank robbing or running the local saloon, great stuff from those days of B-Westerns.....there's 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.
SCENE SELECT:
1. Strangers
2. Accusations
3. Friends
4. Time
5. Information
6. The Plan
7. Twisted Truth
8. On The Run
9. In Hiding
10.Alone
11.Surrounded
12.Telegram
SPECIAL FEATURES:
1. "Silver Lode" (original theatrical trailer)
BIOS:
1. John Payne
Birth Date: 5/23/1912 - Roanoke, VA
Died: 12/06/1989 - Malibu, California
2. Lizabeth Scott (aka Emma Matzo)
Birth Date: 9/29/1922 - Scranton, PA
Died: still living
3. Dan Duryea
Birth Date: 1/23/1907 - White Plains, NY
Died: 6/07/1968 - Hollywood, CA
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 "Cattle Queen of Montana" (1954) (Dolby digitally remastered)...an RKO Pictures production featuring Barbara Stanwyck and Ronald Reagan...story line has Sierra Nevada Jones (Stanwyck) and her father (Ankrum) arriving in Montana to file their claim for some prime ranch land...while camping and bedding down the cattle Natchakoa (Caruso) with his band of renegade tribesmen raid the camp and steal the cattle...land owner and neighbor McCord (Evans) is behind all of the bad events that happen to Sierra...with the help of Colorados (Fuller) son of the chief who has attended the whitemans college is trying to bring peace between the Indian and townspeople...is Farrell (Reagan) who is working for McCord and his henchman Yost (Jack Elam) help Sierra Jones...can Farrell who is a hired gun be working for the army undercover...will his fast gun help turn the tide for the Cattle Queen of Montana...this above average B-Western will keep you guessing to the very last scene.
Great job by VCI Entertainment for releasing the "Silver Lode" (1954), 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: 80 mins on DVD ~ VCI Entertainment 8291 ~ (6/25/2002)
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