3:10 to Yuma (Special Edition)

Product Description

This fine western opens with Van Heflin as a rancher whose family is suffering from the devastatingeffects of a long drought. Heflin needs $200 to build a well, then learns he can obtain the money as a reward for delivering Glenn Ford, a notorious outlaw now in the hands of the law, to the state prison in Yuma, Arizona. Though this will put Heflin in great personal danger, the peaceful man accepts the assignment, knowing what the money will mean to his family. Heflin and Ford hole up in a small hotel in another town while waiting for the train to Yuma. The outlaw begins toying with Heflin's mind, talking in a friendly manner about Heflin's job and financial situation. Playing psychologicalgames, Ford tries to convince Heflin to take $100,000 to look the other way while he escapes. Heflin finds himself in a quandary, desperately needing the money yet being bound by his word to carry out the job. Ford's gang, led by Jaeckel, discovers where their leader is hidden and sets out to rescue him. The town officials abandon Heflin rather than put themselves in danger, leaving the troubled rancher alone to face off with the outlaws. Ford ends up assisting Heflin, helping his captor on the 3:10 to Yuma, explaining, 'I owed you that.' Heflin has come through the ordeal, body and integrityintact, and, as if in answer to this baptism by fire, the skies burst forth with rain, putting an end to the drought.

Customer Reviews:

Solid........2007-09-17

3:10 to Yuma (Delmer Daves, 1957)

Delmer Daves is these days probably best remembered for the Jimmy Stewart vehicle Broken Arrow, but that's all about to change. A remake of 3:10 to Yuma is on the horizon, and that will likely have viewers looking up this oft-neglected minor gem. It may look like a Western and quack like a Western, but there's a lot more to it than there is to your usual Western.

The story concerns Ben Wade (The Big Heat's Glenn Ford), leader of an outlaw band who finds himself captured for the love of a woman. A local rancher, Dan Evans (Shane's Van Heflin), is down on his luck and in need of money; when the owner of a stagecoach line offers Evans enough money to irrigate his farm for the rest of the drought if he'll guard Wade until the authorities can put him on a train to Yuma prison, Evans can't jump fast enough. Thus begins a long, slow battle of wills between the two men-- slick, persuasive Wade and cynical, hardworking Evans. Sure, there's action. Tumbleweeds alone do not a Western make. But the real focus here is on the temptation of Dan Evans at the hands of Ben Wade. I'm almost tempted to compare it to Satan tempting Jesus on the cross-- the landscape does have a rather desolate Golgotha feel to it-- but I won't go quite that far.

While the battle of wills is the main attraction, the side bits never get in the way of it, instead building on the main battle. The end result is a movie that looks like it's got a lot going on, but is actually almost obsessively single-minded. Not an easy feat to pull off. Daves did a fantastic job with this one, and it deserves to be remembered well. ****

3:10 to Yuma (1957) Movie Review.......2007-09-10

3:10 to Yuma is an interesting blend of Western and Suspense, but more captivating still is its methodical examination of fleeting morals, blind justice, and the charismatic villain at the heart of the conflict.

Notorious outlaw Ben Wade (Glenn Ford) and his gang rob a stagecoach transporting significant funds of one Mr. Butterfield (Robert Emhardt) and end up killing the driver in the process. Farmer Dan Evans (Van Heflin) and his son are witness to the tragic events but are unable to help, save for notifying the authorities. When Dan returns home and his son explains the day's harrowing event, his wife appears disappointed by his apparent lack of courage, though his family's safety was foremost in his mind. When Dan is forced to go into town to borrow money for his farm's upkeep, he discovers that Ben Wade has stayed behind and the desperate farmer agrees to help apprehend the nefarious criminal. Upon Wade's capture, Butterfield employs Dan to guard the outlaw until 3:10 when the train to Yuma will arrive and take him to prison. But when Wade's gang arrives in town to free their leader, Dan will find that honor and dedication may only lead to an early grave.

While 3:10 to Yuma may appear to be an action film, it is actually an intricate examination of character, both hero and villain, set against a suspenseful game of cat-and-mouse in the old West. Van Heflin's protagonist represents the forces of good and parallels the difficulties present that don't always allow justice to prevail - at least not at first anyway. Honor and pride play an important role in Dan's decisions, as his wife's initial chagrin instigates his desire to bring Wade to justice. His belief in this subjective moral is so determinate that he even protects Wade from certain death just to attempt to deliver him to the law's judgement.

As unique and interestingly obstinate as Dan's demeanor is, the villain of the film actually overshadows him in charisma and stage presence. Glenn Ford's portrayal of outlaw Ben Wade is one of the finest character studies in cinema, as he approaches the role with a full palette of emotions and intentions, complete with a similar belief in honor and morals that deceptively shifts as the film progresses. The opening scene finds Wade nonchalantly killing one of his own men when held hostage, and such dispassionate violence would lead one to believe the vilest of villains stands before him. However, the narrative follows Wade just as much as Evans and we discover he stays behind in the town of Bisbee to woo the young bartender Emmy (Felicia Farr). His presence is so captivating in fact that not only does he get the girl, but she seems completely unfazed to learn that he is the notorious Ben Wade. When the outlaw is captured by Evans, their witty back-and-forth banter often reveals Wade to be the more entertaining of the two and most often it's hard not to root for the bad guy. The final confrontation with Wade's gang cements what we'd been expecting all along - the line between heroes and villains is a thin one, at least in this engaging battle of wits and integrity.

Though the plot is light on action, the story is heavy on suspense as Dan attempts to carry out his suicidal mission. Mind games replace gunplay and while the film's running time doesn't outstay its welcome, those expecting a nonstop shootout extravaganza may leave unsatisfied, while the film connoisseur will be delighted by the intricate character study. Reminiscent of deliberately paced suspenseful westerns like John Sturges' Bad Day at Black Rock and of course Fred Zinnemann's High Noon, 3:10 to Yuma deserves a place of its own in classic cinema for its daring antagonist and intent focus on the composition of heroism and the trials and tribulations it requires.

- Joel Massie

3:10 to Yuma - comparing the old with the new version - in progress.......2007-09-09

Maybe it's my own Wyoming roots clouding my judgment, but I absolutely love a GOOD Western, especially those having Southwest settings, especially Arizona and Old Mexico - having heard tales of them spun by my mother and father since childhood.

When the "new" version of "3:10 to Yuma" hit the previews, I suddenly realized I wanted to make the comparison since I often do that. To make it even more enticing, I had never seen the old version.

The heart of the story centers around a good man, desperate for money, who unwittingly becomes ensnared in the capture of an outlaw, and as part of his volunteering for the paid work, he must "take the prisoner to the 3:10 to Yuma". The interaction between the psyche two men makes for a remarkable tale . He knows only too well that his prisoner, even though shackled, is probably smarter than he is, and certainly more cunning, honed to a razor sharp edge by profession, and backed by a well-organized gang of scoundrels who are still on the loose.

I rate this most excellent older movie 5 stars, even with a few oddities and the highly improbable ending. (other than that, it had every possibility of having actually occurred somewhere back in time, which is one of the things I look for).

I'm amazed I hadn't seen it before. It has all the essential elements of an enduring Classic: a well written, well chosen and unique story line; great casting, and splendid direction, enhanced by a smoldering moment or two between male and female without the graphics deemed so necessary now. (not knocking "now", just making the statement that physical emotion can be transmitted very successfully without the graphics, which, in my view took much more thought process and showcased the talent of this director,who brought the story to life through the well chosen cast and his ability to bring out the best in each of them.

I highly recommend this movie and encourage anyone watching it for the first time to look for all the details that set this one apart from the crowd.

A true classic deserving more repsect.......2007-09-08

This is truly an excellent film which deserves more respect, despite bad cover art. The trailer for the remake already made me shudder. If you are a fan of classic westerns, do yourself a favor and check this out. Glenn Ford is out of character but great as this wily villain. I believe the original story was written by a young Elmore Leonard. The bombastic Frankie Laine soundtrack tune is pretty good too. Do yourself a favor and see this even if you have already seen the remake. It will be very tough for Russel Crowe to outdo Ford (in my opinion).

A great Western deserving more exposure!.......2007-08-14

Despite the lousy cover art, this is a fantastic western and I'm giving the film (not the DVD cover!) 5 stars. The character play between Van Heflin and Glen Ford is dynamic and I wouldn't count on any of that for the action-oriented remake.

Blazing Saddles (30th Anniversary Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

Still Funny after all these years
Blazing Saddles
They don't make movies like this anymore!
I don't find this movie funny at all.
One of the funniest movies ever made

Blazing Saddles (30th Anniversary Special Edition)
Starring: Richard Collier , Carol DeLuise , Dom DeLuise , Liam Dunn , and George Furth
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0001Z4OXS
Release Date: 2004-06-29

Amazon.com essential video

Mel Brooks scored his first commercial hit with this raucous Western spoof starring the late Cleavon Little as the newly hired (and conspicuously black) sheriff of Rock Ridge. Sheriff Bart teams up with deputy Jim (Gene Wilder) to foil the railroad-building scheme of the nefarious Hedley Lamarr (Harvey Korman). The simple plot is just an excuse for a steady stream of gags, many of them unabashedly tasteless, that Brooks and his wacky cast pull off with side-splitting success. The humor is so juvenile and crude that you just have to surrender to it; highlights abound, from the lunkheaded Alex Karras as the ox-riding Mongo to Madeline Kahn's uproarious send-up of Marlene Dietrich as saloon songstress Lili Von Shtupp. Adding to the comedic excess is the infamous campfire scene involving a bunch of hungry cowboys, heaping servings of baked beans and, well, you get the idea. --Jeff Shannon

Description

The railroad's got to run through the town of Rock Ridge. How do you drive out the townfolk in order to steal their land? Send in the toughest gang you've got...and name a new sheriff who'll last about 24 hours. But that's not really the plot of Blazing Saddles, just the pretext. Once Mel Brooks' lunatic film many call his best gets started, logic is lost in a blizzard of gags, jokes, quips, puns, howlers, growlers and outrageous assaults upon good taste or any taste at all. Cleavon Little as the new lawman, Gene Wilder as the wacko Waco Kid, Brooks himself as a dim-witted politico and Madeline Kahn in her Marlene Dietrich send-up that earned an Academy Award nomination all give this sagebrush saga their lunatic best. And when Blazing Saddles can't contain itself at the finale, it just proves the Old West will never be the same!

Customer Reviews:

Still Funny after all these years.......2007-09-04

I think I've become Cleavon Little's number one fan. He and Gene Wilder are as funny as ever in this classic... good humor never stops making you laugh and it is especially true in this case.

Blazing Saddles.......2007-08-27

A must have for any movie buff. This is truly one of the classics!

They don't make movies like this anymore!.......2007-08-24

This movie is a comedy classic! I love how Mel Brooks makes an hysterical mockery of the Wild West. His role as an equally corrupt and incompetent governor, under the sway of Harvey Korman's Attorney General is hilarious. Also, the whole business with Rock Ridge is a side splitter, with Cleavon Little and Gene Wilder, posing as social outcasts, end up winning over the hostile locals and shutting down the corrupt designs of Korman's character (Headly "Heddy" Lamar). Many other great scenes are found throughout the movie. A must for all fans of "intelligent comedy." Unfortunately, this movie is so non-PC that it will most likely never be re-released in theaters.

I don't find this movie funny at all........2007-08-18

I don't find this movie funny at all. It's so boring thatI did not finish the DVD. I regret buying it even though it cost me only 10 dollars.

One of the funniest movies ever made.......2007-07-07

I dont know why but I cant get enough of this movie. The humour is really funny and there are so many scenes I enjoy, but none I can type down. If you enjoy comedy, then this movie is for you.

Average customer rating:

will they make the 3:10 to Yuma?
Unfortunately, not very realistic
"For Fate Travels Everywhere"
Tense, well-directed with excellent performances and atmosphere...
One of the best B&W westerns ever made

3:10 to Yuma
Starring: Glenn Ford , Van Heflin , Felicia Farr , Leora Dana , and Henry Jones
Director: Delmer Daves
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005YUNS
Release Date: 2002-04-02

Amazon.com

Struggling rancher and family man Van Heflin sneaks captured outlaw Glenn Ford out from under the eyes of his gang and nervously awaits the prison train in this tight, taut Western in the High Noon tradition. Adapted from an Elmore Leonard story, this tense Western thriller is boiled down to its essential elements: a charming and cunning criminal, an initially reluctant hero whose courage and resolution hardens along the way, and a waiting game that pits them in a battle of wills and wits. Glenn Ford practically steals the film in one of his best performances ever: calm, cool, and confident, he's a ruthless killer with polite manners and an honorable streak. Director Delmer Daves (Broken Arrow) sets it all in a harsh, parched frontier of empty landscapes, deserted towns, and dust, creating a brittle quiet that threatens to snap into violence at any moment. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

will they make the 3:10 to Yuma?.......2007-06-05

I'm a Glenn Ford fan from way back & will watch just about anything with him in it. The thing I liked about Ford is that he was a man, macho even, if you will, without being in your face about it in some kind of fake and phony way like The Duke liked to be (from time to time), so it makes it kind of tough to give this only a three star rating.

But you know what? It's not a bad western at all, and Van Heflin is also pretty good in it (though the role he portrays here will easily remind you of the character he played in Shane.) Last, but not least: the actress who plays the barmaid lingers in your mind long after the film is over. Some nice dialogue is exchanged between her and Glenn Ford.

Unfortunately, not very realistic.......2007-02-27

Again, I am forced to serve as the lone reviewer who believes this film to be over-rated. I am definitely a Glenn Ford fan, but the idea that Ford simply waits for the train to come and take him away, while he and Van Heflin sidle down the street definitely didn't move me. I'm sorry but the rest of the film didn't ring true either. Richard Jaeckel gets killed in a weird, unrealistic way, and Henry Jones gets lynched somehow. The scenes with Heflin's wife are stagey and uncomfortably hard to believe.
I would rate both Jubal and Cowboy much higher, more realistic, especially Cowboy. Check out Cowboy first and then Jubal. Either of these are better than 3:10. Sorry, Delmer Daves/Glenn Ford fans.

"For Fate Travels Everywhere".......2006-12-01

The desolate backdrop of the old west , coupled with the wonderfully wistful title song (sung by Frankie Laine), gives this 1957 Columbia film an intriguing opening, one which the viewer cannot help but be absorbed. Van Heflin is Dan Evans, a rancher whose family is threatened by drought, and who is asked to bring notorious outlaw Ben Wade (Glenn Ford) to Yuma to stand trial, for a sum that will undoubtedly help his financial problems. Wade's gang is jailed after committing a stagecoach robbery and killing, but they escape, planning to rescue their leader, so Dan must keep one step ahead of them as he escorts the handcuffed Wade to the train station. Felicia Farr has a nice supporting role as the bar girl, Emmy, who falls for Wade - Ford's villain knows how to charm the ladies, so much so that almost every woman falls under his spell. His engaging manner with the girls - "What's a woman for, if you can't treat her right?" - his romantic way of telling stories, almost literally makes the female population swoon. Even Dan's wife Alice (Lenore Dana) is temporarily taken with Wade as he sits, handcuffed, at the dinner table, telling a tale of a girl that he knew with sea-green eyes. Heflin can't understand why women fall for this - after all, this guy is a outlaw and a killer. As the two men arrive at the station town, Wade's gang is ready to pounce and so Evans and Wade hide out in a hotel room, the bridal suite, no less, to wait. Ben then plays mind games with Dan, trying to escape, to beat him down. Although Alice wants him to save himself by allowing Wade to escape, Dan realizes that he has to do it - not only for the money, but because it's the right thing to do. The two guys form a strange bond, as Ben's gang closes in. Had things been different, they may have even liked each other. Wade allows Dan to get him onto the train, explaining that he doesn't like to owe anyone any favors. There is a tentative understanding between them as Dan waves to his wife from the moving train, while the final chords of the title tune and Frankie Laine's voice close this psychological, fascinating Western.

Ford's performance is just flawless; he embodies his redeemable bad guy effortlessly, whistling the title song throughout relatively quiet sequences. And he is cunning and manipulative, knowing what buttons to push, as he subtly degrades Dan for not being a good husband and father. Maybe it's my female perspective, but somehow I don't think I'd be immune to his penetrating gaze. After he and Farr engage in a passionate kiss, we see them a few moments later emerging from the back room of the saloon, fully clothed of course, but there can be no doubt of what had transpired between them. As he is taken away by Evans and the marshal, he promises to send her some pearls. Heflin gives just the right amount of selflessness, courage and compassion as the one who has to perform an unpleasant, risky task to support his family. These two underrated actors fill the screen, and it's hard to imagine any other leading men of the time bringing the protagonist and bad guy to life. An up and coming Richard Jaekel plays Wade's right hand, a fair-haired, cold-hearted sidekick who will stop at nothing to free his leader. He would later go on to have a succession of similar roles in several genres. Director Delmer Daves collaborated with Ford on three Westerns, all of which are gems.

The DVD: Transfer looks great, with a few extra trailers included: "Bite The Bullet", "Silverado" and "MacKenna's Gold". It's a dual sided disc so that the viewer can choose between full screen and widescreen.

"Though you've got no reason to go there, and there ain't a soul that you know there, when the 3:10 to Yuma whistles its sad refrain, take that train . . . . . . . "

Tense, well-directed with excellent performances and atmosphere... .......2006-11-06

Delmer Daves has certainly proved himself as one of Hollywood's most talented directors--at least in the Western genre... His "3:10 To Yuma" echoes "High Noon" in some respects, but to make frequent on the similarity misses the point of a very fascinating picture...

"3:l0 to Yuma" is a classic among suspense Westerns, a serious examination of the nature of heroism of an ordinary man in control of a dangerous outlaw... It is fundamentally a distinguished psychological drama played out in the claustrophobic setting of a hotel under mental and physical siege... The film deals with two entirely opposing characters locked together in an isolated room where Daves' camera moves ceaselessly on their course of action...

After a holdup and the killing of a coachman with a gold shipmen, Ford is captured in a saloon, where he was wasting his time in amorous advances with a lovely barmaid (Felicia Farr).

But how to hold him? For his gang, who have made their getaway, will most likely be back to claim him... Ford is sure of this, as his care-free indifference makes it easy to see... The cowed citizenry (echoes of the Zinneman picture) become equally certain... Someone has got to get him out of local circulation and then on to a train to Yuma where he can stand trial...

Who will undertake such task?

The best offer comes from an austere farmer motivated by a severe desperation... Struggling Heflin sees in the 200 dollars his last chance of salvation as his means of subsistence are too little, and the prolonged drought is killing his cattle... For him, there is no other option...

So Ford expects his gang to follow him, and eventually they do... Richard Jaeckel--'the man who slept en the sofa' was how everyone remembered him in this picture--is sinister evidence of discovery...

In a hotel room, therefore, they sweat it out... Van Heflin does most of the sweating, trying to cope, until the train is due, with a situation beyond his experience... For Van Heflin is not even a true professional, as Will Kane was in "High Noon" (who had somewhat similar train-waiting problems), but an amateur, having to deal with Ford's every physical and psychological ruse; having, in the last resort--finding some sort of moral obligation in the job--to resist temptation...

The outlaw, an intelligent man, continually seeks for a way that will give him his freedom, but becomes deeply fascinated by his 'keeper'. What kind of creature is this who toils on some miserably piece of land, cares so deeply for it, gets no fun at all out of life and seems so greatly incorruptible?

Whatever he is, he's the complete antithesis of Ford... You get the impression that the outlaw is confronted by a being from another planet... Who wouldn't be intrigued?

Van Heflin could so easily have repeated his leading homesteader role in Shane, but, in fact, he adds another layer to him... Ford, in one of his best performances, and he has given many, gets the utmost from his greatest gift... The women in the picture, Felicia Farr and Leorna Dana, make a solid contribution to its depth...

With a nice musical score, this great psychological Western draws its drama and power from the interaction of two excellent characters rather than gun blazing action...

One of the best B&W westerns ever made.......2006-09-19

Director Delmer Daves' 3:10 TO YUMA (1957, Columbia) ranks with John Ford's STAGECOACH (1939) and MY DARLING CLEMENTINE (1946) as one of the finest B&W adult westerns ever made. Told almost in real time, YUMA has Glenn Ford as an outlaw named Ben Wade being held hostage in a dusty old west town hotel room by farmer Dan Evans (Van Heflin), who needs the money he is getting for the job. That job is to guard Wade until the 3:10 to Yuma train arrives in town. But Halsted Welles' complex script, from an Elmore Leonard story, has fun in switching roles. Who is the good guy and who really is the bad guy? And should Evans take Wade's offer to give him triple the amount of money that sheriff Robert Emhardt is offering Evans to led him go free? After all, Evans is only in it for the money. This is very suspenseful storytelling. In a small cast, Felicia Farr is also excellent in a tiny role as a bartender.

I really love the look of 3:10 TO YUMA--Charles Lawton, Jr.'s dusty moderate wide-screen B&W photography, the sparce and empty town that seems to only have a saloon and hotel and train station, the real time editing, George Duning's ghostly music score, and Frankie Laine's unforgettably lonely theme song sung over the opening credits. This is a great western for adults parched for an intelligent and evocative one. I highly recommend it on DVD rental with a couple of cold beers.

Average customer rating:

The King and future Princess
Gary Cooper's Oscar winning performance was well earned for this movie.
HIGH NOON, 1 OF HOLLYWOODS GREATEST WESTERNS
AS GREAT AS MOVIES GET!!!
A Classic & Inspiring Hero Movie

High Noon (Collector's Edition)
Starring: Gary Cooper , Thomas Mitchell , Lloyd Bridges , Katy Jurado , and Grace Kelly
Director: Fred Zinnemann
Manufacturer: Republic Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00006JMRE
Release Date: 2002-10-22

Product Description

Gary Cooper won the Oscar for the Best Actor in this classic tale of a lawman who stands alone to defend a town of righteous cowards in the greatest showdown in the history of cinema. The film also stars one of Hollywood's most beloved and prolific actors, Lloyd Bridges, and marks the first starring role foria beautiful young actress and internationally adored screen legend--Grace Kelly.

System Requirements:
Starring: Lloyd Bridges, Lon Chaney, Gary Cooper, Katy Jurado, Grace Kelly, Thomas Mitchell
Directed By: Fred Zinnemann
Running Time: 84 Min., Color
Copyright Artisan Home Entertainment 2003.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com essential video

One of the greatest Westerns ever made gets the deluxe treatment on this superior disc from Republic Home Video's Silver Screen Classics line of special-edition DVDs. Written by Carl Foreman (who was later blacklisted during the anticommunist hearings of the '50s) and superbly directed by Fred Zinnemann, this 1952 classic stars Gary Cooper as just-married lawman Will Kane, who is about to retire as a small-town sheriff and begin a new life with his bride (Grace Kelly) when he learns that gunslinger Frank Miller (Ian MacDonald) is due to arrive at high noon to settle an old score. Kane seeks assistance from deputies and townsfolk, but soon realizes he'll have to stand alone in his showdown with Miller and his henchmen. Innovative for its time, the suspenseful story unfolds in approximate real time (from 10:40 a.m. to high noon in an 84-minute film), and many interpreted Foreman's drama as an allegorical reflection of apathy and passive acceptance of Senator Joseph McCarthy's anticommunist campaign. Political underpinnings aside, this remains a milestone of its genre (often referred to as the first "adult" Western), and Cooper is flawless in his Oscar-winning role. The first-rate DVD gives this landmark film all the respect it deserves, beginning with a digitally remastered transfer from the original film negative. Additional features include the exclusive documentary The Making of High Noon, hosted by film historian Leonard Maltin and featuring interviews with the late Lloyd Bridges (who played Cooper's rival ex-deputy), director Fred Zinnemann, and producer Stanley Kramer. Also included is the original theatrical trailer and a special chapter stop highlighting the Oscar-winning song "Do Not Forsake Me." Offered in English and dubbed French and Spanish, with English closed-captioning or Spanish and French subtitles. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

The King and future Princess .......2007-08-23

Gary Cooper was king of western films and Grace Kelly was noticed by the Prince of Monaco enough to be take her as his Princess.

Gary Cooper's Oscar winning performance was well earned for this movie........2007-08-12

Gary Cooper pretty much carries the whole movie as a small town law man who must make one last effort to take down the bad guys in a small town where the people are as cowardly as sheep. By the end of the movie, you feel that Gary Cooper's character was let down by those he thought were his friends and he looks at them coldly as he and his new wife leave.

HIGH NOON, 1 OF HOLLYWOODS GREATEST WESTERNS.......2007-08-09

HIGH NOON, STARRING GRACE KELLY AND GAR COOPER IS A WESTERN CLASSIC THAT LIKE CASABLANCA; WILL REMAIN 1 OF THE ALL TIME GREAT MOVIES OF HOLLYWOOD. THIS REMASTERED COLLECTORS EDITION; IS AS GOOD AS IT WAS; THE FIRST TIME I REMEMBER SEEING IT. ITS 1 OF THOSE WESTERN CLASSICS, YOU WANT TO WATCH OVER AND OVER.

AS GREAT AS MOVIES GET!!!.......2007-08-01

Prior to watching "High Noon", I watched several very good westerns: "The Broken Arrow" and "The Man Who Killed Liberty Valance".

Then comes along "High Noon." All I can say is WOW!

This is not only a great western, it is one of the best movies ever made.

Be sure to watch film historian Leonard Maltin's segment at the end of the film where you will have the privilege of seeing some of the main artists involved in the making of the film talk about it. It is fascinating.

Without Gary Cooper, I don't believe this film could or would have been made. It required an actor who was an ambivert - not totally introverted or he could not have portrayed the role, but not totally extroverted either, or we would not have the nuances of an inner life which shown through Cooper's performance. His was the academy award that year, and it was wholly deserved.

If you haven't seen this film, don't hesitate. I somehow compare it to another great film, "Grand Illusion," also filmed in black and white with a low budget. When the talent, intelligence and integrity are there on the part of every important member of the creative team, these films show us that frills are just what they are: frills.

Don't miss this one and deprive yourself.

A Classic & Inspiring Hero Movie.......2007-07-20

High Noon is truly a classic movie. The story is moving; and of course moves at the rate of "real" time. Gary is superb and subtle playing his charater as moral, firm, sensitive, and when appropriate, kind. Grace is beautiful and ultimately makes a sacrafice and grows as a person and in relationship to the world. I strongly recommend this movie and wish everyone would see it. The soundtrack is also a big winner.

Average customer rating:

Awsome!
I'm Your Huckleberry
TOMBSTONE
A Tribute To Wstern Flicks
Val Kilmer deserved an Oscar nod for this one

Tombstone
Starring: Kurt Russell , Val Kilmer , Sam Elliott , Bill Paxton , and Powers Boothe
Director: George P. Cosmatos
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 6304711905
Release Date: 1997-12-02

Amazon.com

This Western has become a modest cult favorite since its release in 1993, when the film was met with mixed reviews but the performances of Kurt Russell (as Wyatt Earp) and especially Val Kilmer, for his memorably eccentric performance as the dying gunslinger Doc Holliday, garnered high praise. The movie opens with Wyatt Earp trying to put his violent past behind him, living happily in Tombstone with his brothers and the woman (Dana Delany) who puts his soul at ease. But a murderous gang called the Cowboys has burst on the scene, and Earp can't keep his gun belt off any longer. The plot sounds routine, and in many ways it is, but Western buffs won't mind a bit thanks to a fine cast and some well-handled action on the part of Rambo director George P. Cosmatos, who has yet to make a better film than this. --Jeff Shannon

Description

A sizzling, star-studded cast brings to life the legendary battle to deliver justice to TOMBSTONE! Kurt Russell (MIRACLE, VANILLA SKY) turns in a gripping performance as U.S. Marshall Wyatt Earp and Val Kilmer (THE MISSING, BATMAN FOREVER) ignites the screen as the outrageous Doc Holliday. Together, they team up to bring law to the lawless in a notorious showdown with the ruthless outlaws at the O.K. Corral! The all-star ensemble also includes Sam Elliott, Bill Paxton, Dana Delany, Jason Priestley, Michael Biehn, and long-time Hollywood favorite Charlton Heston. Get ready for an explosive, action-packed adventure the Wild West would never forget!

Customer Reviews:

Awsome!.......2007-09-16

This is definitly one of the best westerns made. Kurt Russell and company proves they can go back into time and become their characters.
Val Kilmer should have received an Oscar for Supporting Actor that year.
I watch this movie over and over. Yes, it is violent. But those were
violent times. Not much different from today!
It's a great movie, all in all.

I'm Your Huckleberry.......2007-09-11

George Cosmatos' "Tombstone" is pure and simply a masterpiece, nothing more, nothing less.

It begins with a brief description of the Cowboys gang that ran things in that part of the frontier. The narrator (Robert Mitchum) describes them as the earliest example of organized crime in US history. Not true. But if you want to learn history by watching movies, be my guest. The narrative serves its purpose in setting up the viewer for the rest of the film.

Former Dodge City lawman Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell) arrives in Tombstone, AZ with his brothers, Morgan and Virgil (Bill Paxton and Sam Elliott). Law enforcement doesn't pay well and a silver boomtown is just the business opportunity they are looking for. Of course, there are things going on in Tombstone that Virgil Earp will not ignore and you always back brothers hand. Events lead up to the climatic shoot out at the OK Corral, the most documented gunfight in history.

What is great about this film? The cast of this film had fun disappearing into their roles.

Kurt Russell gives an excellent performance Wyatt Earp. His Wyatt is a hard, tough man with a sense of decency. Stephen Lang (a brilliant character actor on the level of John Turturro) is invisible behind the persona of Ike Clanton. Powers Boothe is Curly Bill Brocius. Dana Delany is Josephine Marcus the true love of Wyatt's life.

To add to this colorful cast, we have some interesting cameos. Charlton Heston plays a rancher sheltering Doc Holiday. Western movie icon, Harry Caray Jr., (one of the John Ford players) plays the elderly town marshal. A very fat Billy Bob Thornton is a card dealer who finds out just how hard Wyatt Earp can be.

But I come to the really outstanding performance belongs to Val Kilmer as Doc Holiday. He steals every scene with a fine, nuanced performance. He's got the best lines in the script. Or maybe it seems that way because of the way he says them. His match is the sociopathic Johnny Ringo (Michael Biehn). Their final confrontation is the now classic scene "I'm your huckleberry."

You'll want to watch this film more than once.

TOMBSTONE.......2007-09-09

Just what I needed, now if you only had Shaka Zulu on DVD and not the VHS tape by "VIDMARK ENTERTAINMENT"Thanx for the great service.

A Tribute To Wstern Flicks.......2007-09-01

This is absolutely an entertaining Western. A fine ensembled cast gives this movie the right mixture of seasoned acting. Kurt Russell portrays Wyatt Earp superbly. Val Kilmer adds the humor and spice needed to keep the movie entertaining. Sam Elliott's appearance is that of the old West. The movie is very entertaining. My family and I enjoy watching this movie over and over again. It is definitely a must-have for any movie buff's collection.

Val Kilmer deserved an Oscar nod for this one.......2007-08-23

The ensemble cast was impeccable. Val Kilmer did an outstanding job as Doc and should have at least received an Oscar nomination. Excellent western drama for anyone who enjoys the old time westerns.

Average customer rating:

A Classic western wrap around a love story.
good western
Great Western
A beautiful and classic Western.
Just an excellent film

Open Range
Starring: Patricia Benedict , Annette Bening , Abraham Benrubi , Kim Coates , and Diego Diablo Del Mar
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
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ASIN: B0000TANUI
Release Date: 2004-01-20

Product Description

Packed with epic action, OPEN RANGE is a powerfully gripping story that's never been told until now, and stars Academy Award(R) winners Robert Duvall (1983 Best Actor, TENDER MERCIES) and Kevin Costner (1991 Best Director, DANCES WITH WOLVES), and Academy Award(R) nominee Annette Bening (1999 Best Actress, AMERICAN BEAUTY). A group of free grazers, four men trying to escape their past, are driving cattle and living off the land on the open range -- a place where nature makes the only laws. When a ruthless, evil rancher tries to run them out of town, the men's peaceful existence takes a tumultuous turn and ends in the grittiest, most explosive gunfight on film as two men battle a town for honor, justice, and a way of life that's quickly disappearing.

Amazon.com

Released almost exactly 11 years after Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven, Kevin Costner's Open Range proved yet again that the Western is the classic American genre. While it lacks the thematic impact of Eastwood's masterpiece, Costner's first film since 1997's ill-fated The Postman returns the actor/director of Dances With Wolves to the open prairies of America--in this case the free-range frontier of 1882--where legal "free-grazing" cattle drives were falling prey to empire-building land-owners. In the wake of territorial murder, free-grazing cowboys Boss (Robert Duvall) and Charley (Costner) seek vengeful justice against the ruthless rancher (Michael Gambon) who threatens their law-abiding survival. A feisty ally (the late Michael Jeter, in his next-to-final film role) and a doctor's sister (Annette Bening) offer support during climactic shootouts, masterfully staged with the shock and suddenness of real-life gunfire. Rich in character development and thick-hided humor, this handsome production redeemed Costner's directorial career with a well-told story (by Craig Storper, based on Lauran Paine's novel The Open Range Men), flawless performances, and stunning Canadian locations. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

A Classic western wrap around a love story........2007-09-17

Kevin Costner has scored again with classic western full of universal values like trust, respect, truth to power and love. Devall and Costner understand that westerns can encompass all those values and do so making this a wonderful and classic western.

good western.......2007-08-28

good story with a great gun battle at the end.
Duval was up to his usual greatness

Great Western.......2007-08-25

Western movies have not been too popular in recent years, but it's good to see that some westerns are still being made for mature audiences. This is one of them. Some of the individual elements of the movie seem to be taken from other stories, but they are recombined to make an exciting new tale of the old west.

A beautiful and classic Western........2007-08-20

Rules of thumb are dangerous when it comes to movies, but the following one has never, to my knowledge, been disproven: Any movie that features Robert Duvall in a cowboy hat is likely to be a classic. That rule was certainly true of "Tender Mercies" and "Lonesome Dove," and in my opinion it's also true of "Open Range," the 2003 film that proved "Dances With Wolves" wasn't just a fluke for Kevin Costner. Costner directed this moving, atmospheric Western in which he co-stars with Duvall and Annette Bening. (Touchingly and appropriately, Costner gave Duvall top billing in this film.) In "Open Range," Duvall and Costner play Boss Spearman and Charlie Waite, two saddle tramps leading a herd of cattle to market with the help of Mose (Abraham Benrubi), a hulking giant of a man, and Button (Diego Luna), a semi-feral Mexican teenager. Unfortunately, the four inadvertently run afoul of evil rancher Denton Baxter (Michael Gambon) and corrupt Sheriff Poole (James Russo), both of whom consider it their duty on earth to kill all cowboys who follow the open range. But for Charlie this misfortune has a silver lining, because it brings him into contact with the beautiful Sue (Bening). Essentially the film is a three-character chamber drama between Duvall, Costner and Bening, though it contains enough excitement and color for three Westerns. All three give performances equal to the best they've ever given. The relationship between Charlie--a former soldier and gunslinger who strives to bury his more murderous instincts--and Boss, who generally advises caution but can turn dangerous when he has to, is as rich and enjoyable as that between Gus McCrae and Woodrow Call in "Lonesome Dove." Duvall's Boss can't help but put us in mind of Gus, except that Boss is more likely than Gus to think before he acts, to his ultimate benefit. The slow, halting courtship between Charlie and Sue is deeply moving; Charlie loves Sue more than any woman he's ever met, but feels unworthy of her kindness and gentility. These relationships play out against a backdrop of the murderous doings of Baxter and Poole, culminating in a long gunfight that, in its sense of chaotic danger, feels closer to the truth than any gunfight Randolph Scott ever appeared in. Sweet-souled yet breathtakingly exciting, with magnificent photography by James Muro and haunting music by Michael Kamen, "Open Range" is a true classic Western.

Just an excellent film.......2007-08-10

I love westerns, but even if you don't, this storyline translates well on its own. The film is well acted (both Costner and Duvall are excellent) with great cinematography. It is the kind of film that makes you yearn for the old days when people lived by the strength of their word and trust (perhaps just a Hollywood created notion, but I still like to think that we all try to strive for such a thing).

Many people buy this and Broken Trail, but by far this is the better one. Of course Broken Trail was a made for TV movie and as such was shot like it was a made for TV movie. The one saving grace of that movie was Duvall and Church (I have liked him since he first appeared in Wings, I think it is his voice and unusual speech pattern that is interesting to me).

Average customer rating:

"It's a hell of a thing, killin' a man. Take away all he's got, and all he's ever gonna have."
The attractive murderer
Eat it!
grim reality without humor.
The best western

Unforgiven
Starring: Beverley Elliott , Frances Fisher , Tara Dawn Frederick , Greg Goossen , and Gene Hackman
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0790729644
Release Date: 1997-03-26

Amazon.com

Winner of four Academy Awards, including best picture, director, supporting actor, and best editing, Clint Eastwood's 1992 masterpiece stands as one of the greatest and most thematically compelling Westerns ever made. "The movie summarized everything I feel about the Western," said Eastwood at the time of the film's release. "The moral is the concern with gunplay." To illustrate that theme, Eastwood stars as a retired, once-ruthless killer-turned-gentle-widower and hog farmer. He accepts one last bounty-hunter mission--to find the men who brutalized a prostitute--to help support his two motherless children. Joined by his former partner (Morgan Freeman) and a cocky greenhorn (Jaimz Woolvett), he takes on a corrupt sheriff (Oscar winner Gene Hackman) in a showdown that makes the viewer feel the full impact of violence and its corruption of the soul. Dedicated to Eastwood's mentors Sergio Leone and Don Siegel and featuring a colorful role for Richard Harris, it's arguably Eastwood's crowning directorial achievement. The digital video disc offers standard and widescreen formats and a remastered soundtrack. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman play retired, down-on-their-luck outlaws who pick up their guns one last time to collect a bounty offered by the vengeful prostitutes of the remote Wyoming town of Big Whiskey. Richard Harris is an ill-fated interloper, a colorful killer-for-hire called English Bob. And Best Supporting Actor Oscar winner Gene Hackman is the sly and brutal local sheriff whose brand of law enforcement ranges from unconventional to ruthless.

DVD Features:
Production Notes
Theatrical Trailer

Customer Reviews:

"It's a hell of a thing, killin' a man. Take away all he's got, and all he's ever gonna have.".......2007-08-07

Unforgiven combines two major elements to make it the best Western ever made. First is its brutally realistic depiction of violence and killing in the Old West. Second is the situation of causing a reformed man to revisit the behavior of his past in order to survive.

There are no glorious killings in Unforgiven. This movie lays to rest the notion of high-noon showdowns or fighting for honor. Executions, ambushes, and agonizing gut-wounds are the staple methods of attack. Alcohol, pride, and gold fuel most of the violence in the town of Big Whisky. Most of the scenes with violence are very one-sided, further lending credence to this film.

The main character is almost certainly a wolf in sheep's clothing. Through the efforts of his late wife, he has been able to eliminate his psychopathic tendencies, fueled for the most part by alcohol. His sober days are blanched by regret and remorse over the people he has killed. He is for all intents and purposes an unsuccessful farmer out trying to collect a bounty. But when things go horribly wrong, he is forced to return to the behavior and actions of his past to survive. A simple man with an extraordinary past and consequently extraordinary abilities.

The attractive murderer.......2007-07-21

"Unforgiven" certainly looks beautiful, especially in HD. And I admit it is a very good film with a lot of good points, perfect timing, excellent acting, good characters, the works. And it has a lot more nuance than westerns normally have.

But I will contend that ultimately it still boils down to the same old thing: admiration for a killer.

When William Munny, in the charismatic and handsome frame of Clint Eastwood, rides out of Big Whiskey in the end, saying that if anybody hurt the prostitutes for putting up the blood money, he will come back and kill everybody, there is pretty much not anybody watching who does not feel deep in his/her gut: "my god, there is a MAN!" You just can't help it, it's in our dark nature.

And you can even see this excemplified in the admiring and longing looks given him by the writer fellow and by the prostitute with the scars, as they watch him leave.

There is no way around it: it is gut-level admiration for a man who by his own admission has killed many innocent men, and women, and children, and who killed several more just minutes ago. And the film aims for it, it is where it gets its marketing power.

I am shocked that I've been unable to find any other reviewers (professional or amateur) who really question this. It is not a "great wrong", but there's certainly nothing beautiful about it, and it needs to be recognized.

In a documentary about Eastwood, the narrator says about Unforgiven: "the sherif has tortured and killed Will's best friend. He has no choice but vengeance." And that's the exact untruth to be uncovered. There is always a choice. Violence begets violence, and he who breaks the chain, wins.

Don't get me wrong, I am not villainizing "the Clint" here. His hyper-violent movie characters are merely reflecting an important aspect of human nature. I'm just saying it's an aspect we'd do well to look at some more.

Another way to express my problem with it: if you listen to the movie, it is clearly against violence. The characters say it many times. But if you look at the movie, it is clearly for it. The violence is presented in a way so it is enjoyable. A friend of mine said that the final big gun battle was "like an orgasm".

By the way, I'm just watching the documentary about the film, and DW Peoples (the writer) does say that the reason people think it's an anti-violence movie is that most other movies are "pro-violence" in the sense that if it is the good guy doing it to the bad guy, it's OK. But that reality is more complex, and that it's often difficult to pinpoint who's the "good guy" and who's the "bad guy". Which I think is wise. You'll notice that each participant in a fight always thinks of himself as the good guy.

I will concede that within the framework of a big, popular, Hollywood movie, this film is probably as far as we can currently go towards an anti-violence movie. If you'd made a movie like this and not made the violence seductive and aesthetic, it would instantly have lost 90% of its audience. At least.

Eat it!.......2007-07-03

This is a great western. With Clint and Gene at the helm on this one, nobody can deny the quality film that this movie became. I am an avid fan of Clint's and many other amazing western films and this is up there in the top ten. People who gave this film less than 5 stars do not know what a good film is...and can go on complaining about quality films because their bad taste blinds their senses and minds to the truth that is the greatness "Unforgiven". And truly you will not be forgiven for your bad taste.

The vengeance is epic...true to old spaghetti westerns...this is a very good film.

grim reality without humor........2007-06-18

Not a fun western. Much brutishness and grimness. No wisecracking colorful sidekick to provide comic relief. No promising union of hero and maiden at the end. No pat on the back for riding the community of desperados or crooked big wheels. No indian conflicts, dramatic train or bank robberies, nor exciting gold strikes. No wagon train hoedowns nor other pleasant social events. No Mr. nice guy whose tough when he has to be. The women are all mindless abused plain-looking whores, not glamorous dance hall queens, and are ultimately responsible for all the violence in the film. This is a message film. The main point seems to be to present a more realistic picture of life and violence in the wild west than the typical western and to deglamorize shootouts and gunslingers. Another message is that alcohol(and by extension, some other psychoactive drugs) makes certain men violent or abusive. Eastwood's character was such a man.

The plot surrounds conflicting ideas of the just punishment for the face slashing of a prostitute by a cowboy customer whose manhood she insulted. The saloon owner nearly decides to shoot the cowboy, but then decides to defer to the authority of the sheriff, "Little" Bill. Bill initially suggests a whipping as being appropriate for the cowboy and his friend, who helped hold down the prostitute. But this doesn't satisfy the Madam, who demands a public hanging. The saloon keeper now demands a fine, payable to him, for damage to his "property". Bill finally decides on a fine alone. The prostitutes are incredulous at this sentence. To them this says the legal system regards them as mere property, equivalent to slaves or horses. Most viewers would probably regard a death sentence as too harsh, but a fine as too light. Perhaps Little Bill's original suggestion of a whipping would have satisfied the prostitutes after they witnessed it and there would not have been any more violence connected with the incident. This "mistake" left the prostitutes as well as most of the other town's people unsatisfied, and would ultimately cost Bill his life. The prostitutes offered a bounty for the heads of the 2 cowboys so as to achieve their idea of justice, and this initiates the rest of the action of this film. In a broader application, the complications surrounding this incident serves as a warning that even domestic insults and assaults can sometimes result in a cascade of revenge and legalistic injuries, jailings and murders, sometimes involving people quite unrelated to the original incident.

This film showcases the injustices and ambiguities of vigilante justice and its perpetrators. The reformed ex-gunslinger drunk(Eastwood), who initially took up his weapons again only to make some money to help support his children and to satisfy the revenge wishes of others, eventually tranforms himself temporarily into a drunk vigilante who murdered those not involved as well as those involved in the death of his long time partner. This is but one of several incidents of unjust killings(including at least one of the cowboys involved in the slashing).

However, we have to balance this against the frequent shortcomings of legalistic justice, including the expenses involved, frequent mistakes, the influence of money, status, race and corruption, the frequent inability to identify, capture or convict perpetrators, the endless appeals and frequent dissatisfaction with sentences as too lenient or too harsh and being carried out far too long after the crime is comitted. Both have their pluses and minuses. The popularity of films where the hero eliminates the villain in a vigilante fashion suggests that vigilante justice, when done appropriately, is acceptable to many people and often preferable to legalized justice. However, the legal establishment is reluctant to legitimize it, except perhaps in self-defense cases, which are often subject to interpretation. It recognizes the gave dangers of too frequent use of vigilante justice, besides the fact that this seriously undermines its authority.

The best western.......2007-05-15

Unforgiven is definitely my favorite western of all time. Clint directs and stars in this film. This is a must watch for any western film fan.

Average customer rating:

WOW
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence
John Ford and John Wayne's eighth and penultimate Western together, an elegy for the passing of the Old West!
the man who shot liberty valance
Best Western Ever!!

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
Starring: John Wayne , James Stewart , Vera Miles , Lee Marvin , and Edmond O'Brien
Director: John Ford
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00005ASGG
Release Date: 2001-06-05

Amazon.com essential video

"When the legend becomes fact, print the legend." That's more than the code of a newspaperman in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance; it's practically the operating credo of director John Ford, the most honored of American filmmakers. In this late film from a long career, Ford looks at the civilizing of an Old West town, Shinbone, through the sad memories of settlers looking back. In the town's wide-open youth, two-fisted Westerner John Wayne and tenderfoot newcomer James Stewart clash over a woman (Vera Miles) but ultimately unite against the notorious outlaw Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin). Ford's nostalgia for the past is tempered by his stark approach, unusual for the visual poet of Stagecoach and The Searchers. The two heavyweights, Wayne and Stewart, are good together, with Wayne the embodiment of rugged individualism and Stewart the idealistic prophet of the civilization that will eventually tame the Wild West. This may be the saddest Western ever made, closer to an elegy than an action movie, and as cleanly beautiful as its central symbol, the cactus rose. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

WOW.......2007-08-09

The Duke, Lee Marvin, Jimmy Stewart. Man they don't make 'em like that anymore. Too bad, it definitely stands the test of time.

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence.......2007-08-07

I am a fan of John Wayne and enjoy his movies. This is one of his best

John Ford and John Wayne's eighth and penultimate Western together, an elegy for the passing of the Old West!.......2007-07-07

The critics panned THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE when it was first released in April 1962, Not least because it went over much of the same ground explored in FORT APACHE (1948). But the general public thought otherwise and the test of time has proved the latter right. Shot in black and white, with two obviously over-aged stars and mostly studio-bound the only concession to its day was the wide-screen aspect! Gene Pitney also had a huge hit with a song of the same name released at the same time but omitted from the soundtrack because John Ford was said to have hated it!

This dark-tale is of the Old West versus the advancing 20th Century. A train draws into the small western town of Shinbone the only passengers to get off, are Senator Ransom Stoddard (James Stewart) and his wife Hallie (Vera Miles) they are accosted by local reporter for `The Star' young Charlie Hasbrouck (Joseph Hoover) followed by his editor Maxwell Scott (Carleton Young). Stoddard reveals that they are in town for the funeral of an old friend Tom Doniphon (John Wayne). In the funeral parlour they find Doniphon's coffin guarded by his faithful black servant Pompey (Woody Strode). Scott persuades the Senator to give his account. Meanwhile ex-town-marshal Link Appleyard (Andy Devine) takes Hallie on a buckboard ride out to Toms burnt out old house, here they find masses of cactus roses in bloom, Link steps down and picks one for her.

Now back in Shinbone the story is then revealed in flashback - A gang led by Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin) ambushed Stoddard's stagecoach. He tries to defend a fellow female passenger but suffers a savage beating in the process and is left for dead. Tom Doniphon brings him to his girl friend Hallie Ericson at PETER'S PLACE (a venue for home cooking) at Shinbone after finding him on the trail! On discovering who attacked him Doniphon told Stoddard "Liberty Valance's the toughest man south of the Picketwire [River] - next to me". Stoddard is a lawyer by profession and is determined to bring Valance to justice he elicits the reluctant help of Marshal Link Appleyard and Shinbone Star founder and editor Dutton Peabody (Edmund O'Brien) in the meantime he helps out washing dishes and serving tables at PETER'S PLACE, he also runs a class teaching people to read and write, whilst telling them that `the pen is mightier than the sword'. One night Valance and two of his henchmen Floyd (Strother Martin) and Reese (Lee Van Cleef) burst into PETER'S PLACE hijack a table and generally causing trouble, Floyd gleefully points out to Valance, that he has spotted Stoddard waiting on tables. Valance trips Stoddard causing him to drop Doniphon's steak dinner on the floor. Doniphon and Valance square up for a gunfight after Doniphon ordered Valance to pick up the steak, but Stoddard picks up the steak to ease the situation, all concerned know sooner or later Valance will be back.

As the tension continues to mount Stoddard is helping out Editor Peabody who allows Ranse to hang his Attorney at Law sign outside the Star Newspaper Office, he is also going off and practicing with a six gun twice a couple of times a week. Tom Doniphon tells Hallie that he going north of the Picketwire [River] for some time horse-trading on his return he reports trouble brewing with the big ranchers who have recruited Liberty Valance and his henchmen to mess up the coming Territorial Convention for Statehood, Stoddard and Peabody are finally selected as the two delegates required whilst Valance was completely rejected. In an editorial Peabody blackens Valances name. Later Valance, Floyd and Reese beat Mr Peabody to within an inch of his life, Ranse sends the marshal to find Valance for a final showdown. Although Liberty wounds Ranse with his first shot - Ranse somehow manages to get off a shot, Valance falls to the ground and is pronounced "dead" in the street by Doc Willoughby. Stoddard is plagued by guilt and is only relieved when Doniphon fills in the missing details. Following the shooting of Valance, the wounded Stoddard is elevated to super hero known to all as "The man who shot Liberty Valance" he also wins Hallie's hand in marriage and goes back East to pursue a life in politics. Whilst having lost Hallie, a disappointed Tom Doniphon steps aside and retreats to into reclusive obscurity.

Stoddard having completed his story to the press was surprised when the editor tears up the script Ranse asked Scott "You're not going to us the story Mr Scott". "This is the West, Sir". Scott said. "When the legend becomes fact, print the legend". Finally Hallie left a cactus rose on Toms coffin as a symbol of their lost love. So with Donophin buried and their business concluded in Shinbone the Stoddards catch the train back to Washington they are welcomed onboard once again by the conductor Jason Tully (Willis Bouchey) Ranse thanks Jason for all his help and Jason replies "Nothing's too good for the man who shot Liberty Valance".

A fine cast with some great performances all round although the likes of Lee Marvin, Edmound O'Brien, Ken Murray and John Carradine "Ham it up a little". Whilst the two leads were in reality too old for their parts with the love interest Vera Miles being some twenty-odd years their junior, she however gives a beautiful restrained performance as the woman torn between two men! Ford too was on top form with the domestic scenes in Peter's Place cooking and serving up the dinner plate sized steaks to a full house followed up by the enevitable washing up - BRILLIANT!

It was near the end now for the most successful Director / Star relationship in making Western Movies. Ahead lay. "The Civil War" chapter of HOW THE WEST WAS WON (1962) and finally a non-Western DONOVAN'S REEF (1963). But Big John Wayne was far from finished, increditably over the next dozen or so years, another twenty-one films lay ahead, fourteen of them Westerns including his Oscar winning TRUE GRIT!

This Widescreen Collection DVD includes Sub Titles, Theatrical Trailer and Scene Selection. This film really deserves the full treatment of a Special Two Disc Edition with extras including Gene Pitney's title song. Nevertheless a must for all Western fans, others should enjoy it too!

the man who shot liberty valance.......2007-06-27

The first time I saw "The Man who shot Liberty Valance" was on TCM.I was amazed at the casting of this fine old western and decided to buy it for my library of old movies. I was not disappointed. John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart, along with Lee Marvin made this far better western than most movies were in it's day! It is fun to see all of these actors in their prime, doing what they do best! Thumbs up!!

Best Western Ever!!.......2007-04-23

John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart come together to lead one of the most dynamic casts of characters ever put into a western movie.

Who really shot Liberty Valance?

In a story that speaks to true inner strength and humility, the question is answered after the strangest turn of circumstances sees Jimmy Stewart (Ransom Stoddard) rise from humble (almost cowardly) beginnings to become a very well-respected man of the community. It's only later in life that he learns he's made his name on the actions of John Wayne's character...

I don't want to spoil the movie for anyone who hasn't seen it, but one thing you learn in this movie is that things are not what they first seem. And that makes the movie WAY ahead of its time!

I am stoked to see it available on DVD.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

They Don't Make Them Like That Anymore
Fabulous Classic
One of the Best Westerns Ever Made
THE DEFINITIVE WESTERN BUDDY MOVIE NEVER LOOKED SO GOOD!
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Starring: Paul Newman , Robert Redford , Katharine Ross , Strother Martin , and Henry Jones
Director: George Roy Hill
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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