From Deseret News archives:

Western releases include real gems

Published: Friday, Aug. 29, 2008 12:25 a.m. MDT
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If you are of a certain age — like me — you can't see too many Westerns.

And Warner Home Video has decided to accommodate us by releasing 10 on DVD for the first time, including two that have never been on home video in any format.

"Errol Flynn: The Warner Bros. Western Collection" (Warner, 1940-50, b/w and color, four discs, $49.92). Flynn — despite being born in Australia and raised in England — made a fine Western hero, and the eight open-range epics he starred in proved to be box-office gold. His best is undisputedly "Dodge City," but these four are also pretty good.

"Virginia City" (1940, b/w). Flynn's second Western reteams him with "Dodge City" director Michael Curtiz for a large-scale look at Civil War rivals attempting to get gold out of the title town. Not quite up there with their first film together, but it holds interest and boasts a first-rate supporting cast led by Randolph Scott, Miriam Hopkins and Humphrey Bogart.

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"San Antonio" (1945, color) has Flynn battling rustlers in a by-the-numbers script, but there's plenty of action — and romance, as bad girl Alexis Smith changes her ways to rope him in.

"Montana" (1949, color) is another rather predictable oater, but Flynn is fine, again romancing Alexis Smith — until she discovers he's an Australian sheep rancher looking for a stake. We all know how cattlemen feel about sheepmen. Colorful fun.

"Rocky Mountain" (1950, b/w) is another Civil War epic, this time with Flynn heading West and battling Indians. Look for Slim Pickens in his first picture. (Filmed entirely in Gallup, N.M.; home-video debut)

Extras: full frame, audio commentaries (on "Rocky Mountain" and "Virginia City"), featurette ("Virginia City"), short films, cartoons, trailers (these four titles are available only in this box set)

· · · · ·

"Western Classics Collection" (Warner, 1953-69, six discs, $59.92). When Westerns were in vogue, it wasn't unusual to see big stars riding the range. This set features William Holden, Richard Widmark, Robert Taylor and John Cassevetes, among others.

And among these colorful films are two titles that have long been requested, "Cimarron," starring Glenn Ford, and "The Stalking Moon," with Gregory Peck.

Recent comments

I have been one who has enjoyed westerns since the 1950's. To read an...

Jerry Billings | Sept. 5, 2008 at 10:29 p.m.

Image

Guinn Williams, Humphrey Bogart and Errol Flynn star in "Virginia City."

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