Search - Great American Western V.19, The on DVD

TITLE OF MOVIE REQUIRED

Ashoke P. Mahtani | Calcutta/India | 04/13/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"UNLESS I KNOW THE TITLE OF THE MOVIE- THE GREAT AMERICAN WESTERN-
VOL 18- Starring Glenn Ford- How can I review it.?? In fact your entire series of The Great Ameriacan Westerns do not disclose the Titles of the movies without which it is difficult to make a decision re: purchase. Please make necessary adjustments to rectify this flawed information.
Thnx/rgdsAshoke P. Mahtani"

Vol 11....Stories of the American Indian

L. Shirley | fountain valley, ca United States | 04/24/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This review refers to "The Great American Western - Volume 11"(Platinum Disc)....Platinum Disc has put together a series of packages for the true Western lover. There are somewhere between 20 to 25 single discs available that contain 4 films on each disc and there are several package deals with 5 to 10 discs per package.It may get a little confusing as the multi-package deals are also called Volumes 1 and 2. The earlier single volumes(1,2,3 etc) seem to include films all featuring a single actor. The single Vol 1 for example has Randolph Scott in all four films(see my review of this volume if you are interested). The later volumes (11, 12, 13, etc),include a variety of stars. If you are like me and just can't get enough of these old west stories, buying them in the ten pack is the most economical way to go and sometimes the outside sellers have some terrific deals. So far as I could tell, there are 2 volumes(Vol 1 and 2) of the 10 packs with single volumes 1-10 in one pack and 11-20 in another. I have reviewed the ten pack Vol 2 and listed all 40 films included if you are interested in going that way.Each single volume in the multi-packs come in their own individual keep case by the way and all the films are enhanced in Dol Dig 5.1. So to find what you are looking for, enter "Great American Western" and the volume number in the search. If you enter Vol 2 you will get both the single disc and the multi-disc packages to choose from(you'll know from the price which is which).These are the films and the stars included in single Vol 11, which are all devoted to the American Indian..."Battles of Chief Pontiac"(1952)..Lex Barker plays frontiersman Kent McIntyre and tries to negotiate a peace treaty with Chief Pontiac played by Lon Chaney Jr.It also stars Helen Westcott and was directed by Felix E. Feist. This one is in black and white."Sitting Bull"(1954).. In an account of "The Battle of Little Big Horn", a Major in the calvary believes the Indians have the same rights as all Americans and tries to stop Gen. Custer from an ill-fated mission. The Major is court-martialed for treason, but gets some help from Sitting Bull. This one stars Dale Robertson, Mary Murphy, J. Carrol Naish and Iron Eyes Cody. It was directed by Sidney Salkow."Against A Crooked Sky"(1975)...Ageing trapper Richard Boone sets out to rescue a white girl from the Indians and becomes obsessed(sound familiar..this is a remake of the great John Ford's film).Henry Wilcoxon is a tough but honorable Indian foe.
Stewart Peterson, Geoffrey Land and Jewel Blanch also star. It is in color and directed by Earl Bellamy."The Great Indian Wars" is a very informative documentary depicting the tribes that had to fight for lands as the early pioneers began to take over the Indian Hunting grounds. Learn what really happened at "Little Big Horn" and "The Battle of Wounded Knee". It runs about an hour and 40 min and is in black and white.Don't expect a big studio restoration of these films. The films do show their age, but the transfers are decent, very viewable, with very good sound.There is a nice menu that you can follow to choose a film or one of 8 chapter stops in each film. All four films are on the same side of the disc. For the price, the western lover is getting a real treat, and whether you go with just a single disc of your favorite actor or the ten pack, you can't go wrong.Once again..thanks Platinum for putting these packages together for us lovers of oaters.Saddle Up and Happy Trails.....Laurie"

Amazonian arrogance

C. Murphy | Chelmsford, MA | 02/16/2005

(1 out of 5 stars)

"First reviewer is dead on. Another astounding example of Amazon's contempt for their customers. They ask you to review and purchase materials they do not condescend to describe. Check any category of entertainment that interests you for more flagrant examples of Amazonian contempt,"

Wow..Western Lovers...Spend A Day With Awesome Legends

L. Shirley | fountain valley, ca United States | 08/15/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Platinum has so many oaters, off beat Westerns,and sometimes classics(the case with this DVD) available for the true western lover to choose from. There are dozens of volumes out now. You can buy them singly or in packaged deals, from 2 to 10 discs in a set(each in their own keep case). The problem is that the titles of the films are usually not listed on the buying info. The earlier volumes(1,2,3, etc) are often 4 films of a specific actor, the later ones most often have some kind of theme running through them. It gets confusing as the multi packs as well as the singles are called Vol 1 or 2 etc, You can usually tell by the price how many discs, are in each volume, or sometimes the buying list the number of discs. Sometimes the multi packs are listed as plural; e.g. Great American Westerns instead of Western.



This single disc Volume 10 has 4 fine films from early the 1960's to 1970. all in color. The films have a great mix of action, adventure, comedy, romance, drama and some great cinematography of both the rugged West and the California coastline. Although very different films, they all have one theme in common. Each of these films has legendary stars and what a collection you will find here. Brando, Maureen O'Hara, Chill Wills, Edgar Buchanan, Walter Brennan,Slim Pickens, Katy Jurado, Andy Devine, Pat O'Brien - the list goes on..and on!



All the films are fabulous is their own way but "One Eyed Jacks"(1961), the first and only film directed by Marlon Brando is definitely worth the price of admission on it's own. One of my all time favorites,it's a great western adventure with lots of action, romance and some great scenery. The story is a captivating one. Brando("Rio") stars with Karl Malden("Dad Longworth") as two bank robbers on the run from the Federales in Mexico, They are pinned down and only one can get away to get fresh horses for their escape. Dad is the one to go, but greed gets the best of him. He takes off with the loot and leaves Rio to be captured, and sent to a Mexican Jail for 5 long years. He escapes and goes looking for Dad, finally finding him in Monterey, California, where "Dad" is now a tough Sheriff and has a beautiful step-daughter, Louisa. The action and the romance heat up along the beautiful California coastline as Rio is bent on revenge and falls for the beautiful Louisa.



Brando does an excellent job directing and uses the Coastline as a character. Pina Pellicer won a Best Actress for her role as Louisa at the Sebastion International Film Festival, and Charles Lang was nominated for the exquisite cinematography. The film also stars Katy Jurado(always wonderful), and western legends Slim Pickens and Ben Johnson.The music by Hugo Friedhofer is beautiful and captures the essence of the story.



Then for a real treat and fun adventure, saddle up with some of the greatest old timers in Western cinema. "The Over the Hill Gang"(1969) has a bunch of retired but once legendary Texas Rangers teaming up to put a stop to a corrupt mayor and his buddies from taking over a town. Okay, so they can't shoot as fast, see as good, or ride quite the way they used to, but they still know how to outsmart the bad guys, and will take you on a fun ride! - Walter Brennen, Andy Devine, Chill Wills, Edgar Buchanan head up this great cast and are also joined by Gypsy Rose Lee and Ricky Nelson!



Next up they reunite in the "Over The Hill Gang Rides Again"(1970). Now add to all those greats, the marvelous Fred Astair, once known as The Baltimore Kid, now the town drunk. They clean him up, he becomes the town Marshal, and hires on, who else? - the "gang" to help him rid the town of Waco from all the criminal element.



Lastly from 1961, Chill Wills, is a soldier who has gone AWOLi during the Civil War in "The Deadly Companions". A Union Army Sergeant is obsessed with bringing to justice the dissenter who did him wrong. Things go down a different path though when these two team up with Steve Cochran and plan a bank heist. Complications arise and we are treated to some great action and adventure..and oh yeah.. Brian Kieth and Maureen O'Hara too! O'Hara by the way, also sings the opening song in the title sequence. And if all these acting legends on this disc are not enough, let me just mention that this last one was directed by Sam Peckinpah!



Wow...these are some wonderful films with wonderful stars.

This DVD #10 of the singles would also be included in the larger volume number 1. That has volumes 1-10. It is also included in some of the smaller multi sets as the disc itself has Legends of the West - Volume 2 Disc 2" printed on it, and I tried to figure out which one, but there are so many multi volumes 2 with 2 or more discs and without the titles listed, I couldn't figure it out. The films are not a pristine Criterion like transfer.In some cases, They show their age, and sometimes there is some dirt and scratches,and a little grainyness, but for the price,you can not go wrong with this one and there is nothing to distract from the view. I will say that One Eyed Jack's looks pretty decent. All the films are on the same side of the disc and each has their own chapter stops. You can spend all day with these legends, and never have to get off the couch!



Happy Trails....Laurie

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