Search - The Great American Western, Vol. 13 on DVD

Thomas F. (hardtack) from GAINESVILLE, FL
Reviewed on 10/25/2010...

This set of two DVDs includes 8 movies that are very different from most b-westerns in that the stars mostly portray cowboy heroes in non-traditional settings and roles.

Round-Up Time In Texas - with Gene Autry and Smiley Burnett, is an interesting story of two cowboys delivering a pack of horses to Africa, of all places.

Springtime In The Sierras - with Roy Rogers, has Roy in his usual musical western scenerio, but with two possible lady loves. What Roy doesn't know is that one of them is an outlaw leader.

Branded a Coward - with Johnny Mack Brown, puts Brown in the unusual role of an otherwise brave cowboy, who is frightened of guns. Caught hiding behind a saloon bar after a shootout, he was to prove he is a man to be respected.

Rip Roarin' Buckaroo - with boxer Tom Tyler, is about a boxer turned ranch hand who has to clear his name after his promoter fixes a fight.

Rawhide - stars baseball legend Lou Gehrig in his only film appearance as a rancher who is forced to give money to an outlaw gang. Tired of bullying, he rallies his rancher neighbors to fight the gang.

Colorado - with Milburn Stone and Roy Rogers, is a Civil War drama played out in the far west as brothers on opposite sides (no surprise here) try to derail each other's plot to help win the war. Cameo appearance by President Lincoln. :-)

The Carson City Kid - with Roy Rogers and Bob Steele, has Bob turning to the Dark Side and playing the role of the villain when Roy goes after the man who killed his father.

Man From Hell's Edges - with Bob Steele, is a turn-a-round of The Carson City Kid. This time it is Steele who has to escape from prison to hunt down the man who killed his father.

All of these are entertaining and proof that the B-Westerns of the 30s and 40s were better family entertainment then most so-called Epic Westerns produced today. No blood, no sex, no gratuitous violence, etc.