FOX WESTERNS ON MAY - And The Gunfighter is among them!!!!! - Page 4

jim_falconer · 05-10-2008, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haroldS

The Big Trail, as well as Fox Western Classics and The Westerner, as of yesterday, were in the Fox/MGM buy two, get one free, sale list at DeepDiscount. Like the earlier comment on the John Wayne/Big Trail collection, I had already ordered two of these titles, before the sale, paying more then the DeepDiscount net sales price.

Thanks for the heads-up. Order both The Big Trail & FOX Western Classics, and got The Iron Horse as a freebie...all under $30 shipped.

**HTF Ads**

Robert Crawford · 05-11-2008, 06:51 AM

My preorders are finally on their way to me. Of course, "The Gunfighter" will be the first viewing followed by "Rawhide", "Garden of Evil" and "The Big Trail".

Crawdaddy

Deepak Shenoy · 05-11-2008, 09:00 AM

I got my DVDs on Friday and 'The Gunfighter' was indeed the first title I watched (having only seen it previously on TCM). Fox did a terrific job delivering this classic in a nicely restored edition complete with some great extras for under $5. The Fox Westerns set along with the long-awaited westerns that MGM released make this week one of the best ever for fans of Westerns.

-D

John Hodson · 05-30-2008, 09:22 AM

Just a quick word on the Grandeur 'The Big Trail'; yes, Wayne is a little gauche and he's far from the finished article, yes, as with many early sound films, the actors are still trying make themselves heard in the back stalls, but from the point of view of the production as a whole, it's simply breathtaking.

The cinematography and production values combine to give us a spectacular picture the likes of which wouldn't be seen again for nigh on a quarter of a century. Stunning stuff, just stunning.

Mike Frezon · 05-30-2008, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Hodson

Just a quick word on the Grandeur 'The Big Trail'; yes, Wayne is a little gauche and he's far from the finished article, yes, as with many early sound films, the actors are still trying make themselves heard in the back stalls, but from the point of view of the production as a whole, it's simply breathtaking.

The cinematography and production values combine to give us a spectacular picture the likes of which wouldn't be seen again for nigh on a quarter of a century. Stunning stuff, just stunning.

John: I couldn't agree more. I just watched this the other night and found the landscapes stunning. It couldn't be more beautiful. To think it was released in 1930...so much closer to when such events actually transpired, is really something.

Some of those action sequences of the wagons crossing rivers and being lowered down the cliffs are tremendously harrowing.

About the audio. I've been recommending that people watch it with the subtitles turned on. There are many instances where you will see dialogue which I doubt you would be able to pick out otherwise--especially in the crowd/action sequences. It makes keeping up with the plot a less strenuous effort for the viewer.

Walsh didn't believe in many close-ups, did he? There are only a few instances where we get close to the principal actors in any given scene. At the very end there is a tight shot of Wayne with Marguerite Churchill which is one of the few instances in which we really get to see details of the actress' face.

In the meantime, I haven't been able to find the Fox Westerns Classic Collection (including The Gunfighter) in any of my local B&M stores...including Borders, Best Buy, Circuit City, FYE, Target, Wal-Mart, etc. I realize, of course, that I could always order it from amazon or anyone else. I'm just a little surprised that I haven't been able to find it in ANY store.

John Hodson · 05-30-2008, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Frezon

Walsh didn't believe in many close-ups, did he? There are only a few instances where we get close to the principal actors in any given scene. At the very end there is a tight shot of Wayne with Marguerite Churchill which is one of the few instances in which we really get to see details of the actress' face.

Quite so (and quite Fordian

), but what is remarkable is that Walsh is so assured with Grandeur; the framing is so, well, modern; as someone says in the doco, it's sometimes like looking at a Remington painting. And I'm looking for mattes where there are none; look in the backgrounds and mostly what you see is real - the town, the wagon train, the indian village and as you say that incredible scene where they're lowering the wagons over the cliffs.

The narrative is almost incidental as one sumptuous vista is topped by the next.

Charles H · 05-30-2008, 01:13 PM

It's worth comparing a similar "lowering the wagons" (and the people) scene in THE WAY WEST. Whereas THE BIG TRAIL's scene ws apparently improvised by Walsh, the scene in THE WAY WEST is more like a ski-lift--and in closeups--with the "hearty" pioneers cheering Lola Albright on.

Mike Frezon · 05-30-2008, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Hodson

Quite so (and quite Fordian

), but what is remarkable is that Walsh is so assured with Grandeur; the framing is so, well, modern; as someone says in the doco, it's sometimes like looking at a Remington painting. And I'm looking for mattes where there are none; look in the backgrounds and mostly what you see is real - the town, the wagon train, the indian village and as you say that incredible scene where they're lowering the wagons over the cliffs.

The narrative is almost incidental as one sumptuous vista is topped by the next.

While you might compare it to a Remington painting, I was thinking, as I watched it, of a current-day 16:9 film--only much more beautiful than 95% of what passes for modern-day cinema. It was remarkable how successful an experiment it was. While I am curious about how the 4:3 version looks, I'm not sure I'll be taking the time--anytime soon--to give it a look.

I was, however, thinking just like you about which, if any, of the backgrounds were matte paintings. My conclusion was that there weren't any.

I haven't had time yet to visit any of the bonus features to learn more about the Grandeur process or the film-making process of The Big Trail...but I will surely be making time for those soon!

Charles: I will have to check out The Way West sometime. Haven't seen it.

JohnRa · 05-30-2008, 04:41 PM

I received "The Big Trail" last week along with several other titles, but haven't had time to watch any of them. After reading these comments on "The Big Trail" it has been moved to the top of my viewing list. Thanks to everyone for the posts!

WadeM · 05-30-2008, 07:49 PM

The Gunfighter/Rawhide/Garden of Evil set was the best set of westerns I've seen in a long time. For $5 a piece, only a fool would pass these up.

Robert Crawford · 05-30-2008, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WadeM

The Gunfighter/Rawhide/Garden of Evil set was the best set of westerns I've seen in a long time. For $5 a piece, only a fool would pass these up.

I watched each title in that boxset and was very pleased with the PQ.

Crawdaddy

jim_falconer · 05-31-2008, 05:59 AM

Managed to watch "Rawhide" from the FOX Westerns Classic box last night. All I can say is, "Wow...what a movie!". I really wasn't expecting much, but was immediately drawn in to the story and characters. Being a huge John Wayne fan, I'm aware that Henry Hathaway did a great job directing some of Duke's best films. I was gratified to see him do the same top-notch job with this one as well. I had only seen Tyrone Power in one other film ("The Long Grey Line"), and didn't really care for him in that. But it's almost as if he was born to play the character he portrays in Rawhide. Jack Elm was never slimier, and Edward Buchanan, who is only in it for a short time, was never better. I highly recommend it those who have not seen it...great stuff!

This set was a blind buy for me. Now after seeing Rawhide, I can't wait to see the other two.