WHV Press Release: The Sam Elliott Western Collection

Re: WHV Press Release: The Sam Elliott Western Collection

Who?

Re: WHV Press Release: The Sam Elliott Western Collection

The Dude: Yeah, well. The Dude abides.
The Stranger: The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh. I sure hope he makes the finals. ]

Re: WHV Press Release: The Sam Elliott Western Collection

Elliott.
Sam Elliott.
The hogrider dad in Bogdanovich's Mask, co-starred in Gettysburg, played Virgil Earp in the hit Tombstone, did The Incredible Hulk for Ang Lee, and should have been nominated for Best Supporting Actor in We Were Soldiers Once.

Chapter and verse: in between the two trend-setting and self-absorbed major cities of Los Angeles at the west end of the continent and New York City at the east end of the continent there is a large continent stretching about 3,000 miles wide and roughly 2,000 miles north and south. In this vast expense there is a large population of people, many of whom live in what is commonly known as the American West (yes, it's a real place), and many of whom are very interested in new westerns, westerns that are traditional yet progressive at the same time. The movie industry turns a deaf ear and a blind eye to the middle of the country's interest in westerns. Westerns don't relate to lifestyles of industry players in either of the two major cities, so naturally they assume that the rest of the country can't really be interested, either.* In this vast expanse of country in which nobody is interested in westerns Sam Elliott has earned an enthusiastic and dedicated cult following over the years as the star of a dozen independent and made-for-cable westerns. Audiences recognized the high calibre of his acting chops and the authenticity of his performances as a westerner.

This collection is welcome, although it doesn't represent Elliott's best work. The historical drama I Will Fight No More Forever (1975) was highly regarded and considered an important breakthrough in television at the time. The Sacketts (1979), The Quick and the Dead (1987 not the Sharon Stone thing that stole the title later), and Conagher (1992), all adaptations of Louis L'Amour novels, are generally regarded as his best work, and are available on DVD individually. Conagher really alerted audiences to Elliott's work and was voted one of the 10 best westerns ever made by the Western Writers of America as I recall. Personally, I think Elliott invests his characters with a dimension the source novels simply don't have. In other words, he improves on them.

Ironically, the weakest and most problematic of his L'Amour adaptations, The Shadow Riders (1982), remains his most popular western. Why, who knows.

Several of his other westerns, like Wild Times and Houston, have not been released on DVD. After Conagher the public demanded more and is still demanding more, but Elliott is an older man now and seems to be walking away from all the western productions that are offered to him. What he's done thus far is memorable.


* ... and if the rest of the country really does want westerns, so what? who cares?

Re: WHV Press Release: The Sam Elliott Western Collection

I will probably get this set. I've always liked Sam Elliot as an actor, going back to his Gabe and Walker days. I have only seen The Rough Riders from the new set, and thought it worthwhile. I need to see the other two. I second all those titles Richard mentioned' particularly the L'Amour adaptations.

Re: WHV Press Release: The Sam Elliott Western Collection

I'm a little dismayed that THE DESPERATE TRAIL is being issued full-frame. I know it debuted on TNT, but while watching it I sensed that it was a busted theatrical production that was intended for 1.85 presentation.

Re: WHV Press Release: The Sam Elliott Western Collection

The Quick and the Dead and Conagher are full-screen as well. The former has a commentary from director Robert Day. Conagher is directed by Reynaldo Villalobos, who is also a Director of Photography, and one of the most interesting and under-rated talents I know. Although the stories are structured for television, both are beautifully produced and shot like feature films. All of Elliott's cable films are as good or better than feature films.

Rough Riders is John Milius's character-driven epic about Teddy Roosevelt and the assault on San Juan Hill. Milius's perspective is meant to engage and confront the audience the way The Wind and the Lion did, which of course it resembles. It's the strongest of the three films in the collection and well worth the price all by itself.

Re: WHV Press Release: The Sam Elliott Western Collection

Of all the possible westerns in their library... THIS?!?!?

Re: WHV Press Release: The Sam Elliott Western Collection

I mean, really, they could pick any random star from the '30s, '40s, and '50s, and chances are he or she did three westerns at Warners, MGM, and RKO. They could probably do a Ward Bond or Harry Carey, Jr. western collection and come up with a better selection than this -- probably enough to do two or three sets.

Re: WHV Press Release: The Sam Elliott Western Collection

These are TV movies, folks....

....and as has been communicated by Warner video before (via their chats), they are organized where the TV marketing is handled by a different group than those who handle theatrical product.

Whatever they do with Sam Elliot or Yosemite Sam, has nothing to do with what they do with John Wayne or Anthony Mann....

Different groups within the same company.

..and for what it's worth, these TNT western telefilms are likely very popular on video, especially at places like Walmart.

Meanwhile, I know new to DVD Western theatrical films are in the works at WB, as a friend of mine worked on a commentary for WAGONMASTER.....

Re: WHV Press Release: The Sam Elliott Western Collection

What's wrong with you guys? Why the disdain? Have you seen these films? Is it okay with you if WHV releases contemporary films or do you imagine they are only in the golden oldies business?

Sam Elliot is an excellent actor and a bankable star for westerns because audiences like his films and respect the authenticity of his performances. Maybe you need to catch up with the here and now.

These are three sturdy westerns, superior to many of the backlot B westerns of classic studio days. You Know My Name is a factual biopic about real-life western lawman Bill Tilghman who wrote eloquently about his experiences and whose life has been documented by historians. Elliott drew on that research to make this film. Rough Riders is an historical epic biopic about Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders. Both are well written, artfully directed by directors who understand westerns, and professionally produced. Neither is cheap. These are not hack films. You Know My Name had a budget of $11 million, while Rough Riders was produced on $22 million, I'm told.

The Sam Elliott Collection offers three westerns infinitely superior to that piece of junk remake 3:10 to Yuma. I could understand your disdain if you applied it where it is deserved.