- Joined
- Feb 8, 1999
- Messages
- 18,316
- Real Name
- Robert Harris
With Paramount Home Entertainment's release of two more of the John Wayne - Batjac titles, Mr. Wayne's devout followers (and I consider myself one) can begin to breath easy, as most of his major films of the 1950s and 1960s have now made it to DVD.
Hondo was originally released in the waning days of the 3-D craze in 1953, and is seen here on DVD in its 2-D ( probably the left eye) form.
Mr. Wayne, who appeared in some 175 feature films, 80 of which preceeded his rise to stardom in John Ford's Stagecoach in 1939, makes his first appearence in an Eastman Color production in Hondo, his only in 3-D, and his final film in the classic 1.37 aspect ratio.
Hondo has been held in the Batjac vaults for years, and its release on DVD is cause for celebration.
Likewise, the first authorized release of "McLintock!" is great news for fans. Finally this film can be viewed in proper quality, produced from original film elements, as opposed to the several garbage purported public domain releases which have cluttered the DVD landscape heretofore.
Those who have purchased the earlier versions can now replace them with this beautiful new release.
Both of these films were penned by screenwriter James Edward Grant, who was responsible for numerous other Wayne productions.
The other extremely positive news here, is that Paramount has priced these releases at "mass market" prices -- each is available on line at just over $9, with release set for October 11.
This also leaves just a couple of non-Batjac holes in the Wayne chronology, most notoriously The Wings of Eagles and The Quiet Man, for which there is no DVD worth viewing at this time.
Paramount has been giving these films a royal treatment at a price which makes them almost a gift. Both films are preceeded by introductions by Leonard Maltin, which set the stage for proper viewing.
Hondo is inclusive of a commentary by Mr. Maltin, historian Frank Thompson, and actor Lee Aaker, who has a role in the film.
"McLintock!" is replete with commentaries by Mr. Maltin, Mr. Thompson, Ms. O'Hara, Stephanie Powers, Michael Pate, Michael Wayne and director Andrew McLaglen, son of veteran actor Victor McLaglen.
Each DVD also includes more documentary and research material. As I noted, at $9, these are a steal.
Did I mention that both look and sound terrific?
RAH
Hondo was originally released in the waning days of the 3-D craze in 1953, and is seen here on DVD in its 2-D ( probably the left eye) form.
Mr. Wayne, who appeared in some 175 feature films, 80 of which preceeded his rise to stardom in John Ford's Stagecoach in 1939, makes his first appearence in an Eastman Color production in Hondo, his only in 3-D, and his final film in the classic 1.37 aspect ratio.
Hondo has been held in the Batjac vaults for years, and its release on DVD is cause for celebration.
Likewise, the first authorized release of "McLintock!" is great news for fans. Finally this film can be viewed in proper quality, produced from original film elements, as opposed to the several garbage purported public domain releases which have cluttered the DVD landscape heretofore.
Those who have purchased the earlier versions can now replace them with this beautiful new release.
Both of these films were penned by screenwriter James Edward Grant, who was responsible for numerous other Wayne productions.
The other extremely positive news here, is that Paramount has priced these releases at "mass market" prices -- each is available on line at just over $9, with release set for October 11.
This also leaves just a couple of non-Batjac holes in the Wayne chronology, most notoriously The Wings of Eagles and The Quiet Man, for which there is no DVD worth viewing at this time.
Paramount has been giving these films a royal treatment at a price which makes them almost a gift. Both films are preceeded by introductions by Leonard Maltin, which set the stage for proper viewing.
Hondo is inclusive of a commentary by Mr. Maltin, historian Frank Thompson, and actor Lee Aaker, who has a role in the film.
"McLintock!" is replete with commentaries by Mr. Maltin, Mr. Thompson, Ms. O'Hara, Stephanie Powers, Michael Pate, Michael Wayne and director Andrew McLaglen, son of veteran actor Victor McLaglen.
Each DVD also includes more documentary and research material. As I noted, at $9, these are a steal.
Did I mention that both look and sound terrific?
RAH