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- Feb 8, 1999
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- Robert Harris
Fox Home Video has finally released one of my personal favorites on DVD, as a third of a box set offered at less than $15, as Fox Western Classics.
Of the three productions included in the set, the weakest is Rawhide (1951) with Tyrone Power and Susan Hayward, directed by the great Henry Hathaway. I've always found it to be a trifle -- seemingly one of those "we've got them under contract... do something with them" productions.
Second up is Garden of Evil (1954), an early CinemaScope film, also directed by Henry Hathaway, and photographed by Milton Krasner (who also shot Rawhide). During his forty year career, he photographed a number of films now considered classics inclusive of The Bank Dick, The Woman in the Window, Scarlet Street, A Double Life, All About Eve, Monkey Business, The Seven Year Itch and An Affair to Remember and How the West Was Won.
The score, composed by Bernard Herrmann is an anchor point for the film, which with the help of the acting talents of Gary Cooper, Richard Widmark and Susan Hayward, stands the test of time quite nicely.
As an early Eastman Color production, with all opticals cut in, it has the normally dupey fades and dissolves, but the transfer does a nice job of hiding much of not only the wear and tear on the elements, but a bit of the dupey nature of the opticals. All in all, a nice addition to one's collection of quality cinema.
But the pièce de résistance in the set is Henry King's 1950 The Gunfighter starring Gregory Peck as Jimmy Ringo, the "deadliest shot in the old west."
On any number of levels from story, screenplay, direction, and acting, The Gunfighter is an acknowledged classic. The score by Alfred Newman, and cinematography by Arthur Miller make it one of the greats of the genre.
If one has not seen The Gunfighter, I advise viewing it without research. Be aware that the original elements for this film no longer exist, but the dupes used for the transfer are still excellent quality.
This is an amazing film.
For those who point to To Kill a Mockingbird for the quintessential performance from Mr. Peck, be prepared to place his Jimmy Ringo right up there next to Atticus Finch.
As I would be willing to pay twice the cost of the boxed set just to get The Gunfighter, I'll not beleaguer the point that this set is a steal at $15.
Consider Rawhide and Garden of Evil gifts from Fox Home Video, and pick up this collection for one of the most amazing westerns on the planet.
The Gunfighter cannot be more highly recommended.
RAH
Of the three productions included in the set, the weakest is Rawhide (1951) with Tyrone Power and Susan Hayward, directed by the great Henry Hathaway. I've always found it to be a trifle -- seemingly one of those "we've got them under contract... do something with them" productions.
Second up is Garden of Evil (1954), an early CinemaScope film, also directed by Henry Hathaway, and photographed by Milton Krasner (who also shot Rawhide). During his forty year career, he photographed a number of films now considered classics inclusive of The Bank Dick, The Woman in the Window, Scarlet Street, A Double Life, All About Eve, Monkey Business, The Seven Year Itch and An Affair to Remember and How the West Was Won.
The score, composed by Bernard Herrmann is an anchor point for the film, which with the help of the acting talents of Gary Cooper, Richard Widmark and Susan Hayward, stands the test of time quite nicely.
As an early Eastman Color production, with all opticals cut in, it has the normally dupey fades and dissolves, but the transfer does a nice job of hiding much of not only the wear and tear on the elements, but a bit of the dupey nature of the opticals. All in all, a nice addition to one's collection of quality cinema.
But the pièce de résistance in the set is Henry King's 1950 The Gunfighter starring Gregory Peck as Jimmy Ringo, the "deadliest shot in the old west."
On any number of levels from story, screenplay, direction, and acting, The Gunfighter is an acknowledged classic. The score by Alfred Newman, and cinematography by Arthur Miller make it one of the greats of the genre.
If one has not seen The Gunfighter, I advise viewing it without research. Be aware that the original elements for this film no longer exist, but the dupes used for the transfer are still excellent quality.
This is an amazing film.
For those who point to To Kill a Mockingbird for the quintessential performance from Mr. Peck, be prepared to place his Jimmy Ringo right up there next to Atticus Finch.
As I would be willing to pay twice the cost of the boxed set just to get The Gunfighter, I'll not beleaguer the point that this set is a steal at $15.
Consider Rawhide and Garden of Evil gifts from Fox Home Video, and pick up this collection for one of the most amazing westerns on the planet.
The Gunfighter cannot be more highly recommended.
RAH
