Articles about the Westerns

I loved the book and the series follows it very closely. Would recomend it to anyone who read the book and history.

A few years back when I first got this set, I remember revelling once again in what network television had taken away from me. I was thrilled to own some of my favorite Looney Tunes cartoons.

I did notice, however, the disproportionate number of Chuck Jones cartoons, with just a few Friz Freleng, Bob Clampett, and Bob McKimson shorts in the mix. Unless subtitled "The Best of Chuck Jones," it really should have featured several shorts from each major director (including Tex Avery and Frank Tashlin).

But now I see that what this set lacks for in variety of style, it makes up in variety of characters. This was the mold that shouldn't have been broken. Disc 1 is dedicated to Bugs Bunny, disc 2 features Daffy and Porky, and discs 3 and 4 present a nice mix of all the major characters, plus a few minor ones. The only mistake was adding several more Bugs cartoons to discs 3 and 4. This may account for the disappearing rabbit effect on the later volumes.

These cartoons may not encompass the cream of the crop, but I do know that there are more laughs per short in this set than in any subsequent volume. So the bottomline is this: if you only want to purchase one Looney Tunes Golden Collection, this is the one to get. (But do yourself a favor and invest some cash in volume two, also!)

I was impressed with the remake of this blu-ray movie. I enjoyed, so much, the original, and the remake is vivid and yet not overdone. Great job, and blu-ray is awesome. Delightful movie

Great collection of old WB cartoons. I want the whole set! Chuck Jones was a genius. Lots of laughs and lots of memories.

Budd Boetticher was a remarkable director. Sony Pictures, in their Collectors Choice set, "The Films of Budd Boettcher", presents five remarkable films that are still powerful today.

Including "The Tall T", "Decision at Sundown", "Buchanan Rides Alone", "Ride Lonesome", and "Commanche Station", this set is visually stunning, highlighting the natural beauty of the Lone Pine area. "Ride Lonesome" and "Comanche Station" resonate a theme central to his films, the lone hero seeking revenge and redemption. Randolph Scott stars in all five films, portraying to perfection the strong, silent hero.

In "Ride Lonesome", Barricade (Scott), goes after a man with a bounty on his head. Behind his apparent cold blooded nature, his real motive of finding the man who hung his wife is exposed in the end, and what was once a case of pure bounty, becomes an act of grace and forgiveness.

Future director Burt Kennedy penned the bulk of these films, honing his craft with a director with an eye for sparse storytelling, and a cast that understood what Boetticher was creating. Scott was essential to the films, adding his reputation and experience to roles that screamed "Randolph scott!". Images of Scott atop his animals, or silhouetted against the desert sky are vintage western iconic symbols. Co-stars James Coburn, Maureen Sullivan, Lee Van Cleef, Pernell Roberts, and Richard Boone contribute good performances to great films.

Watching these films is a pilgrimage experience. The Lone Pine settings, used in hundreds of films since the early 1920's, has been transformed into a more urban setting. When Randolph Scott rides by the familiar rocks of the geological formations, images of other films flood by. Randolph Scott appearing onscreen beckons me to a time when legendary actors rode the silver screen range, and westerns rode tall and proud in cinemas around the country. Principles were fought for and died on. Men of moral standing became outstanding community builders.
This is a collection for the collector of great films, though not all are of equal quality. The prints have been restored to brilliant color and sound. Watch these films, but if you have access to a big screen, I mean really big screen, go for the gusto. There is nothing like Randolph Scott riding tall on any screen!

Tim Lasiuta

My take on this movie is that some very good performances were devalued by the special effects people sitting in front of computer screens. A tense psychological cat and mouse game begins with the capture of Russell Crowe who plays notorious outlaw Ben Wade. A simple rancher Dan Evans, played by Christian Bale, volunteers to escort Wade to the train to Yuma prison in order to earn badly needed money for his rain-parched ranch.

This is a remake of the 1957 release of the same name starring Glenn Ford as Ben Wade and Van Heflin as Dan Evans. Russell Crowe does his usual outstanding job. Crowe is as excellent as a charming cowboy psychopath as he is as master and commander of a ship, a fearless gladiator, or a police thug turned noble. Ben Foster is perfectly cast as Billy Prince, Wade's wild-eyed loyal to the death sidekick. If you saw a fellow with his demeanor on a city street today you would be inclined to cross to the other side.

It is unfortunate that the makers of the film decided to go with special effects action to the detriment of the psychological in this movie. Action and psychology are not mutually exclusive but they are out of balance in this movie. The earlier version is incredible enough as Van Heflin shoots his way to the train with Ford in tow. Putting Christian Bale's character on a peg leg goes beyond one's willingness to suspend disbelief. The firepower depicted in this version is enough to invade Iraq again.

This version runs one-half hour longer than the 1957 edition in order to accommodate all of the extra violence. There is a scene that was added to this version and not present in the earlier Glenn Ford version. Crowe kills three Indians. Though the script tries to justify the scene by having them take a short cut through dangerous "Indian territory" it is obviously not justifiable since Indians are never seen or discussed again.

"The Unforgiven", the best of the modern cowboy genre, did not need as many (if any) computer-driven effects to tell a good tale of the old West. With such an excellent cast neither did "3:10 to Yuma". Nice try, but computer gimmicks should always be subordinated to good performances.

"The Quiet Man" is a must for any John Wayne collection. One more piece of proof that "The Duke" was one of the most versatile actors to ever grace the stage. This DVD is a great value, the interviews are priceless, this history behind the making of this cinema classic value added. You will not go wrong by adding this to your collection.

Love the DVD. My VCR tape finally wore out. I can really understand the words better- much clearer than the tape.
This is a must have in every home if you like a good action packed movie that has serious moments, good laughs and great lines about how to think about life and living in it.
Val Kilmer, Kurt Russell and Sam Elliott at their best.

This is one of Newmans best, because he plays a completely dispicable

person with no redeeming qualities. He has no scruples and no character.

It is a great departure for Newman and he does a Great job.

While my 21-month old is absolutely captivated by The Backyardigans, this particular episode has her galvanized. She has most of the episode memorized and loves Eggbert or Eggwin, or Eggy (depending on who's name you choose). It is full us great tunes and excitement for all.