laureatedvd.com

[Don Welbeck]

I can't understand why "Western Union" isn't better known. As a Western, it's got everything - good characters, a firm story with a few neat twists,plenty of action, beautiful Technicolor photography, a final shoot-out that is both exciting and emotionally touching. It also proves that Randolph Scott was more than just an action star. Under Fritz Lang's direction, he shows that he was a much better actor than he was given credit for. Since seeing this DVD, "Western Union" goes straight into my Top 20 Westerns of all time. Naturally, I'm a little disappointed that there are no extras. But the film itself is a knockout !

[M.S.]

I'm really glad to find the Laureate website. I don't think there's another site quite like it. All the forums seem to be well visited by well-informed people. But I can't understand why there is not more support for the Westerns category.

To my mind, the Western is the purest form of cinema. You can't do it on the stage, it has to be made outdoors and in the best locations. There is a natural energy about Westerns that can't be found in Sci-Fi ( which relies too heavily on CGI and special effects for my taste ). I see several people have listed their top 10 Westersn, well here's mine ( in chronological order)

1. Stagecoach (1939)
2. Western Union (1940)
3.My Darling Clementine (1946)
4. Red River (1948)
5. Fort Apache (1948)
6. Blood On The Moon (1949)
7. She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949)
8. Winchester '73 (1950)
9. High Noon (1952)
10. Shane (1953)

Of course, there are many more that I could list. I would like to include all five of the James Stewart-Anthony Mann Westerns but I settled for Winchester '73. I have a soft spot for the Cecil B. De Mille Westerns of the 1930s -The Plainsman (1936) and Union Pacific (1939). I also like
The Westerner (1940) and I especially applaud William Wyler's The Big Country (1958). But if I were to choose just 10 to take to a desert island, it would very likely be the above list.

No Clint Eastwood's ? No, I don't like any of the Spaghetti Westerns, but I do like The Outlaw Josey Wales and Unforgiven - but, for me, they lack the repeatability of the above list. I like Tombstone but, to my mind the best Western of the last 20 years is Kevin Costner's Open Range - which deserves to be far better known that it is.

Well, that's my lot for now. Maybe next week or next year, I'll revise my list and, if I do, at least half of the titles in my top ten will still be there.

Winchester '73 (1950

[Neil]

I'm not a huge western fan but have begun to appreciate the genre much more in recent years.

I would love to see Bing's version of Stagecoach. I understand it's not brilliant and not a patch on the original, but it would be nice to see for Bing's performance which I believe was quite good.

I have a soft spot for a few of the Dean Martin westerns, in particular
Five Card Stud and The Sons of Katie Elder. I also enjoy Rough Night in Jericho with Dean playing the baddie and Bandolero with Jimmy Stewart and Raquel Welsh. Of course, Rio Bravo has to be Dean's finest western.

As for John Wayne, I think The Shootist is essential Duke viewing.

[Ken Barnes]

I agree that the "Stagecoach" rermake lacks the power and involvement of the 1939 original and while Bing's performance is not as good as Thomas Mitchell's in the original, it's still worth watching and may be the best thing about the movie.

[Neil]

Do you think there is a chance of the film being released Ken?

[Ken Barnes]

All I can do is suggest it to Fox. Sometimes they respond to suggestions.

[JoelCairo]

[Ken Barnes]

"Man Of The West" is avaiable on DVD in the UK and I believe "The Professionals" is about to be released in the U.S.

"The Hanging Tree" had been considered by Warners as part of The Gary Cooper Signature Collection. Unfortunately, for some reason, it was replaced by "Dallas" - I don't know why.

I'm thinking about your hard-boiled line. I'm sure it'll come to me over the Christmas holidays,