Tumbleweeds (1925) (Silent)

Starring:Barbara Bedford, Gertrude Claire, Nino Cochise, Monte Collins, Ted Duncan, Fred Gamble, James Gordon, Al Hoxie, Lillian Leighton, Lucien Littlefield, George F. Marion, Jack Murphy, Richard Neill, Apache Bill Russell, J. Gordon Russell, Turner Savage, Charles Stevens
Director: King Baggot
Studio: Image Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

So authentic is Janet McTeer's performance as a feisty Southern mother and faded party girl in Tumbleweeds that if you didn't know better, you'd say this wasn't the same Janet McTeer, British stage actress, who won a Tony as Nora in Ibsen's A Doll's House on Broadway. McTeer's turn as modern-day Southern belle Mary Jo seems so genuine that you'd think this actress had grown up in the shade of magnolia trees sipping mint juleps. However, it's not just McTeer's flawless acting that makes Tumbleweeds so memorable. First-time director Gavin O'Connor, who cowrote the screenplay with Angela Shelton, has crafted a refreshing and unsentimental tale of a mother (McTeer) and daughter (Kimberly J. Brown) who wander the country like the titular rolling plants; whenever one of her badly chosen boyfriends threatens her or her daughter, Mary Jo packs up the car and heads for a new state. When daughter Ava persuades her to head for southern California, Mary Jo takes up with a genial if temperamental truck driver (director O'Connor) and starts the pattern all over again. However, as Ava approaches adolescence, she becomes less and less tolerant of her mother's behavior, and starts to find her own voice. Tumbleweeds is what would have been called a "little" film, long on character development and short on plot, but in a day and age when deeply etched characters are getting harder to come by, it qualifies as a definite landmark, especially in comparison with the similarly plotted but more sentimental Anywhere But Here. You won't find any crying jags, schmaltzy breakups, contrived meet-cutes, or patently fake movie moments in this film--instead, there's a mother-daughter relationship that remains complex, joyous, and heartfelt throughout. Brown matches McTeer scene for scene, and her Ava qualifies as one of filmdom's most realistic teens. These two women, along with O'Connor, create a quiet, perfectly rendered gem of a film. With superb supporting performances by Laurel Holliman as McTeer's newly found friend and Jay O. Sanders as a widower still not over the death of his wife. --Mark Englehart

Customer Reviews:

Three cheers for McTeer!! No cheers for Gavin O'Connor........2007-06-23

I have recently discovered director/actor/anyone commentary on DVDs. For the longest time, I would complain that they added no value to any film, and that as a critic I chose not to listen to them because I wanted to enjoy the film in its final version - audio commentaries are like being in the kitchen of a elaborate restaurant ... do you really want to know what goes in your food? Actually, and rather surprisingly, I have recently found the answer to be "yes", and have been devouring commentaries like minute candy. I have discovered many truths and errors of many directors or actors as they humorously and severely critique their bodies of work. One of my most recent adventures involved the film "Tumbleweeds", which garnished several awards (with great respect) for Janet McTeer, but made me realize one small facet of cinema that I don't think about when I watch movies directly - there is a reason the directors are behind the camera, and typically, not in front. In "Tumbleweeds", my case is built around Gavin O' Conner - the director, whom in my unprofessional opinion shouldn't be either in front of the camera or at least talking behind it. He is a decent director, but not one that should open his mouth or voice an opinion - harsh words? I don't think so. He completely destroyed the ambiance of this film.

Well, if I haven't completely disgusted the reader by this point, I have such pulled them in so that I have to explain myself and my comments about the above remark. As I watched "Tumbleweeds" for a second time, I realized that it was a wonderful film about a mother and daughter team that travels across the country avoiding the mother's mishaps with wrong men. It is a touching story that is helmed by one of the most unappreciated actresses of our time, Janet McTeer. Her performance, not only in this film, but also in a little independent feature called "Songcatcher", is breathtaking. She is captivating, intelligent, and completely steals every scene in which she performs. "Tumbleweeds" is worth the purchase, if anything, just for McTeer's performance. Not only is her singular performance attractive, but she is able to intermingle with her daughter, Ava (Kimberly Brown) with the greatest of ease, and even the despicable Jack Ranson (Gavin's mush-mouthed role) with sheer brilliance. I could dedicate this entire review, scene by scene, on how well McTeer controlled herself. It is a performance, as well as the one in "Songcatcher" that I believe others in the same profession should be forced to watch before getting into the game. This I believe - what can you say? But Gavin, oh Gavin, that is a completely different story.

For the first thirty-plus minutes of this film we are forced to build a bond between Janet and Ava, but then, Gavin - honestly kinda snobby - forces his way into the picture. Without the director commentary, it is merely by chance, but as you listen you realize that he tells us that nobody else could have played the role better than him. Arriving into California, I was a bit surprised that someone with an incredibly thick New York accent took the role of a manipulative trucker. Hey, he even gained weight for the role - but he didn't fit with the film. What bothered me the most is that he never quite saw that throughout his pandering of how great of a director he was. I envision Gavin as exactly the character of Jack Ranson. He is a decent guy to begin with, but when the stress begins to pour on, his temper begins to flair and his ego begins to rise. I just got that from this commentary, which in turn soured my experience a bit for this film.

There were other parts to the film that didn't fit either, but were excusable. There is a moment at the end where Ava and random man Dan Miller cry their eyes out in a RV, which doesn't make much sense in the grand scheme of the film - oddly, the entire Dan Miller addition (while greatly played by Jay O. Saunders) just didn't compute near the end. It was a chance to see that a good man was floating right below Janet's nose and she didn't even see it, but he just doesn't fit with the entire rest of the film. Kimberly Brown does a great job keeping up with McTeer and honestly playing her daughter very well - with the same sarcasm and spunk.

What can I say, outside of Gavin, I thought this was a very honest outing. I liked the lower budget which took chances, I liked the characters (for the most part), the drama seemed to equate well with the humor, and it was a true story - one couldn't ask for anything better. The mixture was perfect, and McTeer deserves every ounce of praise as she received for this film, but alas, I cannot say the same for Gavin. He is, as stated before, a decent director, but he forces himself too freely upon us. He is controlling, overbearing, and rude - and I haven't even met the man before. It is just the way he came across in the commentary.

I can suggest this film to everyone. I thought, beyond my dislike for Gavin, it was a powerful film with very strong characters. They were complex, yet utterly simple. It was translatable and powerful to see McTeer just gobble up her character. Outside of the small mishaps mentioned above, this was a great film.

Grade: *** out of *****

Wouldn't Work.......2007-01-12

This is an older version of the DVD, and I strongly advise anyone not to buy it if they have a newer DVD player. Instead, you should buy the newer version of the DVD offered by Amazon. This one would not play in my new DVD player, so I sent it back, and Amazon replaced it with an identical item. But that DVD would not play, either! I visited a friend over the holidays, and his older DVD player DID play the DVD, so it is just a question of incompatibility with newer players. So now I am stuck with a DVD that I can't watch. I wish that I had bought the newer version of the DVD, as I think the movie is excellent.

Home is where the heart is.......2006-04-13

I love it when I chance upon stuff and it turns out I struck gold. That is exactly what happened when I walked into the video store and rented this movie. It's the story of a mother and daughter; Mary-Jo and Ava Walker (Janet McTeer & Kimberly J. Brown), a pair of rolling stones who move from state to state when the mother's latest lover falls short of expectations (as they all seem to do). The emphasis of the story however is on the relationship between the pair, the unbreakable love bond they share. Mary-Jo adores Ava. Ava is the light of her life. Ava on the other hand, loves her mother and seems to be the strength of this tiny family. It is Ava, who at the end finds them a sort of redemption.
Janet McTeer turns in a perfectly flawless performance. It doesnt seem like she is acting. You can not imagine she is anyone other than Mary-Jo. I could not believe she was really an English woman. In my humble opinion, this was a superior performance which deserved an Oscar. Kimberly J. Brown matched her talent for talent. I can not resist comparing it to another movie; 'Anywhere but Here' which I saw afterwards. A movie which was pretentious and unbelievable.
Tumbleweeds is a rare gem.

A memorable movie with Janet McTeer in a great lead performance.......2005-10-25

I first saw Tumbleweeds in 1999 when it was first released in the cinemas and I'll always remember it as one of the best films of that year. British actress Janet McTeer went on to win a well-deserved best Actress Oscar nomination for her role as Mary Jo Walker a flaky South Carolinian, who runs backwards and forwards towards abusive men and searches for love in all the wrong places.

13-year-old Ava (Kimberly J. Brown) is still young enough that her mother, Mary Jo, seems like the center of the world. The film opens as Mary Jo is suffering domestic abuse at the hands of her drunken rage -fuelled husband, while Ava nervously cowers in her bedroom. Mary Jo is smart enough to realize that she can't expose her daughter or herself from this any longer, so they go on the road looking for a better future.

They settle in a southern California beach town of Starlight Beach where Mary Jo quickly gets involved with another guy, Jack Ranson (Gavin O'Connor). But things don't go as planned. It seems as though there's something about Mary Jo who thrives on hooking up with the bad guys. Soon, she continues a pattern familiar to the sarcastic, adaptable Ava: Mom moves in, meets the lout, shacks up, things go wrong, so mother and daughter move on again.

McTeer plays Mary Joe to the hilt, turning in an absolutely masterful performance. She radiates openness, optimism, and sensuality; she captures the casual, easy-going exterior but also the pain, insecurity and weariness underneath. It seems that Mary Jo, not so much gets into bad relationships, but that she just can't quite see alternatives. Despite having been locked in co-dependencies, she has survived with mostly indefatigable buoyancy, a wild and raunchy sense of humor, and a joy in life and living that sparkles.

It is the mother daughter relationship that really drives this story. On the surface, her relationship with Ava is more like girlfriends of similar age than mother and daughter, but for all her worldliness, Ava is still barely pubescent. Mary Jo is still a mother with a deep well of unconditional love and the mother-daughter bond is always conspicuous - she even gets a real kick out of teaching her daughter how to kiss boys.

Brown plays Ava as observant, perceptive, realistic; she's been around her mother's serial misadventures and they have made her wise beyond her years. She's clever enough to counter her mother's often-unrealistic expectations; Ava's seen it all before and it has hurt. She'll hold back where Mary Jo plunges in, often with disastrous results; it's as though Ava is constantly learning from her mother's mistakes.

First-time director and co writer Gavin O'Connor - who also plays Jack - is insightful and skilled at really bringing out the dynamics of the mother and daughter relationship. Every scene means something, no one gets caught acting, and there's almost no exposition.

Of course when Mary Jo finds that she's merely repeating the mistakes of the past, her first instinct is to flee, rather than face her, and it is Ava's insistence on staying that forces Mary Jo to stay put and find another way to live her life. Mother's usually teach their daughters, but the irony in this film is that daughter teaches mother.

Tumbleweeds is a lovingly pragmatic little film that is just brimming with warmth, realism and humanity. It's closely observed and honestly presented, and acts as a huge showcase for McTeer's talent as an actress. It's just a pity that, as yet she hasn't gone on to achieve the international fame that she so thoroughly deserves. Mike Leonard October 05.

Ernest Had a Sister.......2004-06-19

Title for this movie could be "Ernest Had a Sister". The late Jim Varney (Ernest)has close competition from the McTeer character. Or maybe you could call this an aquarium movie, because it is like watching fish swim stupidly around in circles. Kimberly Brown's Ava character carries the movie, especially in the scene in the motor home with Gavin O'Connor. Lot of people like this movie and I wouldn't want to detract from that, but I see enough of these idiots in real life to not want to watch a film about them.

Gene Autry Collection: Tumbling Tumbleweeds

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Gene Autry Collection: Tumbling Tumbleweeds
Starring: Gene Autry , Smiley Burnette , Lucile Browne , George 'Gabby' Hayes , and Norma Taylor
Director: Joseph Kane
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000G8NXSW
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Description

Billed as "a new kind of entertainment with music, thrills and comedy" in 1935, Tumbling Tumbleweeds presented Gene Autry as "radio's silver voice now heard on the talking screen in trills, thrills and spills!" Singing cowboy Gene Autry is thrown into the midst of the mysterious killing of his father and to make matters worse, his best friend is accused of the crime. This rip-roaring western has daring rescues, an old time medicine show, fast riding, hard-hitting fistfights, rib-tickling antics from Smiley Burnette, and the sensational songs of Gene Autry!

Average customer rating:

Three cheers for McTeer!! No cheers for Gavin O'Connor.
Wouldn't Work
Home is where the heart is
A memorable movie with Janet McTeer in a great lead performance
Ernest Had a Sister

Tumbleweeds
Starring: Janet McTeer , Michael J. Pollard , Jay O. Sanders , Lois Smith , and Laurel Holloman
Director: Gavin O'Connor
Manufacturer: Genius Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Anywhere But Here
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Songcatcher
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Where the Heart Is

ASIN: B000B5XP42
Release Date: 2005-10-25

Amazon.com

Description

After a failed relationship, a mother heads West with her daughter in search of greener pastures in this tale of an extraordinary mother daughter bond

Customer Reviews:

Three cheers for McTeer!! No cheers for Gavin O'Connor........2007-06-23

Wouldn't Work.......2007-01-12

Home is where the heart is.......2006-04-13

A memorable movie with Janet McTeer in a great lead performance.......2005-10-25

Ernest Had a Sister.......2004-06-19

Average customer rating:

5 Star movie but a 2 star restoration
Women ainýt reliable. Cows are.
William S. Hart's Lasting Legacy.

Tumbleweeds
Starring: Barbara Bedford , Gertrude Claire , Nino Cochise , Monte Collins , and Ted Duncan
Director: Baggot, King
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Toll Gate/His Bitter Pill
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ASIN: B00006674I
Release Date: 2002-06-25

Description

William S. Hart, the illustrious star of early Westerns and one of the most esteemed actors of his time, leads a terrific cast in this groundbreaking film. As a great era in the American West draws to a close with the opening of the Cherokee Strip, Don Carver (William S. Hart) decides to get in on the rush. But when he's arrested and parted from his new love (Barbara Bedford), he suddenly finds himself in danger of missing the big race, "the biggest stampede in American history." The thrilling climax features the most spectacular Western action scenes ever filmed.

Customer Reviews:

5 Star movie but a 2 star restoration.......2006-07-28

This version of "Tumbleweeds" from Image Entertainment was a great disappointment to me. The William S. Hart classic deserves better treatment. Billed as a "restored" version, it is anything but. The print is scratchy and grainy. To make things worse, some of the original opening title sequences have been replaced with modern computer generated titles. The black and white movie has been tinted to a yellowish sepia tone further detracting from the original film. Better copies are available on budget labels.

Women ainýt reliable. Cows are........2004-06-13

TUMBLEWEEDS is a fitting coda to the career of arguably the greatest cowboy star of the silent era, William S. Hart. It is also a grand introduction to a viewer unfamiliar with his work.
Usually I don't mind watching a dvd in sequence, but TUMBLEWEEDS opens with an introduction, "Farewell to the Screen," Hart filmed for the 1939 reissue of his 1925 silent classic. Hart, decked out in cowboy hat and bandana against a desert landscape tells us a little about the film - it's about the opening of the Cherokee Strip in 1889. He also tells us why he retired from movies and how important his career was to him. Listening to him we hear a speech that borders on the maudlin, and the impression isn't relieved much by the swelling violin under-score. Hart's voice reminds me a bit of a water-down Franklin Roosevelt (Hart was born in New York and moved west in his youth.) None of this is unpleasant or even out of place, but it leaves an incongruous memory when the title card reads a drawling "varmint" or "I reckon." If you're new to Hart, as I was, I'd suggest you watch the movie before playing the introduction.
Hart plays `tumbleweed' Dan Carver. A tumbleweed, Carver explains to pretty Molly Lassiter (Barbara Bedford), is a footloose and rootless man of the open range. Hart was 60 years old when TUMBLEWEEDS was filmed, and although he probably never looked his age (he just wore that bandana higher and higher off his neck, I guess) it's a little strange to see him aw-shucks a-courting the 23-year-old Bedford.
Well, the love story is secondary, anyway. TUMBLEWEEDS is famous for the opening of the strip scene, and the sequence leading to the "maddest stampede in American history" is brilliantly edited. It is a quick cut montage of troopers checking their pocket watches to a penned Hart to the anxious and distraught girl to yet another shot of an advancing wall clock. Finally the cannon is shot and the race is on. It's a timelessly beautiful bit of film art.
Another scene I was particularly fond of occurred a little earlier in the movie. The government ordered all cattle removed from the strip prior to the run of the homesteaders. Hart, riding point, and four other tumbleweeds rest their horses on a rise and watch the cattle being rounded out. The men identify the vanishing herds - those are the Circle Dot, those are the Diamond Bar. Hart removes his hat and announces "Boys, it's the last of the west." The others remove their hats as well and the camera holds them in a medium long shot for a few long seconds before fading to silhouette and then to black. It's a understated moment, and the fact that it comes in Hart's final western gives it an added poignancy.
TUMBLEWEEDS was transferred from a restored print, but the restoration was done in 1975. Anyone expecting a digital restoration will be disappointed. There are scratches and flares a-plenty, although not to the point of distraction. It also contains the "original piano score" of William Perry. The score was written for the 1975 restoration and not for the original release. Still, it adds rather than detracts from the movie.
TUMBLEWEEDS will reward anyone willing to give a silent movie a go. The acting is naturalistic, there's plenty of action and the good guys win in the end. Heck, we don't even have to squirm through the hero kissing the girl (although I think I remember seeing Hart give his horse a quick peck.) What more could you ask for?

William S. Hart's Lasting Legacy........2002-06-27

In 1925 when TUMBLEWEEDS was released, William S. Hart was 60 years old and been had supplanted at the box office by a host of cowboy stars like Tom Mix who were much flashier and far less realistic. Hart wanted to go out on top and that is just what he did. TUMBLEWEEDS is set during the opening of the Cherokee Strip and his recreation of the mad scramble for the newly opened up Indian lands is a landmark in cinema history which has been copied many times but without the same sense of immediacy that is depicted here. All the elements of earlier Hart westerns are here, the shy hero, the woman in distress, the 19th century code of honor (Hart was born in 1865), rugged action sequences involving Hart and above all the rugged natural locations of a now vanished West. The production values are high, the photography splendid, and the supporting cast top notch especially Barbara Bedford as Hart's love interest Molly. Bedford played strong independent women during her brief career most notably in the 1920 LAST OF THE MOHICANS. This new DVD release is an enhanced copy of the old Killiam Collection VHS version that has been around for a while but it has never looked this good. Also included is the 1939 eight minute prologue that Hart did for the film's reissue. Hart was 74 by this time and his recounting of the making of his films and the Old West that he knew is not only informative but also quite poignant. This film is his lasting legacy, a legacy that stretches from Gary Cooper to Clint Eastwood, and it's great to have it on DVD at last.

Average customer rating:

Sound re-issue, but still a silent classic.

Tumbleweeds / Yellowstone
Starring: William S. Hart; Alan Hale
Director: King Baggott; Arthur Lubien
Manufacturer: Miracle Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Wagon Tracks
Miracle Rider
Hopalong Cassidy, Vol. 1
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Little Big Man

ASIN: B000CH81O8
Release Date: 2005-05-05

Product Description

Tumbleweeds, a silent-era Western released in 1925, stars the fabled William S. Hart. Yellowstone is a murder mystery set in the National Park

Customer Reviews:

Sound re-issue, but still a silent classic........2006-04-03

I had to write a review for this DVD seeing as how most of the budget discs vary so widely in quality. This version of William S. Hart's "Tumbleweeds" is a pleasant surprise. First off, it is certainly not of restoration quality, but it is definitely a very watchable black and white. What I thought was especially nice about this version, however, was that it was made for a late 20s early 30s sound re-issue, and that is one of it's great charms.

I can watch most budget silents, no matter what the film quality, but the one thing I cannot abide is when they simply throw on anonymous symphonic music that has absolutely nothing to do with the film. It is maddening. Budget versions of "The Lost World" and Lon Chaney's "Shadows" are the worst culprits I've encountered. The soundtrack for this re-issue is a nice jazz score that was written specifically for the film. And unlike the catastrophy that is the "talking" version of "Phantom of the Opera" the soundtrack adds sound effects--crowd noises, hoof steps, etc.--while leaving the rest of the picture as a silent.

As for "Yellowstone" it's an early talkie with an interesting plot--and a chance to see a young Alan Hale. But the Hart picture is the real reason to pick this up. A great value in my opinion.

Gene Autry Collection - Rovin' Tumbleweeds

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America's Favourite Cowboy

Gene Autry Collection - Rovin' Tumbleweeds
Starring: Gene Autry , Smiley Burnette , Mary Carlisle , Douglass Dumbrille , and Pals of the Golden West
Director: George Sherman
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00008975S
Release Date: 2003-03-25

Description

Dust off your best ten-gallon hat and polish up your spurs as America's first and favorite singing cowboy gallops across the silver screen into your living room! Gene Autry, star of TV, records, radio, rodeo and film, invented the musical Western, capturing America's hearts as a gun-toting, guitar-slinging good guy. Riding his magnificent trick stallion, Champion, he became a beloved American hero whose popularity remains strong today. Now, for the first time on DVD, these rollicking big screen adventures and unforgettable tunes are brought home in these Western classics fully restored and uncut from Autry's personal film archives. Rancher Autry takes a job singing on the radio to aid farmers and ranchers whose lands were destroyed by raging floods. Blaming crooked politicians, he goes to Washington and tries to put through a flood control bill and finds he has a lot to learn. In this classic release, Gene introduces his immortal theme song, "Back in the Saddle Again," which has gone on to become a piece of American history.

Customer Reviews:

America's Favourite Cowboy.......2003-05-02

In fact, Gene Autry was a huge favourite outside the USA too--there are Autry fans all over the world, even into the 21st century. From 1935 to 1953, except for during World War II when he signed up to serve his country, Gene starred in a series of western movies that delighted young and old. His films for Republic Pictures between 1935 and 1946, blended action, comedy, music and even a little romance--a combination that many found irresistable and made "The Singing Cowboy" a major box office star. In 1946, Gene signed on with Columbia, making films that still made good use of his musical talent, but that were more mature, with stronger plot-lines.

Of course, "Rovin' Tumbleweeds" is a Republic production, and while it is not in a class with "South of the Border", "Goldmine in the Sky" or "Colorado Sunset" for example, it is still very enjoyable. The plot involves desperate farmers, trying to hold on to their land, and crooked politicians who only want to line their own pockets--well, some things don't change much, do they ? Gene tries to help the farmers by going to Washington, where he encounters nothing but red tape. Of course, after some good songs--and a few punches--Gene gives us the inevitable happy ending. There are good supporting performances from Douglass Dumbrille, as the very "hissable" villain, and William Farnum as an old Senator.

As a life-long Autry fan, I am delighted to see that some of Gene's classic films are appearing on DVD. The picture quality is excellent. Thanks to Image more Autry titles are coming out, and I hope that this continues. My only question is that, in the case of Hopalong Cassidy, Image is including two titles per DVD--for Gene Autry, we only get one. Gene's films are not lengthy ( except for a few Columbias )--why not have two Autry films on each disc ?

Why was Gene Autry so popular ? Other movie cowboys were taller, handsomer, better actors, more convincing in action scenes etc.
Apart from possessing a singing voice that sold millions of records, my view is that people just loved Gene's personality--friendly, unpretentious yet charismatic. People simply liked the man, and what he represented. A small boy in England first saw Gene on the "Silver Screen" many years ago and immediately became a fan--I still am !

Tumbleweeds [Region 2]
Average customer rating:

Three cheers for McTeer!! No cheers for Gavin O'Connor.

Wouldn't Work

Home is where the heart is

A memorable movie with Janet McTeer in a great lead performance

Ernest Had a Sister

Tumbleweeds [Region 2]

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00004WZW9

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Three cheers for McTeer!! No cheers for Gavin O'Connor........2007-06-23

Wouldn't Work.......2007-01-12

Home is where the heart is.......2006-04-13

A memorable movie with Janet McTeer in a great lead performance.......2005-10-25

Ernest Had a Sister.......2004-06-19

Western Classics Triple Feature, Vol. 5 (Judge Priest / Tumbleweeds / Yellowstone)

Average customer rating:

Historical Records Disguised as Entertainment
2 classics and neat bonus film
Charming "B" Mystery-Romance

Western Classics Triple Feature, Vol. 5 (Judge Priest / Tumbleweeds / Yellowstone)
Starring: Henry Hunter , Judith Barrett , Ralph Morgan , Alan Hale , and Andy Devine
Director: Arthur Lubin
Manufacturer: Rph Productions
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B0000694YH
Release Date: 2002-08-13

Customer Reviews:

Historical Records Disguised as Entertainment.......2006-09-23

I haven't watched Judge Priest yet, but "Yellowstone" and "Tumbleweeds" were magnificent.

2 classics and neat bonus film.......2006-08-02

This disc is quite a bargain with not one but three movies on it. Will Rogers as "Judge Priest" is a real charmer about a long-gone slow paced south. The second feature is a landmark silent film. "Tumbleweeds" is arguably William S. Hart's finest performance. The film has a poignant spoken preface with Hart himself saying good-bye to the old west. The musical soundtrack was specially produced for this 1939 re-release of the 1925 film. The third feature(titled "Yellowstone"), while strictly a "B" movie, is fun to watch because of the beautiful exteriors actually shot at Yellowstone National Park. Though out-of-print, this disc is worth seeking out.

Charming "B" Mystery-Romance.......2006-05-17

This fantastic little 1936 programmer from Universal looks and feels more like one of those topflight RKO productions of the period minus all the big stars. Beautiful outdoor locations and a good story directed with charm and style by Arthur Lubin make for a nifty little "B" with no wasted moments.

The story begins in Yellowstone Park when Ruth Foster (Judith Barrett) comes to Yellowstone and meets the father she hasn't seen for 18 years. She also meets Ranger Dick Sherwood (Henry Hunter) and a very nice mood is set by director Rubin as a romance quickly develops between the couple.

Her dad is being followed, however, and his past in San Quentin and search for a buried treasure others are after will nearly drive the young lovers apart when his body is washed up by a steaming geyser in the park. The discovery that he was murdered will form a cloud over the couple not easily removed.

Andy Devine offers comic relief as Dick's pal who wants to be a Ranger also. There is a nice outdoor atmosphere and some warm and charming scenes between Dick and Ruth enjoying tales by the campfire and songs of the west sung by firelight. When it becomes apparent that Ruth's father was murdered with Sherwood's gun only finding the hidden money in a cave near the geyser and confronting the true culprit can bring the couple together again.

This is a warm and romantic "B" film with a good little mystery and some nice performances from the two leads. Don't miss Andy Devine trying to get the Chinese cook to make him a chicken sandwich! This is definitely a good one for fans of "B" films.

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

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