The Kentuckian

Starring:Clem Bevans, John Carradine, Lee Erikson, Dianne Foster, James Griffith, Gil Harman, John Litel, Diana Lynn, Donald MacDonald, Walter Matthau, John McIntire, Una Merkel, Edward Norris, Milicent Patrick, Glenn Strange, Paul Wexler, Rhys Williams, Whip Wilson, Will Wright
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
As an independent producer-star, circus-tough with charisma to burn, Burt Lancaster could be hard on directors. So it wasn't surprising when he decided he could do the job himself. It was a mistake he made only once (apart from cohelming 1974's The Midnight Man). For all his balletic control as an actor-athlete, Lancaster showed no sense of how a film should move and breathe over an hour and a half, or how to make the characters' growth or changes of mind credible. The Kentuckian has a bedrock American folk tale at its core, but scarcely a clue how to tell it.

Amazon.com

Here's something you don't see every day. Then again, would you want to? Several years before the 1950s' Davy Crockett craze, John Wayne donned a coonskin cap to play a militiaman in early-19th-century Alabama. He and his fellow Kentuckians are just passing through--"marching 600 miles," as they merrily sing (and sing, and sing), because riverboat magnate John Howard has refused to haul them. Howard and all-purpose scoundrel Grant Withers are scheming to dispossess a community of French émigrés--veterans of Napoleon's Grand Army who've come seeking life, liberty, etc. in the New World. Howard's also out to marry Vera Ralston, the French general's daughter. Naturally, Wayne's just the lad to gum up both plans.

Wayne himself produced The Fighting Kentuckian, but far from repeating the success of his maiden effort, Angel and the Badman, this is one of the feeblest films in his long career. Writer-director George Waggner never gets a handle on what a pre-Western should look and move like. Consequently, the cast does a lot of standing around looking silly in period costume, waiting--mostly in vain--for the script to establish their connection to one another and something resembling a plot. There is a glossier look to the proceedings than most Republic pictures achieved, thanks to Lee Garmes's pearly cinematography, but this is scant consolation. So is the almost creepy presence of Oliver Hardy, sans Laurel, doing Ollie-shtick as Wayne's jolly sidekick. No, he doesn't say, "This is another fine mess you've got me into!" But he should. --Richard T. Jameson

Customer Reviews:

dvd review.......2007-05-13

Great dvd. One of John Waynes best. Received in super condition and with fast delivery.

THE HARDY DUKE.......2007-05-05

Produced by John Wayne, written and directed by George Waggner, THE FIGHTING KENTUCKIAN was a real surprise for me. In fact, the film has a poor reputation among movie buffs. But I personally didn't mind the Czech accent of Vera Ralston who was supposed to play the French born daughter of a Napoleon army's general. I even enjoyed very much the scenes she had with John Wayne and the sensualness she put into Fleurette De Marchand character.

I also honestly admit that the comic situations of THE FIGHTING KENTUCKIAN, all generated by Oliver Hardy, are not always top notch, specially when the gags seem to have suddenly popped up from a silent movie. But I don't disavow the pleasure I had to admire the seduction scenes played by Vera Ralston that alone justify a rental of the film.

A DVD zone John Wayne's reserved shelf.

John Wayne meets Oliver Hardy.......2006-02-17

For the first and only time, John Wayne appeared in a film with Oliver Hardy of Laurel and Hardy fame, in the 1949 Republic production "The Fighting Kentuckian." Laurel and Hardy had actually made their final American film, "The Bullfighters," and were "at liberty." By this time the comic team was frequently touring Europe and making live stage appearances, where they presented some new comic routines that were, unfortunately, never filmed. They would eventually make one more film, in France: "Utopia," also known as "Atoll K."

John Wayne had a long-term contract with Republic pictures and, despite Wayne's increasing creative freedom, studio boss Herbert Yates insisted that Wayne use Vera Hruba Ralston in this historical comedy/drama. Ralston had been a Czech ice skater who had fled her homeland when the Nazis came to power; she was beautiful and charming, as the film shows, and Yates fell in love with her, eventually marrying her. Yates also insisted in putting Ralston in several of John Wayne's films at Republic. Unfortunately, Ralston had a heavy accent. This wasn't such a problem in this film because she was playing a member of the French aristocracy who was living with her countrymen in the southern United States in the early nineteenth century. They had fled France following the final defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo.

The film has many of the classic elements of John Wayne's action films and is generally delightful. There are some memorable battle sequences and Wayne's heroic efforts to help the relocated French in dealing with treacherous enemies. But the real bonus of this film is watching the great Oliver Hardy, who works so well as John Wayne's sidekick.

Loyal fans of both John Wayne and Oliver Hardy have often enjoyed this film and those who haven't seen it will want to see the rare teaming of Wayne and Hardy in a very enjoyable film.

The Duke and Ollie Make a Splendid Team.......2004-12-11

The inspired pairing of John Wayne and comedian Oliver Hardy, along with some memorable action sequences, elevate "The Fighting Kentuckian" (1949) to a higher level than most Republic Westerns. Wayne and Hardy work wonderfully together -- it's markedly different from the Laurel and Hardy chemistry, but just as special. The only dead spot is a wooden and miscast Vera Hruba Ralston as Wayne's leading lady. Otherwise, "The Fighting Kentuckian" is solid Republic craftsmanship.

Pleasant, but nothing special.......2003-08-05

A Kentucky soldier (John Wayne) falls for a French general's daughter (Vera Ralston) and gets mixed up in a battle between unscrupulous river traders and French settlers. Nothing remarkable here. It's pure formula right down to the end, when the cavalry comes to the rescue. Oliver Hardy is entertaining in a rare appearance without Stan Laurel./

Average customer rating:

Good, But Not Great Lancaster Film
Great Story-Great Viewing
Outstanding Frontier Adventure
Great characters for Matthau and Carradine.
they sure dont make em like this anymore!

The Kentuckian
Starring: Clem Bevans , John Carradine , Lee Erikson , Dianne Foster , and James Griffith
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000059TFV
Release Date: 2001-05-08

Amazon.com

As an independent producer-star, circus-tough with charisma to burn, Burt Lancaster could be hard on directors. So it wasn't surprising when he decided he could do the job himself. It was a mistake he made only once (apart from cohelming 1974's The Midnight Man). For all his balletic control as an actor-athlete, Lancaster showed no sense of how a film should move and breathe over an hour and a half, or how to make the characters' growth or changes of mind credible. The Kentuckian has a bedrock American folk tale at its core, but scarcely a clue how to tell it.

Description

Burt Lancaster (Elmer Gantry) makes his directorial debut with this superb, action-packed western. Featuring a poignant, unconventional screenplay by A.B. Guthrie, Jr., and a powerful performance by legendary actor Walter Matthau in his first screen role, The Kentuckian is an unforgettable western adventure of the highest caliber. Big Eli Wakefield (Lancaster) and his youngson, Little Eli (Donald MacDonald), are rugged Kentucky adventurers who long for an exciting life on the Texas frontier. They soon learn, however, that the greatest challenge to their progress lies not in the uncharted wilderness but in the people they meet along the way. Thrust into the midst of abitter family feud, Eli confronts both the deadly rage of a madman (Matthau) and the love of a beautiful woman (Diana Lynn). But when he's lured into a brutal final showdown, Eli discovers that the only way to escape with his life is to stay true to his convictions, his honor and his dream.

Customer Reviews:

Good, But Not Great Lancaster Film.......2007-01-11

The Kentuckian is the only film that Burt Lancaster ever directed, and while it is not a bad film, it is not up to the caliber of Lancaster's many great Westerns.

In The Kentuckian, Lancaster plays the titular character, a 17th century frontiersman on his way to take his son to live in wide-open Texas country. He stops along the way to visit his brother, played by John McIntire. But Lancaster gets involved with a former indentured servant, and runs afoul of a mean Walter Matthau (who likes to brandish a whip, no less), and Lancaster and the boy's plans are altered.

The Kentuckian is entertaining in several ways, but not as good as Apache, Gunfight at The OK Corral, and his other Westerns. But the acting is very good, and this movie was nothing for Lancaster to be ashamed of, so watch this film when you have a chance. It's not the best, but you won't feel like you've wasted your time.

Great Story-Great Viewing.......2006-09-02

This is one of my favorite films starring Burt Lancaster. Parts of it filmed in Levi Jackson State Park in London, Kentucky. My Grandmother introduced me to this wonderful film many years ago. It remains a favorite. I would reccomend this as a film that is worth the time devoted to it's viewing. Beautiful scenery and just very entertaining. My Grandmother always liked to relate to me of the many visits by the film cast and crew (including Mr. Lancaster) to the little restaurant where she worked in London, Ky. Give this film a try...they don't make them like this anymore. Classic story and classic actors !

W. Davis, A Proud Kentuckian

Outstanding Frontier Adventure.......2005-11-11

This is a great film about America's past. Man and boy set out to reach Texas and find all sorts of trouble along the way. Great Bernard Herrmann score sets the haunting mood of this film with real gusto. I will never forget this one.

Great characters for Matthau and Carradine........2005-05-27

A fine family classic in the tradition of The Proud Rebel, Treasure of Lost Canyon, and Rachel and the Stranger.
Burt Lancaster is a widower raising his son in the Kentucky wilderness, which has become too tame for them at the time of this story, so they've saved enough for a river boat ticket to Texas. But a bond girl (Dianne Foster) shows them kindness, so they buy her freedom with their "Texas money." They tentatively plan to take her with them when they save up enough money again, so Lancaster takes a job with his brother (John McIntyre) and Foster works for a local bar keeper played by Walter Matthau in his first screen role. Meanwhile some feuders are pursuing Lancaster just because of his name (Watefield), and bound to catch up soon.
There's an interesting riverboat scene and some plot developments (Diana Lynn) that come between father and son; but the best part is a whip fight with Matthau, a very interesting whip-cracking character who makes this movie worth seeing for his scenes alone. John Carradine is also outstanding as a snake-oil salesman, and the rest of the cast is fine as well.

they sure dont make em like this anymore!.......2004-01-09

wow, we've got some pretty heavy critics here! my guess is that anyone who doesnt like the kentuckian is either a sissy or reviews way to many movies and needs to get some sunshine. as a boy i was fasinated by this movie. it was easy to be romanced by this film because of the boy and his dog and how he prefered hannah over the school marm, and is ultimatly right about her in the in the end. the movie knows exactly where its going(if you are paying attention)and has a beautiful way of showing you what things must have been like back then,i.e. the singing black entertainers prompting lancaster of "texas""texas" texas"!, when the boat comes to town. this is a wonderful movie for children that havent yet been polluted by the endless amount of crap that unfortunatly is in abundance nowadays. this film still has enough drama and human interest with an actual, real substance for any age. its a mere record of what life was like in one part of the world at one time and its done quite well if you let the movie take you instead of find whats wrong with it.

Average customer rating:

Westward Ho/The Fighting Kentuckian
Starring: John Wayne , Sheila Bromley , Frank McGlynn Jr. , Jim Farley , and Jack Curtis
Director: Robert N. Bradbury , and George Waggner
Manufacturer: Republic Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000N4SHVW
Release Date: 2007-05-08

Description

WESTWARD HO - While searching for the brother he has been separated from since childhood, John Wayne forms a vigilante group to catch a vicious band of outlaws. On the trail of the bandits, Wayne comes face-to-face with his biggest fear: the brother he has been trying to find is the leader of the gang. THE FIGHTING KENTUCKIAN - John Wayne sets the wild "frontier" ablaze in this thrilling romantic adventure! Leading a regiment of Kentucky riflemen, Wayne passes through a settlement of dispatriated French families, all wealthy refugees of war from Napoleon's court. When there, Wayne's heart is captured by the French general's daughter. But a rich and powerful rival, Blake Randolph, also has his heart set on her. As the two suitors lock horns, Wayne discovers his rival has a nefarious scheme up his sleeve, and soon the courtship battle escalates into a full-scale war. It's "The Duke" at his best as the fighting Kentuckian battles for his love and the land of the free!

Average customer rating:

Rio Grande / The Fighting Kentuckian
Starring: John Wayne , Maureen O'Hara , Ben Johnson , Claude Jarman Jr. , and Harry Carey Jr.
Director: John Ford , and George Waggner
Manufacturer: Republic Pictures
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Marvelous Frontier Adventures

The Alamo/The Kentuckian
Starring: Clem Bevans , John Carradine , Lee Erikson , Dianne Foster , and James Griffith
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000062XF7
Release Date: 2002-05-07

Customer Reviews:

Marvelous Frontier Adventures.......2005-11-12

THE KENTUKIAN and THE ALAMO are two great American films. THE KENTUKIAN is a wonderful film about our American historical on the way West. Man and boy set out to reach Texas and find all sorts of trouble along the way. Bernard Herrmann's score sets the haunting mood of this film with real gusto. I will never forget this one. THE ALAMO is John Wayne's epic retelling of this tragic and melancholic event. Dimitri Tiomkin's score is wonderfully reflective. These two films are enchantingly represented here.

John Wayne Collection (Flying Tigers/Sands of Iwo Jima/The Fighting Kentuckian/In Old California/Rio Grande)

Average customer rating:

John Wayne Collection (Flying Tigers/Sands of Iwo Jima/The Fighting Kentuckian/In Old California/Rio Grande)
Starring: John Wayne , John Agar , Adele Mara , Forrest Tucker , and Wally Cassell
Director: Allan Dwan , John Ford , and George Waggner
Manufacturer: Republic Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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