The Fighting Kentuckian

Starring:John Wayne, Vera Ralston, Philip Dorn, Oliver Hardy, Marie Windsor, John Howard, Hugo Haas, Grant Withers, Odette Myrtil, Paul Fix, Mae Marsh, Jack Pennick, Mickey Simpson, Fred Graham, Mabelle Koenig, Shy Waggner, Crystal White, Cliff Lyons, Hank Worden, Blackie Whiteford
Director: George Waggner
Studio: Republic Pictures
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
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.

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:

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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General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

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The Fighting Seabees/Wake of the Red Witch

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
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

All Titles | John Wayne Store | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( R ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B0000639H6
Release Date: 2002-04-23

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

Classics | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Action & Adventure | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Classics | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

All Titles | John Wayne Store | Stores | DVD | Video

Boxed Sets & Collections | John Wayne Store | Stores | DVD | Video

( J ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B00005U12R
Release Date: 2002-01-15

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