The Silver Trail (1937) DVD [Remastered Edition]

Director: A2ZCDS.com
Studio: A2ZCDS.com
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

John Sayles tackles one of his most provocative projects in Silver City, a broadside on politics and campaigning. It's one of Sayles's multi-character tapestries, set during a tarnished governor's race in Colorado. Chris Cooper has kicky fun as a feather-brained candidate, whose nonsensical speeches deliberately evoke the 43rd U.S. president. He doesn't get nearly enough screen time, because the film follows a burned-out private detective (the awkward Danny Huston) as he tugs at conspiracies. Sayles's understanding of the connected relationships in the political world is keen, and his malignant ending scores points--though the issues are more convincing than the characters. A subplot romance between Huston and journalist Maria Bello is tired, and there's a rushed quality that undercuts the political barbs. The crowded cast helps it perk along. This is a companion piece to Sayles's City of Hope and Sunshine State, and proves his teeth are only getting sharper. --Robert Horton

Description

Grammatically challenged, user friendly gubernatorial candidate Dicky Pilager has just launched a rosy campaign for the citizens of the New West. But things take an unexpected turn when the taping of an environmental political ad ends up with Pilager reeling in a corpse. Enter his ferocious campaign manager, Chuck Raven who hires idealistic journalist turned rumpled private detective Danny O'Brien to investigate potential links between the corpse and the Pilager family's enemies. In the tradition of the great films noir, Danny's investigation pulls him deeper and deeper into a complex web of influence and corruption, involving high stakes lobbyists, media conglomerates, environmental, plunderers, and undocumented migrant workers. Written and directed by John Sayles

Customer Reviews:

Earnest attempt at political satire.......2007-06-09

I found the film very slow for the first half but it picked up a little and I managed to sit through it and actually enjoy it. I think the main problem is that John Sayles cares too much about the subject matter and loses the aesthetic distance it requires to make an enjoyable movie. I totally share his political concerns and only wish that this could have succeeded. He piles horrific offense on top of horrific offense and I got bogged down. The romantic encounters of the star, Danny Huston, with Darryl Hannah and Maria Bello, relieved the dreariness and made the film more watchable, at least for me.

The cast is excellent, and as others have mentioned, Chris Cooper does a pretty humorous version of the man we all love to hate, although I actually think he overdid it a little. I always enjoy Kris Kristofferson and would have liked to have seen more of him as the arch villain.

It's a film worth seeing, for the importance of the message. The last scene, of dead fish floating on the water, with someone singing America the Beautiful in the background brought tears to my eyes.

satire and commentary.......2006-07-25

I put this movie alongside "The Candidate", "Bob Roberts" and "Wag the Dog" for pointed political commenary that is also entertaining.

Wait a minute. I thought this film was supposed to be a savage polticial satire?.......2006-01-23

When I first saw the trailer for "Silver City" I assumed it was going to be a political satire that was out to savage George W. Bush. After all, the trailer shows us Dickie Pilager (Chris Cooper), a (1) conservative candidate from a (2) political family running for (3) governor in (4) the western state of Colorado whose political ideology is revealed in (5) torturous sentences that make no sense. There are five points of commonality between Dickie and the current occupant of the White House. The fact that John Sayles ("City of Hope") wrote and directed this 2004 film also seemed like a hint, and if you watch the "Making of" featurette on this DVD he comes out and says that "Silver City" is a response to what Bush has done as president. But since Dickie Pilager becomes a relatively minor character in this film, you cannot really say that Bush is only target. Then again, Dickie's campaign manager is named Chuck Raven (Richard Dreyfuss), and that is within easy nudge-nudge wink-wink territory of Karl Rove, so maybe we just need to cast the net of Sayle's disdain a bit wider.

I watched the trailer for "Silver City" as soon as I finished watching this DVD because I was thinking that I had been the victim of some sort of bizarre bait and switch. But there is the bit from the beginning where Dickie hooks a dead body in a Colorado lake while filming a political ad, and the character of Danny O'Brien (Danny Huston) is featured prominently as the person investigating the murder. So it is my fault that I got all excited about Dickie Pilager being a political joke when the movie wants to go in another direction. The problem is that where the movie wants to go is rather convoluted and ultimately unsatisfying, especially if you already knew that politicals was a cesspool and that if a candidates lips are moving it is safest to assume they are lying.

What happens in "Silver City" is not so much a plot as it is a chain of relationships. O'Brien is the private eye investigating the case who used to be dating Nora Allardyce (Maria Bello), a reporter. She thinks there is a connection between the floating corpse and the election campaign. Nora is engaged to Chandler Tyson (Billy Zane), a lobbyist, who appears to know where the bodies are buried. Meanwhile, O'Brien hooks up with Madeleine Pilager (Daryl Hannah), Dickie's sister, whose illegitimate child derailed her Olypmic skating career. She would love to get sink her brother's campaign, which is being kept afloat by Wes Benteen (Kris Kristofferson), who apparently owns all the mines in Colorado and since he already has a Pilager in his pocked as a U.S. Senator (Michael Murphy), just needs that one's son as governor to cover the other half of his rear end.

Also running around in this film are James Gammon, Tim Roth, Mary Kay Place, David Clennon, Miguel Ferrer, Alfre Woodard, and Thora Birch, so there is no doubting Sayles' ability to assemble an ensemble cast. It is just that are of the piece and parts of "Silver City" end up constituting a whimper rather than a bang. Obviously my heightened expectations are coming into play here, because I was expecting a scathing political satire and what Sayles hath wrought is more of a sad acknowledgement of the way the world works. At one point a character allows that people have lost their ability to be scandalized, and that is probably as good an explanation as any as to why Sayles appears to be pulling his punches. However, my disappointment at the end result causes me to round down on this one. Fortunately this movie clearly clicks with some people and hopefully it will for you, but I am not to be counted in their number.

Low budget but good.......2005-08-24

This film grew on me.

I first saw it after it was advertised in "The Nation." It had just enough laughs--and mystery--to keep me interested.

Others have gone over the plot. Chris Cooper plays quite a good dimwit--actually no less articulate than the dimwit who now occupies the formidable house on Pennsylvania Avenue.

I disagree with those critics who say Richard Dreyfus's character, the dimwit's campaign manager, is not slimy enough. I thought he did a good job as a Rove-like snake, of no integrity whatsoever. In fact, in the "making of" bonus feature, Dreyfus says what I've been saying since I was a teenager (and I'm almost Dreyfus's age!): People essentially don't care [about much of what's going on] until they're affected by it. And then it's too late. Thanks for confirming my assertion of the last nearly 40 years, Richard!

Frankly, at first I thought Michael Murphy was too young to play Dicky Pilager's dad, but, when I saw it a few more times, he did all right.

I had a slight problem with the sherrif, Skaggs I think the character was called. He was apparently the one responsible for the lead character, Danny O'Brien, played by Danny Huston, getting fired in the first place. But by the end, the guy bordered on being Danny's political advisor. There was nothing Danny could do, so, the sherrif advised him, he'll have to reconcile himself to what's happened.

But I can live with that as the consequence of a lower-budget story.

Overall, I'm glad I have it. Sayles says in one of the special features that we are a story-telling species. That's obvious, from oral tradition of religious scripture to tales told by vikings which became epics. Those stories are important. I'll use this story it at the "salons" some friends plan to have. It's a great caricature of what we face with the neocons running the show so far. And until we realize that, things'll keep getting worse.

Disappointing.......2005-08-23

Add this to the list of "movies that could have and should have been great but weren't".

Richard Dreyfuss is just not slimy enough to play the campaign manager. Sorry, Richard. Chris Cooper is great as the dimwit candidate, but doesn't have enough material to work with. The plot drags, and overall, it's difficult to care what happens to whom.

Don't waste your money. If you've seen the trailer, you've seen all the good parts already.

Western Double Feature (The Lonesome Trail / The Silver Star)

Average customer rating:

THIS SHOULD BE VCI'S "WESTERN FILM NOIR", EXCELLENT !
"Western Double Feature ... The Lonesome Trail & The Silver Star (1955) ... VCI Home Video"
Two More Great Lippert Gems From VCI!

Western Double Feature (The Lonesome Trail / The Silver Star)
Starring: Lonesome Trail , and Silver Star
Manufacturer: Vci Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( W ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Western Film Noir, Vol. 1 (Little Big Horn / Rimfire)
The Man Behind the Gun / Thunder Over the Plains / Riding Shotgun
Colt .45 / Tall Man Riding / Fort Worth
Forgotten Noir Collector's Set (Arson Inc. / Loan Shark / Portland Expose / Shadow Man / Shoot to Kill / They Were So Young)
Hammer Film Noir Double Feature, Vol. 4 (Terror Street / Wings of Danger)

ASIN: B000IOM1EG
Release Date: 2006-10-31

Description

From Lippert Pictures: The Lonesome Trail: Back from the Indian wars, a cowboy wages a single-handed war against a land baron and his henchmen. After his shooting hand is disabled, he masters the bow and arrow to take on the gang one arrow at a time! From the original 35mm widescreen negative. The Silver Star: A third generation deputy sheriff doubts whether or not he has the guts for the job that killed both his father and grandfather. His doubts are re-enforced when three vicious gunmen arrive in town. From the original 35mm widescreen negative. Bonus Features: Scene selections| Interview with Producer-Star Earle Lyon| Bios| Trivia| Trailers. Specs: DVD9; Dolby Digital; 14 minutes; B&W; 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio; MPAA - NR; Year - 1955; SRP - $14.99.

Customer Reviews:

THIS SHOULD BE VCI'S "WESTERN FILM NOIR", EXCELLENT !.......2006-12-24

"The Lonesome Trail" has some of the best character acting you'll ever see.Edgar Buchanan,one of the best character actors ever, has a small part but played it well.Douglas Fowley's "Crazy Charlie" role was excellent,not quite a sidekick,but very much like many of Gabby Hayes' character roles.Richard Bartlett is such an effective bad guy,his characters in both this and "The Silver Star" are just sickening !Bartlett was also the writer and director of this fine western. This picture was my introduction to Adele Jergens,whose performance as a hard drinking saloon gal was fantastic.I don't know if she was as tall as Marie Windsor who was 5' 9", but I found Jergens to have a presence just as commanding.You also wont want to miss Wayne Morris as the shotgun toting bartender ! I just loved this Picture.
"The Silver Star" was excellent too.I bought this to see my favorite actress,Marie Windsor and was not disappointed.Windsor actually plays somewhat of a good girl in this one although she still just smoulders with sex appeal.This picture is really tense.It reminded me of "The Gunfighter",not alot of action but a very tense drama.Again we have a bonanza of great characters.Edgar Buchanan plays a really good part of a retired sheriff that is somewhat combat fatigued,lucky to be alive in the brutal,wild west.He wants to leave the sheriffing to the popular newly elected sheriff,played by Earle Lyon, who's father and grandfather were both gunned down while serving in the office.As soon as the town celebrates his election,the trouble begins.Richard Bartlett ,who also co wrote the screenplay and directed this picture, was as effective as an actor could be as the hired gunfighter,King Daniels.Sickening,just sickening,I hated the character ! Also look for Lon Chaney Jr as John W. Harmon,the town's crooked lawyer ! I would rate this picture a bit higher than "The Lonesome Trail" but I can honestly give both of these the full five stars.

"Western Double Feature ... The Lonesome Trail & The Silver Star (1955) ... VCI Home Video".......2006-11-07

VCI Entertainment and Kit Parker Films presents "WESTERN DOUBLE FEATURE: The Lonesome Trail & The Silver Star (1955) --- (Dolby digitally remastered)....relive those thrilling days from the early '30s, '40s and '50s when western action took us down the dusty trails and the plains to exciting adventures --- some of the best B-Westerns ever to grace the Saturday Matinee Screen --- just remember double thrills, mystery and suspense hitting the bull's eye with excitement ... don't miss any of the features loaded with top notch directors and actors that will leave you wanting more of their B-Western adventures ... so pop some popcorn, sit back and enjoy your favorite film noir westerns.

First up we have Lippert Pictures & L&B Production Company - "THE LONESOME TRAIL" (1955) (73 mins/B&W) --- Under Richard H. Bartlett (Director / Screenwriter), Earle Lyon (Producer), Ian MacDonald (Screenwriter), Gordon D. Shirreffs (Book Author), Leon Klatzkin (Composer (Music Score) ------ the cast includes Wayne Morris (Dandy Dayton), John Agar (Johnny Rush), Margia Dean (Pat Wells), Edgar Buchanan (Dan Wells), Adele Jergens (Mae), Earle Lyon (Hal Brecker), Ian MacDonald (Gonaga), Douglas Fowley (Charlie), Richard Bartlett (Baker), Betty Blythe (Mrs. Wells), Diane DeLaire (Julie) . . . . . . . our story takes place after the Indian Wars and our hero John Agar discovers things aren't what they use to be at home ... not only is his land gone but also the girl he left behind is now engaged to the rich cattle baron, Earle Lyon ... everyone in town is afraid of Lyon and they won't back Agar except old Charlie (Douglas Fowley), Ian MacDonald (Gonaga) and Wayne Morris (bar tender) ... Agar is shot and left for dead, the wound in his shoulder is bad ... Agar learns to shoot with a bow and arrow ... the final showdown in the last scene is between gun and bow, which is a first in B-Westerns during the 50s . . . . . . special footnote, another favorite character actor is Douglas Fowley best-known for his performance in the musical "Singin' in the Rain" (1952), he played a film director trying to ease a silent-film star into her first talking picture, Fowley's best-known television role was as Doc Holliday in the popular ABC western series "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" (1955 - 1961), Fowley played Old Charlie in "The Lonesome Trail" (1955), just about stole the picture with his wonderful performance.

BONUS FEATURES:
1. Lonesome Trail (Advertising Gallery)
2. Silver Star - (Advertising Gallery)
3. Producer Earle Lyon talks about "Lonesome Trail" and "Silver Star"

TRAILERS:
1. Bandit Queen (1950) - Barbara Britton, Willard Parker, Phillip Reed and Barton MacLane
2. Great Jesse James Raid (1953) - Willard Parker, Barbara Payton, Tom Neal and Wallace Ford
3. I Shot Billy the Kid (1950) - Don "Red" Barry, Robert Lowery and Tom Neal
4. Return of Jesse James (1950) - John Ireland, Ann Dvorak, Henry Hull, Hugh O'Brian and Reed Hadley
5. Massacre (1956) - Dane Clark, James Craig, Martha Roth and Jaime Fernandez

BIOS:
1. Wayne Morris (aka: Bert DeWayne Morris)
Date of birth: 17 February 1914 - Los Angeles, California
Date of death: 14 September 1959 - Oakland, California
2. John Agar
Date of birth: 31 January 1921 - Chicago, Illinois
Date of death: 7 April 2002 - Burbank, California
3. Robert L. Lippert (Producer)
Date of birth: 31 March 1909 - Alameda, California
Date of death: 16 November 1976 - Unknown City & State
4. Richard Bartlett (Director)
Date of birth: 1922 - USA
Date of death: 11 June 1994 - Havre de Grace, Maryland
5. Earle Lyon (Producer)
Date of birth: 25 February 1926 - Waterloo, Iowa
Date of death: Still Living

Second on the double bill is a Lippert Pictures & L&B Production Company - "THE SILVER STAR" (1955) (73 min. B/W) --- Under Richard H. Bartlett (Director / Screenwriter), Earle Lyon (Producer), Ian MacDonald (Screenwriter), Guy Roe (Cinematographer), Leon Klatzkin (Composer (Music Score), Jimmy Wakely (Ballad: The Silver Star - composed & sung by), George Reid (Editor) ------ the cast includes Edgar Buchanan (Will 'Bill' Dowdy), Marie Windsor (Karen Childress), Lon Chaney Jr. (John W. Harmon), Earle Lyon (Sheriff Gregg Leech), Richard Bartlett (King Daniels), Barton MacLane (Henry 'Tiny' Longtree), Morris Ankrum (Charlie Childress), Edith Evanson (Belle Dowdy), Michael Whalen (The old sot), Steve Rowland (Bainy (the young man), . . . . . . our story poses a question, does a man stand or run when the odds are against him ... this is what Sheriff Earle Lyon must decide when three outlaws come into town looking for the new Sheriff ... great script by actor Ian MacDonald, supporting cast is some of the best character actors in the business with Edgar Buchanan as the retired Sheriff, Edith Evanson as the Sheriff's wife, Marie Windsor as is girl, Morris Ankrum as the girl's father and saloon owner, Barton MacLane as the towns Blacksmith, Lon Chaney Jr. as the towns legal person ... the scene stealers of the film are Earle Lyon as the Sheriff (also producer of the film) and Richard Barlett as the gunman hired to kill the new Sheriff ... must make mention that screenwriter/actor Ian MacDonald played the badman Frank Miller, that got off the train to gun down Gary Cooper in "High Noon" (1952) ... the haunting song you hear throughout "Silver Star" was composed and sung by legendary Jimmy Wakely. . . . . . .there's a great deal of entertainment here for all the B- Western film noir fans out there ... all courtesy of VCI Entertainment, who in my humble opinion is the best there is in restoring early serials and features like this one.

BIOS:
1. Edgar Buchanan (aka: William Edgar Buchanan)
Date of birth: 20 March 1903 - Humansville, Missouri
Date of death: 4 April 1979 - Palm Desert, California,
2. Marie Windsor (aka: Emily Marie Bertelsen)
Date of birth: 11 December 1919 - Marysvale, Utah
Date of death: 10 December 2000 - Beverly Hills, California
3. Barton MacLane
Date of birth: 25 December 1902 - Columbia, South Carolina
Date of death: 1 January 1969 - Santa Monica, California
4. Lon Chaney Jr. (aka: Creighton Tull Chaney)
Date of birth: 10 February 1906 - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Date of death: 12 July 1973 - San Clemente, California

Great job by VCI Entertainment for releasing "Western Double Feature: The Lonesome Trail & The Silver Star" (1955), digital transfere with a clean, clear and crisp print...looking forward to more of the same from the '40s and '50s vintage...order your copy now from Amazon or VCI Entertainment, stay tuned once again with riding the range with B-Westerns that only VCI Entertainment (King of the Serials) can deliver...just the way we like 'em!

Total Time: 146 mins on DVD ~ VCIV561DVD ~ (10/31/2006)

Two More Great Lippert Gems From VCI!.......2006-09-18

Robert L. Lippert, known as "The Quickie King" put out a considerable number of "B" movies during the late forties and early fifties...some were real klunkers, however tucked away amongst the tripe are a few real diamonds in the rough. "The Lonesome Trail" and "The Silver Star" are two real gems.

Both features were produced by Earle Lyon and directed by Richard Bartlett, and both producer and director took acting roles in the movies. OK, let there be no doubt about it, these are real low budget works...the casts in both features are filled out with names from Hollywood's 'Poverty Row' and the production values are extremely limited. Having said that the film makers do the most with their limited budgets.

"Lonesome Trail" concerns a small rancher (John Agar) who returns home from the Indian Wars to find his valley has been co-opted by baddies (Lyon and Bartlett). When Agar is seriously wounded in his gun arm, he develops a profficiency with bow and arrow and seeks revenge. A nice twist on a standard western.

But the REAL jewel here is "The Silver Star." Written by Ian McDonald, who played Gary Cooper's nemesis in "High Noon" we are presented with an anti-High Noon theme. Earle Lyon as the less than brave Sheriff, runs to the train station to buy a ticket out of town when the baddies arrive, rather than stand tall, like Coop and utter "I think I ought to stay." Despite the low budget there is a real story being told here, and it is in some respets, more realistic than it's inspiration,"High Noon."

In addistion to Earle Lyon as the Sheriff and Richard Bartlett as the Gunman, the cast is rounded out with veteran western heroine Marie Windsor, and features Edgar Buchanan, Lon Chaney and Barton Maclain. Oh, did I mention the killer ballad sung throughout by Country music legend Jimmy Wakely? This is a GREAT western for all lovers of the old beat up B movies.

Thanks VCI and Kit Parker for bringing these movies to light after so many years.

John Wayne 2 Pack (The Man from Utah / The Star Packer / Sagebrush Trail / Riders of Destiny)

Average customer rating:

The horses are still the stars
Just click on the photo.
Wondering
A typical old western with a formulaic plot.

John Wayne 2 Pack (The Man from Utah / The Star Packer / Sagebrush Trail / Riders of Destiny)
Starring: John Wayne , Polly Ann Young , Anita Campillo , Edward Peil Sr. , and George 'Gabby' Hayes
Director: Robert N. Bradbury , and Armand Schaefer
Manufacturer: Madacy Records
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Westerns | 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

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

All Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( J ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Sons of Katie Elder

ASIN: B00000IC89
Release Date: 2000-02-01

Customer Reviews:

The horses are still the stars.......2002-08-06

Please realize that these b-westerns were made in the 1930's to be weekly entertainment. We didn't have TV's and the movie was king. However, times have changed. Is this movie still worth watching? Yes.

The Star Packer has one plot gimmick-a hollow tree trunk in the middle of a road in a western town. Once you accept the tree trunk, the movie is actually a decent movie. The story doe not bog down and keeps moving. A westrern has to have some good horse riding in it, and there are some good western action scenes which includes a couple of horse chase scenes. If you like this movie, you might like another early Wayne movie titled "Desert Trail."

Just click on the photo........2000-10-07

The 4 John Wayne films listed on this DVD are "riders of destiny,starpacker,sagebrush trail and man fom Utah".It is just his 1930s b-grade films and not really worth buying.

Wondering.......2000-06-15

Which films are included in this 2-pack?

A typical old western with a formulaic plot........1999-11-09

I found these movies to be extremely formulaic. The plot wasn't all that bad though and seemed to at least move. The most disappointing factor of all is that it's on DVD and the sound is terrible. You can't understand half of what they say. It sounds like they recorded off of a bad speaker that keeps popping. At one point the film even scrolls. Disappointing use of media, okay plot, excellent for camp value.

Average customer rating:

Wagon Trail
Starring: Dick Botiller , Harry Carey , Chief Thundercloud , Earl Dwire , and Lew Meehan
Director: Harry L. Fraser
Manufacturer: Alpha Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( W ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Wagon Wheels
The Squaw Man
Seven Men From Now (Special Collector's Edition)

ASIN: B000AJJNB8
Release Date: 2005-09-27

Average customer rating:

PUZZLING PUZZLE

Trail of a Serial Killer
Starring: Chris Penn , Jennifer Dale , Michael Madsen , Chad McQueen , and Terri Hawkes
Director: Damian Lee
Manufacturer: Avalanche Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( T ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Diary of a Serial Killer
Frozen in Fear
Serial Killing 101
Eaten Alive
Starsky & Hutch (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B00000AEVV
Release Date: 1998-09-29

Customer Reviews:

PUZZLING PUZZLE.......2005-01-08

TRAIL OF A SERIAL KILLER is a moody, sometimes incoherent, not always involving, thriller. Directed by the ubiquitous Damian Lee, it stars Chris Penn (Sean's younger, but not littler, brother) as an FBI agent haunted by a serial killer who has yet to be captured. After a four year hiatus (which is never really explained), the killer known as ALONE (Penn's character's name spelled backwards) strikes again, this time including a sexy psychiatrist in his schemes. While I credit the scriptwriter for some intriguing red herrings, the identity of the serial killer is both predictable and rather disappointing.
Penn is no Sean Penn as an actor, that's for sure. But he possesses an earnestness and conviction that makes his strange character appealing; Michael Madsen (ersatz Bruce Willis wannabe) is once again sleepy eyed and lethargic, and Chad McQueen is all but lost as one of the lovely doctor's patients. Jennifer Dale is lacking in thespian skills and one wonders what a more accomplished actress could have done with the role.
The ending is way overboard and the resolution rather empty, but there are still some worthwhile moments in this movie.

Range Busters: Trail Of Silver Spurs (1941) / Tonto Basin Outlaws (1941)

Average customer rating:

Range Busters: Trail Of Silver Spurs (1941) / Tonto Basin Outlaws (1941)
Starring: Range Busters Double Feature
Manufacturer: Alpha Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( R ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Bullets and Saddles
The Kid's Last Ride
Range Busters: Wrangler's Roost
Trail Riders/Rock River Renegades
The Three Mesquiteers: Heart of the Rockies

ASIN: B000JU8HCE
Release Date: 2006-12-26

Product Description

Crash Corrigan and his pals ride the range in search of danger in two thrilling cowboy classics.

Average customer rating:

Good DVD edition
An early John Wayne western with Yakima Canutt's stunts
A funny, action-packed western

Sagebrush Trail
Starring: John Wayne , Nancy Shubert , Lane Chandler , Yakima Canutt , and Henry Hall
Director: Armand Schaefer
Manufacturer: Good Times Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

Westerns | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

All Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Winds of the Wasteland
Rainbow Valley
John Wayne: The Dawn Rider
Westward Ho
Shadow of the Eagle

ASIN: B00005B1Y2
Release Date: 2001-05-29

Customer Reviews:

Good DVD edition.......2004-10-16

As far as the merits of the film go, I can't add anything to Mr. Barnabo's informative review (maybe a little TOO informative , actually, gave away plot points).

I would like to say that I purchased this Good Times Video edition after trying the Madacy edition (John Wayne two pack). The Good Times disc has a much better picture quality, although not quite as good as the Laser Disc I own. Both Madacy and Good Times have the original soundtrack music. The Good Times disc does add in two brief spots the ludicrous modern action movie score added in the 1980s (that's all over the Laser Disc edition).

So, if you want to own Sagebrush Trail, this is the edition I'd recommend.

An early John Wayne western with Yakima Canutt's stunts.......2004-05-31

"Sagebrush Trail" is the second Lone Star Western that John Wayne did for the poverty row studio between 1933-35, although this time around he is not a singing cowboy. Directed by Armand Schaefer, this 1933 film has Wayne as John Brant, who is in prison for a murder he did not commit, which was a recurring notion in these westerns. Brant escapes and takes the alias John Smith, which is certain to fool everyone, and joins an outlaw gang. There, of course, he finds Joseph Conlon (Lane Chandler), who is not only the dirty scoundrel who actually committed the murder but who has also taken the alias of Bob Jones. Yes, that means that what we have here are the original "Alias Smith and Jones."

Actually, "Sagebrush Trail" takes an interesting turn here because Jones does not know that anyone was ever sent to prison for the crime he committed, which makes it hard for our hero to gun him down or even beat him up. Instead the two men become friends as our hero lets bygones by bygones. However, Fate is not done with these two because it turns out they both fall for the same shop girl, Sally Blake (Nancy Shubert). Besides, "Jones" is starting to suspect that "Smith" is not a real outlaw.

That should be enough to tell you how "Sagebrush Trail" plays out, but at least Lindsley Parsons's screenplay had the one twist on the obvious story, which makes it a notch above average. As is usually the case with these Lone Star Westerns the chief attraction ends up being the stunt work of the legendary Yakima Canutt, who actually plays the leader of the outlaw gang. Canutt does an excellent horse fall into a river, drives a team of horses like a chariot, and manages to get up on a stagecoach while starting flat on his back.

A funny, action-packed western.......2001-11-07

This John Wayne show is where John Wayne is going to be arrested because of a murder he didn't commit. So he impersonates a gang of outlaws and makes friends with the gang, and the leader, who is the murderer, is the man that really likes John Wayne. Well, I'm not telling you any more except that this was a totally fun movie. I was really cold when I watched this movie, but the action really warmed me up. I recommend this to any John Wayne fan, wether you're a big fan or not.

Average customer rating:

The Grand Canyon Trail
Starring: Roy Rogers; Jane Frazee; Andy Devine; Robert Livingston; Trigger the horse; Roy Barcroft; Charles Coleman; Emmett Lynn
Director: William Witney
Manufacturer: Reel Enterprises
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

John Wayne: Riding the Trail/Riding the Range

Average customer rating:

Nice print, but truncated (rats!)

John Wayne: Riding the Trail/Riding the Range
Starring: John Wayne , Mary Kornman , Paul Fix , Eddy Chandler , and Carmen Laroux
Director: Lewis D. Collins , Carl Pierson , and Robert N. Bradbury
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

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

1930s | John Wayne Store | Stores | DVD | Video

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

( J ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Fugitive (Young Duke Series)
The Big Stampede / Ride Him Cowboy / Haunted Gold
Rodeo Racketeers
The Fighting Seabees
Shadow of the Eagle

ASIN: B00005YUNP
Release Date: 2002-05-14

Description

Includes: The Desert Trail (1935), Paradise Canyon (1935), The Trail Beyond (1934), Two-Fisted Law (1932), Riders of Destiny (1933), and West of the Divide (1934).

Customer Reviews:

Nice print, but truncated (rats!).......2004-04-02

I've seen RIDERS OF DESTINY about seven times over a 30-year period. I enjoy it even though the plot, dialog, acting, fistfights, etc. are very crude. This was the first of John Wayne's Lone Star Westerns, a series of films made for about $10,000 apiece. But it has a certain charm I can't explain. Yakima Canutt does a couple of nice stunts as well; Cecilia Parker is as pretty as Toby Wing, in my opinion (Toby was the "Young and Healthy" girl in 42ND STREET).

This DVD, released by Columbia Tri-Star, has the clearest print of RIDERS OF DESTINY that I recall seeing - a very sharp image in many places. Unfortunately, it omits at least 5 1/2 minutes of the film, including a critical plot point. The ranchers say they'll sign a new water rights contract with the evil land baron, only if he'll agree to one additional clause. This version then skips the scene where they say what the clause is, and so the villain's extreme dismay near the end of the film isn't adequately explained.

Perhaps as compensation for the missing scenes, a pseudo-symphonic soundtrack has been dubbed in at various points, sticking out like a huge sore thumb.

I think in the future I'll continue to watch the Goodtimes DVD (2000) for this film; their copy is more complete, even though the picture is somewhat washed out.

The only other film I've watched on this DVD is TWO FISTED LAW starring Tim McCoy (and a small part by John Wayne). I've only seen TWO FISTED LAW once before, so I'm not sure if anything's missing. As a movie, I found it less enjoyable than the films starring John Wayne. The print was in fairly good condition.

Description

starring Rex Lease (1937) A wandering cowpoke (Rex Lease) tries to look up a friend who's struck it rich prospecting, but no one's heard of him. With the help of a female outlaw, he searches for the truth. Tex Ralph's Westerns #7 B-Westerns strongly evoked traditional American values - honesty, courage, hard work, fair play, and that a good little man can always kick the butt of a bad big man. In the darkness of the theater and afterwards, out in the Saturday afternoon sunlight playing cowboys and Indians, long before political correctness changed the name of our favorite boyhood game, we knew we were right and lived in the greatest land of all... because Gene and Roy and Hoppy and all our other heroes said so and showed us how to live a good moral life by riding hard, drawing fast, and never, EVER stealing a horse or rustling a cow. "Tex Ralph's Westerns" is a weekly TV show on cable channel 20, URTV, in Asheville, North Carolina. Author Ralph Roberts chooses exciting B-Westerns and hosts each episode. Currently there are 53 movies in this series, all available on DVD.

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

Pleasurecraft

Six Feet Under: The Complete First/Second Season

Kermit's Swamp Years [2002] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

DVD: Jason Goes to Hell - The Final Friday

Walking Tall - Auf eigene Faust