Gabby & His Gullible Friends

Starring:Gabby
Studio: Good Times Video
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

awesome
Hilarious fun!
Brought back so many memories ....
Muriel Steals Everything, Including Your Heart!
A delight about people, their hopes, desires and despair

Muriel's Wedding
Starring: Sophie Lee , Rosalind Hammond , Toni Collette , Belinda Jarrett , and Pippa Grandison
Director: P.J. Hogan
Manufacturer: Miramax
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Black Comedy | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Art House & International | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Comedy | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

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

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

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

The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Extra Frills Edition)
Strictly Ballroom
To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar
The Dish
The Castle

ASIN: 0788814958
Release Date: 1999-05-18

Amazon.com

Ever since the late '70s when the Australian New Wave was in full surge, Down Under directors have delivered movies that often hit you like news from another planet. Offbeat characters, weird narrative twists, and a tart mixture of laughs and catastrophe--this is the juice that fuels such flicks as Proof, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Strictly Ballroom, Heavenly Creatures, and most certainly Muriel's Wedding. Directed by P.J. Hogan (who would go on to helm the Hollywood hit My Best Friend's Wedding), this little gem follows tradition by featuring an authentic misfit: Muriel (Toni Collette), a great overweight horse of a girl obsessed with getting married and the music of ABBA. Appropriately, we first meet Muriel at a wedding, all trussed up in a leopardskin number she's boosted for the occasion. When her snotty peers insist that she give up the bridal bouquet to someone who might actually get hitched, when one of the guests turns out to be a clerk in the very store where Muriel ripped off her outfit--you gotta laugh, she's such an unmitigated mess. A loser, her philandering politician father (Bill Hunter) calls her--along with his doormat wife and his other couch-potato offspring. But this movie's no exercise in geek-bashing. As Muriel takes up with feisty Rhonda (Rachel Griffiths) and moves from Porpoise Spit to the big city, her good-hearted grin and zest for life draw us in despite hilarious gaffes and mishaps. (Making out with a boy for the first time, Muriel suddenly finds herself awash in styrofoam: the oaf has unzipped the beanbag chair instead of her skin-tight leather pants.) Muriel's Wedding covers territory Hollywood would banish from a comedy--Rhonda's cancer, the suicide of Muriel's mother, a marriage of convenience to an arrogant athlete--yet, like its heroine, it never loses its sense of humor, its will to move on to whatever good thing might happen next. Everyone in the idiosyncratic cast is terrific, but it's Toni Collette's Dancing Queen who makes Muriel's Wedding a cinematic celebration you won't forget. --Kathleen Murphy

Description

Hysterically funny, fresh, and brimming with wit, MURIEL'S WEDDING is the comedy hit celebrated by critics nationwide! No one ever paid much attention to Muriel and her humdrum small-town life, so she and her best friend, Rhonda, decide to leave it behind and head for the big city ... where they end up having the exciting adventure of their lives! What's more, soon everyone takes notice when Muriel becomes engaged to a handsome and popular sports hero! You'll love every hilarious minute as Muriel discovers that even when it seems all her dreams are coming true, the path to the altar still has plenty of surprising twists!

Customer Reviews:

awesome.......2007-06-29

this is the bestest movie ever.. if you're a 20-something girl who dosn't really know what you're doing in life.. this is a perfect movie for you... it show's Muriel.. i mean Mariel's ups and downs in her life.. a great movie for that special 'girl's night in'.

Hilarious fun!.......2007-05-31

This movie combines the brutal honesty of being different with the very celebration of it. The music (predominantly ABBA) brings us, as an audience, up and down the emotional scale. We feel for Muriel, cheer her on, and admonish her at the same time. Muriel's Wedding is on my list of the best chick flicks out there.

Brought back so many memories ...........2007-05-29

The last time I ever saw this movie was over 10 years ago with my sister when we rented it on VHS. On DVD, it's even better. I wish they added a feature where they interviewed the cast now and see what they all look like. I know Collette is still acting, but whatever happened to those snotty friends of hers that make you want to punch them out.!

Muriel Steals Everything, Including Your Heart!.......2007-05-12

Muriel (Toni Collette) is an overweight, somewhat dense teenager who still loves ABBA and lives with an overweight somewhat dense family in Porpoise Spit, Australia. Dad is an incompetent and crooked local politician who belittles his family at every turn. Sounds like a real downer, huh? Throw in cruel girls, suicide and cancer and you'll have a real party! Right!? Director/Writer P. J. Hogan ("My Best Friend's Wedding") somehow manages to turn this screwball plot on its collective head and produces outrageous, hilarious scene after scene. Sure, Muriel is a loser until she gets together with Rhonda (Rachel Griffiths) and the two of them party and get revenge on the nasty girls. Both characters are extremely charismatic and likeable in every scene. There's no sense in going into all the plot changes and twists; it just keeps getting better and better. There's a certain realistic pathos of humor to Hogan's script, which never feels false and certainly not contrived. His aim is to make the losers the winners and the winners the fall guys. He succeeds marvelously.

A delight about people, their hopes, desires and despair.......2007-03-06

Before Tony Collette arrived in Hollywood she conquered her homeland, Australia, with this wonderful dramedy about losers, winners, life, love, fantasy and reincarnation.

Collette plays flabby loser Muriel, then renames herself Mariel after moving from little Porpise Spit to Sydney, where she embarks on a campaign to reinvent herself as a winner. Turns out she made the move by stealing money from dad, which she uses to pay for her best friend's cancer surgery, which turns out badly.

All the while, family angst and Muriel's fantasy about being a bride trump the social action in the film. She realizes her dream when she agrees to marry a South African Olympic athlete who can only compete for Australia if he acquires citizenship, which he does through marriage. Even though a loveless marriage, it works for both members.

"Why would you marry someone you didn't love?" the swimmer asks Muriel.
"You did."
"I want to win!" he responds.
"So do I."

And win Muriel does, metaphically and in life, by gaining fame through TV and newspaper coverage of her fancy wedding, and by turning around her peers that once belittled her...beautiful girls that couldn't wait to be her bridesmaids.

The loveless marriage is followed by the death of Muriel's estranged mother and her being reunited with family -- including her estranged and insensitive dad -- back in Porpoise Spit. The films ends on an upbeat with Muriel and friend returning to Sydney, seemingly leaving all their problems behind for a second time.

Collette is nothing short of a miracle in this film, which has parallels to "Bridget Jones Diary". She is a wonder in her delivery, facial expressions, voicing and overall acting. The script is a masterpiece of sardonic humor laced with pathos. You will identify with almost every character, cheering on many including Muriel, while reviling others.

This is a very great film that deserves the widest distribution. Rent, borrow, buy or steal this DVD today if you've never seen this wonderful movie.

Average customer rating:

Johnson Family Vacation
GREAT MOVIE
Pointless
stall out
Probadly Up there With Worst FIlms Of All-Time

Johnson Family Vacation
Starring: Cedric the Entertainer , Vanessa Williams (VII) , Solange Knowles , Bow Wow , and Gabby Soleil
Director: Christopher Erskin
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Domestic Comedies | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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

Barbershop 2 - Back in Business (Special Edition)
Are We There Yet?
Barbershop (Special Edition)
Guess Who
Soul Plane (Unrated Mile High Edition)

ASIN: B0002B14UW
Release Date: 2004-08-10

Amazon.com

Cedric the Entertainer (Barbershop, Intolerable Cruelty) lends his stubborn, skeptical charm to Johnson Family Vacation. Though separated from his wife (Vanessa Williams, Soul Food, Shaft), Nate Johnson (Cedric) pulls his family together so that they can compete for an award at the Johnson family reunion. Of course, the road trip from California to Missouri--featuring a sexy but crazy hitchhiker, motel high jinks, and an afternoon in jail--threatens to split up the family permanently. The humor of Johnson Family Vacation is rambling and ridiculous--for example, Williams fools Cedric into taking his swim trunks off in a motel hot tub, then leaves him to tiptoe through the motel naked. But Cedric and Williams both have undeniable charisma; together, they carry this shaggy dog of a movie through its more lackadaisacal moments. Also featuring Bow Wow, Solange Knowles, Shannon Elizabeth (American Pie), and Steve Harvey (Love Don't Cost a Thing). --Bret Fetzer

Description

Buckle up for the wildest road trip of the year! Cedric the Entertainer leads an all-star cast in this hilarious comedy adventure about a misfit family trying to survive outrageous obstacles (including each other) on a cross-country trek to their annual f

Customer Reviews:

Johnson Family Vacation.......2007-01-13

Cedric is excellent along with the rest of the cast. Better laughs than a Chevy Chase run.

GREAT MOVIE.......2006-10-18

I THINK JOHNSON FAMILY VACATION WAS A VERY HILARIOUS MOVIE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE MAJORITY OF ALL THE BAD REVIEWS I HAD READ. MY GUESS IS THEY DON'T LIKE AN AFRICAN AMERICAN VERSION OF THE SO CALLED CLASSIC CHEVY CHASE MOVIE. THIS MOVIE WAS SO FUNNY ! I LOVED THE PART WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PIMPED OUT AND WHEN NATE AND HIS SON D.J. HAD IT OUT ABOUT THE CDS AND THREW THE CDS OUT OF THE WINDOW. THE MOVIE BECAME MORE AND MORE FUNNY WHEN THE FAMILY WERE AT FUN WORLD AND NATE RAN INTO THE CHEF MAKING DESTINY'S BIRTHDAY CAKE HAHAHAHAHA. I ESPECIALLY LOVED STEVE HARVEY WHEN HE CONSTANTLY TAUNTED HIS BROTHER. THIS WAS A GREAT MOVIE I RECOMMEND IT IF U R HAVING A BAD DAY OR JUST WANT SOMETHING FUNNY TO WATCH.

Pointless.......2006-03-11

I felt this was a very poor imitation of the classic Chevy Chase vacation movies. This is about a road trip with a few supposedly hillarious twists and turns which left me unimpressed.
On a personal note, I found the main character's habit of throwing notebooks,soda cups and CDs out of the window of a moving car obnoxious. Littering is neither funny nor cool.

stall out.......2006-02-16

**1/2

In "Johnson Family Vacation," which is little more than an all-black version of the National Lampoon Vacation movies from twenty or so years ago, Nate Johnson loads his wife and three kids into the car and drives from their home in Los Angeles to a family reunion in Missouri. Along the way, of course, the family meets with a series of comic misadventures that threaten to prevent them from reaching their destination.

Despite the derivative storyline, the early scenes in the film exhibit a kind of playful spirit that bodes well for the rest of the movie. This is due in no small measure to Cedric the Entertainer, who, unlike so many of the comics who appear in these types of movies, doesn't feel the need to stand apart from the material in order to draw attention to himself. Indeed, it is the laid-back, unfussy way in which he delivers his lines that makes them so funny. He is also blessed with an attractive supporting cast that includes Vanessa Williams as his long-suffering wife and Bow Wow as his mouthy but generally good-hearted teenage son. The movie even includes some clever little satirical jabs at the accoutrements and symbols of modern-day black culture as Nate, the traditionalist, who listens to `70`s soul on his worn-out 8-tracks, goes toe-to-toe with his adolescent gansta' rap children.

But as the Johnsons tootle their way across country in their souped-up SUV, we begin to notice that the film itself has stalled out. About halfway through, it dawns on us that the movie isn't really going anywhere, that it is merely playing out variations on incidents we've seen earlier in the film, and that the set pieces and situations aren`t nearly as interesting or outrageous as they should be. This is truly a pity because, given the attractive cast, we really want to like "Johnson Family Vacation" more than we ultimately do.

Still, all things considered, this makes for a reasonable diverting, mindless time at the movies, and Cedric the Entertainer's moniker has rarely seemed so apt.

Probadly Up there With Worst FIlms Of All-Time.......2006-01-26

Wow the crap hollywood throws at The world is incredible and insulting , This film shouldnt even be in existance, Not One funny part I Didnt laught not one time,Crappy reused jokes and plots, THis is the same old crap you've seen hundreds of times,It gets to the point when i ask myself are they even trying, do they make films so bad purposely?? People Take my advice stay away and you might save yourself from this horrible movie(well this doesnt deserve the word movie it suits better when called Cow Crap

The Ultimate Roy Rogers Collection - King of the Cowboys

Average customer rating:

good deal

The Ultimate Roy Rogers Collection - King of the Cowboys
Starring: Roy Rogers , Dale Evans , and Gabby Hayes
Manufacturer: Passport
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Westerns | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

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

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

Roy Rogers 20 Movie Pack (4 DVD)
Roy Rogers Show 3 (B&W)
The Roy Rogers Show, Vol. 1
Cisco Kid Western Collection
Classic Western Round-Up, Vol. 2 (The Texans / California / The Cimarron Kid / The Man from the Alamo)

ASIN: B000MQ5552
Release Date: 2007-04-10

Description

Saddle up for this action-packed assortment of shoot-`em-ups and songs of the sagebrush starring Roy Rogers - the King of the Cowboys!! Here are 25 full-length western features` on 5 DVDs!

Catch Roy and the whole gang - George "Gabby" Hayes, Dale Evans, Smiley Burnette, and Trigger ("The Smartest Horse in the Movies"). Along the way, such favorites as John Carradine, Gale Storm, and Clayton Moore make appearances. Some titles appear on DVD for the first time!

Disc One

*WALL STREET COWBOY (1939) - Roy ventures to New York to try and raise money for the mortgage on his ranch - which happens to be sitting on top of a large deposit of a rare and valuable mineral! Gabby Hayes and Raymond Hatton (San Quentin) co-star and future star George Montgomery (Roxie Hart) is a cowhand.

THE ARIZONA KID (1939) - During the Civil War, Roy and Gabby become Confederate scouts to try and get rid of a vicious outlaw gang. Dorothy Sebastian - former wife of William "Hopalong Cassidy" Boyd - plays the girlfriend of the outlaws' leader (songwriter Stuart Hamblen).

DAYS OF JESSE JAMES (1939) - Roy goes undercover as a member of the James gang in order to get to the bottom of a series of bank robberies. Don "Red" Barry (The Purple Heart) plays Jesse James, while Glenn Strange (House of Frankenstein) is Cole Younger.

THE RANGER AND THE LADY (1940) - While Sam Houston (Davison Clark of Reap the Wild Wind) is in Washington, trying to get Texas admitted to the Union, Texas Ranger Roy must deal with Houston's scheming assistant (Henry Brandon from March of the Wooden Soldiers), who is unfairly taxing Texans.

WEST OF THE BADLANDS (1940) - In an unintentional foreshadowing of The Fugitive, Roy plays a young doctor on the run from the law, falsely accused of a horrible crime. Popular character actor Joe Sawyer (The Roaring Twenties) is the ruthless leader of an outlaw gang.

Disc Two

YOUNG BILL HICKOK (1940) - Roy in the title role as the legendary lawman, entrusted with guarding a shipment of gold. Along the way, he gets mixed up with Calamity Jane (Sally Payne, who played Belle Starr opposite Roy the following year in Robin Hood of the Pecos).

YOUNG BUFFALO BILL (1940) - Once again, Roy plays a real-life (though highly fictionalized) western legend. Here, he and Gabby fight off a band of Indians while trying to straighten out a Spanish land grant in New Mexico. Pauline Moore (Young Mr. Lincoln) is the lovely damsel in distress.

BAD MAN OF DEADWOOD (1941) - Roy and Gabby try to restore law and order to the town of Deadwood, which is currently in the evil clutches of a tough gang leader (Hal Taliaferro of Red River). Cinema veteran Monte Blue (Orphans of the Storm) plays the sheriff.

ROBIN HOOD OF THE PECOS (1941) - Roy is a former Confederate soldier who has become a sort of Western Robin Hood and winds up becoming sheriff as he battles corrupt carpetbaggers. Cyrus Kendall (Crime School) is the main bad guy.

SHERIFF OF TOMBSTONE (1941) - In a change of pace, Gabby plays a judge who helps Roy clear his name after being mistaken for a ruthless gunslinger. Addison Richards (Boys Town) is Tombstone's corrupt mayor.

Disc Three

*HEART OF THE GOLDEN WEST (1942) - Roy, Gabby, Frog Millhouse (Smiley Burnette) and the Sons of the Pioneers help a group of ranchers who are being unjustly taxed for transporting their cattle. To circumvent the tax, Roy convinces an old riverboat captain (Walter Catlett of Bringing Up Baby) to let the cows ride down the river.

KING OF THE COWBOYS (1943) - Roy goes undercover to stop a gang of saboteurs who have been blowing up government warehouses to aid the Axis powers during World War II. Russell Hicks (The Bank Dick) plays the governor of Texas and Peggy Moran (The Mummy's Hand) is the damsel in distress.

*SILVER SPURS (1943) - Roy comes to the aid of a young widow who is being swindled out of her ranch by an unscrupulous opportunist (John Carradine of The Grapes of Wrath). Jerome Cowan (The Maltese Falcon) also appears and Trigger really gets a chance to strut his stuff in this one.

THE YELLOW ROSE OF TEXAS (1944) - Roy goes undercover as an insurance investigator to solve a payroll robbery in this murder-mystery change-of-pace story. Dale Evans, in one of her first roles opposite Roy, plays the daughter of an escaped convict!

Disc Four

*HOME IN OKLAHOMA (1946) - Roy and Dale - in a sort of Western version of Tracy and Hepburn - are rival reporters trying to beat each other in getting the scoop on the murder of a millionaire rancher. Frank Reicher (Captain Englehorn in King Kong) appears as a lawyer.

MY PAL TRIGGER (1946) - Roy is unjustly blamed in the shooting death of Gabby's horse. Popular character actor Jack Holt (San Francisco) is the actual shooter. This film was reportedly a personal favorite of Roy's.

ROLL ON TEXAS MOON (1946) - Roy tries to stop a vicious range war between sheepherders and cattle ranchers that has been intentionally started by an unscrupulous businessman (Dennis Hoey, better known as Inspector Lestrade in the Sherlock Holmes series).

*APACHE ROSE (1947) - Roy is an oil prospector whose attempts to gain the drilling rights to a prize piece of land are thwarted by a gang of ruthless gamblers who operate from an offshore boat. George Meeker (The Roaring Twenties) leads the gambling gang.

THE BELLS OF SAN ANGELO (1947) - Roy is a border guard who suspects (correctly) that is smuggling silver out of a Mexican mine and "planting" it in his own worthless silver mine! John McGuire (Sands of Iwo Jima) is the culprit, and movie favorite Andy Devine (Stagecoach) plays the sheriff!

Disc Five

SPRINGTIME IN THE SIERRAS (1947) - Roy tries to stop a gang of poachers from killing deer in violation of local hunting regulations and winds up locking horns with the leader of the gang - who happens to be a very attractive woman (Stephanie Bachelor from Lady of Burlesque). Once again, Andy Devine plays the sheriff, and old timer Chester Conklin plays an Old Timer.

THE GAY RANCHERO (1948) - Sheriff Roy tries to stop a gang of crooks from taking over an airport by sabotaging the planes. Crooner Tito Guizar (Mexico's version of the singing cowboy) plays an ex-bullfighter who comes to America to find the girl of his dreams.

GRAND CANYON TRAIL (1948) - A gullible sheriff (Andy Devine again) is duped into investing in a worthless silver mine. Jane Frazee (Buck Privates) is the comic female foil, while Laurel and Hardy nemesis James Finlayson (Way Out West) plays another sheriff.

THE FAR FRONTIER (1948) - Where else can you see Roy Rogers, the Lone Ranger, Annie Oakley and Jingles Jones, all in one movie? That's because Clayton Moore (The Lone Ranger), Gail Davis (Annie Oakley), and Andy Devine (The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok) join Roy in this timely story about the smuggling of illegals from Mexico into the U.S.

UNDER CALIFORNIA SKIES (1948) - Roy plays singing-cowboy movie star "Roy Rogers" in this "backstage" story about the celebration of Roy's ten years in movies, spoiled by the sudden kidnapping of Trigger. Child star Michael Chapin (Call Northside 777) is caught up in the danger.

* First Time on DVD

Customer Reviews:

good deal.......2007-04-20

The transfer is clean so far.watched 6 movies.
My complain is that the films are not full copies. They are around 50 minutes each.The music is missing.Hey what do you want for 15$

Average customer rating:

"a fella doesn't get any place unless he tries"
A lesser known Wayne Classic
Popular Wayne Civil War -Era 'Western' Still Shines!
On to Kansas
interesting and rare John Wayne movie

Dark Command
Starring: Claire Trevor , John Wayne , Walter Pidgeon , Roy Rogers , and George 'Gabby' Hayes
Director: Raoul Walsh
Manufacturer: Republic Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Biography | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Civil War | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

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

1940s | John Wayne Store | Stores | DVD | Video

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

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

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

In Old California
Dakota
Flame of Barbary Coast
Three Faces West
A Lady Takes a Chance

ASIN: 0782011195
Release Date: 2000-05-16

Amazon.com

Historically dubious but vigorously entertaining, Dark Command is the best of John Wayne's many movies for Republic (not counting Wayne's lovely producing debut Angel and the Badman and those two John Ford films). Set in "Bleeding Kansas" just before and during the Civil War, it highlights the romantic triangle of amiable but unschooled Texan Wayne, banker's daughter Claire Trevor, and schoolmaster Walter Pidgeon--just long enough for the earnest pedagogue to become embittered, turn into bushwhacker William Quantrill (here Cantrell), and start wreaking havoc in the Border States. This was Republic's first star vehicle for Wayne, following his breakthrough in Stagecoach (away from Republic), and it's an uncharacteristically impressive production: good writers working from a W.R. Burnett novel, Raoul Walsh brought in to direct, music by Victor Young, and strong costars and supporting cast (Marjorie Main, Porter Hall, Raymond Walburn--and Roy Rogers and Gabby Hayes!). Wayne himself is delightful. --Richard T. Jameson

Description

In this pre-civil War saga, Walter Pigeon, as Confederate renegade William Cantrell, along with his raiders, clashes with the new marshal of Kansas City, Bob Seton (John Wayne). Their long-standing rivalry of love and power reaches dangerous proportions when Seton exposes Cantrell and his guerillas, who have been raiding both Union and Confederate lines. Roy Rogers co-stars in one of his earliest film roles.

Customer Reviews:

"a fella doesn't get any place unless he tries".......2007-05-28

This was director Raoul Walsh's second film with Wayne as the male lead. The first, "The Big Trail", was Wayne's first big film role, having just acquired his new stage name. Unfortunately, this very expensive film, as one of the first talkie westerns, was a box office bomb, with Wayne unfairly shouldering most of the blame. The present film is a mixed western-Civil War drama set in bleeding Kansas. Wayne has plenty of support from a cast of well known actors in this well paced drama/comedy.
Claire Trevor is actually given top billing as the belle around which Wayne, Walter Pigeon and a young Roy Rogers revolve. It seems highly implausible that Wayne, as illiterate drifter Bob Seton, should become infatuated with prim snobbish Claire Trevor, nor that she could ever consider him husband material. Wayne's persistence in promoting this union, even after her marriage, is a recurring source of comedy and drama. Initially, another source of comedy is the recently established working partnership between Wayne and immimical Gabby Hayes, a one time doctor, reformulated as a traveling dentist, barber and whatever else he can fix for you. Character actor Raymond Walburn also provides comedic touches as the bug-eyed stammering stuffed shirt of a judge and apparent mayor of Lawrence, Kansas. Roy Rogers looks rather incongruous as the frustrated brother of Claire, under his father's overbearing thumb, who yearns for the excitement of being a cowboy or soldier. His hot head nearly gets him strung up or otherwise killed. Wayne, on the other hand, with the backing of Gabby, changes from an apparent hot head into an honest coolheaded sheriff. Walter Pigeon is the eloquent-speaking legally literate but financially struggling rival of Wayne for the affections of Claire and for the office of sheriff. The striking contrast in personalities and skills of Wayne and Pigeon in their various competitions is another recurring source of comedy and drama throughout the film. We wonder why Pigeon, with his obvious gift for oratory and knowledge of law, is a poorly paid schoolteacher instead of a lawyer. We suspect that he has been a lawyer, but was forced to resign for some transgressions. In engineering Roger's murder defense, we see for the first time the snake that he is under all that eloquence. From his mother's comments, we are led to believe that the desire to do unethical things is a family trait he inherited or was taught.
Things get a lot more serious and complicated as the story progresses. Pigeon,as William Cantrell, knows he is a natural leader of men. Frustrated in obtaining a prominent position in the legal establishment of Lawrence, he organizes a large band of outlaws, posing as Confederate soldiers, as did his historical counterpart, William Quantrell. The film title may suggest this evil gang of thieves and murderers, or it may equally suggest the fact that most of the violent and smuggling confrontations occur at night. Pigeon faces the difficult task of trying to justify or hide from his new wife his rapacious activities. The continuing back and forth relationships between Rogers, Wayne, Pigeon and Claire provide much of the continuing drama of the film.

A lesser known Wayne Classic.......2007-03-05

This movie solidified Wayne's place as a western star after Stagecoach. It is a rollicking fun western that has plenty of action. A really amazing cast was assembled for this film starting with Claire Trevor (of Stagecoach) and Walter Pidgeon. Gabby Hayes and Roy Rogers round out the stars of this movie. This is just a joy to watch. The pace never falters and it delivers plenty of fights. Find out if the illiterate cowboy from Texas can overcome the learned teacher who becomes the leader of a vast outlaw band during the Civil War. Will John Wayne get the girl? Forget that I asked. Get this movie.

Popular Wayne Civil War -Era 'Western' Still Shines!.......2006-11-03

"Dark Command" is a rip-roaring, entertaining 1940 John Wayne western with plenty of excitement, romance, and comedy, and it offers one of his most engaging pre-WWII performances, as illiterate but straight-shooting Texan 'Bob Seton', wooing Claire Trevor while defending Lawrence, Kansas as the Civil War erupts.

The film is significant in Wayne's career, as it acknowledged his emergence as a major star by the studio (Republic Pictures) who had produced the bulk of his 'quickie' westerns over the previous decade (in their previous incarnation, 'Lone Star' films). With the success of John Ford's "Stagecoach", Wayne's value to the young studio increased dramatically, as a commodity that could be 'loaned out' to major studios for a tidy profit, but without 'quality' Wayne films of their own, his 'bankability' wouldn't last, so Republic mounted a major production, with a top director (Warner's Raoul Walsh, who had helmed the Duke's ill-fated 'starring' debut, "The Big Trail", nearly a decade earlier), a first-class cast (including Trevor, in her third pairing with Wayne in less than two years, and MGM star Walter Pidgeon), and a terrific screenplay (based on a story by respected author W.R. Burnett). Wisely including their most popular character actor, Gabby Hayes, for comic relief, and rising star Roy Rogers (who, surprisingly, doesn't sing!) in support, the end result would not only build upon Wayne's rising status as a major star, but would give the studio credibility within the industry as more than a 'B' picture factory.

While the history covered in "Dark Command" is largely fabricated (with infamous mercenary William Quantrill reinvented as a more urbane, if equally dangerous 'William Cantrell', portrayed by Pidgeon), Walsh never lets the 'facts' interfere with the action, and the end result certainly delivers!

Definitely a 'keeper'!

On to Kansas .......2005-09-07

DARK COMMAND is a good, old-fashioned western. The movie takes places in Kansas on the eve of the Civil War. Not just anywhere in Kansas, either - the movie's set in bloody Lawrence, the hotbed of guerilla activity during that war. Perhaps no guerilla leader was more notorious than Kansas's William Quantrill, the school teacher turned raider who fought against the Union until his death in 1865.

Although DARK COMMAND is a work of fiction, it doesn't try hard to hide its sources. DARK COMMAND is adapted from a novel by the talented and prolific W.R. Burnett, whose Hollywood credits include either the based-on novel and/or screenplay for such action classics as Little Caesar, the original Scarface, The Asphalt Jungle, High Sierra, and dozens of others. John Wayne plays a roustabout Texan named Bob Seton who's traveling through with dentist/barber/sidekick Andrew `Doc' Grunch (George `Gabby' Hayes.) While in Lawrence Seton meets and immediately falls for pretty Miss Mary McCloud (Claire Trevor), local belle and daughter of the president of the town's bank, a Virginian (where you were from counted a lot in Kansas prior to the Civil War.) Seton's competitor for the affections of pretty Miss McCloud, and a bit later for the office of town marshal, is schoolteacher William Cantrell (Walter Pidgeon.) That the real life Quantrill was also a Lawrence, Kansas schoolteacher is, well, probably something more than a coincidence.

Of course, Cantrell loses both the election and the heart, if not the hand, of Miss McCloud to Seton. As filtered through the Hollywood lense that's more than enough justification to embark on a campaign of pillage and murder, which Pidgeon's Cantrell proceeds to do with a certain amount of righteous dignity. Raoul Walsh, whose last movie before this one was the classic gangster movie `The Roaring Twenties,' directed DARK COMMAND with his usual relentless flair. Also in 1939, the young John Wayne had finally broken through to the a-list after playing the Ringo Kid in John Ford's `Stagecoach.' `Stagecoach' co-star Clair Trevor is billed above Wayne on the credits, but this is very much a John Wayne movie. The two principals, director Walsh and star Wayne, were at strong points in their careers and this movie did nothing to derail them. Wayne wasn't an icon yet but he had the moves down - he's shy and awkward around the women folk, toweringly commanding with men. One of the text extras on the film quotes Walsh's observation that `Wayne had learned to walk and talk' by the time DARK COMMAND was filmed, and if you watch some of Wayne's earlier b-movies you'd have to agree with Walsh's shrewd assessment.

I've seen a handful of Raoul Walsh movies in the past year and enjoy them tremendously. Pidgeon's Cantrell seems to be a prototypical Walsh heavy - he's erudite, urbane and refined, and, we suspect, substantially smarter than the hero. If Hollywood was about to fall in love with Freud Walsh definitely wasn't leading the charge. Even the presence of a maternal housekeeper, played in American Gothic style by Marjorie Main, doesn't do anything to explain what makes Cantrell tick. Cantrell is a Walsh villain, which means he's evil because he's evil and that's that. We'll have to understand him through action rather than introspection. In lesser hands this would leave us with a scowling, carpet-chewing bad guy. But DARK VICTORY'S script is tight, Walsh was a master at action dramas, and Pidgeon is too good an actor - he never drops Cantrell's courtly façade, and he's all the more a menace for it.

Fans of old b-westerns will get a kick out of seeing a (very) young Roy Rogers and `Gabby' Hayes together in the same movie before they became cinema trail mates. Hayes' slightly mush-mouthed `gol-durn-it' routine can be grating, but Walsh uses him as a relatively subtle comic foil to good effect. If you've watched a few too many b-westerns chances are you'll find oddly touching the one scene between Hayes and Rogers. Rogers is in mortal danger and Hayes is his best and only hope. Hayes drops the Gabby act and lets George take over. It's a nice way for Walsh, through Hayes, to turn the tension up a notch and let us know that this is important. It's been my experience that Walsh's movies are filled with such nice touches, and it's one reason why I like them so much. DARK COMMAND has more than enough going for it to rate a strong recommendation. The script is good, performances are uniformly strong, and Walsh is a master at keeping things moving. It's a great early John Wayne western.

interesting and rare John Wayne movie.......2000-08-20

This Civil War era movie was very interesting as it tried to follow a generalized campaign of the very infamous Captain Quantrell, the Confederate leader of raiding party's into the North. This was not one of John Wayne's best pictures but it ranks up there as being rare and informative. A must see for true John Wayne fans.

Average customer rating:

Excellent well-paced Randolph Scott western with a good supporting cast
Albuquerque
An Action-Filled Western From The Forties
"another great Paramount Western ~ Randolph Scott"
Great little Randy Scott western

Albuquerque
Starring: Randolph Scott , Barbara Britton , George 'Gabby' Hayes , Lon Chaney Jr. , and Russell Hayden
Director: Ray Enright
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Westerns | Genres | 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

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

Seven Men From Now (Special Collector's Edition)
Hangman's Knot
Man in the Saddle
The Man Behind the Gun / Thunder Over the Plains / Riding Shotgun
Santa Fe

ASIN: B0001FVDVO
Release Date: 2004-06-01

Customer Reviews:

Excellent well-paced Randolph Scott western with a good supporting cast .......2007-01-14

ALBUQUERQUE aka SILVER CITY a big-budget full 90-minute western from 1948. Based on a Luke Short novel and starring the ever dependable Randolph Scott and most peoples favourite western sidekick George "Gabby" Hayes. Although Hayes always played the old timer he was in fact less than 13 years older than the unusually (at times) cheerful Randolph Scott as seen here! Also starring Russell Hayden a real westerner he was probably best known as Hopalong Cassidy's (William Boyd) sidekick `Lucky' Jenkins.

Juke (George `Gabby' Hayes) is the stagecoach driver bound for Albuquerque, New Mexico from El Paso, Texas. On board is Celia Wallace (Catherine Craig) co-owner (with her brother) of the Wallace Freight Company she is delivering a $10,000 business bankroll. Also on board is former Texas Ranger Cole Armin who is taking a job for his uncle John, en-route the stage is held up a man is killed and Miss Wallace is relieved of her bankroll. On arriving in Albuquerque, Cole soon realises that Armin is a dirty word around town, suspecting his uncle knows something about the bankroll heist Cole sets about retrieving the bankroll then switches allegiance to Ted Wallace (Russell Hayden) and his sister. Meanwhile wheelchair-bound John Armin (George Cleveland) who runs the rival Monarch Freighting Company, hires a pretty female spy Letty Tyler (Barbara Britton) to infiltrate and set a trap for the newly formed Wallace (Cole) Armin Freight Company who have just won a contract with the Angel Roost Silver Mine to haul ore down a perilous shale-filled one-way mountain track into town using a ten wagon mule train. Despite a runaway sabotaged wagon with faulty brakes, they still managed somehow to safely negotiate the hill. Celia Wallace met them at the bottom of the hill having come warn them of an ambush by a bunch of hired guns led by John Armin's henchman Steve Murkill (Lon Chaney Jr.) As they set out for town Cole plans a counterattack as they head for the final showdown.

Ray Enfield was the director here; he also directed several more Randolph Scott westerns including the third version of the oft-filmed western THE SPOILERS (1942) in which Scott co-starred with John Wayne and Marlene Dietrich.

This original Cinecolor Paramount film maybe nearly sixty years old (2007) but the transfer to DVD with scene select option is first class. Released under the Universal Western Collection label this is good all round western fare, well worth the money!

Albuquerque.......2006-07-04

Another wholesome western starring Randolf Scott. Gabby Hayes is also good in a supporting role. There are many good scenic views throughout the movie and the story keeps your interest. It's just another example of movies that can be entertaining without bad language. Enjoy with the family.

An Action-Filled Western From The Forties.......2005-07-25

If you're fond of older movies which were essentially programmers, you might enjoy this. It's a better-than-average Randolph Scott Western with some good elements. Cole Armin (Scott) arrives in Albuquerque ready to take up a job offer made by his uncle, John Armin (George Cleveland). John Armin, aging and confined to a wheelchair, runs things in Albuquerque with a ruthless fist, the sheriff in his pocket, a thug on call and a merciless inclination to destroy any competition. Cole quickly sees what the "job" will call for, quits, and joins up with a brother and sister, Tom and Celia Wallace (Russell Hayden and Catherine Craig), who are trying to start a hauling business. They plan to sign contracts with mine owners to bring ore down from the nearby silver mines. Juke (Gabby Hayes), who has become friends with Cole, signs on to show them the ropes of mule train hauling. There are holdups, fist fights, shootings, fires and a lovely spy (Barbara Britton) as Cole takes on the criminal hirelings of his uncle. The climax comes when Juke and Cole lead ten 12-mule wagons laden with ore down a dangerous shale-filled mountain road from the Angel's Roost mine into town, to be met by his uncle's hired guns.

As I say, it's not bad. Scott always seemed to me to be a credible Western hero. Catherine Craig as Scott's love interest is no actress but she has a calmness about her which is nice and she has a great, low speaking voice. George Cleveland, who one critic called "round and twinkling," was a long-time character actor who usually played granddads. He turned in an effective performance as a ruthless man who will not be denied. Lon Chaney Jr. played his thug with a nice combination of thickness and meanness. The only real drawback for me was Gabby Hayes, who by this time could only play Gabby Hayes. I'm not sure who was the biggest ham in late Thirties and Forties movies, Hayes or Lionel Barrymore. For me, a little Gabby goes a long way.

I think Albuquerque is a better than average Western, made during the time when Hollywood was churning out double features. The DVD picture is a little soft and slightly orange but not enough to be distracting. There are no extras.

"another great Paramount Western ~ Randolph Scott".......2004-09-25

Paramount Pictures release of "Albuquerque" (1948/91 mins), featuring a who's who in great western action, drama and thrill-packed adventure ~ Cole Armin (Randolph Scott) heads the cast with John Armin (George Cleveland), Letty Tyler (Barbara Britton), Celia Wallace (Catherine Craig), Juke (George "Gabby" Hayes), Ted Wallace (Russell Hayden), Steve Murkill (Lon Chaney Jr) ~ under director Ray Enright, screenplay by Gene Lewis and Clarence Upson Young, from the novel "Dead Freight for Piute" by Luke Short, a wonderful western story just waiting to be made into a major film.

With the good guys Scott, Hayes and Hayden ready to set-up a small wagon-freight-hauling business to compete with Cleveland, Chaney and Britton, things are starting to get a little rough with family members Scott and Cleveland (his tyrant Uncle) ~ the freight business isn't big enough for the two of them ~ Scott & Hayden decide to work together as partners to get the big contract with the miners ~ but lookout for Chaney, he wants a piece of Scott and put him permanently in "boot hill" ~ the action quickens with some great hard riding ~ someone has tampered with Scott's brakes on his wagon, all going down a steep trail right behind Gabby's wagon...will everything work out...are the wagons going to make it...can Gabby get out of the way of Scott's wagon...does Scott have what it takes to survive without losing his life are the life of others ~ this is a greedy bunch bent on revenge against our favorite western hero ~ Randolph Scott.

This is not a B-Western, but a major film with a story that will keep you glued to your seat ~ the characters are very real with a fine performance by Barbara Britton, you don't know till the very end which side she's on ~ wonderful portrayal by George "Gabby" Hayes, who has worked with the best John Wayne, Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Gary Cooper and William Boyd (Hopalong Cassidy)...Gabby is one of the biggest scene stealers in the business, voted the favorite sidekick of all-time in western films during the '30s, '40s and '50s...gotta love it!

Total Time: 91 mins ~ Universal Studios Home Video 24928 ~ (6/01/2004)

Great little Randy Scott western.......2004-06-29

I collect westerns. And when I saw a Randolph Scott available, I bought it, despite never having seen it before. Was very pleasantly surprised, which hasn't always been the case with these kinds of purchases. Great little story, good cast, characters well drawn, plenty of action and Gabby Hayes as well. Transfer is good with only two minor blips that didn't detract from the watching. Good enough to tell when they were using a painted background(not often), rather than the real thing. Color was great. And learned what an early teamster had to do.

Average customer rating:

I really wanted to like this movie, but...
Silliest movie i've seen in a long time
Christian Zombie Western Supernatural Horror Buddy Film
Original, Mesmerizing Thriller
Dopiest movie EVER!

Bells of Innocence
Starring: Chuck Norris , Mike Norris , Carey Scott , David A.R. White , and Marshall R. Teague
Director: Ali Bijan
Manufacturer: Good Times Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Drama | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | 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

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

Hellbound
The Cutter
Silent Rage
The Hitman
Firewalker

ASIN: B0001KREGC
Release Date: 2004-06-01

Customer Reviews:

I really wanted to like this movie, but..........2007-01-03

I got this DVD to show it to my friends from Church around Halloween. I really wanted to like it because it is a Christian film and because it has Chuck Norris in it. But it was really bad. The acting was bad, the dialogue and story were silly and there was hardly any action. I decided that I would not put my Christian friends through this punishment and I never watched it with them. I will probably trade this movie for something else at a local movie trading store.

Silliest movie i've seen in a long time.......2007-01-02

"Bells of Innocence" is about three guys who are flying to Mexico in a small plane to deliver bibels. Their plane runs out of oil and they have to land in the middle of nowhere, somewhere in Texas. They find a small town where there is no phone and everybody's acting strange, especially the children. Chuck Norris appears as a mysterious man with a horse. After a while it turns out the town has been taken over by the devil or something like that and that our three christian heroes must save the children.

Even though I know that whenever a film stars David A.R. White, the film is always some sort of christian propaganda, and usually not well made. Still, "Bells of Innocence" was surprisingly badly made. The special effects were what you might have expected from a 1960s movie, and all of the dialogue, and the entire story, was laughable.

If you're looking for a good movie, look elsewhere. If you're looking for a Chuck Norris movie, look elsewhere. He only plays a minor character. If you're looking for a movie that preaches christianity, this might do, and it's also worth watching if you like really bad movies, because it's so bad it's entertaining.

Christian Zombie Western Supernatural Horror Buddy Film.......2006-06-15

A gutsy and ingeniously approached spiritual warfare drama about battling demons, both one's own and in intercession. Intense and horrifying--as a movie dealing with Satan, soul stealing, and the horrors of hell should be. Mike Norris plays "Jux," a man out of fellowship and in a dark place personally after his wife left him, blaming him for their daughter's death. Yet Jux agrees to pilot his Christian buds Conrad and Oren to transport their collected Bibles to Mexico. The plane crashes outside "Ceres," a place that "doesn't even look like the planet Earth, man," "dirt, and a lot of sky," "not a place but a what." Hmmmm....Ceres, I recall from mythology, was the Roman name for the goddess who went looking for her daughter that was kidnapped by Hades. But that's not spoiling the movie, it's full of surprises--though yeah, it's about setting captives free. This movie's desert town of Ceres is populated by mark-bearing drones with superhuman strength and kids dressed like Little House on the Prairie...and then there's supercool "Michael," played by Chuck Norris, of course. "Bells of Innocence" caught my eye in the store at a time when I'd been praying for wisdom for what to do after I heard an other-worldly, threatening voice come out of a zombie-like shell of a person whose eyes normally were lifelessly void or displayed flashes of imprisoned fear, not the blazing hate that accompanied the demonic voice. Anyway, "Bells of Innocence" helped me to stand firm in faith, to strengthen my commitment to Jesus, to intercession, and to "fear not man who can kill the body but not the soul." My only reservation about the movie is that it's too scary for most kids. Everything else about it I found impressive: story, acting, music, production and underlying biblical message.

Original, Mesmerizing Thriller.......2006-04-12

Bells of Innocence is a thriller with a Christian faith-based theme, but is not too preachy, and succeeds in the creator's efforts to appeal to secular as well as religious audiences.

Chuck Norris stars as the mysterious Matthew, who assists three friends whose plane has crashed in a remote, sinister Texas town that is not found on any map. Mike Norris, Chuck's son, plays Jux, a tormented soul who has lost his faith with his young daughter's death. The three friends soon find themselves in a battle against Satan's minions for the souls of the town, and most importantly, the children who are being manipulated and used.

Though this film may be billed as a family movie, with no nudity or profanity, this is a dark thriller for adults. There are terrifying and violent scenes. The movie starts off slow, but it pulls the viewer in and scares you as bad as any secular horror film. Do not watch this film at night.

As far as those Amazon reviewers who have panned the film and said the acting was horrible, if they can genuinely cry as Mike Norris did in the climatic scene, then I would take their comments seriously. The acting was not horrible. It was solid, especially the villianious Joshua, played by Marshall Teague.

Very odd is that the only actor who WAS poor, David White (Conrad), looks exactly like Chuck Norris. I spent the entire movie thinking that White was Norris' son. Mike Norris in reality looks nothing like his father, and even looks the same age as Chuck. This movie is worth checking out just for this anamoly.

Dopiest movie EVER!.......2006-02-22

We picked this up on a whim from Blockbuster. Why they even carry this film, I don't know. Our local one has about 4 films (i.e. their selection is about as broad as a toothpick) and for some lame reason this is one of them. Suffice it to say: The acting is really, really, bad and the story is really, really stupid. Don't waste your time, money, brain cells on this one!

John Wayne - Cowboy Legend 10 Movie Pack

Average customer rating:

Duke in the 1930s

John Wayne - Cowboy Legend 10 Movie Pack
Starring: John Wayne , George 'Gabby' Hayes , Maureen O'Hara , Yakima Canutt , and Stefanie Powers
Manufacturer: Mill Creek Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

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

$5.99 and Under | DVD Blowouts | Stores | DVD | Video

All Blowouts | DVD Blowouts | Stores | DVD | Video

All Titles | John Wayne Store | Stores | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

John Wayne: American Hero (2pc)
John Wayne 20 Movie Pack
Dakota/In Old California
Dark Command/A Lady Takes a Chance
The John Wayne Story - The Later Years

ASIN: B000NVIGHK
Release Date: 2007-04-10

Customer Reviews:

Duke in the 1930s.......2007-07-06

JOHN WAYNE - COWBOY LEGEND presents a nice sampling of 1930s 'B' westerns. All but one of these selections ("McLintock!") are early-career Wayne 3-reelers. Their plots were reliably formulaic, and the cast of regulars included Gabby Hayes, Yakima Canutt and several now nearly-forgotten leading ladies. The most recent of Duke's offerings here, HELL TOWN was filmed two years before his first western masterpiece, STAGECOACH. Signs of Wayne's future greatness were everywhere by then.

Another highly recommended DVD set is the ULTIMATE JOHN WAYNE COLLECTION. All ten of these movies are included, as well as ten more plus a bonus documentary, THE AMERICAN WEST OF JOHN FORD.

.
The following alphabetized program list includes years of release for all titles, plus their most prominent actors.

(5.5) Blue Steel (1934) - John Wayne/George 'Gabby' Hayes/Yakima Canutt
(5.1) The Desert Trail (1935) - John Wayne/Mary Kornman/Paul Fix
(6.0) Hell Town ("Born To The West") (1937) - John Wayne/Marsha Hunt
(4.7) The Lawless Frontier (1934) - John Wayne/George "Gabby" Hayes
(7.2) McLintock! (1963) - John Wayne/Maureen O'Hara/Stefanie Powers
(5.0) Paradise Canyon (1935) - John Wayne/Marion Burns/Yakima Canutt (in support)
(5.5) Rainbow Valley (1935) - John Wayne/Lucile Browne/George 'Gabby' Hayes
(5.7) Randy Rides Alone (1934) - John Wayne/George "Gabby" Hayes
(5.6) The Star Packer (1934) - John Wayne, George "Gabby" Hayes
(6.0) Winds Of The Wasteland (1936) - John Wayne/Phyllis Cerf

Average customer rating:

not a "B" western
What a great surprise
John Wayne was Tallin the Saddle
Tall in the Saddle...
Just Like John

Tall in the Saddle
Starring: John Wayne , Ella Raines , Ward Bond , George 'Gabby' Hayes , and Audrey Long
Director: Edwin L. Marin
Manufacturer: Turner Home Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

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

1940s | John Wayne Store | Stores | DVD | Video

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

Hondo (Special Collector's Edition)
Dark Command
Fort Apache
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
The Spoilers

ASIN: B000O599NU
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Amazon.com

In this convoluted Western mystery, "tall in the saddle" is more of a genealogical clue than an accurate index of the hero's behavior. John Wayne has come to town, so he says, to work for a local rancher--who was murdered shortly after sending for him. Prime villain would appear to be Ward Bond, exuding oiliness as the local judge, who doesn't seem to be a real judge. Paul Fix (who cowrote the screenplay) and Harry Woods supply the thuggery. But mostly it's women that Wayne has trouble with: the dead man's genteel niece (Audrey Long) and her virago of a duenna (Elisabeth Risdon), and especially Ella Raines, who dresses like a man (well, a very pretty boy), runs the neighboring ranch, and falls into instant love-hate with Wayne. (This was Raines's glory period--within a few months in 1943-44 she was breathtakingly lovely in Corvette K-225, Hail the Conquering Hero, and Phantom Lady--but alas, here she's mostly just shrill.)

As run-of-the-mill Wayne Westerns go, this RKO picture is a bit upscale from the fare at Republic, if also less robust. Edwin L. Marin's direction is undistinguished, but the RKO craftsmanship is handsome as usual, and it must have been nice to work from a coherent screenplay for a change. Gabby Hayes is around to discuss sexual politics with Duke. For some reason the veteran character actor Frank Puglia goes uncredited as Raines's enigmatic servant, who seems to have wandered in from a Val Lewton production. --Richard T. Jameson

Description

Woman-hating cowboy becomes foreman of ranch run by pretty woman and her spinster aunt who have inherited the ranch.

Customer Reviews:

not a "B" western.......2007-05-27

One of my favorite westerns. I own a copy. The plot is complex enough to be worthy of Cecil DeMille, though directed by Edwin Marin. Some have categorized this as a glorified "B" western, but I see nothing "B" about the cast of main characters nor the story line. Of course, we soon figure out that Wayne and Ella Raines' character were made for each other, but the "right" woman doesn't quite always end up with the hero, as for example in "The Far Country". We are kept in suspense through most of the film as to who killed Red Cardell and why, and who has been trying to ambush Wayne and why. We also wonder what Wayne's real motive is for sticking around after discovering that Red Cardell, whom he presumably never met, is deceased. It's always a treat to have Gabby Hayes back in a Wayne western. Ward Bond, another fixture in Wayne movies of the 1940s and 1950s, does well as a prime suspect for being responsible for the plot shenanigans and in piecing things together at the end. Audrey Long is perfect as the prim naive beauty from the East, as is Elizabeth Risdon, as her scheming arrogant old battle-ax of an aunt. Wouldn't the latter and Gabby make a lovely couple! Ella's character may have been a more exciting lover and companion than Audrey's; but, if I were Wayne, I'd be extremely careful about getting into a relationship with such a hot-headed jealous tomboy who thinks nothing of using me for target practice with her pistol and knife! There are a few seemingly incongruous details to the plot. Why does Ella's bodyguard hold off telling who killed Ella's brother? Does he want Wayne to take the blame? Jealous? Maybe he doesn't think anyone would believe him or doesn't believe the legal system will do justice. Or, perhaps he did tell the real reason to Ella. As is true of westerns in general, vigilante justice seems to be condoned by the main characters as the most just and efficient way to rid societies of evil people or those who have done you personally wrong....As a side note, this film should not be confused with the later Clark Gable western with the somewhat similar title "The Tall Men"

What a great surprise.......2007-04-28

I was expecting this early Wayne film to be one of those "cliched and routine" stock westerns, so imagine my surprise and delight when I discovered a well written and well performed, solid and unique little western/mystery. Wayne is great in his role and many of his "iconic" mannerisms are evident in this performance.
Co-star Ella Raines is not only very lovely, but she's very convincing as a "tough as nails" cowgirl. She and Wayne have great chemistry together.
The story in this film is airtight and very believable and was truly well written. There are many snappy and memorable bits of dialog delivered with perfection.
Gabby Hayes and Ward Bond once again demonstrate why they became such popular, co-starring character actors. Both of them really shine in their roles and make this film such an enjoyable experience. A special nod to actress Elisabeth Risdon for playing the bitter, conniving old crone so well, and to Audrey Long for making her "sweet and gentle" character memorable instead of boring. (not an easy task)
If you are looking for a fast paced, action packed western with a great story, then definitely check out "Tall in the Saddle." I now know this is one of the best from it's era, and highly recommend seeing it.

John Wayne was Tallin the Saddle.......2007-03-08

Take John Wayne and add a story from Paul Fix about murders and an evil Land grab, and you have a rip snorting story that zips right along. The film has a cast of character actors that read like who's who. Ward Bond is the bad attorney. Gabby Hayes is the cantankerous old wagon driver. Look for Ella Raines as the beautiful but equally tough heroine. This movie is just a lot of fun.

Tall in the Saddle..........2007-02-03

It's in black-and-white, the story is simple, nothing fancy, but yet, it appealed to me. Why? John Wayne of course. His character was nothing fancy, but I couldn't help but like the character for trying to do the right thing. One of my favorite early western movies. Five stars...

Just Like John.......2006-06-07

He's rough. He's tough. He's pleasantly intimidating to anyone wishing a confrontation. Big John is coming.
"Stagecoach" may have made him a star but this one personified the walk, the talk, and the legend.
Finally, on DVD, restored beautifully in mint black and white with sound to match.
This is Mr. Wayne in his prime with a terrific supporting cast. Gabby Hayes and Raymond Hatton, the original oldtimers and sidekicks are hilarious. Paul Fix, veteran actor best known from "The Rifleman", as the roustabout bad guy. Ward Bond in one of many appearances in Wayne films. The lovely Ella Raines who fits her tomboy role like a glove. And after 50 years it holds up. No question about it.
If you're a John Wayne fan this is a must see.
The really great thing about this film is that Wayne, while whipping the bad guys and getting the girl, never shoots his gun. It's all in the "strut and stare".
Magnificent.

Average customer rating:

The Reading Room
The Reading Room
A Feel Good Story For All Ages

The Reading Room
Starring: Joanna Cassidy , James Earl Jones , Lynne Moody , Georg Stanford Brown , and Tim Reid
Director: Georg Stanford Brown
Manufacturer: Mti Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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

Ordinary Miracles
Thicker Than Water
A Time to Remember
Hidden Places
The Ron Clark Story

ASIN: B000HDRBAW
Release Date: 2006-10-24

Customer Reviews:

The Reading Room.......2007-04-05

Can't miss this one. If they had 10 stars this one would earn it.

The Reading Room.......2007-01-18

We were very dissappointed with this DVD. The sound was very low, even though we had the TV turned up as loud as it would go. Also, my husband could not enjoy the DVD because it did not have Closed Captioning. My hearing is fine, but even I had a hard time hearing it.

We were very dissappointed in this DVD.

A Feel Good Story For All Ages.......2006-11-04

THE READING ROOM is a made for television film that I stumbled upon when looking up something else. I read the summary: a widower opens a reading room in the inner city neighborhood of his youth and saw that it starred James Earl Jones, so I assumed that I'd probably enjoy it and wasn't all that surprised that I did.

It's somewhat predictable. We meet James Earl Jones' character William Campbell just after he buries his wife. He watches a videotape with her last words to him. She has the insight to know that her husband will need something to do with his time and since the two never had children, will need a way to give of himself. She tells him to take the wonderful collection of books the two shared and open a reading room in the area they grew up in, a neighborhood that has in the past few years, seen troubled times. In a short period of time, the room is opened. The kids in the neighborhood begin visiting, if for nothing else than the free soda. Campbell has to stand up to gangs, a teacher who seems bitter because of the struggles she faces in the classroom, and a minister who does not trust a wealthy man opening up a reading room as a hobby. Campbell has to also contend with gangs, thieves, and vandals who burn down the building. As we watch we may know what is going to happen, but the characters re likable so we want to see how it all works.

Since the film was a television film and not a theatrical release, there are interruptions for where commercials ought to be and since it has to fit a specific time slot, the story is fast paced. Perhaps a bit to fast paced for while I thought it was a touching story, it did take place in too fast a time frame. The action takes place over a sixty day period. Six months or a year would have been better and more realistic. To do the work that Campbell completes, he'd need to form alliances and give people time to trust him. This would also have given the characters a bit more dimension. Of course while this may be the way it would happen in life, we are talking about television where everything is possible in a 90 minute time frame and since it is just feel good entertainment, I suppose I should just leave it be.

My thought is that this would be a good film for classroom use. The commercial breaks provide an excellent opportunity for a pause and discussion. The love of books and the transforming power of literature as well as the importance of reading are evident throughout the story. It also shows how people can make a difference and could lead to ideas for service projects.

Average customer rating:

Feed me...I'm so hungry...
Didn't offer up the taste I was expecting
loss of appetite?
Behind the picket fences...
Quick, someone have John Edward channel Julia Child!

Feed
Starring: Alex O'Loughlin , Patrick Thompson , Gabby Millgate , Jack Thompson , and Rose Ashton
Director: Brett Leonard
Manufacturer: Danger After Dark
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

Calvaire: The Ordeal
Live Feed
Feast (Unrated) [HD DVD]
Dust Devil - The Final Cut
Masters of Horror - Imprint

ASIN: B000FP2YRM
Release Date: 2006-07-25

Description

Intensely grotesque and shocking as hell, Feed is a heavyweight thrill ride through the depths of depravity. A veteran of cyberporn investigations, Australian cop Philip Jackson is no stranger to the dangerous side of sexual fetishes. He may have found his sickest case yet when he discovers a sinister side to an American website devoted to fat-admiring men and obese women called "feeders" and "gainers." Could the man behind it all be force-feeding missing women to death? Tense, dark and deeply disturbing, director Brett Leonard (The Lawnmower Man, Virtuosity) takes the crime-thriller genre to a twisted, gut-wrenching new level.

Customer Reviews:

Feed me...I'm so hungry..........2007-05-10

This movie is like a train wreck: You want to look away, but you have to keep watching. It's disgusting and very entertaining. I want to show it to as many people as possible. Everytime someone new comes to my apartment my friend and I have to show FEED to them. It has a great soundtrack. And numerous lines that you'll be quoting for weeks afterward!

Didn't offer up the taste I was expecting.......2007-05-03

Australian detective Phillip Jackson (Patrick Thompson) investigates cyberporn sites, even such perverted ones as self-condoned cannibalism. He runs across a website with fellow investigator Nigel (Matthew Le Nevez) that consists of "Feeders" and "Gainers", people who love grotesquely overweight people. On this website is 602 pound "gainer" Deidre (played quite well by Gabby Millgate) and her "feeder" Michael Carter (also a well acted role by Alex O'Loughlin).

Detective Jackson goes overboard when he discovers that the feeder is attempting to kill his gainer and going so far as taking Vegas-style wagers on how big she'll be when she dies. Although taken off the case by his boss, he jumps a plane and travels to Toledo, Ohio, USA to catch up with Michael Carter and confront him.

What follows are some overdone and over dramatized scenes of confrontation, along with psuedo-psychological (supposedly) nuggets of witty intellectual discourse. However, even a bit of good acting and a great soundtrack can't save this film from its script, its poor photography, and its over-the-top sensationalism. (it takes years and years to kill someone by overeating - no one is going to be placing Vegas-style bets on it) The ending did have a nice little twist, in case you decide to sit it out through the rest of the movie.

There is a little bit of gore, and a bit of nasty fat-melting and cannibalism going on, but not enough to distract from the mediocrity of the film. Overall, definitely rent before you buy, and you might even want to get your rental fee back. I don't recommend this movie, it didn't live up to the hype of the editorial or other reviews.

loss of appetite?.......2007-03-12

This is a tough one. Feed has a lot of problems, and I mean a lot: some pretty bad dialogue, a lot of sloppy writing and plotting, rushed botched execution, inconsistent acting, and on. The police procedural at the heart of this story is both annoyingly simplified and pretty much devoid of suspense and, while I admire and agree with the decision to pursue the idea of the parallelism of the cop and his prey here, it's just not that subtly or artfully accomplished. The themes wind up getting too explicitly and overtly played out in speeches and arguments rather than as they should be, by watching characters act and do their thing. (On the plus side though, the actress who plays the girlfriend of the cop is very nice on the eyes.) Take the feeder/gainer particular subculture completely out of this picture and you would have a quite ordinary and formulaic low budget police movie in the Seven mode that you would never bother to think about after and probably just avoid ahead of time.

And yet, there is the aspect of this bizarre subculture and that is the real reason this movie seems to exist at all. And I have to admit that this element in the movie really did lead me think more about the underlying nature of horror in films and how some things, which are supposedly disturbing, are not really disturbing in their genre-film incarnations, but other things are. Because the sight of so much expansive human flesh (faked or not) and the spectacle of excessive consumption was indeed truly disgusting as far as I was concerned and certainly forced me to own up to my own squeamishness about obesity (and sexuality co-existing for sure). I have watched many a film where graphic dismemberment or torture takes place and barely flinched but I felt genuinely rather ill at ease watching relatively tender scenes of feeder-gainer mutual pleasuring. So is feeling just nauseous, ill at ease, or grossed-out really the actual point of watching horror films anyway? Probably not. Otherwise you might just watch Fassbinder's In a Year of 13 Moons over and over again for your "horror" fix (and maybe not just for the slaughterhouse scene but for general human cruelty and pathos). Whereas, the killings in various I Know What You Did the Summer Before the Last One-like slashers are purely *pleasurable* viewing, to be honest, and not upsetting or disgusting in the least. Are the people who think Fulci is the greatest thing in "horror" feeling disgusted or grossed out when they watch his staged scenes of bodily injury, cannibalism, etc., in the same way as one might feel revulsion at watching an act of overeating in Feed? It's a strange question, because really, this film contains no particularly graphic on-screen deaths and very little bloodletting and yet it did feel like a "horror" film to me. And of course, there is the intriguing issue of what exactly the nature of the crime the cop believes he is pursuing is, the strange nature of unconventional behavior that society questions but that two individuals agree mutually to perform behind closed doors.

So, although this movie is not a particularly good one as thrillers (or horror films) go, it's not without interest or "food for thought" (yikes) and it's quite possibly unique in its emphasis (though it seems there are a few recent consensual cannibalism films out there I can't compare with or speak to). But be warned that underneath the attention-getting peculiar and bizarre feeder-gainer culture shown in the film, there's not a lot else here you haven't seen done much better elsewhere.

Behind the picket fences..........2007-02-04

This movie shows you the reality of fetishes and just how sick some people really are. Feed has a very unique plot and really makes you think about what people do behind those white picket fences. We highly recommend this movie to anyone who likes horror movies, it doesn't have a lot of blood and guts-what it has is way sicker than that.

Quick, someone have John Edward channel Julia Child!.......2007-02-01

Not since "9 1/2 Weeks" have I seen such gastronomically satisfying imagery. Most people just don't get it, they think it's merely exploitation, but anyone with a brain screwed onto their neck knows it's a metaphor for America's love affair with fast food -- yummy, sticky, shiny slabs of mystery meat and indestructible fries. God bless you, rappin' Colonel Sanders, Ronald McDonald and dead Dave. May there always be happy meals rammed down your gullets in heaven. If there is an alien master race out there somewhere, they've got this baby spining on their DVD players and the hope of a "Feed 2" in the works could be the only thing between us and a their death ray.

DVD:

DVD

Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg (REGION 1) (NTSC)

DVD: Schoolhouse Rock! (Special 30th Anniversary Edition)

Magnificent Bodyguards