Boetticher Westerns
Does anyone know when the other great Randolph Scott westerns will be released on DVD?
shareWell Batjac (John Wayne's production company) has a deal with Paramount to release all their titles, which is why this one got released. Unfortunately, this is the only Scott/Boetticher collaboration produced by Batjac. One, Westbound, is a Warners title, and Warners has been doing a bang-up job releasing classic films, but they have so many that there's no telling when they'll get around to Westbound. (They haven't even released Sgt. York, a far, far, far more popular film!) The remaining five were produced with Columbia, now owned by Sony, one of the worst studios when it comes to DVD.
Probably the best bet is to contact Criterion about doing a Boetticher set.
*/\*Goonies never say die!*/\*
...Which brings up an interesting point: Has Criterion EVER released a western on DVD? I can't think of any. I'd love to see one, though. There's still a lot of good candidates aside from the Boettichers - The Gunfighter, The Westerner, the widescreen version of The Big Trail, Man of the West, Johnny Guitar, Yellow Sky...
Fort Apache, The Naked Spur, and Colorado Territory are also long overdue, but I believe those are Warner properties.
I would love to see an excellent version of "Johnny Guitar" on DVD.
I actually met the people who were doing the restoration work on Columbia's library and asked them specifically about the Ranowns. They are having particular problems with the scene transitions which are heavily faded color-wise, due to the fact that Columbia used Eastmancolor film at that time. However, they've been able to restore most of the films to a really excellent degree, I've been able to see them in the theater this way at the Pacific Film Archive. I can't wait for them to come out and I'm overjoyed that "Seven Men from Now" is finally on DVD. I think "7 Men" is probably the best Ranown, but "Ride Lonesome" and "The Tall T" come in close seconds. Hopefully Sony will get off their butt and release them.
As far as the previous poster's note about Columbia vs. WB, until just a year or two ago WB was the absolute worst studio as far as their DVD releases. They used those horrid cardboard boxes for the cases, their releases were 99% (every one I've seen except "Wizard of Oz") just transfers of the laserdisc print. There were virtually no extras. At this time, at least Columbia put out better quality DVDs although they were no better in the area of extras. I have to say at least Sony is actually cleaning up the negatives, not just transfering a laserdisc print to DVD. And they are using the new negatives to print, of all things, theatrical prints. LOL, don't see those too much any more. Fox should take a hint. So I'm all good with Columbia, I just think they are being realistic about the market and letting people buy all the John Wayne DVDs before they try to push Randolph Scott on people. It's really sad that nobody my age (I'm 30) knows of him except for hardcore Westerns fans.
Did I not love him, Cooch? MY OWN FLESH I DIDN'T LOVE BETTER!!! But he had to say 'Nooooooooo'
Hey funky fry, your not alone. I started watching Scott flicks within the last few years and am completely hooked to his and Boettickers stuff. I'm 32 and a kid too of the Terminator/Transformers/Rambo age, but have grown soo tired of that stuff. Love just about every western from all eras. Can't seem to shake this western bug at all. I only heard of Scott from the homage paid to him in "Blazzing Saddles", but never saw any of his flick until I saw him with Duke in Spoilers. I have the Western channel on cable and click on each time one of his shows up. Too bad though that there's only a few of his classics with Boetticker on DVD. The DVD extras in 7MFN was excellent as all have been from Wayne's BATJAK prods.
shareI just bought 7MFN and among the special features listed is something about Gail Russell as part of the John Wayne coterie, film trailer, etc. The only special feature we could find was the very fine multi-part profile of Budd Boetticher. Are there more extras hidden on the DVD?
they aren't hidden-there should be 2 pages of extras...look for an arrow or something at the bottom of the first page.
Besides that,what a great film! Can you answer my earlier post...what happened Bodeens leg at the end?
Thank you. There was an arrow next to the words "Main Menu." I thought the arrow referred to the menu but it was to the next page of features.
I watched the last two scenes. Bodeen was "whole" until after he dismounted. He wriggles between two big rocks and the next thing you notice is the right knee is ripped out of his trousers. Later it's all bloody but he never walks with a limp. So I guess he banged his knee on the rocks.
Gunfigther, Man of the West and Johnny Guitar are all out in excellent Region 2-versions (JG with an introduction by Martin Scorsese). Gunfighter is part of a set of four Gregory Peck-movies - but it will be released seperately very shortly.
shareGood to hear about "Johnny Guitar", I guess I just have never happened to see it at any of the video stores I shop at. That's a movie I watch about once a year so it's well worth investing in the DVD. Right now I'm trying not to watch "7 Men" too many times and spoil it, but I really want to show it to every friend of mine who hasn't seen it!
Did I not love him, Cooch? MY OWN FLESH I DIDN'T LOVE BETTER!!! But he had to say 'Nooooooooo'