John Wayne on Blu-ray

[Rogue Deputy]

Tall In the Saddle is only on DVD and an essential John Wayne western.[/QUOTE]

I have a soft spot for this one too! One of my favorites of his older westerns.

[BluLobsta]

Originally Posted by HaroldnMaude

short brunettes with big mouths

I think half the men on this board would say that pretty much describes their wives I've dealt with a few in my life. I don't really prefer the meek mousy type. Are there any timid women left nowadays?

[DavidRoylance]

I did ask Warner Archive over facebook about Tall in the Saddle, and they wrote back to say they were not working on it right now.

It would be a favourite of mine too.

Originally Posted by Rogue Deputy

Tall In the Saddle is only on DVD and an essential John Wayne western.

I have a soft spot for this one too! One of my favorites of his older westerns.[/QUOTE]

[Rzzzz]

Originally Posted by dommie

Unfortunately, it appears that version of the Region 2 Blu-ray that you have may no longer be available. When you go to Amazon U.K., where it was previously available, and search for the title, that version no longer appears. The cover below is now the one that comes up but it also has an advisory that they will not deliver to the U.S. due to high demand. I believe they may be out of stock. It may be available in the future but they are not saying if that will be the case.



If you click on the Blu-ray option, on that page, the other version appears but it also says it will not ship to the U.S. A region free DVD version is available on Amazon in the U.S. but that seems to be it for now.

Just recently it was available for cheap. If it was any other time I would suspect maybe someone secured the rights. I'm more inclined to believe that once this chaos is over it will be easy to get for a good price once again....

[Professor Echo]

Just a shout out to EL DORADO, which is usually tossed away as a poor relation to RIO BRAVO, but it happens to be my favorite Duke movie. Don’t get me wrong, I love BRAVO nearly as much, but EL DORADO is without a doubt the work of consummate professionals bringing everything they’ve learned in a lifetime of extraordinary achievements to the peak of perfection. There isn’t a single false note to any of it, just seasoned veterans doing what they do best, on their terms, with their skills, in their world order. It’s as though they were all handed the formula, tossed it away and said, we got this. Let’s face it: So many Wayne, Hawks, Mitchum and Brackett films are transcendent, they were the best, but EL DORADO for me goes one better, simply because the expertise of everyone is never in doubt for a second. There may be better movies from all four of those artists on paper, but in execution, EL DORADO packs in the best of them and still manages to surprise.

I won’t argue with any of the other Wayne recommendations thus far offered (including some of his lesser known gems like McQ) or claimed to be his “best,” they are all worth grabbing any night of the week. But I have a soft spot for EL DORADO and always will. From the second it starts with that beautiful song and the lovely paintings, it is bliss.

[Rzzzz]

Originally Posted by glennstl

You literally added all the titles I was also going to mention Stagecoach is just an amazing classic and the Criterion release is beautiful. Angel and the Badman is a fun movie and I love the leading actress ( I forget her name right now). I’m a huge Jimmy Stewart fan, so I really like Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. And True Grit is just awesome and won Wayne his Oscar. I would absolutely also add The Shootist. It’s a damn shame it’s not on Region 1 Blu. Amazing movie and what a movie for Wayne to go out on.

True Grit is my favorite John Wayne film and has a special place in my heart. It was the first film of the Duke's I saw at the movies in 1969, at the Highway 39 drive in which was the closest drive in to where I grew up in Huntington Beach....



I was 8 years old and it made me a lifelong fan. Afterward I would badger my mother to take me to every Duke film that played in the theater. It got to the point that when Chisum came out the next year she let me ride my bike to the theater with my friends to go see it. Of course we got kicked out for being too wild, ha ha. Good times....

[SeanJoyce]

Originally Posted by glennstl

I’m a huge Jimmy Stewart fan, so I really like Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.

While most people would probably point to the all-star extravaganzas of the 60s (The Magnificent Seven, The Professionals, The Wild Bunch) for the best cast in a western, for my money it doesn't get better than The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. Every role in that movie is just exquisitely filled by professionals, and it's a beautiful summation of Ford's work and career...possibly my favorite movie of his.

As an aside, Rio Lobo deserves more love. You can tell the well had started to run dry but this is still a fun genre exercise by guys whose craft was so perfected that they could churn out something worthwhile in their sleep.

And another, final aside: I never see it mentioned, but Rooster Cogburn just might be the purtiest western; those Oregon landscapes are achingly gorgeous.

[happydood]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

Just a shout out to EL DORADO, which is usually tossed away as a poor relation to RIO BRAVO, but it happens to be my favorite Duke movie. Don’t get me wrong, I love BRAVO nearly as much, but EL DORADO is without a doubt the work of consummate professionals bringing everything they’ve learned in a lifetime of extraordinary achievements to the peak of perfection. There isn’t a single false note to any of it, just seasoned veterans doing what they do best, on their terms, with their skills, in their world order. It’s as though they were all handed the formula, tossed it away and said, we got this. Let’s face it: So many Wayne, Hawks, Mitchum and Brackett films are transcendent, they were the best, but EL DORADO for me goes one better, simply because the expertise of everyone is never in doubt for a second. There may be better movies from all four of those artists on paper, but in execution, EL DORADO packs in the best of them and still manages to surprise.

I won’t argue with any of the other Wayne recommendations thus far offered (including some of his lesser known gems like McQ) or claimed to be his “best,” they are all worth grabbing any night of the week. But I have a soft spot for EL DORADO and always will. From the second it starts with that beautiful song and the lovely paintings, it is bliss.

I love El Dorado and it always upsets me that it gets so derailed by James Caan's faux Chinese act in the last 10 minutes. It's not just the groan-inducing stereotype, but that it comes completely out of nowhere, seems completely out of character, and feels cheap and like it came from a completely different movie. Otherwise, I think El Dorado gets unfairly dismissed. Course, Rio Bravo is one of my favorite movies, so I can't really watch them too closely together and avoid comparing them...

[Michael24]

I admit, I haven't seen Rio Bravo, but I love El Dorado. It's got such a great cast, from the stars to the character actors like Christopher George and Arthur Hunnicutt, and the chemistry between Wayne and Mitchum is terrific. It's one of my favorite westerns.

And I've always wanted to ask Robert Zemeckis or Bob Gale if their "wake-up juice" from Back to the Future Part III was inspired by the funny concoction made in this film to sober up Mitchum in one scene. Haha!

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by happydood

I love El Dorado and it always upsets me that it gets so derailed by James Caan's faux Chinese act in the last 10 minutes. It's not just the groan-inducing stereotype, but that it comes completely out of nowhere, seems completely out of character, and feels cheap and like it came from a completely different movie. Otherwise, I think El Dorado gets unfairly dismissed. Course, Rio Bravo is one of my favorite movies, so I can't really watch them too closely together and avoid comparing them...

I can’t disagree with you about that scene, but I first saw the movie as a little kid and thought it was just a silly moment. I don’t have a time machine to go back and fix it, so for me it’s history and I’m more concerned with repairing what’s wrong NOW in the world than one that’s already done. Despite what some folks think today, the past still can’t be changed, no matter how hard they try.

So I understand and respect your concerns, but nothing about it takes me out of the movie. Anymore than regrettable statements John Wayne made off screen or his political beliefs have ever done, all of which I vehemently disagree with. None of that has anything to do with the world INSIDE his movies that I love being a part of, especially EL DORADO. Warts and all, it’s still the characters and stories and their place that I’m in, not outside with all my reality. In short, I love these guys!

[happydood]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

I can’t disagree with you about that scene, but I first saw the movie as a little kid and thought it was just a silly moment. I don’t have a time machine to go back and fix it, so for me it’s history and I’m more concerned with repairing what’s wrong NOW in the world than one that’s already done. Despite what some folks think today, the past still can’t be changed, no matter how hard they try.

So I understand and respect your concerns, but nothing about it takes me out of the movie. Anymore than regrettable statements John Wayne made off screen or his political beliefs have ever done, all of which I vehemently disagree with. None of that has anything to do with the world INSIDE his movies that I love being a part of, especially EL DORADO. Warts and all, it’s still the characters and stories and their place that I’m in, not outside with all my reality. In short, I love these guys!

Yeah, listen, I would never argue for censoring or changing history. I totally love the movie and accept the past for what it is. The scene just feels super-clumsy to me and kind of undermines all the well-built character stuff that came before. It's not long enough to ruin what came before, but it sticks out as tonally different to the rest of the movie to me.

[happydood]

...and I'll add that I'm probably more critical of the two attempts to go back to the Rio Bravo well than I am of other John Ford or Howard Hawks/Wayne movies because Rio Bravo is such a favorite.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by happydood

Yeah, listen, I would never argue for censoring or changing history. I totally love the movie and accept the past for what it is.

I agree with all of that. At some point you have to accept that the past is windmills that cannot be fought.

BIG JIM McCLAIN and THE GREEN BERETS are two movies with Wayne's politics at their most offensive to me personally, but I still don't care and have them both in my collection. They still entertain me well enough to where the messages don't inordinately interfere with my enjoyment. Unlike some people in film history who actually broke the law and are legally considered criminals, and whose work I might have more issues with, we still live in a free country (I think) and have free speech (I think). I may not agree with Wayne the person, but it doesn't suffocate my appreciation of Wayne the performer.

[happydood]

I enjoy him in pretty much everything, too. I have no problems separating the art from the artist. Course, I don't ever need to see him as Ghengis Kahn or McQ again...

[glennstl]

I just love all of these John Wayne movie thoughts and opinions by everyone . Just great stories and opinion to read and share! Plus they always make me want to revisit certain Wayne films.

On a total aside, we now have 955 posts in this thread... not long until we hit 1,000 for The Duke ��

[SpartanIre]

I’ve enjoyed reading everyone’s stories/opinions concerning their favorite film with The Duke. I have yet to see one I did not like. Obviously have not had the pleasure of viewing them all. I grew up on John Wayne and can thank my parents for that. Seems like they would always watch one or two of his movies on the weekends. Some channel would always play them, even before we had cable. Many times there would be a marathon from the afternoon into the evening. Love buttered popcorn popped on the stove with The Duke for entertainment. When my parents purchased our first VCR they would record them off of the televised viewing - commercials and all (I would tape them - they couldn’t set the damn thing up correctly) and be able to watch them any time. Soon they would purchase the DVDs when they came out. Westerns, War, Comedic, Modern - you name it they watched it (and so did my brothers and I). My mother would cry during the films that John Wayne’s character died - every time. I was shocked the first time I saw his character bite it (won’t say which movie in case anyone reading hasn’t seen it yet) - I always thought he never died - he was too tough! We all grew fond of his movies and each of us had our own favorites. I love so many of them - I could sit down and watch one at any time. My all time favorite hands down is The Quiet Man (It is actually my favorite movie of all - not just John Wayne specifically). Great story, fantastic scenery, wonderful cast. My favorite Western? A bit tougher to nail down one but I always had a strong affinity for Big Jake - seemed to have it all to me - serious, comedy, drama, action, and that feeling of “Why on Earth would you mess with this ultimate Alpha male?” The man always seemed larger than life and tough as nails!!! Just thought I would throw in a little bit of my memories with a couple films not mentioned yet. When a John Wayne blu-ray is released I normally purchase it right away. Rarely do I wait for the eventual price drop.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by happydood

I enjoy him in pretty much everything, too. I have no problems separating the art from the artist. Course, I don't ever need to see him as Ghengis Kahn or McQ again...

Sorry you feel that way, but I love McQ. Of course it's a silly and obvious attempt by an aging Duke to keep up with the young 'uns (Eastwood and McQueen) but it's still a decent 70s action flick with an interesting mystery plot and some great car chase sequences.

[MCQ1974]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

Sorry you feel that way, but I love McQ. Of course it's a silly and obvious attempt by an aging Duke to keep up with the young 'uns (Eastwood and McQueen) but it's still a decent 70s action flick with an interesting mystery plot and some great car chase sequences.

You are not alone! MCQ is not only my favorite John Wayne Movie, it is probably my all time favorite Movie! Excellent performances by John Wayne and the rest of the cast! Great action, and fantastic job by Director John Sturges! Love the Seattle Locations and the Locations for the great beach scenes!

Robert

[happydood]

Wow! Alright maybe I do need to take another look at McQ. And I'll also take this opportunity to lament that there's no Sons of Katie Elder blu-ray.

[docforce]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

Just a shout out to EL DORADO, which is usually tossed away as a poor relation to RIO BRAVO, but it happens to be my favorite Duke movie. Don’t get me wrong, I love BRAVO nearly as much, but EL DORADO is without a doubt the work of consummate professionals bringing everything they’ve learned in a lifetime of extraordinary achievements to the peak of perfection. There isn’t a single false note to any of it, just seasoned veterans doing what they do best, on their terms, with their skills, in their world order. It’s as though they were all handed the formula, tossed it away and said, we got this. Let’s face it: So many Wayne, Hawks, Mitchum and Brackett films are transcendent, they were the best, but EL DORADO for me goes one better, simply because the expertise of everyone is never in doubt for a second. There may be better movies from all four of those artists on paper, but in execution, EL DORADO packs in the best of them and still manages to surprise.

I won’t argue with any of the other Wayne recommendations thus far offered (including some of his lesser known gems like McQ) or claimed to be his “best,” they are all worth grabbing any night of the week. But I have a soft spot for EL DORADO and always will. From the second it starts with that beautiful song and the lovely paintings, it is bliss.

Excellent post! Rio Bravo or El Dorado? It's hard to choose which is the best. I wouldn't want to live on the difference.

One thing in the definite "plus" column for El Dorado: Christopher George gives a career best performance as the principled bad guy, Nelse McLeod. The Blu-Ray looks spectacular, too.

It gladdens my heart to see all this love for the Duke. While he does have a few duds in his filmography, pound for pound, I've gotten more entertainment value out of his films than I have from any other actor. Jimmy Stewart, Humphrey Bogart, Robert Mitchum, Cary Grant, Charlton Heston, Gregory Peck, Burt Lancaster, Lee Marvin...love all those guys, but Wayne has edged them out as my all-time favorite actor. He is criminally underrated. I feel sorry for people who refuse to see his (or other actors') work because of his real-life politics...they are missing out on a bunch of really terrific films.

Lots of spot-on recommendations above for you, BluLobsta. After checking out the heavy hitters listed above, I'd also strongly encourage you to seek out some of Wayne's less famous, less well-regarded films...you might find some real treasures there. For years, I avoided films like Legend of the Lost (Wayne does Indiana Jones, on location in Libya) and Blood Alley (a flawed but beautifully shot and exciting adventure film), as the commonly-held attitude among critics and fans was that they weren't very good. Imagine my surprise when I finally caught up with them. No, they aren't among the Duke's best pictures, but they are damn good movies in their own right, and I missed out on them for years due to paying too much attention to the supposed consensus.