John Wayne on Blu-ray

[Big Jim McLain]

More John Wayne is coming to the UK next year through an upcoming Marlene Dietrich boxset from BFI. The boxset contains Seven Sinners, Pittsburg and The Spoilers.




Marlene Dietrich at Universal 1940-1942

[Kincho]

Next year is the 65th anniversary of The Searchers, so I'm hoping that we'll get the 4K and updated blu-ray in 2021.

[Bourne1886]

Well I’m late to the game but I’ve started collecting John Wayne’s films on Blu-ray after watching Big Jake on YT. I’ve currently got 12 of his westerns with another three on the way-Chisum,The Comancheros and Big Jake. It’s a shame The Alamo isn’t on Blu ray.

So far they are all westerns, but I’d like to get his war films aswell.

Edit;-
I’ve literally just bought Circus World and Mclintock on Blu-ray from ebay aswell for £5 and £16 respectively in the last 2 minutes. I’m getting addicted to collecting The Duke’s films. Cahill next.

[glennstl]

Originally Posted by Bourne1886

Well I’m late to the game but I’ve started collecting John Wayne’s films on Blu-ray after watching Big Jake on YT. I’ve currently got 12 of his westerns with another three on the way-Chisum,The Comancheros and Big Jake. It’s a shame The Alamo isn’t on Blu ray.

So far they are all westerns, but I’d like to get his war films aswell.

Edit;-
I’ve literally just bought Circus World and Mclintock on Blu-ray from ebay aswell for £5 and £16 respectively in the last 2 minutes. I’m getting addicted to collecting The Duke’s films. Cahill next.

Congrats on discovering The Duke! I was in almost the exact same position as you two years ago this month. I never understood westerns or had any interest in Wayne at all. I’m not sure what happened...I think I watched 3 Godfathers on TCM late one night and ended up loving it. I then looked up any Wayne movie on Criterion, and found Stagecoach and Red River. From there I was hooked. I bought within the next month something like 25 Wayne Blus.

Happy to have you here...and enjoy all the John Wayne movies that you are going to be exposed to in the weeks and months ahead!

[glennstl]

I also can’t recommend True Grit on Blu enough...or his final film, The Shootist. Tragically, though, that one is still unbelievably not on Blu-ray. But if nothing else, pick up the DVD for now. It’s a classic performance by Wayne.

[Sawasdee1983]

Originally Posted by glennstl

I also can’t recommend True Grit on Blu enough...or his final film, The Shootist. Tragically, though, that one is still unbelievably not on Blu-ray. But if nothing else, pick up the DVD for now. It’s a classic performance by Wayne.

If you have a Blu Ray Player which can handle Code B, there is a german Blu Ray:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-S...lu-ray/149878/

The Picture Quality is great

[Bourne1886]

Originally Posted by glennstl

Congrats on discovering The Duke! I was in almost the exact same position as you two years ago this month. I never understood westerns or had any interest in Wayne at all. I’m not sure what happened...I think I watched 3 Godfathers on TCM late one night and ended up loving it. I then looked up any Wayne movie on Criterion, and found Stagecoach and Red River. From there I was hooked. I bought within the next month something like 25 Wayne Blus.

Happy to have you here...and enjoy all the John Wayne movies that you are going to be exposed to in the weeks and months ahead!

Thankyou.

I think prior to watching Big Jake I’d only ever seen two non western John Wayne films and it was The Fighting Seabees on Sky as I like ww2 movies and The Longest Day. I Didn’t really give the John Wayne angle much thought though, it was because they were WW2 movies that I watched them.

I’d watched a few westerns before such as Young Guns 1 and 2, Dances with Wolves, Wyatt Earp,Tombstone and Unforgiven. And to be honest I wasn’t a big fan of most of them. Probably due to my age when I was younger and didn’t give them the respect they deserved. I Definitely didn’t like The Man with no name trilogy when I was younger, they just weren’t my taste I suppose at the time.

But then my thoughts and tastes changed for some reason and I started getting into westerns and rewatched those ones I mentioned and bought them. And as time went on I watched more Clint Eastwood aswell.

And then I don’t know what it was but you could say it was like a lightbulb had gone off in my head and it occurred to me that I should watch The Duke’s westerns, because that’s his claim to fame so to speak. So what better than to get into his films as I was becoming a massive western fan and he’s the master of them. There’s a few other actors like Clint who could claim that title but I’m sure The Duke is mostly know for his westerns.

I came across Big Jake and the rest as they say is history! Lol. The next one I saw was Liberty Valance then the Sons of Katie Elder, all on Sky. Then I started buying and collecting his westerns. I love them so much now. My collection is slowly growing and by Christmas I’ll have over 20 of his films.

A particular favourite is The Cowboys, I also really liked Rio Bravo and El Dorado.
The Comancheros arrived today. I’m waiting for Chisum,Mclintock, Circus World and The Alamo. Hopefully that one will get a Blu-ray release soon.

[Bourne1886]

Originally Posted by Sawasdee1983

If you have a Blu Ray Player which can handle Code B, there is a german Blu Ray:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-S...lu-ray/149878/

The Picture Quality is great

It’s damn expensive though. But thanks for posting.

Edit;-

There is a Spanish and French one aswell. Apparently the picture quality on the French one is a 3 out of 5 according to a user review on this website. €15.00 for the French one on Amazon.fr and The Spanish one €12.95 on Amazon.es.But that one maybe a bootleg. Mixed reviews on the picture quality!

[Bourne1886]

Originally Posted by glennstl

I also can’t recommend True Grit on Blu enough...or his final film, The Shootist. Tragically, though, that one is still unbelievably not on Blu-ray. But if nothing else, pick up the DVD for now. It’s a classic performance by Wayne.

I’ve got True Grit on Blu-ray. I’ll pick up The Shootist on dvd. Like you say it’s unbelievable it’s not on Blu-ray.

Edit;-

Just bought The Shootist on R2 dvd from ebay for £3.99. Hope the quality is good, it’s the paramount widescreen collection one with just The Duke on the front. There were others but that is the official Paramount one. Comes with the trailer and some interviews.

[happydood]

Originally Posted by Bourne1886

Well I’m late to the game but I’ve started collecting John Wayne’s films on Blu-ray after watching Big Jake on YT. I’ve currently got 12 of his westerns with another three on the way-Chisum,The Comancheros and Big Jake. It’s a shame The Alamo isn’t on Blu ray.

So far they are all westerns, but I’d like to get his war films aswell.

Edit;-
I’ve literally just bought Circus World and Mclintock on Blu-ray from ebay aswell for £5 and £16 respectively in the last 2 minutes. I’m getting addicted to collecting The Duke’s films. Cahill next.

You're gonna need The Quiet Man.

[Lozin]

I think McQ is one of my favorite John Wayne Films on BD but still holding out hope that The Conqueror gets a Blu-Ray release sometime. I've held off buying the DVD

[quickdraw]

Sure wish there was Donovan's Reef on blu under the Christmas tree this year. Perfect holiday movie for breaking out the hawaiian shirt and drinking Mai Tais while it's snowing outside. Mele Kalikimaka!

[Rzzzz]

I couldn't agree more! And I would have the eternal Bing Crosby and the beautiful, angelic Andrews Sisters blaring in the background.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob4LT_gUSFQ

[Sawasdee1983]

Originally Posted by Bourne1886

It’s damn expensive though. But thanks for posting.

Edit;-

There is a Spanish and French one aswell. Apparently the picture quality on the French one is a 3 out of 5 according to a user review on this website. €15.00 for the French one on Amazon.fr and The Spanish one €12.95 on Amazon.es.But that one maybe a bootleg. Mixed reviews on the picture quality!

Oh I didn't saw it was out of print. I Bought the Bluray when it was released for 9,99 Euro

[Sawasdee1983]

Originally Posted by Lozin

I think McQ is one of my favorite John Wayne Films on BD but still holding out hope that The Conqueror gets a Blu-Ray release sometime. I've held off buying the DVD

It has a Blu Ray Release in Germany, but it is Code B Locked. I have it myself

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-C...lu-ray/137376/

[Bourne1886]

I got The Alamo dvd today. I checked it out and I was surprised that the picture quality was as good as it was. I honestly didn’t think it would be as good. Very watchable. So I’m sure to enjoy the film even more.

[Rzzzz]

Have you seen this?

My friend Glennstl didn't particularly care for it but I love it and it is one of my favorite John Wayne films. If you enjoy early 60's "family" films (think early live action Disney) and enjoy African locations, then you may enjoy it as well. It is available for cheap on blu ray and Dvd but a word of warning, the blu ray is one of the most horrendous DNR'ed travesties ever released (and that is NOT hyperbole), so keep that mind. I would love to hear your thoughts on it....

[Sawasdee1983]

oh I watched Hatari so many times my favourite John Wayne movie, so funny and incredible hunting stunts but the bluray was so disappointing. The quality wasn't much better than the DVD :-(

[Rzzzz]

Yeah those stunts were amazing. I read somewhere that The Duke said riding in the front of the jeep at high speeds on that rough terrain was one of the scariest moments he ever had making films. I am really surprised they let him do it. I'm sure every precaution was taken but still, one unseen pothole or soft spot could have killed him....

[The Admiral]

Originally Posted by Sawasdee1983

If you have a Blu Ray Player which can handle Code B, there is a german Blu Ray:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-S...lu-ray/149878/

The Picture Quality is great

Err... I would personally use the word "mediocre" instead.

Originally Posted by Bourne1886

It’s damn expensive
though. But thanks for posting.

Edit;-

There is a Spanish and French one aswell. Apparently the picture quality on the French one is a 3 out of 5 according to a user review on this website. €15.00 for the French one on Amazon.fr and The Spanish one €12.95 on Amazon.es.But that one maybe a bootleg. Mixed reviews on the picture quality!

The Spanish one is sort of a bootleg, but its PQ is literally the same as that of the DVD. It still manages to be better than the official French release though, the colours of which actually manage to be duller than those of the official UK/US DVD release. Be aware that the French Blu-ray has non-removable French subtitles. So, basically, it totally sucks. The Spanish one is about the same as buying the DVD, except you don't get the PAL speed-up, if that's an issue. But (big but) it comes on a burnt disc (the first pressing didn't, but it's long gone now). Ugh.

Originally Posted by Bourne1886

Just bought The Shootist on R2 dvd from ebay for £3.99. Hope the quality is good, it’s the paramount widescreen collection one with just The Duke on the front. There were others but that is the official Paramount one. Comes with the trailer and some interviews.

That's as good a release as you'll get - for now anyway - but unfortunately likely to be for a long time too. I have the German, French and Spanish Blus and last time I watched it I opted for the DVD...
When Paramount announced Katie Elder I was hoping The Shootist would follow, but even if it ever does, it'll likely end up being from the same very old master they used for the DVD - if Katie Elder is anything to judge by. Sucks.