There’s been a lot of concern about the aspect ratios of Fox’s MOD releases — and several complaints about pan-and-scan transfers of CinemaScope titles. That’s simply not acceptable in this age of DVD, Blu-ray, 16:9 and all that. Well, with a couple things on the way, we don’t have to worry about that so much, because Powder River (1953) was 1.37 and The Gambler From Natchez (1954), from Panaramic Productions and released by Fox, was probably run 1.66.
Rory Calhoun and Cameron Mitchell star in Powder River (1953), as variations on Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday, respectively. It’s a modest, solid Western — the kind of thing Calhoun excelled at. John Dehner’s in it, which is always a plus. Colin over at Riding The High Country reviewed at a while back.
Dale Robertson and Debra Paget star in The Gambler From Natchez. It’s a riverboat gambling picture, set in 1840s Louisiana, and technically not a Western. Its cast also includes Kevin McCarthy and Woody Strode — and I remember it being pretty good.
Also,just around the corner;next week,is the very fine THE SILVER
WHIP also starring Dale,Rory and Robert Wagner.
I for one,am really pleased to see so much Rory,Dale and Rod Cameron
turning up these days on DVD.
Warner Archive ARE going to release the much sought after Rory flick
THE HIRED GUN once it has been remastered.
Sidonis in France have just announced FRONTIER GAL a top-budget
Rod Cameron from Universal.
Not a Western but a blistering Film Noir;CRY VENGEANCE has just been
announced by Olive Films.This one has the great Skip Homier as you
have never seen him before!
I DO hope that Olive Films will consider releasing the great Western
JACK SLADE also with Mark Stevens.
Not all these Allied Artists titles are owned by Warners,lots of them
were sold off to Republic,now owned by Paramount.
Olive Films have released so many titles from the original batch they
leased from Paramount;lets hope another wave of titles is in the pipeline.
Been wanting to see The Hired Gun for a long time. Great cast: Calhoun, Anne Francis, Vince Edwards, Chuch Connors, Big Boy Williams, Beula Archuketta (Look from The Searchers). Then there’s Ray Nazarro and black and white Scope. Can’t wait!
A lot of these Fox MODs look and sound like turds for reasons beyond the aspect ratio. But a good one slips through now and then; let’s hope these two are among that minority.