American Empire [DVD] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

VCI Entertainment present "RICHARD DIX WESTERN COLLECTION" (236 mins/B&W) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) --- now in Glorious Black and White --- VCI presents three outstanding films in the genre of the Western --- Excellent cast of fine actors with Richard Dix, Robert Barrat, Leo Carrillo, Cliff Edwards, William Farnum, Preston Foster, Frances Gifford, Jack La Rue, Chris-Pin Martin, Etta McDaniel, Merrill Rodin, Wally Wales and Richard Webb --- outstanding directors George Archainbaud, Lesley Selander and William C. McGann take the helm of each oater.

The first of three Richard Dix westerns - "AMERICAN EMPIRE" (Released: 11 December 1942) (82 mins/B&W), Dan Taylor (Richard Dix) and Paxton Bryce (Preston S. Foster) are two longtime friends out to make a fortune in post Civil War Texas --- Dan's sister and Paxton's wife Abby (Frances Gifford) assist them in their search, when they set up a thriving cattle business --- Paxton seeks to gain power over them all, and alienates himself from Dan and Abby. Only through personal tragedy does Paxton re-gain his senses.

Second feature - "THE KANSAN" (Released: 10 September 1943) (79 mins/B&W), has Richard Dix and Jane Wyatt reunited as western lawman John Bonniwell and rancher's daughter Eleanor Sager --- Bonniwell chases the James Gang out of town and is appointed marshal by the local bigwig Steve Barat (Albert Dekker) --- As things unfold, Barat is known to be a crook with delusions of grandeur, hoping to use Bonniwell as a glorified henchman in his rise to power --- Meanwhile, an unorthodox romantic triangle develops between Bonniwell, Eleanor, and Barat's brother Jeff (Victor Jory) --- Jory is a scene stealer whenever he's on camera and this is when he's at his best.

In the final feature - "BUCKSKIN FRONTIER" (Released: 14 May 1943) (65 mins/B&W), an action packed western adventure has good guy, railroad man Richard Dix trying to ramrod a trail right through Lee J. Cobb's land. Cobb, also owner of the local freight service, opposes the railroad. Matters are complicated when Cobb's daughter, Jane Wyatt, falls in love with the railroad man.

BIOS
1. Richard Dix (aka: Ernest Carlton Brimmer)
Date of Birth: 18 July 1893 - St. Paul, Minnesota
Date of Death: 20 September 1949 - Los Angeles, California

Hats off and thanks to Les Adams (collector/guideslines for character identification), Chuck Anderson (Webmaster: The Old Corral/B-Westerns.Com), Boyd Magers (Western Clippings), Bobby J. Copeland (author of "Trail Talk"), Rhonda Lemons (Empire Publishing Inc), Bob Nareau (author of "The Real Bob Steele") and Trevor Scott (Down Under Com) as they have rekindled my interest once again for Film Noir, B-Westerns and Serials --- looking forward to more high quality releases from the vintage serial era of the '20s, '30s & '40s and B-Westerns --- order your copy now from VCI or Amazon where there are plenty of copies available on DVD, stay tuned once again for top notch action mixed with deadly adventure --- if you enjoyed this title, why not check out VCI Entertainment where they are experts in releasing B-Westerns and Serials --- all my heroes have been cowboys!

Total Time: 236 mins on DVD ~ VCI Home Video. ~ (10/23/2005)