Colt 45 & Tall Man Riding & Forth Worth [DVD] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

Warner Home Video presents "TRIPLE FEATURE: Colt .45 / Tall Man Riding / Fort Worth" (1950) - Randolph Scott --- (Dolby digitally remastered) --- relive those thrilling days when Randolph Scott took us down the dusty trails with hard riding and straight shooting hitting the bull's eye with excitement every time... the Randolph Scott series of B-Westerns were a staple of Saturday matinees in the 1940s and 1950s ... don't miss any of the Randolph Scott features loaded with action that will leave you wanting more of his B-Western adventures.

First up we have - "COLT .45" (1950) (74 min/Color) --- Under Edwin L. Marin (Director), Saul Elkins (Producer), Thomas W Blackburn (Screenwriter), Wilfred M. Cline (Cinematographer), Frank Magee (Editor), William Lava (Original Music) ------ the cast includes Randolph Scott (Steve Farrell), Ruth Roman (Beth Donovan), Zachary Scott (Jason Brett), Lloyd Bridges (Paul Donovan), Alan Hale Sr. (Sheriff Harris), Ian MacDonald (Miller), Chief Thundercloud (Walking Bear) . . . . . . our story involves a sample case stolen by Zachary Scott, in the case is a pair of Colt 45's ... our hero Randy Scott who is the salesman for same must capture Zach and retrieve the case ... our heroine is beautiful Ruth Roman, when on the screen keeps your attention as the plot thickens ... great supporting cast of Alan Hale Sr. (his last film), Lloyd Bridges (Sea Hunt TV series), Chief Thundercloud (famous B-Western actor play Tonto in The Lone Ranger film series) and Ian MacDonald (appeared as Frank Miller in "High Noon") ... the tension builds between Randy and Zach, as the two Scott's bring excitement and drama with this hour long oater, not to be missed in your collection of B-Westerns.

BIOS:

1. Randolph Scott (aka: George Randolph Scott)

Date of birth: 23 January 1898 - Orange County, Virginia

Date of death: 2 March 1987 - Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California

2. Ruth Roman (aka: Norma Roman)

Date of birth: 22 December 1922 - Lynn, Massachusetts

Date of death: 9 September 1999 - Laguna Beach, California

3. Zachary Scott (aka: Zachary Thomson Scott Jr.)

Date of birth: 21 February 1914 - Austin, Texas

Date of death: 3 October 1965 - Austin, Texas

Second on the triple bill - "TALL MAN RIDING" (1955) (83 min/Color) --- Under Lesley Selander (Director) , David Weisbart (Producer), Norman A. Fox (Novel), Joseph Hoffman (Screenplay), Paul Sawtell (Original Music), Wilfred M. Cline (Cinematographer), Irene Morra (Editor) ------ the cast includes Randolph Scott (Larry Madden), Dorothy Malone (Corinna Willard), Peggie Castle (Reva (Pearlo's Palace Entertainer), William Ching (Rex Willard), John Baragrey (Sebo earlo), Robert Barrat (Tuck Ordway), John Dehner (Ames Luddington), Paul Richards (Peso Kid), Lane Chandler (Hap Sutton), Mickey Simpson (Deputy Jeff Barclay), Joe Bassett (Will), Charles Watts (Pearlo's Palace Bartender), Russ Conway (Marshal Jim Feathergill) . . . . . . our story features revenge and vengeance with Randy Scott in the middle of this well written script by Joseph Hoffman and outstanding direction of Lesley Selander, who's films have always been first rate ... the heroine is Dorothy Malone with villain Robert Barrett head a great cast of supporting actors John Dehner, Paul Richards and Lane Chandler ... as always, Scott is in top form and the film succeeds with his presence.

BIOS:

1. Dorothy Malone (aka: Dorothy Eloise Maloney)

Date of birth: 30 January 1925 - Chicago, Illinois

Date of death: Still Living

Third and final feature - "FORT WORTH" (1951) (80 mins/Color) --- Under Edwin L. Marin (Director), Anthony Veiller (Producer), David Buttolph (Original Music), Sidney Hickox (Cinematographer), Clarence Kolster (Editor), John Twist (Screenwriter) ------ the cast includes Randolph Scott (Ned Britt), David Brian (Blair Lunsford), Phyllis Thaxter (Flora Talbot), Helena Carter (Amy Brooks), Dickie Jones (Luther Wick), Ray Teal (Gabe Clevenger), Michael Tolan (Mort Springer), Paul Picerni (Joe Castro), Emerson Treacy (Ben Garvin), Bob Steele (Shorty), Walter Sande (Deputy Waller), Chubby Johnson (Sheriff) . . . . . . our story has Randy Scott as a newspaperman, previously a gunfighter ... will he be able to hang up his guns and turn respectible, when the badmen arrive in town bent on taking over ... veteran actor Ray Teal is great as the powerful cattle baron who sends for David Brian and the plot gets exciting ... this is like a silent valcano ready to erupt, will Scott and Brian lock horns ... this sage brush oater is about as good as it gets.

BIOS:

1. David Brian

Date of birth: 5 August 1914 - New York, New York

Date of death: 15 July 1993 - Sherman Oaks, California

2. Phyllis Thaxter (aka: Phyllis St. Felix Thaxter)

Date of birth: 20 November 1921 - Portland, Maine

Date of death: Still Living

Special footnote, George Randolph Scott better known as Randolph Scott, was an American film actor whose career spanned the sound era from the late 1920s to the early 1960s ... his popularity grew in the 1940s and 1950s, appearing in such films as "Gung Ho"! (1943) and "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" (1938); but he was especially famous for his numerous Westerns including "Virginia City" (1940) with Errol Flynn and Humphrey Bogart, "Western Union" (1941) with Robert Young, "Seven Men from Now" (1956) with Lee Marvin, "The Tall T" (1957) with Richard Boone, "Shoot-Out at Medicine Bend" (1957) with James Garner, and "Ride the High Country" (1962) with Joel McCrea (a coin was flipped to see whether Scott or McCrea would receive top billing, and Scott won despite having a slightly smaller role) ... his long fistfight with John Wayne in "The Spoilers" (1942) was frequently cited by critics and the press as the most thrilling ever filmed; they were fighting over Marlene Dietrich ... another smash hit film together that same year called "Pittsburgh" (1942) once again with Dietrich, Scott and Wayne

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 Amazon where there are plenty of copies available on VHS, 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: 238 mins on DVD ~ WHV82144DVD ~ (11/07/2006)

Printer's Devil.

Out of Warner Bros, Fort Worth is directed by Edwin L. Marin and written by John Twist. It stars Randolph Scott, David Brian, Phyllis Thaxter, Helena Carter, Dickie Jones & Ray Teal. A Technicolor production, the exteriors are shot on location at Iverson Ranch, Chatsworth, Los Angeles & Warner Ranch, Calabasas, California. Photography is by Sidney Hickox & David Buttolph scores the music.

Former gunfighter Ned Britt (Scott) sets up shop as a newspaper printer in Fort Worth, Texas. But he may have to come out of gunman retirement since a gang of outlaws are intent on running things their way. Not only that but Ned is falling for Flora Talbot (Thaxter), the fiancée of a former friend, Blair Lunsford (Brian).

This was actually Edwin L. Marin's last film before he would sadly pass away the same year. No more than a jobber director, he was, however, very capable in crafting a Western story; particularly when Scott was his leading man. Such is the case here. On first glance the plot has that familiar and unadventurous look to it. Hell, sometimes all we want from our 50s B grade Westerns is Randy Scott taking up arms and slaying some ruffians. Yet Twists' story throws up a number of interesting points of worth, notably the core weapon in the narrative of the pen being mightier than the sword (or 6 shooter in this instance). It also launches itself from an attention grabbing tragedy, from which Scott's character really has to take stock of things once he gets in town.

True enough to say this is more talky and character forming than the many "yeehaw" histrionic based Western B's from the 50s. But this does have enough adrenalin boosting scenes to see off any charge of it being mundane. Train robberies, a stampede, shoot outs and plenty of shifty stalkings put in an appearance. While it also has some extremely cool moments to digest: a switch gun manoeuvre between Scott & Brian is cheekily great; and the sight of Scott finally strapping on his pearl handled guns is akin to Clark Kent donning the red underpants and cape. Seriously. Technically there's some stock footage that only itches rather than hinders (if you have seen Dodge City it's déjà vu), but by and large this is a gorgeous production; one that's got a tremendous transfer on to DVD.

Attention to detail in its narrative and smartly acted by the principals, Fort Worth is well worth the time of the discerning Western fan. 7/10

This triple bill contains many goodies for western fans! To start with, the remastering is terrific! So many westerns from the 40's and 50's have become grainy and faded with age - it's a real pleasure to watch these three. Then there is the bonus of having LESLEY SELANDER as director of TALL MAN RIDING. We also have RUTH ROMAN (COLT 45) DOROTHY MALONE/PEGGIE CASTLE (TALL MAN RIDING) and PHILLIS THAXTER (FORT WORTH)as the leading ladies. ZACHARY SCOTT and DAVID BRIAN smirk and smarm perfectly as the heavies. So take the phone off the hook, bring out the popcorn - and travel back to the old west!