6 Film Westerns Box Set: 3:10 To Yuma/ Bend Of The River/ Broken Trail/ Open Range/ Rooster Cogburn/ Silverado [DVD]

The 6 DVD Westerns is Box set certainly a bargain. Naturally, none of the films is new but they certainly include classics and the overall standard is very high.I tried `Broken Trail' first because I'd never heard of it and it didn't appear in my Film Guide.. I discovered it was actually a TV mini-series but don't decry it. The story is simple: 3 cowboys driving horses hundreds of miles for sale take in charge 5 Chinese girls sold into slavery and on the way to a brothel. They decide to rescue the girls and the brothel madam hires men to get them back. Simple and there are a few embellishments - including insights into the deliberate spreading of smallpox, cowboy toilet procedures and herd management. Good points are the direction and the performance of the actors. There's plenty of crisp action and sudden interruptions to what is mainly a gentle drive eastwards. For me a major weakness was certain lengthy dialogue passages, especially towards the end.. But it's a film I could certainly see again. Outstanding performances from the lead players, Robert Duvall (as Prett Ritter) and Thomas Haden Church (as Tom Harte).`Silverado' is an old favourite of mine and this viewing made me appreciate it even more. It's a mad tale of strangers teaming up to battle against unexpected trouble in Silverado. Kevin Kline is excellent as the enigmatic hero (Paden).and Brian Dehenny as the equally enigmatic villain. (Cobb). I found Kevin Costner's young hothead Jake an outrageously over-the-top delivery whereas Danny Glover (Mal)and Scott Glenn (Emmett) both produced an under-played performance. The film's full of action, twists and general exuberance which will provide first-rate entertainment. It's very much an old-style Western - contrast it with Eastwood's `Unforgiven' or even John Wayne in `The Shootist' and you'll see why.`3:10 to Yuma'(1957) is a great film - although I prefer the 2007 remake which has a larger scope. Even so the 1957 classic has memorable performances by Glenn Ford (Ben Wade) and Van Heflin (Dan Evans) and a more gripping scenario. The whole film is more claustrophobic than the remake, with far greater concentration on the dilemma facing the hero and the manipulative abilities of the `counter-hero' - Wade doesn't have the nastiness of a villain. Glenn Ford is probably superior to Russell Crowe regarding ambiguity and Van Helflin better than Christopher Bale as regards battling temptation. This is because the 1957 film concentrates on inner tensions and interplay between the two chief characters, whereas the 2007 version deals with more of the expected features of the Western. Although the 2007 version is more violent than the version in this package, for me it cannot match the impact of the death of Henry Jones (Alex Potter) - perhaps intensified by it being filmed in black-&-white.`Bend of the River (aka `Where the River bends')(1952) was unknown to me and appears to be a traditional Western, but not quite. It's a very good film with brilliant scenery and photography. Glynn McLyntock (James Stewart ) saves Emerson Cole (Arthur Kennedy) and comes to wish he hadn't; McLyntock is a baddie turned good but Cole is a baddie stayed bad. Just to complicate matters there's Trey Wilson (Rock Hudson) as a gambler who turns bad and then reverts to good. There's lots of action, a general display of toughness in the face of adversity and a good depiction of a settlement gone gold-crazy. Weaknesses are both Indians and minor baddies tend to be wooden, there's some belated display of `yes massa' servants, and some of McLyntock's achievements stretch belief. Even so I thoroughly enjoyed the film which lived up to the generally high standard of James Stewart's Westerns.`Rooster Cogburn' (1975) has both leads , John Wayne (as Rooster)and Katherine Hepburn (as Eula Goodnight), aged 68 and delighting in playing off each other. Wayne reprises his role in `True Grit' (1969) and Katherine Hepburn virtually hers in `The African Queen'(1951) and their exchanges, amusing but sometimes prolonged, break up the extensive action in this Western, reaching a climax of pursuit along a river to which even a battle through rapids takes second place. Fine performances by the two leading villains - Richard Jordan (as Hawke) and Anthony Zerbe (as Breed) maintain the tension of the attempt by outlaws to recover a shipment of nitro-glycerine seized by Wayne. The direction is good and the dialogue crisp but, for me, the film one criticism is seeing what the nitro was put through without damage - anyone who's seen `Wages of Fear' (1953) will share my scepticism. Overall worth watching.In `Open Range' (2003) Robert Duvall reprises his role in `The Broken Trail' (see above)., except his name has changed from Prett Ritter to Boss Spearman. Here he is more of a father-figure than simple leader, assisted by the taciturn Charlie (Kevin Costner). They are ably supported by an excellent cast. As with most Westerns the scenery is excellent. The film is a tale of persistence against bullying and how depths in all the major characters are revealed, some close to the surface (Baxter's megalomania) and some deeper-down (Charlie's gentleness) Here are no really enigmatic figures (contrast `3:10 to Yuma' and `Bend of the River'). It's just a straightforward story and reaches its climax in one of the best (and prolonged!) gunfights you'll see on the screen. A much under-rated film.

Brilliant old movies, good quality

Quality product, swift delivery. Thank you.

I bought this for my Grandad he said he enjoyed them, fast delivery would recommend this product .

The product arrived on time and a fine western series

As Described

Husbands films

This boxed set was a present for my hubby. He was really pleased with it and I know he would recommend it

Had to return product. I was not informed that product is not compatable with my D.V.D. players.