Movie Review: The Man from Laramie (1955; Columbia/Twilight Time)

...hypothetical question time: What makes a good western, a great western?? Is it the sweeping, spansive view of the prairie, stretching out almost endlessly across the dusty frontier?? Not necessarily; one can find that in just about any well-shot oater. How about the prerequisite conflict between the dedicated lawful, and the self-serving, greedy & corrupt...invariably culminating in the ol' cliché of meeting in the middle of town, at sun-up, for the prerequisite gun-slinging showdown?? Naw...call such things, a dime-a-dozen, in the common western film tradition. The fleeting, hero versus villain, horse-galloping pursuit, with guns a-blazin'?? The free-for-all, barroom brawl, instigated by too many aces in the deck, during a 'friendly' little game?? The grizzled ol' drunken geezer, 'teched' in the head by too much sun, and too many crazed illusions of tapping into that ever-evasive gold vein?? Same old, same old, for those who are ardently devoted to the flicker of the celluloid western film fervor...

...so what exactly makes for a superior western epic, as opposed to something more generic, routine and derivative?? Depth and complexity of character, perhaps?? Motivation of said character, hiding a much more determined, albeit underlining purpose?? Both suppressed and exposed levels of strengths, weaknesses, jealousies and insecurities?? Basically, knowing what makes such characters, tick?? 1955's "The Man from Laramie"...one of Twilight Time's most recent limited edition releases, and the fifth & final western-themed collaboration between actor James Stewert, and director Anthony Mann...brilliantly balances a more psychologically inclined study of it's varied characters, amidst the backdrop and routine staples of high western drama, culminating in a somewhat unconventional and much more compelling approach to the genre, than typically rendered...

Movie Review: "Two Rode Together" (1961; Columbia Pictures/Twilight Time)

...often times, even without the grapevine sensationalism, those privy to the behind-the-scenes 'making of' stories, hear tell about how difficult this or that star was to work with, or how difficult this or that director was to work with...even situations and productions where the performers and filmmakers genuinely went out of their way to actually make things difficult,,,make things uneasy and unpredictable. And yet, despite such difficulties, some absolutely wonderful films have been derived...a testament to the overall professionalism of those in front of the camera, as we as behind. Such was the case, with regards to the actors and filmmakers, whom have had the initial displeasure, then ultimate satisfaction with working with famed and renowned filmmaker, John Ford. Antagonistic. Keeping his performers out of the loop, as far as letting them know what he wanted, or what he expected...taking his frustrations out on his performing entourage...making those under his direction, uneasy, wary and suspicious of each other...this was his style, and despite such erratic instability of direction, the best of classic Hollywood nonetheless flocked to work with him...actors, like John Wayne, Henry Fonda and James Stewart...the latter of which collaborated with Ford on three of the greatest westerns set to celluloid...1964's "Cheyenne Autumn", 1962's "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance", and the slightly lesser, though no less compelling, sweeping 1961 western drama...their initial pairing..."Two Rode Together", which herein is given the exclusive 'Twilight Time' treatment...