Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by Harmonia (A) on February 28, 2009 at 12:02:52

In Reply to: RE: The Searchers on Blue Ray posted by recordhead on February 26, 2009 at 10:35:32

It's hard to beat and it really is about as good as it gets. A classic by any standard. It's particularly stunning on BD.

I love the westerns of John Ford, and for a taste of something completely different, try the 1940s My Darling Clementine, starring Henry Fonda. It might just be my favorite western ever, a telling of the OK Corral shootout. It is in glorious B&W, but just as gorgeous in its own way as The Searchers. As others have mentioned, you must see Stagecoach. I'd also highly recommend Fort Apache as well as She Wore A Yellow Ribbon.

In the same vein, another visually stunning, favorite western (this time from director William Wyler) is The Big Country, starring Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston, Burl Ives and Jean Simmons. Wonderful music (one of the great movie scores of all time) and a lot of fun with lots of wide wide shots of goreous...big country. ;-)

And I have a goofy soft spot for the 1980s Silverado, Lawrence Kasdan's tribute to the epic westerns of the 40s and 50s, which boasts a great cast and a stirring, retro score a la The Big Country. I'd rather watch it than Dances With Wolves (which I can't abide) or Unforgiven.

One of the great thrills of my life was visiting Monument Valley a few years ago. What a stunning and impressive location. I stood where Ford had his camera places for many of the shots in Stagecoach and looked down that valley. Amazing.