I'm still waiting for word in when Warner ever going to release Ford's last great western Cheyenne Autumn on DVD.

I've never really considered Ford's Cheyenne Autumn to be a great western. I found it to be somewhat boring, with a pessimistic and overbearing message. Reminded me (somewhat) of his earlier 'Two Rode Together', which also carried a very cynical look at the old west. Without John Wayne, Ford would not have made anything of significance in the 1960s. But, of course, that's just my opinion.

Here's an interesting article on the film:

Offered in the guise of a Western film, John Ford's Cheyenne Autumn is released by Warner Brothers on December 19th, 1964.

John Ford was born Sean O'Feeny in 1894. He moved to Hollywood from Maine in 1913 and soon began picking up bit parts in several films, including D.W. Griffith's influential Birth of a Nation. He learned the movie-making trade and directed his first film in 1917--a silent Western starring Harry Carey. He followed that effort by directing at least 30 others during the next four years. By the 1930s, he had earned a reputation as a talented director and began to produce a number of more "serious" films, including the The Grapes of Wrath and The Informer.

Despite his success with other themes, Ford always returned to Western movies, continually pushing the boundaries of the genre so that it could be a vehicle for studying larger social and political issues. His 1939 film, Stagecoach, set the standard for other western films to follow, raising the genre above its usual B-grade status with first-rate directing and acting (John Wayne played the lead) and Ford's masterful use of the haunting western landscape of Monument Valley, Arizona. The director-actor Orson Welles claimed to have watched Stagecoach more than 40 times before he made Citizen Kane, and when asked to name three directors he considered his superior, Welles replied, "John Ford, John Ford, and John Ford."

In the post-World War II period, Ford's Westerns became noticeably darker and more pessimistic. Having spent the first half of his career creating movies that celebrated a mythic West of brave heroes and grand adventure, Ford began undermining this perspective by creating the first "anti-Westerns," films that emphasized the negative side of America's frontier experience. Rejecting the formulaic plots in which the "good guys" always won out over the outlaws and Indians, films like She Wore a Yellow Ribbon(1949) offered a brutal vision of the West in which warfare between settlers and Indians produced much tragedy but no clear victors. In his 1956 film, The Searchers, Ford created one of the first western anti-heroes, a fanatical racist played by John Wayne who believes a white woman kidnapped by Indians deserves to die simply because she would rather stay with the tribe than return to "civilization."

Deeply moved by the Civil Rights movement and troubled by the racism of his own earlier films, Ford's 1964 Cheyenne Autumn emphasized the tragic fate of the American Indian and tried to rectify the racist stereotypes he had once propagated. The last of Ford's great Westerns, it strongly condemned the U.S. treatment of the Cheyenne that forced them into intolerable living conditions and then violently suppressed any rebellion. Foreshadowing the even more pointed critiques of later films like Little Big Man and Soldier Blue, Cheyenne Autumn featured the Indians as the heroes of the film and the army as the force for evil, completely reversing the roles his earlier films had developed.

Cameron...you may just want to cave. Absolutely stunning transfer....you need to pick this one up!

3 Godfathers and Mogambo at DVD Beaver.

Thanks for the link John, but those screencaps for '3 Godfathers' doesn't do the image transfer justice.

I don't know. If the hawks fly too low they'll definitely get owned. But if they stay up high they can crap all over the Ford day and night.

Seriously, these retailer-exclusive deals really f*cking piss me off! I'd love to get Three Godfathers, but since it's at least an hour's drive to the nearest Target, Best Buy, Walmart, etc., I'm sh*t outta luck again. :mad2: :chainsaw:

Where is "Wagon Master"?
 

"3 Godfathers" & "Mogambo" are both terrific releases--I picked up "3 Godfathers" yesterday & will watch it tonight.

In the John Ford catalog, a release of two of his late westerns "Two Rode Together" & "Cheyenne Autumn" would be welcome. Although not great Ford, they both tend to be underrated (the same goes for his final film "7 Women"--a strange but very interesting film.)

But the film that no one has mentioned is "Wagon Master" from 1950. I don't know who owns the rights; but this title along with "Fort Apache" and "The Long Voyage Home" are crying out to be released on DVD. "Wagon Master", because it does not star John Wayne probably will not get a big push for release. It was a small personal film for Ford, where he tried to make a star out of Ben Johnson. Ben Johnson did not become a star actor; but it is a beautiful film and the interplay between Johnson & Harry Carey Jr is a joy to behold (a whole series of films could have been made with these two guys.)

While I'm on the subject of John Ford; a release of some of his silents would be nice too--especially his epic "The Iron Horse" and "Three Bad Men."

Thanks for letting me ramble.

This is a copy of a list I prepared for another forum, which could be useful:

The filmography below is mostly culled from IMDB; the notes I've made on the various titles are from my personal experience or a trusted second hand source.

Chesty: A Tribute to a Legend (1976)... aka Chesty (USA: informal English title)
Vietnam! Vietnam! (1971)
7 Women (1966)
Young Cassidy (1965) (uncredited)
Cheyenne Autumn (1964)... aka John Ford's Cheyenne Autumn (USA: complete title) said to be coming in R2 in Germany.
Donovan's Reef (1963) - R1 (Paramount), R2 (Paramount), no extras, nice transfer, R2 review here
How the West Was Won (1962) (segment 'The Civil War') - R1 (Warners), poor, but rumoured to be being worked on, R1 review here
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) - R1 (Paramount), R2 (Paramount), barebones, but excellent transfer, R1 review here, and another R1 review here.
'Alcoa Premiere' (1961) TV Series (episode 'Flashing Spikes')
Two Rode Together (1961), said to be coming in R2 in Germany; coming to R2 UK Feb. '06
The Alamo (1960) (uncredited) - R1 (MGM), R2 (MGM), there is material used in the film shot by the great man; decent transfer but we want the full Roadshow version, R1 review here
Sergeant Rutledge (1960)
The Horse Soldiers (1959) - R1 (MGM), R2 (MGM), poor transfer, no extras, R1 review here
Korea (1959)
The Last Hurrah (1958) - R1 (Columbia), excellent transfer, no extras
Gideon's Day (1958)... aka Gideon of Scotland Yard (USA)
'Wagon Train' (1957) TV Series... aka Major Adams, Trail Master
The Rising of the Moon (1957)
The Wings of Eagles (1957)
The Searchers (1956) - R1 (Warners), R2 (Warners), pretty good transfer but will be superceded by what promises to be a stunning 2-discer next year, R2 review here
'The Bamboo Cross' (1955) (TV)
'Screen Directors Playhouse' (1955) TV Series (episode 'Rookie of the Year')
Mister Roberts (1955) - R1 (Warners), co-directed by Ford (after his spat with Fonda) fair transfer and extras, R1 review here
The Long Gray Line (1955) - R1 (Columbia), barebones but decent transfer, R1 review here
Mogambo (1953) - R2 (Warners), R4 (Warners), barebones but decent transfer, R4 review here
Hondo (1953) - R1 (Paramount), Ford was invited to direct the climatic battle after John Farrow was called away. One of the 'Batjac' CE discs, superb in every way, review here
The Sun Shines Bright (1953)
What Price Glory (1952) - R1 (Fox), R2 (BFI) - barebones but good transfers, R1 review here, R2 review here.
The Quiet Man (1952) - R1 (Lions Gate), R2 (UK; Universal), (Germany, Kinowelt), the only good thing to be said is that the extras are decent on the R1, in all cases the transfers are terrible. Only Paramount can come to the rescue, R1 CE review here
This Is Korea! (1951) (as Rear Admiral John Ford USNVR Ret.)
Rio Grande (1950)... aka John Ford and Merian C. Cooper's Rio Grande (USA: complete title) - R1 CE (Lions Gate), R2 (UK; Universal, Germany; Kinowelt), the R1 is pretty good, nice transfer, good extras. The UK R2 isn't. Paramount now own the Republic library and this may come again, R1 CE review here
Wagon Master (1950) - R2 (France; Èditions Montparnasse)
When Willie Comes Marching Home (1950)
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949) - R1 (Warners), R2 (UK; Universal (Germany; Kinowelt), superb transfer from both Warners and Kinowelt, awful from Universal. The German DVD features an hour long BBC interview with Ford, the R1 some interesting 16mm home movies. UK R2 review here, German R2 review here, R1 review here
Pinky (1949) (uncredited) - another where Ford was replaced, by Kazan in this case, but some of his footage remains; due from Fox in R1 January '06.
'Fireside Theatre' (1949) TV Series
3 Godfathers (1948) - R2 (UK; Warners), R4 (Warners), barebones but decent transfer, R4 review here
Fort Apache (1948)... aka War Party - R2 (France; Èditions Montparnasse, UK; Universal, Germany; Kinowelt), poor all round, again may come from Warners in 2006. R2 review here
The Fugitive (1947)... aka Fugitivo, El (Mexico) - R2 (France; Èditions Montparnasse)
My Darling Clementine (1946)... aka John Ford's My Darling Clementine (USA: complete title) - R1 (Fox), R2 (Fox), excellent presentation again in R1 on the 'Studio Classics' label, features the pre-release cut, commentary etc. Review here
They Were Expendable (1945) - R1 (Warner), older title, may be spruced up for the 2006 rumoured Ford / Wayne box from Warner. R1 review here
December 7th (1943)... aka December 7th: The Movie (video title (restored version)) - R1 (VCI). R1 review here
We Sail at Midnight (1943)
The Battle of Midway (1942) - R1 (Delta)
Sex Hygiene (1942)
Torpedo Squadron (1942)
How Green Was My Valley (1941) - R1 (Fox), R2 - (Fox), superb presentation in R1 in the 'Studio Classics' range. R1 review here
Tobacco Road (1941)
The Long Voyage Home (1940) - R2 (Universal), only currently available at the moment in a box set.
The Grapes of Wrath (1940) - R1 (Fox), R2 - (Fox), superb presentation in R1 in the 'Studio Classics' range. R1 review here
Drums Along the Mohawk (1939) - R1 (Fox), R2 (UK; Optimum, France; GCTHV, Germany MC One) - The R1 and R2 (UK) discs boast very nice if not stellar transfers, comparison here.
Young Mr. Lincoln (1939) - R2 (France; GCTHV, UK; Optimum, Germany; MC One) - coming from Criterion in January 2006, one of several Fords they are said to be releasing. Review here
Stagecoach (1939) - R2 (France; Èditions Montparnasse) (UK; Universal), R1 (Warners), decent in R1 but better is coming 2006. R1 review here
Submarine Patrol (1938)
Four Men and a Prayer (1938)
The Adventures of Marco Polo (1938) (uncredited)
The Hurricane (1937) - R1 (HBO), now OOP
Wee Willie Winkie (1937)
The Plough and the Stars (1936)
Mary of Scotland (1936) - R2 (France; Èditions Montparnasse)
The Prisoner of Shark Island (1936) - R2 (France, GCTHV), also coming January 2006 release on the 'Masters of Cinema' label in the UK, and coming in Germany on November 23, 2005
Steamboat Round the Bend (1935)... aka Steamboat Bill - R2 (UK; Optimum)
The Informer (1935) - R2 (France; Èditions Montparnasse)
The Whole Town's Talking (1935)... aka Passport to Fame (UK)
Judge Priest (1934) - R1, R2 - various appalling public domain releases. Avoid
The World Moves On (1934)
The Lost Patrol (1934) - R2 (France; Èditions Montparnasse)
Doctor Bull (1933)
Pilgrimage (1933)
Flesh (1932)
Airmail (1932)
Arrowsmith (1931) - R1 (MGM) excellent transfer, barebones, R1 review here
The Brat (1931)
Seas Beneath (1931)
Up the River (1930)
Born Reckless (1930)
Men Without Women (1930)
Salute (1929) (uncredited)
The Black Watch (1929)... aka King of the Khyber Rifles (UK)

You should be aware that all but a handful of Ford's silent pictures are considered lost forever; but as these things continue to pop up from time to time, there's always a slim chance...

Strong Boy (1929)
Riley the Cop (1928) (uncredited)
Napoleon's Barber (1928)
Hangman's House (1928) (uncredited)
Four Sons (1928)
Mother Machree (1928) (uncredited)
Upstream (1927)... aka Footlight Glamour (UK)
The Blue Eagle (1926) (uncredited)
3 Bad Men (1926)
The Shamrock Handicap (1926)... aka 1732
Thank You (1925)
The Fighting Heart (1925)... aka Once to Every Man (UK)
Kentucky Pride (1925)
Lightnin' (1925)
Hearts of Oak (1924)
The Iron Horse (1924) (uncredited) - R2 (UK) decent presentation, but barebones by BFI of the UK cut of the picture, R2 review here
Hoodman Blind (1923)
North of Hudson Bay (1923) (as Jack Ford)... aka North of the Yukon (UK)
Cameo Kirby (1923)
Three Jumps Ahead (1923) (as Jack Ford)
The Face on the Bar-Room Floor (1923) (as Jack Ford)... aka The Love Image (UK)
The Village Blacksmith (1922) (as Jack Ford)
Silver Wings (1922) (as Jack Ford) (prologue only)
Little Miss Smiles (1922) (as Jack Ford)
Jackie (1921) (as Jack Ford)
Sure Fire (1921) (as Jack Ford)
Action (1921) (as Jack Ford)... aka Let's Go
Desperate Trails (1921) (as Jack Ford)
The Wallop (1921) (as Jack Ford)
The Freeze-Out (1921) (as Jack Ford)
The Big Punch (1921) (as Jack Ford)
Just Pals (1920) (as Jack Ford)
Hitchin' Posts (1920) (as Jack Ford)... aka The Land of Promise (UK)
The Girl in Number 29 (1920) (as Jack Ford)... aka The Girl in the Mirror
The Prince of Avenue A (1920) (as Jack Ford)
Marked Men (1919) (as Jack Ford)... aka Trail of Shadows
A Gun Fightin' Gentleman (1919) (as Jack Ford)... aka The Gun-Fighting
Gentleman (USA: review title)
Rider of the Law (1919) (as Jack Ford)... aka Jim of the Rangers
Ace of the Saddle (1919) (as Jack Ford)
The Outcasts of Poker Flat (1919) (as Jack Ford)
Riders of Vengeance (1919) (as Jack Ford)
By Indian Post (1919) (as Jack Ford)... aka The Love Letter
The Gun Packer (1919) (as Jack Ford)... aka Out Wyoming Way
Gun Law (1919) (as Jack Ford)... aka The Posse's Prey
Bare Fists (1919) (as Jack Ford)... aka The Man Who Wouldn't Shoot
A Fight for Love (1919) (as Jack Ford)... aka Hell's Neck
The Fighting Brothers (1919) (as Jack Ford)... aka His Buddy Roped (1919) (as Jack Ford)
The Last Outlaw (1919)
Rustlers (1919) (as Jack Ford)... aka Even Money
Three Mounted Men (1918) (as Jack Ford)... aka Three Wounded Men (USA)
The Craving (1918)
A Woman's Fool (1918) (as Jack Ford)
Hell Bent (1918) (as Jack Ford)... aka The Three Bad Men (USA: bowdlerized title)
The Scarlet Drop (1918) (as Jack Ford)
Thieves' Gold (1918) (as Jack Ford)
Wild Women (1918) (as Jack Ford)
The Phantom Riders (1918) (as Jack Ford)
Bucking Broadway (1917) (as Jack Ford)... aka Slumbering Fires (UK)
A Marked Man (1917) (as Jack Ford)
The Secret Man (1917) (as Jack Ford)... aka The Round Up / Up Against It
Straight Shooting (1917) (as Jack Ford)... aka Joan of the Cattle Country / Straight Shootin' (USA: cut version) / The Cattle War
Cheyenne's Pal (1917) (as Jack Ford) ... aka A Dumb Friend / Cactus My Pal
The Soul Herder (1917) (as Jack Ford) ... aka The Sky Pilot
The Scrapper (1917) (as Jack Ford)
Trail of Hate (1917)
The Tornado (1917) (as Jack Ford)
Red Saunders Plays Cupid (1917)

---
Publications:
John Ford; The Complete Films - excellent book, containing some wonderful photographs, nice quotes and titbits of information, plus a complete filmography and more. Dirt cheap and super value for money.
Searching for John Ford - Joe McBride's amazing examination of the life and work of Ford. Not just the best book on this film maker, but one of the best biography's around IMHO.
---

Nice compilation of the Ford films John, although I have to disagree with your assessment of 'The Horse Soldiers' having a poor transfer. It's the best (by far) that has ever been released to home video. Head-and-Shoulders above the lousy laserdisc release in the 1990s. Although not as nice as say 'She Wore A Yellow Ribbon', still...a very worthy effort.

It might be the best so far but typically for an MGM release, it's 1.66:1 non-anamorphic, there's some wobbling, and a very nasty tear in the print at one point - it's not a patch on SWAYR, but then again it's not had half the care and attention lavished on it.

Although he's got the AR wrong in his review, Savant says "MGM's DVD of The Horse Soldiers is not much of an improvement on the older laserdisc. I don't know if this is the same master or not, but it simply doesn't look very good: it's grainy, the colors are inconsistent, and there's a lot of unnecessary film damage." And I agree with him.

Again, there is no comparison between the soft, fuzzy laserdisc release of 'The Horse Soldiers', and the very clear print that MGM put out on DVD. While the laserdisc only had one clear scene (after Lukey dies, and John Wayne stands up), the DVD's entire presentation was clear. I do agree with you about the tear, but that is for like a second of the entire 2 hour film....no big deal. If anything, we should agree on the absolutely horrid release of 'The Quiet Man'. Can't wait till Paramount releases this one!

Hey John...excellent list! Really enjoyed reading your comments about the films. My only disagreements with you would be on 'Stagecoach' and 'The Horse Soldiers'.

I think 'Stagecoach' has a below average transfer. I've had this film on VHS, Laserdisc, and now DVD, and the image has always been the same...very scratchy. I had read a story once that when time came to find a decent copy of the film, none were available. John Wayne came to the rescue, when he loaned the studio a 16mm print he had in his garage. That could be the very one we are seeing nowadays. Anyway, I'm certainly looking forward to getting this one again in 2006!

As for 'The Horse Soldiers', I too feel MGM did a nice job on the current DVD release. True, there is a major splice in one scene, but the overall look of the transfer is MUCH improved over the old widescreen laserdisc release.

Well, thanks again for the excellent list. Do you have something similar in terms of John Wayne films released on DVD? I'd love to read your comments on those as well!

According to Barrie Maxwell, over at Digital Bits:

"There is further confirmation that a John Ford box set will be forthcoming later this year, probably in the second or third quarter. Titles likely to be included are: The Informer, Stagecoach, The Long Voyage Home, Fort Apache, The Searchers, and Cheyenne Autumn. Writer Scott Eyman is involved in some of the supplementary content (commentary, interviews) being assembled for these releases."

http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articl...ll012506b.html

awesome

Great news indeed. Every one of those films are classics in their own right. And glad to see 3 Godfathers is not included, as I already have the excellent release that Target put out last month.

yah...looks like I will head over to Target and grab those dvds now

Great box set indeed. Although, I don't know if I'd go so far as to say 'Cheyenne Autumn' is a classic. Watchable, yes...Classic, not quite.

Holy crap, I'm all over it! I've been waiting for The Informer and Fort Apache for what seems like forever and have held off on The Searchers and Stagecoach in favor of the looooong awaited Two-Disc SE's. This plus the recent Peckinpah set makes 2006 quite a year for Western fans.

Agreed. Now if we can get good looking versions of Mann's The Naked Spur and Man of the West on the shelves, well, I'll be a happy camper.

Btw, are all the previously released John Wayne films from Paramount like The Shootist, True Grit, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Sons of Katie Elder, etc. that are now appearing under the "John Wayne Collection" banner with new coverart just repackagings, or do they sport new transfers and/or extras?

just new artwork....disc are the same

Good luck...my local Target stores never got any Mogombo DVDs in stock during the promotion week (Later, I got lucky and talked to an great sales clerk who not only offered to called other Oregon stores and ask them to check their stock, but he convinced one store...which was 100 miles away...to transfer a copy of Mogambo to his store for me...and yes, I did called Target's consumer relations line to report the excellent service.)

Any word on a Searchers DVD re-issue?

Yeah, your probably right. Guess I was really looking at the first 5 titles in the box set when I wrote the post.

And 'The Long Voyage Home'...WOW, can not wait to see a decent print of that film!

from today's digital bits:

There's a new John Wayne/John Ford Collection on the way, which will include The Searchers: 50th Anniversary Two-Disc Special Edition (1956), along with a Stagecoach: Two-Disc Special Edition (1939), Fort Apache (1948), The Long Voyage Home (1940), The Wings of Eagles (1957), She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949), They Were Expendable (1945) and 3 Godfathers (1948).

There's also The John Ford Collection that will include The Lost Patrol (1934), The Informer (1935), Cheyenne Autumn (1964), Mary of Scotland (1936) and Sergeant Rutledge (1960).


:drool::drool::drool: