Search - The Great American Western 2/DVD The Gun and the Pulpit/Boot Hill/Gunfighters/Little Moon & Jud McGraw/The Jackals/My Outlaw Brother/Jory/The Brothers O'Toole on DVD

K. K. (GAMER)
Reviewed on 3/23/2024...

The Gunfighters - A real jewel in westerns! Art Hindle can almost be mistaken for Without a Trace's Eric Close. A must watch!

Vol 13 and 14 From The Great American Western Series - Fun W

L. Shirley | fountain valley, ca United States | 08/13/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This 2 DVD package from the Great American Western Series is actually the single volumes 13 and 14 with 4 films each.

Volume 13 of the Great American Western series is devoted to gunfighters and the lawmen that pursued them. There are some great stars and will make for a fun and enjoyable weekend for the Western lover.

First up from 1974 is "The Gun And The Pulpit". Marjoe Gortner is fast on the draw, and a famous gunfighter. When he is set up on a fake murder charge, he hides out in a small town and poses as a preacher. The townsfolk are in awe of this preacher who uses a six-shooter to turn the bad guys into believers! Lots of fun.The film also stars Pamela Sue Martin, Slim Pickens and Estelle Parsons. It is in color and Directed by Daniel Petrie.

"Boot Hill" from 1969 is a spaghetti western, with a mix of American and Italian actors. A traveling circus becomes involved with some really bad hombres, when they save the life of the man who is after them. But when the bad guys claim the life of one of their own, they team up with the hero to help stop the desperados in their tracks. The film stars Terrence Hill and Woody Strode and is also known as " Boot Hill:Trinity Rides Again". Also look for Victor Buono, Bud Spencer and Lionel Stander. In color directed by Giuseppe Colizzi.

Mickey Rooney is a real treat to watch and adds a few laughs to, "My Outlaw Brother". He's a city slicker from New York and comes out west to find his big brother who he has idealized all these years. He meets up and travels with a lawmen on the trail of an really bad outlaw, and as it turns out, they are both looking for the same person! The fabulous cast includes Robert Preston, Robert Stack and and Wanda Hendrix. It's a Black and White, made in 1951. Directed by Elliot Nugent.

Last, but cetainly not least is "The Gunfighters". it's an excellent and captivating documentary, which appears to be made recently(maybe the early 90's). It uses Hollywood film footage and old photographs to delve into the lives and psyche of notorious outlaws and the lawmen that chased after them. Factual in depth stories on The Dalton Boys, Pat Garrett, Billy the Kid, The Youngers and James Brothers, Wild Bill Hickok, Buffalo Bill, The Renos, and Bob Ford are narrated. The Earps and Doc Holiday are also discussed but, not much time is spent on them. The case says it is 1 hour, but this was actually a two-part series that ran about an hour and 20 minutes.

The Great American Western Vol 14 has a couple of R rated comedies(that probably would not be considered R anymore), and a couple of dramas. These films date from 1967 through 1974. There are no classics to be found here, but some good rainy day stuff to check out. Anybody looking for a John Ford type film, should probably pass these by, but oater lovers can just kick back and enjoy.

"Little Moon and Jud McGraw"(1974)(R) was sort of a dark comedy. Stefanie Powers and James Caan take on a town full of bad guys that did them both wrong. Powers is an Indian girl who handles things her own way, and Caan is more aggressive about getting revenge. But they work together and devise a plan, and of course a little romance may bloom between the two. It was kind of hard to accept Powers as the Indian girl who rarely spoke, with her long black wig, and blue eyes. A fun view never the less. Sammy Davis Jr as "Kid Dandy", helps this one along too. Other film veterans include Aldo Ray, Robert Walker Jr, and Mike Conrad.

"The Brothers O'Toole"(1973/R)...This was more of a slapstick kind of humor, and it garnered more then a few chuckles from me.
John Astin and Steve Carlson are the brothers who can usually con their way into or out of any situation. Astin is the brains(and plays a double role), and Carlsen the ladies man. But when Astin is mistaken for a really bad hombre, and captured and held prisoner by the quirky towns folk while awaiting a hanging, they must figure their way out. A fabulous funny cast includes Pat Carroll,Jesse White, Lee Merriwether(in quite a different role for her)and Hans Conried provides some laughs as well.

"Jory"(1972) has a very young Robby Benson learning about life on a cattle drive, after he is orphaned. He goes to work for a rich man, guarding his beautiful daughter Amy(Linda Purl). He becomes a man real fast as nearly everyone he learns to care about is shot down. Also stars John Marley and B.J. Thomas.

"The Jackels"(1967),starring Vincent Price, was quite out of the ordinary. You might even say a little strange(would you expect any less from a Vincent Price film). This western takes place in the wastelands of Africa. A group of scavenging drifters, looking for gold, victimize a young woman and her grandfather in what appears to be a ghost town. She's a tough cookie, but can she handle 5 tough guys? Can she even make one of them see the light, and go good?

Don't expect any Criterion like or pristine transfers. For the price you just get some not so famous films, with decent views.
The Jackels, almost looked like one of those black and whites that has been colorized, but I think that is the way it was filmed. All the films are enhanced in DD5.1. The sound is good, but sometimes the words don't fit when the actors talk(on "The Jackels").

Platinum has so many of these oaters and off beat westerns available for the true western lover to choose from. You can buy them singly or in packaged deals, from 2 to 10 discs in a set(each in thier own keep case). These single Vols. may be found in the Vol 2 of the larger sets, which includes Single Vols 11-20). It gets confusing as the multi packs as well as the singles are called Vol 1 or 2 etc, You can usually tell by the price, how many discs, are in each volume, or check the buying info.

These films are a fun view, and sometimes a treat seeing some of these big stars way back when, or in films they may rather not put on their resumes.

These packages and films are for the true oater lover. If you're looking for great classics, beautifully restored by the big studios, these packages are probably not for you.

Saddle up and Happy Trails....Laurie"