Search - Great American Western V.14, The on DVD

(3+1/2 stars)...Mix of Comedy and Drama, Famous Actors, Not

L. Shirley | fountain valley, ca United States | 10/22/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"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 four 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"). All films are on the same side, and it comes in a nice snap case.

Platinum has so many of these oaters and off beat westerns available for the true western lover to choose from. There are somewhere around 30 volumes out now. You can buy them singly or in packaged deals, from 2 to 10 discs in a set(each in thier own keep case). The problem is that the titles of the films are not listed on the buying info. The earlier volumes(1,2,3, etc) are usually 4 films of a specific actor, the later ones most often have some kind of theme running through them. Other then two were considered comedy in this one, I'm not sure what they all had in common. This single Vol. 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.

Saddle Up and Happy Trails...Laurie"

Not as advertised

G. Nuckols | California | 05/04/2010

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I purchased this item because it was advertised with Randolph Scott as one of the actors. He doesn't appear in any of the 4 films. Even the packing slip that came with the shipment lists the title as "The Great American Western V.14, Randolph Scott --- DVD"

I just received the DVD today and am sure I will enjoy the movies that are described on the cover, but I was expecting 4 movies with Randolph Scott as the star. I am writing this review even before I try to play the DVD because I am so disappointed. I guess I will have to do a better job of investigating what I am buying in the future.

"