Search - Great American Western V.20, The on DVD

K. K. (GAMER)
Reviewed on 6/2/2023...

Roy Rogers - The picture and video quality are so bad that it takes away from the solid old school plotline.

5 Wonderfully Corny John Wayne Oaters From the 30's

L. Shirley | fountain valley, ca United States | 12/04/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Volume 24 in the Great American Western series, features 5 old John Wayne films from the 1930's. Four from the Lone star series, and one other oater.They are all wonderfully corny. Each runs less then an hour, so for well over 4 hours you could get comfy with The Duke.

In the Lone series we sometimes find our guy as some goverment agent, working incognito to bust the bad guys. He's not the same agent everytime though. And of course, there's always a girl. In "Riders of Destiny"(1933), He's "Singin Sandy Saunders.Everyone thinks he's a bad hombre gun fighter but in reality he's out to save the water from the land grubbers. Forrest Taylor also stars.

"The Trail Beyond"(1934) finds Rod Drew(Wayne) searching for long lost friends in North West Canda. He has to prove one has been unjustly framed for murder. Noah Berry Sr. and Jr. star as well.

"West of the Divide"(1934)has The Duke searching for the killers of his parents. Along the way, he discovers he has a little brother(how lucky for that kid!).

"Texas Terror"(1935) A sheriff(Wayne) is blaming himself for the death of his best friend. He had to follow the letter of the law though. He takes up prospecting and leaves the law behind.

"Winds of the Wasteland"(1936) is not one of the Lone Star films.Once Pony Express riders, now stagecoach operators, are scammed out of their money on a run-down coach and a ghost town line. Can they right this wrong and bring the town to life??Well..you know.

The films are very old. This is not a big studio release. The films, show their age. Although, there are a couple that look pretty darn good.And there isn't anything to take away from the enjoyment of these cinematic treasures. The sound is enhanced in Dolby 5.1. One of the films, did though have a hissing noise through most of the film. All the films are on one side, no need to flip the Disc.

These may not be the best Westerns ever made, but I have to go 5 stars for the historical film value to fans of The Duke.This films are sure to give you a smile. And also to Platinum Discs, for putting so many of these Oaters out on DVD for us to enjoy.

If You just can't get enough of the Duke, this DVD may also be found in a two-pack:John Wayne, Great American Western, 2 DVD with 4 more of his films including the entire 3 hour Shadow of the Eagle serial.


Check my listmanias for more John Wayne Westerns and more GAW volumes in the series I have reviewed so far.

Saddle Up, and Happy Trails To You

Laurie

"

THE VERY EARLY DUKE

Kay's Husband | Virginia, U.S.A. | 03/26/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"
I don't know how many films Wayne did for Lone Star Productions but I do know that these Platinum Discs are worth their weight in gold. For my taste these early westerns had a certain real ambience about them that are missing even in the films of the 1940s. These early films are just one step ahead of the silent films, and at times you have stretches of music to cover the action. It's just great.

If you want to see John Wayne, when he was still becoming John Wayne, you gotta watch these old classics. I got on to them through Encore Westerns several years back and then later bought these Platinum discs.

Another note, the later LEGENDS OF THE WEST (5 volumes) by Platinum also collects all these older movies. No matter which sets you have they are mighty interesting, on some of the Lone Star series of films George 'Gabby' Hayes, 'George Hayes' as he was then known, shows up as Wayne's co-star. Great stuff.

Semper Fi."