Search - Western Double Feature (The Lonesome Trail / The Silver Star) on DVD

Two More Great Lippert Gems From VCI!

Buxx | 09/17/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Robert L. Lippert, known as "The Quickie King" put out a considerable number of "B" movies during the late forties and early fifties...some were real klunkers, however tucked away amongst the tripe are a few real diamonds in the rough. "The Lonesome Trail" and "The Silver Star" are two real gems.

Both features were produced by Earle Lyon and directed by Richard Bartlett, and both producer and director took acting roles in the movies. OK, let there be no doubt about it, these are real low budget works...the casts in both features are filled out with names from Hollywood's 'Poverty Row' and the production values are extremely limited. Having said that the film makers do the most with their limited budgets.

"Lonesome Trail" concerns a small rancher (John Agar) who returns home from the Indian Wars to find his valley has been co-opted by baddies (Lyon and Bartlett). When Agar is seriously wounded in his gun arm, he develops a profficiency with bow and arrow and seeks revenge. A nice twist on a standard western.

But the REAL jewel here is "The Silver Star." Written by Ian McDonald, who played Gary Cooper's nemesis in "High Noon" we are presented with an anti-High Noon theme. Earle Lyon as the less than brave Sheriff, runs to the train station to buy a ticket out of town when the baddies arrive, rather than stand tall, like Coop and utter "I think I ought to stay." Despite the low budget there is a real story being told here, and it is in some respets, more realistic than it's inspiration,"High Noon."

In addistion to Earle Lyon as the Sheriff and Richard Bartlett as the Gunman, the cast is rounded out with veteran western heroine Marie Windsor, and features Edgar Buchanan, Lon Chaney and Barton Maclain. Oh, did I mention the killer ballad sung throughout by Country music legend Jimmy Wakely? This is a GREAT western for all lovers of the old beat up B movies.

Thanks VCI and Kit Parker for bringing these movies to light after so many years."

THIS SHOULD BE VCI'S "WESTERN FILM NOIR", EXCELLENT !

James D. Jones | DeFuniak Springs, FL USA | 12/23/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

""The Lonesome Trail" has some of the best character acting you'll ever see.Edgar Buchanan,one of the best character actors ever, has a small part but played it well.Douglas Fowley's "Crazy Charlie" role was excellent,not quite a sidekick,but very much like many of Gabby Hayes' character roles.Richard Bartlett is such an effective bad guy,his characters in both this and "The Silver Star" are just sickening !Bartlett was also the writer and director of this fine western. This picture was my introduction to Adele Jergens,whose performance as a hard drinking saloon gal was fantastic.I don't know if she was as tall as Marie Windsor who was 5' 9", but I found Jergens to have a presence just as commanding.You also wont want to miss Wayne Morris as the shotgun toting bartender ! I just loved this Picture.
"The Silver Star" was excellent too.I bought this to see my favorite actress,Marie Windsor and was not disappointed.Windsor actually plays somewhat of a good girl in this one although she still just smoulders with sex appeal.This picture is really tense.It reminded me of "The Gunfighter",not alot of action but a very tense drama.Again we have a bonanza of great characters.Edgar Buchanan plays a really good part of a retired sheriff that is somewhat combat fatigued,lucky to be alive in the brutal,wild west.He wants to leave the sheriffing to the popular newly elected sheriff,played by Earle Lyon, who's father and grandfather were both gunned down while serving in the office.As soon as the town celebrates his election,the trouble begins.Richard Bartlett ,who also co wrote the screenplay and directed this picture, was as effective as an actor could be as the hired gunfighter,King Daniels.Sickening,just sickening,I hated the character ! Also look for Lon Chaney Jr as John W. Harmon,the town's crooked lawyer ! I would rate this picture a bit higher than "The Lonesome Trail" but I can honestly give both of these the full five stars."

What those three others saw in this?

Markku Ojanen | Lempäälä Finland | 12/23/2007

(2 out of 5 stars)

"These films are very cheap and look it. One has to love B-westerns in order to like them. I have watched westerns since 1955 and believe I can rate what is good and what is not. OK, one can see some of those great western character actors in these films. It is small bonus. Lonesome Trail is a one star picture and Silver Star three star picture, maybe even a bit better. It has a good story.

What should be given to Shane, Seachers, Magnicent Seven and Warlock if these are given five stars? Perhaps these are participating in an amateur contest and the ratings reflect it."