Search - Johnny Mack Brown Double Feature, Vol. 1 on DVD

A Must for B Western Fanatics

BVT | Paranaque City Philippines | 06/02/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This presenation by VCI of Johnny Mack Brown's B westerns is magnificent. This release has been described as the first in the series and we can expect many more. After all, Johnny Mack Brown appeared in a LOT of westerns.The Bad Man from Red Butte has very good production values. There's a lot of horse riding, shooting, fisticuffs and the other stuff that makess B westerns exciting. Unlike others of the genre, this particular film stands out because Universal did not apply Poverty Row techniques. There is hardly use of stock film, so common in other B westerns. There are so many hired extras and people appearing in this feature that this has the feel of an A western. Universal is definitely not Lone Star Productions or any of those [other] companies of that time. This is recommended viewing for fans of the genre.Rawhide Ranger was produced by Commonwealth Films but still under Universal. So, despite the use of more stock film, the production values are still high and would be considered among the better B westerns produced.The quality for both features is good. Picture clarity and contrast and sound are excellent. You hardly notice any film deterioration and VCI must have obtained well preserved copies of these two films, though some scratches were very noticeable in the first feature.A notable extra to this package is the more than 15 minute Chapter One of a Johnny Mack Brown western serial. Another plus are the trailers. When I saw the Lone Ranger trailer, I decided to buy a copy for my collection for the picture quality is pristine.You should not miss this VCI DVD introduction to Johnny Mack Brown B westerns."

Two fine Johnny Mack Brown movies on DVD

B. Cathey | Wendell, NC United States | 11/14/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"VCI Entertainment has given us two classic Johnny Mack Brown B-western, beautifully and cleanly transferred. Brown was never at the level of Gene Autry or Roy Rogers, but his long career at Universal and later Monogram, give proof to his popularity. Bad Man from Red Butte and Rawhide Ranger are two of his better Universals Westerns. Production values are high in these Universal releases, and sidekick Fuzzy Knight and other stock Brown B-Western cast members help make this two offerings very enjoyable. VCI should be encouraged to release more of these. Highly recommended."

JOHNNY MACK BROWN - All action B-Western Double Feature. Pl

Robert J. Evered | 05/10/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Born in 1904 Johnny Mack Brown was an All-American college footballer, he turned down professional football offers and instead headed for Hollywood. In 1927 he signed a contract with MGM and played the lead in many top-budget films. In 1930 he enjoyed great success in the title role of King Vidor's BILLY THE KID from then on for the next twenty odd-years it was B-Westerns all the way! This double feature DVD from VCI Entertainment (Dolby Digitally Remastered) is a perfect introduction to Johnny Mack Brown westerns. In 1940 he was ranked at number 6 out of the 10 highest Money-making B-Western Stars, top places at that time going to Gene Autry, William Boyd and Roy Rogers. A bonus with this DVD is Chapter1 of "Wild West Days (1937) and among the first-class color previews look out for the two top-notch "Lone Ranger" trailers. Excellent, B-Western-fare for all cowboy aficionados.

BAD MAN FROM RED BUTTE (1940 Universal - 58 Minutes)
Johnny Mack Brown plays the dual-role of the good and bad twin-brothers. Buck Halliday (Goodie) rides into town with his two sidekicks frontier lawyer Gabriel Hornsby (Bob Baker) and snake oil Peddler Spud Jenkins (Fuzzy Knight). Brady is mistakenly arrested for crimes committed by his twin brother who calls himself Gils Brady (Baddie). The love interest is the new schoolmarm (Anne Gwynne) Bob Baker and others sing a song or two with Fuzzy Knight providing the comedy

RAWHIDE RANGERS (1941 Universal - 56 Minutes)
Texas Ranger Brand Calhoun (Johnny Mack Brown) is sent on mission to find the boss of a local gang of outlaws. In a gunfight was the gang Calhoun's brother Steve (Roy Harris) is killed. Calhoun hands in his badge and goes under cover to infiltrate the gang and route out their leader. The love interest here is the daughter of a local rancher Joanne (Kathryn Adams) Once again Fuzzy Knight provides the comedy and the "Texas Rangers" singing group provides the songs.

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