Duke's Movies- Blu-Ray/DVD Releases

Hi,

This stunt has been pulled before,
and it just comes across as a scam.
Unknowing fans will be purchasing these 'new' titles,
unaware, that they probably have them in their collections,
already!!!

From the runtime, it looks highly likely
that they are Lone Star re-works.

I use to own the old 1980s colorized Lone Star films on VHS. They looked great (it was fun to see such a young John Wayne in color), but the soundtrack was way off. All the actor's voices were high-pitched and sped up. Definitely took away from some of the fun.

I would like to pruchase these 3 upcoming films, if they are not duplicates of the 1980 releases, and if they are not those 20 minute edited ones that are already out on DVD. Guess I will just wait to read some reviews of them, before plunking down the $22.

Yep, I looked up the DVD title on another sight. They are Lone Star Westerns. This is the info I got on that sight about what's on the DVD
FEATURES LIST

DVD Features
Note: This 3-Disc set includes the films STOLEN GOODS aka BLUE STEEL (1934), GOLD STRIKE RIVER aka THE LUCKY TEXAN (1933), and AN INNOCENT MAN aka SAGEBRUSH TRAIL (1934).
Slipcase
Full Frame 1.33

Audio
(unspecified) English

Additional Release Material
Bonus Short "The Northwest Killer"
Featurettes 1. "Western Legends" hosted by Vincent Price
2. "The Western"
3. "Bust 'em Up!"
Trailers
TV Spots

Anyway, it sounds interesting, to see colorized versions along with all these features included.
Regards,
Senta

I am surprised to hear that they invested in colorizing the old LoneStars. My favorite colorization job is Tall in the Saddle. Turned out pretty good.

Quote

Originally posted by ZS_Maverick@Nov 3 2006, 05:34 PM
DVD Features
Note: This 3-Disc set includes the films STOLEN GOODS aka BLUE STEEL (1934), GOLD STRIKE RIVER aka THE LUCKY TEXAN (1933), and AN INNOCENT MAN aka SAGEBRUSH TRAIL (1934).

It sounds like these are the same films colorized in 1990 by Color Systems Technology and released on home video under their original titles, later with different titles under The Young Duke banner. The titles here are different, though: Blue Steel was Bandits of the Badlands; The Lucky Texan was Cowboy G-Man; and Sagebrush Trail was The Fugitive.

It's too bad Wayne's Lone Star westerns ended up in the public domain: If the copyrights were renewed we would have beautiful, unmodified prints available on DVD. Instead, they're hacked (editing, music, colorization) so that the new versions can be re-copyrighted.

Anyone who wants to see how nice these prints can look should check out the 2-disc Columbia Pictures DVD collection called Riding the Range Vols. 1 and 2. There's new music and editing, though, which I deplore. But the print quality is lovely (some better than others), sourced from either the original or early re-issue film elements owned by NTA. The DVDs also benefit from high-quality encoding. But had the films been released unmodified, bootleg copies probably would have flooded the public domain market.

I wonder if the colorized versions by CST used the same prints as the earlier black-and-whites released by Columbia? I'll poke my ever-curious nose into the answer.

RoughRider
John Wayne on DVD: A Filmography

Quote

Originally posted by RoughRider@Nov 9 2006, 12:29 PM

It sounds like these are the same films colorized in 1990 by Color Systems Technology and released on home video under their original titles, later with different titles under The Young Duke banner.

I have several of these, and whilst the colour versions
are interesting, they're also pretty lousy.
They appear to use the same print,
and some of the original sound track, and some from the
Second Sight releases
The worst thing however is Duke's voice,
what an earth have they done to it,
badly dubbed or what!!
How they can get Duke to sound like that,
when Yakima Canutt and the others sound normal,
baffles me!!!

Hi Kieth

I agree with you they were cheap and cheerful and I only bought a couple . I don't know who dubbed Waynes voice but I am convinced that it was dubbed and badly luckilly late night television screened the originals at about 2 in the morning and with the wonders of video I managed to tape the lot.
Of course these are now redundant with the DVD collections that are coming out.

Regards

Arthur

Hi

Having re-joined the Film Society I received this today and thought I'd share it with Region 2 members. I should imagine Kieth that you have seen this or maybe have them if so what are they like?

[ATTACH]1016]

Regards

Arthur

Hi

Here's the second page

[ATTACH]1017]

Regards

Arthur

Wouldn't matter to me Athur of there region 2. I can strip that off and make it work for all regions. How much in US is that documentary on Rio Lobo?

Hi Arthur, Todd, Rough Rider,

Arthur you took me back a few years, as I remember,
the Lone Star Westerns being screened on C4
about 8 years ago.
I will always remember like you, the VHS was ready and poised to record,
when we noticed the dog, was outside and had gone A.W.O.L.
I was so annoyed I missed setting the VHS. to record
Riders of Destiny

They of course, were the Second Sight series.

Arthur,

In answer to your question,
I am in constant touch with
David and Patrick at
The John Wayne Film Society,
and do indeed, have some of their
'Special' releases.

Generally they're pretty good, seem to be copies
of prints, obviously without,
digital re-mastering.

Shootout at Rio Lobo
I thought was very good, very entertaining,
and very amusing.
Quality fair, and acceptable

Life of Jimmy Dolan
Wyoming Outlaw
Salute
Glen Campbell Special
Salute
Arizona


Don't have these yet, but the quality
from experience, is similar to that an old cine film!
I have ordered, all but the
Glen Campbell one.

Maker of Men
I have the NTSC version,
which I purchased through the JWFS

Rookie of the Year
Fashing Spikes

I have both these from the JWFS.
They're fun, and interesting.
Quality wise,
as if they had been recorded off the TV.!!
but well worth having.

Todd
and any others interested,
here is the link, to the store,
at

John Wayne Film Society

Quote

Originally posted by ethanedwards@Nov 9 2006, 03:40 PM
They of course, were the Second Sight series.

What is the Second Sight series, Keith? It sounds like the British video distributor, who I'll guess had UK rights to the colorized Lone Star productions.

I've been poking my nose into John Wayne's colorized films and come up with 36 titles (excluding the Lone Stars that were re-titled and condensed to 20 minutes). Two of the Lone Stars weren't colorized: Texas Terror and Rainbow Valley. I think a few of the 1940s films were released to television only and not available on home video. But I've confirmed that all those listed below have been colorized.

If anyone sees an omission, let me know.

Riders of Destiny
Sagebrush Trail
The Lucky Texan
West of the Divide
Blue Steel
The Man from Utah
Randy Rides Alone
The Star Packer
The Trail Beyond
The Lawless Frontier
'Neath Arizona Skies
The Desert Trail
The Dawn Rider
Paradise Canyon
Winds of the Wasteland
Allegheny Uprising
Dark Command
Three Faces West
Lady from Louisiana
In Old California
Flying Tigers
A Lady Takes a Chance
War of the Wildcats
The Fighting Seabees
Tall in the Saddle
Flame of Barbary Coast
Back to Bataan
Dakota
They Were Expendable
Angel and the Badman
Fort Apache
Wake of the Red Witch
The Fighting Kentuckian
Sands of Iwo Jima
Rio Grande
The Longest Day

RoughRider
John Wayne on DVD: A Filmography

Hi Rough Rider,

They Lone Star Movies,
Were released as Fox/Lorber,
and I guess, were distributed here by
Second Sight.

[ATTACH]1030]

In the case of Rainbow Valley,
that was always the odd one out,
and that was the only one, not Fox,
and or distributed by Second Sight.

I have a feeling the rights to that one,
were owned by someone totally different.

Rainbow Valley, also contains
more of the original, orchestrated soundtrack,
and not the sync, stuff that was dubbed on the others!

Hi

I bought those a year or so back they were about three for a fiver and not bad. I also bought The Three Musketeers in Tescos two volumes at a pound each.

I have Rookie of The Year on VHS bought from the John Wayne film Society and video copies of Maker of Men. The life of Jimmy Dolan I copied when it was shown on television a couple of years ago but I will buy it because I am collecting the DVDs. Arizona I have on video Likewise Shootout at Rio Lobo.
Salute was given to me by an acquaintance in Canada, and from that I acquired a copy on a computer disc, but again I will probably buy a DVD from the JW Society.

I have on various occasions advertised the Society and would repeat that it is NOT restricted to British people only. It is very cheap to join and become a member and they have deals that are quite good. It may be worth visiting their site.

Regards

Arthur

Hi Arthur,

I've now put a dedicated topic to the JWFS
in the Movie Forum,
so all our members can now acess the details

Click here
The John Wayne Film Society

OK, I see, Keith. So the b&w Fox/Lorber titles were released in the UK by Second Sight. And 15 of them instead of the five that were released on DVD in North America by Columbia (Sony). Although I don't care for the modifications, generally I like the print quality--I've only seen five--so I'll obtain these from the UK. Maybe the 10 other titles were released on DVD over here, but I haven't found them; but all 15 were released on VHS by Columbia. Thanks for the insight -- I didn't know Second Sight released the Fox/Lorber Lone Stars on DVD.

As to why Rainbow Valley was excluded, I don't know for sure. It was either a rights issue or the prints in existence weren't good enough. It wasn't colorized, and I know that process requires high-quality film elements. Mind you, Texas Terror wasn't colorized either but there's a Fox/Lorber version.

RoughRider
John Wayne on DVD: A Filmography

Hi Rough Rider,

Yes, all but Rainbow Valley were released, initially as VHS,
the re-released as 'three-somes'
then the same on DVD.

Rainbow, was released here on VHS
by Reel Movies International.

Hi Keith

That looks great and informative.

Regards

Arthur

Hi Todd

Sorry I am late in replying. In dollars Shoot-out at Rio lobo would work out about $25.00 Perhaps its would be cheaper to buy it in the UK.

Regards

Arthur