4K UHD Review: Sands of Iwo Jima
After nearly thirty years making movies, John Wayne earned his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor in Sands of Iwo Jima. His role as Sgt. John M. Stryker doesn’t stray from the hard leader types that had made Wayne a star. This time, he’s a tough leatherneck, battle hardened and committed to excellence. He is […]
4K UHD Review: Donovan’s Reef
The final collaboration between director John Ford and star John Wayne, 1963’s Donovan’s Reef is a family comedy set in set in a fictional place called Haleakaloa where they once fought the Japanese. Not known for his comedic skills, Wayne manages to elicit a few laughs, even if he seems a bit uncomfortable at times. […]
4K UHD Review: The Searchers
Civil War veteran Ethan Edwards (John Wayne), who fought for the Confederacy, returns home to Texas and the family ranch several years after the war has ended. Nobody has any idea why Ethan is home, but he quickly finds himself swept up in controversy. After dozens of cattle are stolen from local homesteads, the local […]
4K UHD Review: Rio Bravo
Directed by Howard Hawks, Rio Bravo stars John Wayne as John T. Chance, sheriff of a small Texas town, Rio Bravo. He’s assigned to take custody of a murderer (Claude Akins) whose brother (John Russell), a powerful rancher, is plotting his escape. As part of this effort, he hires several gunmen to bottle up the […]
4K UHD Review: The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
One of the great westerns in film history, Paramount has delivered an excellent 4K transfer.
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon (Blu-ray)
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon is probably not one of director John Ford’s finest films, but it’s among his most beloved. The second of the unofficial “Cavalry Trilogy” between Fort Apache and Rio Grande, She Wore A Yellow Ribbon was typical of the type of western—sentimental, energetic, and yearning—that filled movie theaters as the sun […]
McLintock! (Authentic Collector’s Edition) (Blu-ray)
Paramount has released an “Authentic Collector’s Edition” of McLintock! on Blu-ray, almost a year to the day that Olive Films delivered their acclaimed, albeit featureless edition. The film has been in the public domain for decades; Paramount’s release has been sourced from ‘original film elements.” Scanned in 4K, the picture quality is stunning. Viewers are […]
Flying Tigers (Blu-ray)
By 1942, America was fully entrenched in World War II. Largely known for his Westerns at the time, John Wayne lent his name and persona to the war effort in Flying Tigers. A fictionalized account of the real American pilots who battled the Japanese in China before the United States joined World War II, was […]
Paramount to Release McLintock! Blu-ray May 20th
Paramount Home Media Distribution has officially announced that it will release on Blu-ray Andrew V. McLaglen’s McLintock! (1963), starring John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, Patrick Wayne, Stefanie Powers, Yvonne De Carlo, Jerry Van Dyke, and Bruce Cabot. Scanned in 4K for the first time, the Blu-ray will be available for purchase on May 20th. John Wayne […]
North To Alaska (Blu-ray)
While definitely not one of John Wayne’s best films, North to Alaska is a lot of fun. A blend of comedy, romance, and Western expressions, North to Alaska had a bit of a troubled production history before its release in 1960. Wayne’s first choice of director had been Richard Fleischer (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, […]