Posted in Dale Evans, Joe Kane, Republic Pictures, Roy Rogers, William Witney on November 5, 2025| 13 Comments »
Roy Rogers
November 5, 1911 – July 6, 1998
Here’s to the King Of The Cowboys, Mr. Roy Rogers, on what would’ve been his 114th birthday.
The state of his filmography is a bit of a mess, as most fans are well aware. I’ve been slowly making my way through the videos out there, trying to separate the junk from the jewels. My plan is to put together a guide that builds on the tiny thing I put together years ago. Stay tuned.
Posted in 1950, Columbia, Lyle Talbot, Penny Edwards, Republic Pictures, Roy Rogers, Sam Katzman, William Witney on October 26, 2025| 3 Comments »
Raleigh, North Carolina — October 26, 1950. Roy Rogers in Sunset In The West (1950) in Trucolor — and a chapter of Atom Man Vs. Superman. Wow.
Posted in Audie Murphy, DVD/Blu-Ray News, Kit Parker, Lesley Selander, Monogram/Allied Artists, Rod Cameron, William Witney on January 28, 2025| 5 Comments »
I’m kinda uncomfortable “reviewing” something that I worked on, so I usually drop something after announcing that it’s coming. But I gotta tell ya, on this Saddle Up Western Double Feature from Kit Parker Films, Panhandle (1948) with Rod Cameron is really incredible on Blu-Ray. Its original sepia tone looks terrific. Cool movie, too. You don’t want to miss this!
Haven’t taken a look at Apache Rifles (1964) yet. Working on the short documentaries for these was a lot of fun. Volume 2 is gonna be great, too!
Posted in Audie Murphy, DVD/Blu-Ray News, Kit Parker, Lesley Selander, LQ Jones, Monogram/Allied Artists, Rod Cameron, William Witney on August 20, 2024| 22 Comments »
PLUS 2nd HIT!!
I’m really stoked to be telling y’all about this one. Kit Parker Films is bringing a handful of excellent Western titles to both DVD and Blu-Ray in a series of twin-bills called Saddle Up Western Double Features.
First up is Audie Murphy in William Witney’s Apache Rifles (1964) paired with Rod Cameron in Lesley Selander’s Panhandle (1948). Both are quite good, with Panhandle being one of those films you appreciate more each time you revisit it.
This series has been in the works for a while, and Kit Parker’s really doing ’em right — true upgrades (not retreads) of earlier releases like his great Darn Good Western series that included Panhandle. Both pictures are getting new 4K scans from the best material around — and intro videos written and narrated by yours truly. Panhandle will be in its original sepia tone!
Don’t have a release date for this first one, but these things are gonna be terrific!
Posted in Republic Pictures, Roy Rogers, William Witney on May 15, 2024| 14 Comments »
William Witney
(May 15, 1915 – March 17, 2002)
William Witney was born 109 years ago. He was a true innovator in how action makes its way to the movie screen. He was working at Republic Pictures, and while on location for the 1937 serial The Painted Stallion, the director, Ray Taylor, was too drunk to work. Witney took over at just 21.
Watching Busby Berkeley put together one of his famous dance numbers, Witney realized that fight sequences could be choreographed and shot the same way. He under-cranked the camera to speed up the action — merely fast became death-defying. He experimented with the best place to put the camera car when tracking a chase — along the side of the car or stagecoach vs. shooting head-on, with horses charging straight at the camera.
After serving in a Marine combat camera unit in World War II, Witney returned to Republic for his last serial, The Crimson Ghost (1946), then took over the Roy Rogers movies. Dialing up the action, putting less emphasis on the music and bringing in a decidedly darker, more violent tone, Witney breathed new life into Roy’s final films.
William Witney was a genius, and his contribution the cinema has been pathetically under-appreciated.
Posted in Allan Dwan, Audrey Totter, Ben Cooper, Brian Donlevy, Budd Boetticher, Burt Lancaster, Charlton Heston, Clark Gable, Clint Walker, Dorothy Malone, DVD/Blu-Ray News, Edwin L. Marin, Ernest Borgnine, Fess Parker, Forrest Tucker, Frank Ferguson, Gary Cooper, George Sherman, Glenn Ford, Glenn Strange, Gregory Peck, Hank Worden, James Arness, Joe Kane, Joel McCrea, John Ford, John Sturges, John Wayne, Lydecker Brothers, Margia Dean, Marie Windsor, Maureen O'Hara, Nicholas Ray, Olive Films, Paramount, Paul Fix, Peggie Castle, Raoul Walsh, Republic Pictures, Robert Mitchum, Roy Rogers, Scott Brady, Skip Homeier, Sterling Hayden, William Castle, William Witney, Zachary Scott on August 27, 2023| 11 Comments »
You may remember a recent post about Olive Films shutting down. They put out some great DVDs and Blu-Rays over the years, particularly things from Republic and Paramount. (In fact, I watched their The Night Riders this morning, one of my favorite B Westerns.)
Some of these titles have already been re-issued by others (or are on the way). But some may never see the light of day again, given the current state of physical media. From Republic’s Three Mesquiteers series with John Wayne to a handful of Regalscope pictures, there are some real jewels here.
For those trying to pick these things up before they’re either gone or getting crazy collectors’ prices, here’s a list of their Westerns, ranging from the Silents into the 60s. If I missed anything, please let me know.
Special thanks for Laura from Laura’s Miscellaneous Musings, who was a HUGE help with bringing this thing together.
Wagon Tracks (1919)
Neath The Arizona Skies (1934)
The Lawless Nineties (1936)
The Lonely Trail (1936)
King Of The Pecos (1936)
Overland Stage Raiders (1938)
Red River Range (1938)
Santa Fe Stampede (1938)
Pals Of The Saddle (1938)
The Night Riders (1939)
Three Texas Steers (1939)
Wyoming Outlaw (1939)
Westward Ho (1939)
Man Of Conquest (1939)
Frontier Horizon (AKA New Frontier) (1939)
Dark Command (1940)
In Old Oklahoma (AKA War Of The Wildcats) (1943)
Ramrod (1947)
Angel And The Badman (1947)
Pursued (1947)
The Fighting Kentuckian (1949)
South Of St. Louis (1949)
Rio Grande (1950)
Silver City (1951)
Bullfighter And The Lady (1951)
Only The Valiant (1951)
High Noon (1952)
Denver & Rio Grande (1952)
Pony Express (1953)
Woman They Almost Lynched (1953)
Johnny Guitar (1954)
Run For Cover (1955)
The Americano (1955)
King And Four Queens (1956)
Stranger At My Door (1956)
Gun The Man Down (1956)
The Quiet Gun (1957)
Showdown At Boot Hill (1958)
Ambush At Cimarron Pass (1958)
The Hangman (1959)
The Jayhawkers! (1959)
McLintock! (1963)
The Hallelujah Trail (1965)
The Night Of The Grizzly (1966)
I’ll forever appreciate the folks at Olive Films. Night Of The Grizzly was my first commentary track.
The non-Westerns list is now available over at The Hannibal 8.
Posted in 1950, Republic Pictures, Roy Rogers, William Witney on May 15, 2023| 1 Comment »
William Witney
(May 15, 1915 – March 17, 2002)
William Witney was born 108 years ago. He was a true innovator in how action makes its way to the movie screen. He was working at Republic Pictures, and while on location for the 1937 serial The Painted Stallion, the director, Ray Taylor, was too drunk to work. Witney took over at just 21.
Watching Busby Berkeley put together one of his famous dance numbers, Witney realized that fight sequences could be choreographed and shot the same way. He under-cranked the camera to speed up the action — merely fast became death-defying. He experimented with the best place to put the camera car when tracking a chase — along the side of the car or stagecoach vs. shooting head-on, with horses charging straight at the camera.
After serving in a Marine combat camera unit in World War II, Witney returned to Republic for his last serial, The Crimson Ghost (1946), then took over the Roy Rogers movies. Dialing up the action, putting less emphasis on the music and bringing in a decidedly darker, more violent tone, Witney breathed new life into Roy’s final films.
William Witney was a genius, and his contribution the cinema has been pathetically under-appreciated.
Photo up top: William Witney and Cheryl Rogers on the set of Trail Of Robin Hood (1950). Photo courtesy of Jay Dee Witney.
Posted in Audie Murphy, Ben Cooper, Columbia, Critics' Choice, DVD/Blu-Ray News, Frank Ferguson, Raymond Hatton, Sidney Salkow, Ted de Corsia, William Witney on December 10, 2021| 2 Comments »
Here’s another Critics’ Choice release, the appropriately-named Audie Murphy Western Double Feature. It gathers up a couple of mid-60s pictures Murphy did for Admiral Pictures, distributed by Columbia. Both were in Techniscope and Technicolor.
Arizona Raiders (1965)
Directed by William Witney
Starring Audie Murphy, Michael Dante, Ben Cooper, Buster Crabbe, Gloria Talbott
Shot at Old Tucson, this one has Murphy and William Witney keeping the 50s Western thing going as long as they can. It’s a remake of Texas Rangers (1951), and it’s always good to see these folks at work.
The Quick Gun (1964)
Directed by Sidney Salkow
Starring Audie Murphy, Merry Anders, James Best, Frank Ferguson, Ted De Corsia, Raymond Hatton
Sidney Salkow directed this one. Shot at Iverson, it’s got a great cast (I’d watch Frank Ferguson in anything).
Both of these were part of Columbia’s MOD program, and it’s great to see them paired up at a great price.
Posted in 1950, Dale Evans, DVD reviews, releases, TV, etc., Kino Lorber, Olive Films, Penny Edwards, Pre-1950, Republic Pictures, Roy Rogers, VCI Entetainment, William Witney on February 11, 2021| 70 Comments »
THIS IS AN UPDATE OF A POST FROM JULY OF 2012. It continues to be a really popular post, and it seemed due for a refresh. This will be further updated as time goes on.
Henry Cabot Beck of True West Magazine and I were emailing back and forth about the color Roy Rogers pictures (Trucolor, to be precise), how wonderful they are, and how terribly they’re represented on DVD. It’s a matter that has been beaten to death on a number of newsgroups, which shows just how important this really is. With these pictures in mind, a hastily-constructed post seemed in order.
The official releases worth your time and money are (where appropriate, clicking on the art will take you to a seller):
DVD
Bells Of Coronado is a good one, with Dale Evans, Trigger, Grant Withers and Pat Brady adding their usual support. William Witney lends his masterful direction, the songs are great and the Trucolor looks good. I think this is out of print, but it’s still listed here.
BLU-RAY
Kino Lorber took over from Olive Films and released some nice stuff, including a couple of color Rogers films, from restored materials. They’re available on both Blu-Ray and DVD, and both feature commentaries from some Bozo named Toby Roan. They’re absolutely beautiful.
Sunset In The West (1950) looks incredible. It’s got Penny Edwards instead of Dale Evans, and there’s terrific support from Gordon Jones, Will Wright and Paul E. Burns. The climax, with Trigger chasing down a locomotive, has some really amazing stuntwork.
Trigger Jr. (1950) has Dale Evans, Pat Brady, Gordon Jones, Grant Withers and Foy Willing And The Riders Of The Purple Sage. It really focuses on Trigger, so there’s a lot of great horse stuff in it.
I wish this was a lot longer post, with the rest of the color Rogers pictures listed. But at this time, Paramount owns the rights and no one has licensed anything. Maybe someday.
Till then, “may the good Lord take a liking to you.”
Posted in 1950, Allan "Rocky" Lane, Monte Hale, Penny Edwards, Republic Pictures, Rex Allen, Roy Rogers, William Witney on December 25, 2019| 5 Comments »
One of my favorite things about Christmas is Trail Of Robin Hood (1950), one of the Trucolor Roy Rogers pictures directed by William Witney. It’s a wonderful thing. It features the song “Ev’ry Day Is Christmas In The West,” which seems worth sharing tonight.
“Ev’ry Day Is Christmas In The West”
Written by Jack Elliott
Performed by Roy Rogers and The Riders of the Purple Sage
They say that Christmas comes but once a year
But don’t you believe it’s so.
That’s only a story you may hear
From those who just don’t know that…
Ev’ry day is Christmas in the West!
Ev’ry day is Christmas in the West!
There’s always an evergreen tree nearby
And always stars like ornaments in the sky.
Nature makes a present of each day.
Skylarks softly carol on their way.
There you’ll find the true kind of love
The Lord above expressed
For ev’ry day is Christmas in the West!
A big thanks to Bob Madison.
50 Westerns From The 50s.