DVD Review: Paramount Centennial Collection - The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance & El Dorado

Paramount has released the next two films in their exceptional Centennial Collection. This time they've brought us two films from The Duke's filmography and two fine examples of some great westerns: The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and El Dorado.

These are both great films that were a joy to see for the first time. I remember when I was younger I had absolutely loathed the idea of a western. I wanted nothing at all to do with the genre. Somewhere along the way that changed and I found myself seeking out great western films. These two releases are prime examples of the genre.

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The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
Written by: James Warner Bellah and Willis Goldbeck
Directed by: James Ford
Starring: John Wayne, James Stewart, Vera Miles, Lee Marvin, Edmond O'Brien, Andy Devine, and Ken Murray.

Bonus Features: Commentary from Peter Bogdanovich featuring archival recordings from James Stewart and John Ford, Selected scene commentary from Dan Ford featuring archival recordings with John Ford, James Stewart, and Lee Marvin, The Size of Legends, The Soul of Myth: 7-Part featurette, Theatrical Trailer, galleries featuring Lobby Cards, Production, John Ford, and Publicity.

From the box:

Behind the camera? John Ford, a director whose name is synonomous with "Westerns." Gathered in front of it? An ideal cast - James Stewart, John Wayne, Vera Miles, and Lee Marvin. Now presented on two discs, with all-new special features, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance rides into town as a classic entry in the Paramount Centennial Collection. Director Ford brings us to the lawless frontier village of Shinbone, a town plagued by a larger-than-life nemesis (Marvin). Stewart plays the bungling but charming big-city lawyer determined to rid Shinbone of Valance, and he finds that he has an unlikely ally - in the form of a rugged, local rancher (Wayne). The two men also share the same love interest (Miles). But wen the final showdown becomes inevitable, one of the two will attempt to get the gunman...but the other one will wind up getting the gal.

The first of two John Wayne westerns released for this collection is The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. The film is fantastic. I can't believe that I waited this long to see it. I really need to take some time to journey back to the golden age of Hollywood film because I am missing a lot of quality films. This included.

We have a beautifully shot and exciting film with stellar performances from all involved. It makes me what to stop typing this and start writing my oft dreamed about western film. It's a shame that we can't get good westerns like this anymore.

Paramount has done a great job with this release. It looks and sounds great and it's loaded with really intriguing features, mainly the 7 part featurette mentioned above.

I really can't tell you enough how enjoyable this movie was. John Wayne is well, I can't say anything that hasn't been said a million times before. The guys incredible and I've been missing out all these years.

I'm going to need to do a John Wayne marathon followed by a John Ford marathon.



El Dorado
Written by:Leigh Brackett
based on the novel "The Stars In Their Courses" by Harry Brown
Directed by: Howard Hawks
Starring: John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, James Caan, Charlene Holt, Paul Fix, Arthur Hunnicutt, and Michele Carey

Bonus Features: Commentaries from Peter Bogdanovich, Richard Schickel, Ed Asner, and Todd McCarthy, Ride, Boldly Ride: The Journey to El Dorado: 7-Part Featurette, The Artist and the American West (1967) - Vintage Featurette, Behind the Gates: A.C. Lyles remembers John Wayne, Theatrical Trailer, Galleries featuring Lobby Cards and Production photos.

From the box:

Now a two-disc presentation with all-new special features, this Paramount Centennial Collection edition of El Dorado delivers the goods. Legendary producer-director Howard Hawks teams up with two legendary stars, John Wayne and Robert Mitchum, in a classic Western drama. Mitchum plays to perfection an alcoholic but gutsy sheriff who relentlessly battles the "Dark Side" of the Wild West - ruthless cattle barrons and crooked businessmen." The Duke gives an equally adept performance as the sheriff's old friend, one who knows his way around a gunfight. With a supporting cast that includes James Caan, Charlene Holt, Paul Fix, Ed Asner, and Ghristopher George, and filled with both brawling action and unexpected humor, El Dorado is pure gold.

And Pure Gold it is. El Dorado is the 9th film released in the Paramount Centennial Collection. It's just as good as Liberty Valance, if not better. This one seems a bit more epic to me for some reason. I can say that I never knew that Ed Asner had been in a western but he was great none the less.

This review could mirror the previous one completely. The acting was great here. The story flawless. It's gorgeously shot. A perfect western. Again, it makes me wish that this genre wasn't on life support. Maybe Clint will get back in the saddle and give us another gem to see. Someone out there has to be capable of making a western as good as El Dorado.

This set is also jammed with great features, including the vintage 1967 featurette The Artist and the American West and another 7-part featurette about the film.

I can't say that the set is comprehensive but it certainly feels that way.

Both of these films are fantastic chunks of a dying genre that I am extremely glad to have seen. They make me want to take on the task of revitalizing such an important genre that is filled with deep history and ripe for great exciting storytelling. All of which you get with these two releases.

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and El Dorado are both available now on DVD. Here's hoping Paramount gives us a few more westerns to enjoy in their wonderful Centennial Collection.