Santa Fe Trail/Abilene Town

Description

200 minute double feature film DVD.

Customer Reviews:

two very different westerns for the price of one.......2007-08-07

The picture quality of Abilene Town on this DVD is marginal:rather fuzzy at times,
but it didn't really bother me that much. The story involves a familiar theme of cattlemen vs. sod busters, but with the added ingredient of non-saloon shopkeepers as a third major block in the politics of Abilene. It's Marshal Randolph Scott's job to try to keep these 3 groups from destroying each other and to ease the inevitable transformation of Abilene from a rowdy cow town into a more civilized place. The limited humor mostly derives from the love-hate relationship between Scott and dance hall canary Ann Dvrak. Edgar Buchanan's character is more pathetic than humorous. He is unbelievably cowardly: Let sleeping dogs lie and run from barking dogs. Why does Scott tolerate him as often his only potential helper in his various duties as marshal. In fact, Scott lies about Buchanan's role in the capture of a desperado in order to help him keep his job as county sheriff.
Though an older film, the quality of the Santa Fe Trail DVD is much better. This story exploits some big names in the coming Civil War, who supposedly all graduated from West Point at the same time and all were newly assigned to keep order in bleeding Kansas. Clean-shaven mild-mannered Ronald Reagan reminds us much more of the Gipper than of George Custer. Again, Errol Flynn is a remarkably clean-shaven representation of normally hirsute Jeb Stuart. Ramond Massey makes an unbeatable characterization of fanatic John Brown, even if many of the details are historically inaccurate. Van Heflin's character is purely fictitious, but does add another dimension to the film story. It offers an alternative explanation for the unexpected arrival of Federal troops at Harper's Ferry during Brown's raid. Actually, Brown made a fatal blunder in allowing a train from the west to procede to Washington. Before these troops arrived, local militia actually sealed off the bridge across the Potomac, which was Brown's intended escape route. If you can stomach all the gross historical inaccuracies in this film, it is an action-packed entertaining story, mostly carried by the charisma of Flynn and Massey, the banter between and within several buddy pairs and the well-established cinematic romantic partnership of Flynn and Olivia. Van Heflin's difficult character and betrayal adds an additional dimension.

DON'T TAKE SIDES.......2007-07-16

Based on an original screenplay by Robert Buckner, SANTA FE TRAIL was shot by Michael Curtiz in 1940. There are two ways to get onto this movie nowadays, more than 65 years after its release. You could enjoy, like I did, its rythm, the actors or the strange idea, in a film made in Hollywood, to depict the abolitionists as fanatics and the unionists as sensible people.

You could also take the time to think about the message conveyed by SANTA FE TRAIL through the actions of its main character Errol Flynn. Jeb - Errol Flynn - Stuart is a man who doesn't take sides, who just obeys orders and waits for the happy ending History will certainly provide to the American nation. The description of this passive demeanour shocked me a lot and, while I was watching SANTA FE TRAIL, I couldn't but think that, the same year, another American director, Charles S. Chaplin, was desperately trying to alert the world about what was going on in Europe with The Great Dictator (2 Disc Special Edition).

A DVD zone mixed feelings.

History lesson sorely needed.......2007-06-02

How many school children in 21 st century know about John Brown? How many know about the causes of this horrible war that pitted former comrades against one another? Is this movie entirely accurate and does take artistic license with the characters and storyline? Yes and No, but and so do many contemporary films such as 'Saving Private Ryan' or 'Patton' take liberties with actual events. As a number of reviewers have noted, we see events in history through politically correct eyes. My major fault with the movie is that southerners did not have a distinctive regional drawl, especially Errol Flynn's character, Jeb Stuart. Having your children watch this movie will provide them an insight into a forgotten epic American history while at the same time entertaining them with battles and other action scenes. John Brown may have been right in his core principles but he is a prime example of excessive zeal clashing with established law and order.

Two good films, in good condition........2005-11-14

I don't very often write reviews (although I enjoy reading those of others), but I must just tell anyone wondering which version of "Santa Fe Trail" to buy that the Marengo version (the one that includes "Abilene Town" as a bonus) is excellent. I was not familiar with either of these movies before - I don't know why, as they are both really good movies, and better than many others that I have bought individually and paid more money for. "Santa Fe Trail" is a really unusual, and interesting movie. The combination of Curtiz and Flynn gives it something - a depth, or thoughtfulness, perhaps - that most movies just don't have. It is also, IMHO, a better movie than Errol Flynn's other cavalry outing, "They Died With Their Boots On", so I don't know why the former is in the public domain, as if nobody cares about it, with numerous versions available (some of which don't sound very good), while the latter is presumably still owned and guarded exclusively by Warner Brothers, who have recently brought out a lavish DVD version of it, with various "extras" on it.
As for "Abilene Town", that also is a surprisingly good movie, its plot not unlike that of "Dodge City". On a trivial note: it looks to me as if Gary Cooper's famous, iconic "look" in "High Noon" (reproduced in books and posters so often) was in fact inspired by the outfit that Randolph Scott wears in "Abilene Town".

Rousing but inaccurate adventure movie.......2005-07-06

The title may well lead people to expect a Western and indeed this is how the movie has been packaged ,but I would argue it is nothing of the sort .While the Santa Fe Trail is mentioned and the role of the railroad in opening up the West is touched upon the movie is really about the origins of the Civil War .
Flynn stars as J E B Stuart -arguably the most famous cavalry commnader in the Confederate army .We first meet him as a West Point cadet, along with several other men who became prominent in the military in subsequent years chief among them being Custer (Ronald Reagan ) Phil Sheridan ( David Bruce) and George Pickett( Willam Marshall ) .His nemesis at the Academy is "Rader" played by Van Heflin ,a fervent abolitionist and disciple of the firebrand preacher John Brown .The two get involved in a brawl and Rader is sent down for having abolitionist pamphlets in his locker .Already the Civil war is casting its shadows over the military -;we meet Lee and Davis ,men who were to play a key role in events in the following decade .
Stuart ,Custer and Sheridan are sent to "Bloody Kansas" to keep the peace in the face of John Browns agitation for it to become a free state .They clash early on when they foil a gun running bid by Brown and his followers who now number the embittered and mercenary Rader in their ranks (it is made clear he fights for money ,not belief in the cause) .Further confrontations with Brown arise ,culminating in the bloody affray at Harper's Ferry
There is no shortage of movies dealing with the Civil War but very few have adressed its origins which makes this aspect of tghe movie so disappointing .Perhaps mindful of the need not to damage its potential in the South ,scriptwriter Robert Bruckner has come up with an evasive screenplay which sits on the fence politically .Brown is depicted as a fiery psychopath and an irrational madman whose cause is founded on the need for someone to hate rather than any love of the blacks or sense of moral righness ,while the Heflin character is a vain ,envious opportunist who loves only money and betrays any cause he feels does not value his contribution to it .He is shown as interfering in a system which Stuart claims is reforming itself from within ,and by so doing bringing about an avoidable conflict This is a gross distortion of the facts .Thus ,faced with such moral equivocation ,the best thing to do is enjoy it on an action movie level and here it works well .The action is lively and plentiful and the acting is pretty solid .Flynn is ideally cast as the archetypal military man -one who fights nobly for his cause ,despite his own doubts and de Havilland is excellent as the feisty tomboyish Kit Carson Halliday over whom Custer and Stuart bicker .Raymond Massey is hypnotic if hammy as Brown and there is a solid "best friend of the leading man "turn from Reagan ,whose character is allowed a few tentative pro-Brown remarks
One scene stands out -when Custer ,Sheridan ,Stuart and Pickett consult an Indian seeress they are told they will all be generals but will never again all meet as friend ;they react with uneasy laughter but in the scene we see the gathering clouds of the impending war ,
Muddy monochrome photography from the usually dependable Sal Polito does not help while Max Steiner's score is not his best by a long eway
Enjoy it as a vigorous and robust action picture from the great Michael Curtiz and this is okay but as a serious treatment of the issues it is sunk by its own timorousness and refusal to address reality

Average customer rating:

ATTENTION!!!!!! there is no dts and there is no subtitles
Saturday Morning Matinee Movie

Santa Fe Trail
Starring: Luis Alberni , Erville Alderson , Arthur Ayleswofth , Roy Barcroft , and Trevor Bardette
Director: Michael Curtiz
Manufacturer: Westlake Ent. Group
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Independently Distributed | Stores | DVD | Video

Independently Distributed | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B00030NS88
Release Date: 2004-08-23

Customer Reviews:

ATTENTION!!!!!! there is no dts and there is no subtitles.......2007-05-19

i reurn this dvd to amazon back because the site let wrong details about it- NO DTS AND NO SUBTITLES ON THIS VERSION!!!!

Saturday Morning Matinee Movie.......2005-01-12

As always, Ronnie is completely likable in this movie. It looks like it was filmed in the hills of California, not on location at West Point or in Kansas, so it is historically "iffy".

Reagan sparkles with vitality and likability, but he is not really the star. So we do not see as much of him as we would like to see.

As with these types of movies, there is a strong sense of right and wrong, the good guys win, and everything has a sense of purpose.

I recommend this movie to Reagan fans and to those who love B-Western stars like Roy Rogers and Gene Autry.

Average customer rating:

two very different westerns for the price of one
DON'T TAKE SIDES
History lesson sorely needed
Two good films, in good condition.
Rousing but inaccurate adventure movie

Santa Fe Trail
Starring: Errol Flynn , Olivia de Havilland , Raymond Massey , Ronald Reagan , and Alan Hale
Director: Michael Curtiz
Manufacturer: Digital Gold Collection
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B00005Q4E7
Release Date: 2001-10-02

Customer Reviews:

two very different westerns for the price of one.......2007-08-07

DON'T TAKE SIDES.......2007-07-16

History lesson sorely needed.......2007-06-02

Two good films, in good condition........2005-11-14

Rousing but inaccurate adventure movie.......2005-07-06

MONTANA with Errol Flynn (Terra Proibida) (High Quality Import Edition-NTSC Region 1 Format-Playable in North America)(Adventure)

Average customer rating:

MONTANA with Errol Flynn (Terra Proibida) (High Quality Import Edition-NTSC Region 1 Format-Playable in North America)(Adventure)
Starring: Errol Flynn , and Alexis Smith
Director: Ray Enright
Manufacturer: Classicline
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000G6T9FU

Product Description

Brand new, factory sealed, fully licensed DVD manufactured in Brazil. NTSC format. Playable on any North American DVD player. High quality full screen color image. Original English dialog with optional subtitles in Portuguese. Portuguese subtitles do not appear unless turned on and they can be easily turned off. The following review appears in the Internet Movie Database: "Flynn is bringing sheep into cattle territory, where he is received with bullets. In order to go to town he passes as a peddler and falls in love with Alexis Smith (great as always). This is an agreeable and lighthearted western, at a certain moment Flynn and Alexis Smith even sing!!! There is a good color cinematography, although not as good as in "San Antonio", which besides this one and "Dodge City" were the only westerns Flynn did in color. Ray Enright was quite good at making westerns he could make them in quantity and with quality (Kansas Raiders, The Spoilers, Return of the Bad Men) The story here is much better than in "San Antonio", Borden Chase has to his credit some of the best westerns like Winchester 73 and Red River but Flynn was getting older and not so ideal for the character he plays."

Average customer rating:

two very different westerns for the price of one
DON'T TAKE SIDES
History lesson sorely needed
Two good films, in good condition.
Rousing but inaccurate adventure movie

Santa Fe Trail
Starring: Errol Flynn , Olivia de Havilland , Raymond Massey , Ronald Reagan , and Alan Hale
Director: Michael Curtiz
Manufacturer: Diamond Ent. Corp.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B00005BI96
Release Date: 2003-01-01

Customer Reviews:

two very different westerns for the price of one.......2007-08-07

DON'T TAKE SIDES.......2007-07-16

History lesson sorely needed.......2007-06-02

Two good films, in good condition........2005-11-14

Rousing but inaccurate adventure movie.......2005-07-06

Western Classics 4-Movie Pack - McLintock, Blue Steel, Sagebrush Trail, Santa Fe Trail

Average customer rating:

Western Classics 4-Movie Pack - McLintock, Blue Steel, Sagebrush Trail, Santa Fe Trail
Starring: Westerns Classics 4 Movie Pak
Manufacturer: Mill Creek Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( W ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Action & Adventure | Independently Distributed | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Action & Adventure | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

Independently Distributed | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000EMSO9S
Release Date: 2006-02-07

Average customer rating:

Great film...but John Brown was no villain
a four star movie,a 0 star for the bad transfer
not flynn's best and the worst transfer i've ever seen
Really poor transfer to DVD
Don't waste your money

Santa Fe Trail
Starring: Luis Alberni , Erville Alderson , Arthur Ayleswofth , Roy Barcroft , and Trevor Bardette
Director: Michael Curtiz
Manufacturer: Alpha Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Drama | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

All Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B00006L915
Release Date: 2002-09-24

Customer Reviews:

Great film...but John Brown was no villain.......2006-06-23

What a wonderful film. Too bad it isn't an accurate portrayal of events. Errol Flynn and Ronnie Raygun are in fine form as Jeb Stuart and George Custer respectively, but John Massey steals the show masterfully as John Brown. The racism that bubbles under the surface is the only thing keeping me from giving it five stars. So entertaining is this picture that one could easily be lured into its fantasies, especially if you aren't educated in history. John Brown was no villain; he was a true American patriot who dedicated (and ultimately gave) his life to rid our land of genocide. The sense of forboding over the foundation being laid for our Civil War is palpable, but again, the film tends to mislead one into the conclusion that slavery, not preservation of the Union, was the motivating factor. That's acribing too much false nobility to many Unionists who could have cared less about abolishing slavery. So, enjoy the film, yes, but temper it with a heavy dose of those dusty old history books. You may just learn something...and it may just change your opinions of political events unfolding before us today.

a four star movie,a 0 star for the bad transfer.......2006-04-18

this is one of errol flynn's lesser movies but it is still a great action packed western about john brown before and after his raid to try to start a slave revolt. as history it doesn't come even close to the truth,but it moves so fast and has some great battles so i'm willing to give it a break.
i can not say the same for this transfer! the picture gets so dark at times i had to turn the brightness up all the way just to see some scenes and the audio has a lot of drop outs and pops so that you can't hear it at times. wait til abetter copy comes out as this one is just no good

not flynn's best and the worst transfer i've ever seen.......2006-02-15

i knew about the retelling of history in this film. it was still an ok western set before the civil war that looks at a very hollywood version of john brown and his raid to start a slave revoilt just before the civil war.i won't list all the things they got wrong but they are many. still i liked this one when i was little and bought this one to show my boys. well it looked so bad they asked me to put another movie in and i did. the movie i give 3 stars the transfer i give 1 only because you can't give zero

Really poor transfer to DVD.......2005-03-14

If the very poor quality of the transfer of this film to DVD is any indication of what to expect from Alpha Video Distributors, I will not knowingly buy another Alpha Video product. As for the movie itself, it's pretty good, aside from taking some minor liberties with the historical record. Inadvertently it's also quite revealing in regard to what American cultural attitudes were like in the era when this picture was made (1940). This is a movie that could not be produced in today's atmosphere of political correctness, and numerous scenes are likely to raise eyebrows among present-day audiences.

Don't waste your money.......2004-01-29

An excellent film, but a horrible DVD.
A wonderful movie is ruined by the pathetic quality of this disc. This is the absolute worst transfer to DVD I have ever seen. It looks as if it was taken from an incredibly well worn VHS copy.

Average customer rating:

two very different westerns for the price of one
DON'T TAKE SIDES
History lesson sorely needed
Two good films, in good condition.
Rousing but inaccurate adventure movie

Santa Fe Trail
Starring: Errol Flynn , Olivia de Havilland , Raymond Massey , Ronald Reagan , and Alan Hale
Director: Michael Curtiz
Manufacturer: ROAN
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: 6305636508
Release Date: 1999-10-26

Customer Reviews:

two very different westerns for the price of one.......2007-08-07

DON'T TAKE SIDES.......2007-07-16

History lesson sorely needed.......2007-06-02

Two good films, in good condition........2005-11-14

Rousing but inaccurate adventure movie.......2005-07-06

Western Classics Triple Feature, Vol. 4 (The Painted Desert / From Broadway to Cheyenne / Santa Fe Trail)

Average customer rating:

Western Classics Triple Feature, Vol. 4 (The Painted Desert / From Broadway to Cheyenne / Santa Fe Trail)
Starring: Rex Bell , Marceline Day , Matthew Betz , Huntley Gordon , and Roy D'Arcy
Director: Harry L. Fraser , Howard Higgin , and Michael Curtiz
Manufacturer: Rph Productions
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

All Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( W ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B0000694YG
Release Date: 2002-08-13

A Tribute to Ronald Reagan: Santa Fe Trail / This Is the Army

Average customer rating:

this double feature is less than 4 bucks on half.com brought to you by ebay

A Tribute to Ronald Reagan: Santa Fe Trail / This Is the Army

Manufacturer: DDC Labs
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

World War II | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

Product Description

Two digitally remastered movies from the 1940's featuring young Ronald Reagan.

Customer Reviews:

this double feature is less than 4 bucks on half.com brought to you by ebay.......2006-01-28

screw amazon, like millions are doing every day, half is easier to use than amazon

DVD:

DVD

DVD