Rough Riders Round Up

The fifth film in which Roy Rogers is given the leading role- this low-budget Republic Pictures production places Roy and a group of comrades- all freshly mustered from the United States Army in 1899- following service in Cuba with Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War- and still bulging with aggressive energy- as they join en masse the (not yet in existence) United States Border Patrol- assigned to the wild and woolly Arizona territory. Since this is- after all- a Roy Rogers picture- i.e.- one that includes musical interludes- the entire contingent of stalwarts breaks into an a cappella rendition of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" as they first appear at a Border Patrol outpost where their station commanding officer assigns his new charges with effecting the apprehension of a mysterious "Arizona Jack" and his gang who are preying upon Territorial businesses and then fleeing across the international border into Mexico. The plot is pleasingly intricate and director/producer Joseph Kane- at the helm for his initial Rogers movie- includes as much as he can of Jack Natteford's screenplay before the dollars run out- with a viewer being treated to a well edited- crisply-paced affair- loaded with gunplay- fisticuffs- skillful horsemanship and stuntwork; there is even an abducted heroine. Scenes of dramatic action are halted twice to allow for musical interludes- first as Roy sings "Ridin' Down the Trail" and- later while behind bars- he serenades the lady he loves (Lynne Roberts playing as Mary Hart) who is confined to an adjacent cell- warbling "Here on the Range With You"- accompanying himself by strumming upon a guitar. Raymond Hatton is Rusty Coburn- playing as Roy's sidekick- having succeeded Smiley Burnette for that honour- he himself soon supplanted by Gabby Hayes. There are numerous familiar Western genre players to be seen here- with George Chesebro being a particular standout as Arizona Jack's primary henchman. Kane's able direction provides for effective and vivid narrative pacing. Originally 58 minutes long- the film was competently edited down to 54 minutes for its television showings and video releases.

It Can Be Done Amigo

It Can Be Done Amigo (1972) is a classic movie directed by Maurizio Lucidi- and starring Bud Spencer; Jack Palance; Renato Cestie. It is widely considered to be one of the top 100 greatest classic films of all time. This great film will surely attract a whole new generation of classic movie fans. And for seasoned cinematic connoseuirs- It Can Be Done Amigo (1972) will rekindle an era of film making at its best. For others who simply enjoy watching timeless pieces with icons such as Bud Spencer; Jack Palance; Renato Cestie.

Vengeance Valley

Offbeat sagebrusher in which Burt Lancaster becomes embroiled in a nasty feud with bad boy half-brother Robert Walker when he's accused of fathering an illegitimate child. Hoping to control Lancaster's stake in the family ranch- Walker joins forces with the woman's brothers to track down his sibling. Joanne Dru- John Ireland also star.

Young Bill Hickok

Bill Hickok in his early pre-gunslinger years as a freight-line agent protecting a gold shipment from villains out to steal gold and land out west while America is diverted by the Civil War back east. With the help of Calamity Jane and her horse-trader uncle- Hickok battles the bad guys while trying to win the love of his life- Louise- in a formulaic B western adventure with songs.

Disc 2

She Came To The Valley

Oscar nominated singer and actress Ronee Blakley stars in this western as Willie- a strong willed pioneer woman who settles near the Texas-Mexico border during the time of the Mexican revolution. There- she- her husband Pat (Dean Stockwell) and their two little girls becomes involved in a tense political battle between Pancho Villa himself and Mexican soldiers who disguise themselves as bandits and invade the family's new hometown. Based on the 1943 novel by Cleo Lawson- SHE CAME TO THE VALLEY depicts true events.

The Hanged Man

A hardened gunslinger (Steve Forrest)- sentenced to die- manages to survive his own hanging and is suddenly endowed with the curious power to read people's minds. In an effort to turn over a new leaf- he opts to use his powers to benefit the less fortunate. He meets a young widow (Sharon Acker) whose land is being threatened by a greedy mining baron (Cameron Mitchell)- and aims to use his abilities to see justice served. A Western with supernatural twist- THE HANGED MAN offers a captivating story of redemption.

The Deadly Companions

Peckinpah's first feature follows a funeral procession through hostile Apache territory led by the man who accidentally killed the boy in the coffin. The soldier who made the promise of protection to the boy's mother hopes to settle more than one score at the end of the journey.

Director Sam Peckinpah's first feature film

Mohawk

A date-movie masquerading as an Indian uprising flick- has Scott Brady as a frontier painter with a penchant for models- trying to forestall war with the Iroquois. The plot follows the conventional line- with the frontiersmen (and women) besieged in their fort- driven back into their hovels- then saved at the last moment by the cavalry. But the focus is not on the story line- and clearly on the bustline- as various fine babes vie for the attentions of Brady- including a squaw played by Rita Gam. One scene depicts what appears to be an Iroquois version of a wet T-shirt contest- with Gam the clear winner.

Disc 3

The Grand Duel

This film written by Ernesto Gastaldi stars Lee Van Cleef as a gunfighter who befriends as young protégé who has been wrongfully accused of the murder of a town’s patriarch- a ruthless old man named Saxon. The young man is the object of pursuit by Saxons’ three corrupt and evil sons. Soon the true killer of the Patriarch is discovered and Van Cleef must face the thee sons in an elaborately staged gunfight.

Cry Blood Apache

A party of five men discover gold in a small Apache camp. They murder everyone there except for one young woman- who they keep alive hoping she'll lead them to more gold. Only Pitcalin among the five men shows kindness to the prisoner. An Apache brave who was away from the camp discovers the massacre and buries the dead. Then he tracks the murderers and brings slow but steady vengeance upon them.

Dan Candy's Law

Based on a true story- DAN CANDY'S LAW stars Donald Sutherland as a Canadian officer who embarks on a yearlong search for an Indian fugitive. Ravaged by hunger- a Cree Indian named Almighty Voice (Gordon Tootoosis) is arrested for stealing government livestock. He escapes- but is soon being sought out for a murder. Over the course of the next year- both men are driven by their longing for justice. Part action film- part western- DAN CANDY'S LAW is a testament to the human fight for survival.

White Comanche

The twin sons of an Indian mother and a white father lead very different lives. One leads a band of renegade Comanches- and the other lives among the people of his father. A violent range-war brings them together- pitched in bloody battle.