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The Far Country

The Far Country

List Price: $14.98
Your Price: $13.48
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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Miss Castle Owns Everything
Review: This is another excellent western directed by Anthony Mann and starring James Stewart. Stewart and Brennan are cattle-drivers planning to sell their herd in the Yukon territory. An accusation of murder brings Stewart into contact with Miss Dawson, also on her way to the Yukon. Arriving in Skagway, Stewart has a run in with the town marshall - Gannon: he seizes Stewart's herd as compensation. Stewart and Brennan are then employed by Miss Castle to drive a supply wagon into the Yukon to the town of Dawson. Stewart takes the chance to steal back his herd and drive them on to Dawson. As the Yukon is outside of Gannon's jurisdiction it looks as if Stewart and Brennan are free to pan for gold in Dawson. Not everyone likes Miss Castle though as it seems she owns a lot of the property in Dawson. When Gannon arrives on the scene, Stewart must seek another way out.

An excellent story, Stewart portrays a man who is generally a loner, he wants to mind his own business. In the town of Dawson he is ultimately faced with going it alone or standing by the people of Dawson.

While I rate the film 4 stars, the DVD only warrants 2 giving an average of 3 stars. Once again, Universal have chosen to use the laserdisc print for this film. Overall the transfer is fine but the print could do with some restoration work - there is a noticeable jump in one scene. The picture quality is generally good, better than VHS but it could be a lot better. There is some noise on the soundtrack, not distracting but don't expect crystal clear quality.

The only extra is a trailer. If you enjoy the Stewart/Mann films then it is worth buying but lets hope that Universal release a better print in the future.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Another of the 1950's Stewart westerns
Review: This one sees a less typical Stewart character, a somewhat coldhearted loner who eventually learns that no man is an island. Some nice location shooting in the Canadian Rockies, along with the usual fine cast, and able direction by Anthony Mann combine to make it a good film.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: High water mark
Review: This, to my mind, is one of James Stewart's greatest film performances, and that's saying something. His movie work of the 1950's was incomparably the greatest decade of work by an American film actor ever. Director Anthony Mann also does a great job of staging this morality play in the Alaskan and Canadian wilds. I think Mann surpassed even the great John Ford and Howard Hawks in entertainingly addressing questions of conscience in his films. A fine achievement.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: No letterbox
Review: Two points: DVD without letterbox is not worth owning.
Typical (good) J. Stewart western with scenery that deserves widescreen.


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