John Ford Film Collection DVD Credits:

Region: 1

John Ford Film Collection DVD Release Date: 12th June 2006

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John Ford Film Collection DVD Review:

The Lost Patrol (1934)

This strange WWI film stars Victor McLaglen as a British stalwart sergeant suddenly put in charge when his captain is killed by a sniper in Arab deserts. The only problem is the fact that their location and their mission dies with the captain. Uncertain of where to go, McLaglen leads the troupe into an oasis, where they fight for their lives for the rest of the film. They awake to find that their horses are gone and any time any of them venture into the desert, they are immediately shot. The numbers begin to dwindle and the sergeant is forced to question whether he is responsible for the death of all of his men. The interesting this is the film is actually quite humorous. It is a dark kind of humor, but it is a fast moving film which has less emphasis on the drama than you might think from the description.

The Informer (1935)

It is interesting that Ford is so well known in the western genre when he has made some great films in other genres. Some of these films are forgotten, despite their great quality. The Informer also stars Victor McLaglen, this time in a role that would win him a Best Actor statue in The Academy Awards. He plays Gypo Nolan, a broke man in the streets of Ireland. In a desperate attempt to flee his country and go to America, he informs on a close friend, which results in his death. Gypo is so riddled with guilt that he spends the rest of the evening drinking and rationalizing instead of leaving. Meanwhile the Irish Republican Army are suspicious of the heavy spending that Gypo has suddenly began. This is one of Ford’s landmark films, also earning him his first Best Director statue.

Cheyenne Autumn (1964)

Although this isn’t Ford’s best work, it is a good one to have in the collection because it was his last film, and it is an epic one at that. Filmed in a panorama the scenes are majestic and beautiful, even though the film is about difficult issues. The two and a half hour film is about three hundred Cheyenne Indians that decided to return to their homeland of Yellowstone from Oklahoma. They are pursued by the cavalry, led by Richard Widmark, who may be following the white schoolteacher that is traveling with them more than anything. It is a slow moving film with a strong message that is pounded in many times, but it is gorgeously shot and James Stewart gives a humorous performance as Wyatt Earp.

Mary of Scotland (1936)

Based on the play by Maxwell Anderson, this black and white historical tragedy tells the story of Mary, Queen of Scotland, as she struggles to rule her kingdom fairly. She loses control many times and is forced into a loveless marriage. Her real love is used to push her out of her own kingdom and ultimately it is her demise as well. Katherine Hepburn is remarkable as Mary Stuart, bringing warmth and truth to each scene. She is a pleasure to watch.

Sergeant Rutledge (1960)

Mixing fantastic traditional Ford western action (all in flashbacks) with courtroom drama makes for an entertaining and interesting film. The approach is not nearly as subtle as The Searchers in dealing with issues of race. It seems sometimes more like To Kill a Mockingbird in the west rather than a western, with all sorts of courtroom melodrama, but the characters are likable and the action is good. It will keep your attention, perhaps even better than any of the other films.

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John Ford Film Collection DVD review written by: Ryan Izay