Darn Good Westerns, Vol. 1 [2 Discs]

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

HELLGATE: This post-Civil War yarn was adapted from the story of Dr. Mudd, the physician who attended John Wilkes Booth, assassin of President Lincoln. In 1867 Kansas, veterinarian Sterling Hayden treats an injured stranger who turns out to have been a guerrilla raider--and Hayden soon finds himself serving a term in one of the world's most terrifying prisons under sadistic commandant Ward Bond. FANGS OF THE WILD: A boy who has frequently cried "Wolf!" now cries "Murder!"--and this time he's telling the truth. But because of his fib-filled history, when he claims to have seen hunter Charles Chaplin Jr. shoot and kill a fellow hunter, no one will believe the lad. No one, that is...except Chaplin. Beautiful Big Bear scenery co-stars in this suspenseful drama. TRAIN TO TOMBSTONE: There are roaring wheels and roaring thrills as the Tombstone train crosses "unfriendly Indian" territory with the usual offbeat assortment of passengers (a la Stagecoach), among them a "law officer" (Robert Lowery) who is actually a crook with his eye on the train's government gold shipment. Can passenger Donald Barry be trusted, or is he yet another outlaw? PANHANDLE: John Sands (Rod Cameron), a reformed gunman, now a storekeeper in a Mexican border town, again straps on gun belt and six-shooters to find the killer of his brother. Fists and bullets fly when he finds that he must contend not only with badmen, but with lawmen who remember his outlaw past. Shot amidst rugged Lone Pine, California scenery, and co-written and co-produced by future Hollywood legend Blake Edwards-who also plays the role of a baby-faced killer! OPERATION HAYLIFT: The infamous 1949 real-life blizzards that threatened Nevada cattle herds are recreated in this drama with Bill Williams and Ann Rutherford as ranchers imperiled by the snows until the U.S. Air Force organizes "Operation Haylift." Co-written by Joe Sawyer, one of the leading players, and made with USAF cooperation (and film footage of the actual operation). Extra Features: Rare photos of the actual "Operation Haylift" WILDFIRE: A gang of crooks is attempting to drive out the local ranchers by rustling their horses and laying the blame on "Wildfire", the leader of a wild horse herd. Happy Hay (Bob Steele) and Alkali (Sterling Holloway), a pair of wandering horse traders, are also framed by the gang on murder and rustling charges, but they, with the help of Judge Polson (William Farnum) and sheriff Johnny Deal (Eddie Dean) manage to apprehend the real culprits.

DVD FEATURES:

• Number of Discs: 2
• Screen: Color
• Audio: Dolby Digital Stereo
• Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1 (Academy Apeture)
• Features:
  • Panhandle Bonus:
  • Rare photos of actual " Operation Haylift"
  • Video feature: "Born in Freedom: the story of Colonel Drake" starring Vincent Price
  • Hellgate bonus:
  • Original theatrical trailers
  • Video short: "Hold'Em Cowboy"

AWARDS

• Telluride Film Festival

•     Film Presented - 1978

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Bill Williams - Bill Masters
       Ann Rutherford - Clara Masters
       Margia Dean - Linda
       Anne Gwynne - June O'Carroll
       Blake Edwards - Floyd Schofield
       Dick Crockett - Elliott
       Barbara Stanley - Doris
       Charles Judels - Barber
       Alex Gerry - McBride
       Al Ferguson - Steve Kane
       Francis Ford - Ezra Mills
       Henry Hall - Wells
       Kyle James - Vern Brechene
       Jeff York - Jack
       Ed Hinton - Ault
       Charles La Torre - Juan
       Frank Dae - Regan
       Stanley Price - Col. Telsen
       Rodd Redwing - Pima
       Bill Kennedy

• Director:

  Charles Marquis Warren, Lesley Selander, William A. Berke, Robert Emmett Tansey, Charles "Chuck" Riesner, William F. Claxton

• Producer:

  John C. Champion, Blake Edwards, Joe Sawyer, William B. David, William A. Berke, Robert L. Lippert, Jr.

• Screenwriter:

  Charles Marquis Warren, Blake Edwards, John C. Champion, Dean Riesner, Joe Sawyer, Frances Kavanaugh

• Screen Story:

  Don "Red" Barry

• Screenwriter:

  Orville H. Hampton, Victor West

• Cinematographer:

  Ernest W. Miller, Harry Neumann, Ben Kline, Marcel Le Picard, Paul Ivano

• Composer (Music Score):

  Paul Dunlap, Red Dunn, Russell Garcia, Albert Glasser

• Musical Direction/Supervision:

  Albert Glasser

• Editor:

  Elmo Williams, Victor Heerman, Charles Henkle, Jr., Carl Pierson, Monica Collingwood

• Art Director:

  Dave Milton

• Set Designer:

  Raymond Boltz, Vin Taylor

• Costume Designer:

  Lorraine MacLean

• Makeup:

  Harry Ross

• Short Story Author:

  W.C. Tuttle