John Wayne 2-Pack

Rating:
Summary: Nice print, but truncated (rats!)
Review: I've seen RIDERS OF DESTINY about seven times over a 30-year period. I enjoy it even though the plot, dialog, acting, fistfights, etc. are very crude. This was the first of John Wayne's Lone Star Westerns, a series of films made for about $10,000 apiece. But it has a certain charm I can't explain. Yakima Canutt does a couple of nice stunts as well; Cecilia Parker is as pretty as Toby Wing, in my opinion (Toby was the "Young and Healthy" girl in 42ND STREET).

This DVD, released by Columbia Tri-Star, has the clearest print of RIDERS OF DESTINY that I recall seeing - a very sharp image in many places. Unfortunately, it omits at least 5 1/2 minutes of the film, including a critical plot point. The ranchers say they'll sign a new water rights contract with the evil land baron, only if he'll agree to one additional clause. This version then skips the scene where they say what the clause is, and so the villain's extreme dismay near the end of the film isn't adequately explained.

Perhaps as compensation for the missing scenes, a pseudo-symphonic soundtrack has been dubbed in at various points, sticking out like a huge sore thumb.

I think in the future I'll continue to watch the Goodtimes DVD (2000) for this film; their copy is more complete, even though the picture is somewhat washed out.

The only other film I've watched on this DVD is TWO FISTED LAW starring Tim McCoy (and a small part by John Wayne). I've only seen TWO FISTED LAW once before, so I'm not sure if anything's missing. As a movie, I found it less enjoyable than the films starring John Wayne. The print was in fairly good condition.

When I get around to watching the other films on this DVD 2-Pack I may post more information about print quality and omissions, if I can determine that. At present I give this set 2 out of 5 stars.