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Albuquerque [1947] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
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Our Price: £5.38 (subject to change)
An action-filled western from the Forties
Review date: 2007-08-14 Rating: 8 out of 10
If you're fond of older movies which were essentially programmers, you might enjoy this. It's a better-than-average Randolph Scott Western with some good elements. Cole Armin (Scott) arrives in Albuquerque ready to take up a job offer made by his uncle, John Armin (George Cleveland). John Armin, aging and confined to a wheelchair, runs things in Albuquerque with a ruthless fist, the sheriff in his pocket, a thug on call and a merciless inclination to destroy any competition. Cole quickly sees what the "job" will call for, quits, and joins up with a brother and sister, Tom and Celia Wallace (Russell Hayden and Catherine Craig), who are trying to start a hauling business. They plan to sign contracts with mine owners to bring ore down from the nearby silver mines. Juke (Gabby Hayes), who has become friends with Cole, signs on to show them the ropes of mule train hauling. There are holdups, fist fights, shootings, fires and a lovely spy (Barbara Britton) as Cole takes on the criminal hirelings of his uncle. The climax comes when Juke and Cole lead ten 12-mule wagons laden with ore down a dangerous shale-filled mountain road from the Angel's Roost mine into town, to be met by his uncle's hired guns.
As I say, it's not bad. Scott always seemed to me to be a credible Western hero. Catherine Craig as Scott's love interest is no actress but she has a calmness about her which is nice and she has a great, low speaking voice. George Cleveland, who one critic called "round and twinkling," was a long-time character actor who usually played granddads. He turned in an effective performance as a ruthless man who will not be denied. Lon Chaney Jr. played his thug with a nice combination of thickness and meanness. The only real drawback for me was Gabby Hayes, who by this time could only play Gabby Hayes. I'm not sure who was the biggest ham in late Thirties and Forties movies, Hayes or Lionel Barrymore. For me, a little Gabby goes a long way.
Albuquerque is a better than average Western, made during the time when Hollywood was churning out double features. The DVD picture is a little soft and slightly orange but not enough to be distracting. There are no extras.
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Reviews
"Albuquerque (1947) ... Randolph Scott ... Paramount Classic Western"
Review date: 2007-05-09 Rating: 10 out of 10
Paramount Pictures release of "Albuquerque" (1948/91 mins), featuring a who's who in great western action, drama and thrill-packed adventure ~ Cole Armin (Randolph Scott) heads the cast with John Armin (George Cleveland), Letty Tyler (Barbara Britton), Celia Wallace (Catherine Craig), Juke (George "Gabby" Hayes), Ted Wallace (Russell Hayden), Steve Murkill (Lon Chaney Jr) ~ under director Ray Enright, screenplay by Gene Lewis and Clarence Upson Young, from the novel "Dead Freight for Piute" by Luke Short, a wonderful western story just waiting to be made into a major film.
With the good guys Scott, Hayes and Hayden ready to set-up a small wagon-freight-hauling business to compete with Cleveland, Chaney and Britton, things are starting to get a little rough with family members Scott and Cleveland (his tyrant Uncle) ~ the freight business isn't big enough for the two of them ~ Scott & Hayden decide to work together as partners to get the big contract with the miners ~ but lookout for Chaney, he wants a piece of Scott and put him permanently in "boot hill" ~ the action quickens with some great hard riding ~ someone has tampered with Scott's brakes on his wagon, all going down a steep trail right behind Gabby's wagon...will everything work out...are the wagons going to make it...can Gabby get out of the way of Scott's wagon...does Scott have what it takes to survive without losing his life are the life of others ~ this is a greedy bunch bent on revenge against our favorite western hero ~ Randolph Scott.
This is not a B-Western, but a major film with a story that will keep you glued to your seat ~ the characters are very real with a fine performance by Barbara Britton, you don't know till the very end which side she's on ~ wonderful portrayal by George "Gabby" Hayes, who has worked with the best John Wayne, Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Gary Cooper and William Boyd (Hopalong Cassidy)...Gabby is one of the biggest scene stealers in the business, voted the favorite sidekick of all-time in western films during the '30s, '40s and '50s...gotta love it!
Total Time: 91 mins ~ Universal Studios Home Video 24928 ~ (6/01/2004)
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Randolph Scott
Barbara Britton
Russell Hayden
Lon Chaney Jr.
George 'Gabby' Hayes
Creators:
Randolph Scott (Primary Contributor)
Barbara Britton (Primary Contributor)
Fred Jackman Jr. (Cinematographer)
Howard A. Smith (Editor)
William C. Thomas (Producer)
William H. Pine (Producer)
Clarence Upson Young (Writer)
Gene Lewis (Writer)
Luke Short (Writer)
Director(s):
Recording label: Universal Studios
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
EAN: 9781417002696
Binding: DVD
ISBN: 1417002697
Number of items: 1
Format: Colour, DVD-Video, NTSC,
Release date: 2004-06-01
Universal product code (UPC): 025192492822
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Region code: 1
Running time: 90 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1948-01-30
Language: English (Original Language)