Warner Bros. releases DVD box set celebrating icons John Ford and John Wayne

By Patrick Luce Jun 8, 2006, 19:45 GMT

John Ford was easily one of the greatest, most prolific and versatile directors Hollywood ever produced. Combined with a star of the caliber and magnetism of John Wayne, what emerges is pure cinematic magic. WHV now introduces a ten-disc set featuring eight of the team\'s finest collaborations: The Searchers: Ultimate Collector\'s Edition (1956) Stagecoach: Special Edition (1939) Fort Apache (1948) The Long Voyage Home (1940) Wings of Eagles (1957) She ...more

John Ford was one of the greatest and most prolific directors Hollywood ever produced. Combine that with one of film’s biggest icons John Wayne and you get classic Hollywood magic. Warner Bros is now celebrating that magic with a massive ten-disc set featuring eight of the team's finest collaborations.

The set is a must have for fans of Ford or Wayne and includes The Searchers: Ultimate Collector's Edition (1956) Stagecoach: Special Edition (1939) Fort Apache (1948) The Long Voyage Home (1940) Wings of Eagles (1957) She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1948) They Were Expendable (1945) 3 Godfathers (1948).

In The Searchers (one of the best westerns made in my opinion), Wayne portrays a simple man named Ethan who is pushed beyond his limits in a quest to recover his niece after she is taken in an Indian raid that left Ethan’s brother and the rest of the family dead. He is joined by his nephew, Martin Pawley. The problem is that Pawley is half-Indian, and there's nothing in the world that Edwards hate more than Indians. The journey to find the Indians and Edwards niece (and Pawley half-sister) last for years.

The two-disc Ultimate Collector’s Edition comes loaded with special features that fans will truly love. They include Disc One’s newly remastered and restored from original VistaVision film elements, an introduction by Patrick Wayne, commentary by Director Peter Bogdanovich and theatrical trailer. Disc 2 features include "The Searchers: An Appreciation," "A Turning of the Earth: John Ford, John Wayne, and The Searchers,"
Behind the Cameras: Meet Jeffrey Hunter, Monument Valley, Meet Natalie Wood, and Setting Up Production, reproduction of 1956 Dell comic book, reproduction of original 1956 Warner Bros. press book, reproductions of filmmaker memos and correspondence 10 postcards with behind-the-scenes photos movie poster offer.

They Were Expendable follows the fall of the Philippines to the Japanese in World War II, and the heroism and tragedy of the defenders, as exemplified by the story of one American PT boat squadron. Sadly, the DVD just comes with a theatrical trailer for the film.

Stagecoach is considered by many as one of the films that helped launch Wayne to stardom and follows a simple stagecoach trip is complicated by the fact that Geronimo is on the warpath in the area. The passengers on the coach include a a drunken doctor, a pregnant woman, a bank manager who has taken off with his client's money, and the famous Ringo Kid, among others.

The two disc DVD special features include newly re-mastered from best available film elements; a new feature-length American Masters profile: John Ford/John Wayne: The Filmmaker and the Legend; a new documentary "Stagecoach: A Story of Redemption;" commentary by Scott Eyman, author of "Print the Legend: The Life & Times of John Ford;" Audio-only bonus: radio adaptation with Claire Trevor and Randolph Scott; theatrical Trailer.

In Fort Apache, Ford slowly reveals the character of Owen Thursday - who sees his new posting to the desolate Fort Apache as a chance to claim the military honour which he believes is rightfully his. Arrogant, obsessed with military form and ultimately self-destructive, Thursday attempts to destroy the Apache chief Cochise after luring him across the border from Mexico, against the advice of his subordinates.

The DVD is digitally re-mastered and restored from original nitrate elements and has a new featurette Monument Valley: John Ford Country and theatrical trailer.

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon follows Captain Nathan Brittles, on the eve of retirement, takes out a last patrol to stop an impending massive Indian attack. Encumbered by women who must be evacuated, Brittles finds his mission imperiled. The DVD features John Ford home movies and theatrical trailer.

3 Godfathers follows three outlaws on the run discover a dying woman and her baby. They swear to bring the infant to safety across the desert, even at the risk of their own lives. The DVD is light on special features with only the theatrical trailer.

The Wings of Eagles is a biography of Navy flier-turned-screenwriter Frank W. "Spig" Wead. Special features include the film's theatrical trailer.

The Long Voyage Home takes place aboard the freighter Glencairn, where the lives of the crew are lived out in fear, loneliness, suspicion and camaraderie. The men smuggle drink and women aboard, fight with each other, spy on each other, comfort each other as death approaches, and rescue each other from danger.

Features include New featurette "Serenity at Sea: John Ford and the Araner."

The set also comes with A Turning of the Earth: John Ford, John Wayne and the Searchers which is a Documentary on the making of The Searchers.

The DVD set is now available at Amazon. As of yet, there is not a release date for the UK. Visit the DVD’s database for more information. Also, we will be posted reviews by M&C’s Jeff Swindoll for each of the DVDs includeded.