Warner Archive Collection New Releases: Go West With Spanky
GENERAL SPANKY (1936) Members of Hal Roach’s beloved Our Gang venture out into feature film territory under the able leadership of whizkid prodigy Spanky McFarland. With Billie “Buckweat” Thomas at his side, Spanky leads the gang into the rarefied thrills and chills of the historical epic as the Civil War is revisited from these little rascals’ pint-sized point of view. Riverboat orphans of the storm Spanky and Buckweat end up in the care of Marshall Valient (Phillips Holmes), a true gentleman of the South whose pacifist inclination is mistaken for cowardice. As the war engulfs the South, gent and kids must battle foes both honorable and despicable. Our Gang’s favorite teacher, Rosina Lawrence, co-stars. Directed by Gordon Douglas and Fred Newmeyer.
OUT OF THE WEST
STATION WEST (1948) Murder, My Sweet’s Dick Powell co-stars with Out of the Past’s Jane Greer in this Western flavored solid shot of cowboy noir. Tough-talkin’, punch-takin’ Haven (Powell) rides into town to investigate a pair of murders for army intelligence. Sniffing around the shady side of town, Haven discovers that sweetly singing saloon owner Charlie (Greer) may be both the beauty and the brains behind the local syndicate. As the pair start a delicate two-step, it’s hard to see who’s beguiling who. Also featuring Burl Ives, Agnes Moorehead and Raymond Burr. Directed by Sidney Lanfield.
ROUGHSHOD (1948) Gloria Grahame leads a quartet of fallen women whose quest for a new town to get run out of, get caught up in a killer convict’s (John Ireland) quest for vengeance against a straight shooting wrangler (Robert Sterling). As he wrestles with his responsibilities to his younger brother (Claude Jarman, Jr.) as well as the horses he needs to deliver, fate and fortune start picking off the libertine ladies, one by one. Directed By Mark Robson.
WILD BILL HICKOK RIDES (1942) This action-packed-to-the-rafters oater comes in blazing with fire, murder, lynching, cattle runs and floods all in the service of three stars who turn serial style thrills into stellar entertainment. After the Great Chicago Fire, Gambling House Gal Belle Andrews (Constance Bennett) gets recruited by ruthless land developer Harry Farrel (Warren William) in a scheme to defraud the honest citizens of Powder River, WY. But when Wild Bill Hickok (Bruce Cabot) rides in to town, the scheme takes a deadly turn. Directed by Ray Enright.
THE YOUNGER BROTHERS (1949) Wayne Morris plays Cole Younger in this tale that pits the legendary outlaw sibling up against a vengeful Pinkerton (Fred Clark) and a lovely lady bandit (Janis Paige) looking to steer the boys back off the straight and narrow. Bruce Bennett, James Brown, and Robert Hutton play the younger Younger Brothers, while Geraldine Brooks plays the youngest Younger’s sweetheart and Alan Hale is the affable sheriff. Directed by Edwin L. Marin.
NOTE: These DVDs are Manufactured on Demand (MOD); to order, fans must visit The Warner Archive Collection, WB Shop.com, Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
