Custer of the West

Buy This Item Custer of the West by Starz / Anchor Bay  Available from Amazon  $14.98  on 11-1-2008     General George Armstrong Custer has been portrayed as everything from a vain but ultimately honorable hero (Errol Flynn in <I>They Died with Their Boots On</I>) to an insane, pompous incompetent (Richard Mulligan in the biting <I>Little Big Man</I>), but few have attempted an ambitious look at the man in all his contradictions. Robert Siodmak's <I>Custer of the West</I>, his final American production, attempts the task with fine results, portraying the career soldier as a pragmatist, a disciplinarian with a bullying streak, a loner, and ultimately an Old World romantic in the modern age. Robert Shaw gives the role a regal bearing (though his continental accent keeps drifting in) and a sense of dignity, depicting a man who ironically identifies more with the Indians than with the U.S. Army. Jeffrey Hunter and Ty Hardin costar as his battling junior officers and Robert Ryan is memorable in a brief appearance as a gold-mining deserter. Shooting in handsome widescreen and vivid Technicolor, Siodmak makes his outdoor settings come alive and nimbly handles the many action scenes, most notably a chase that sends an escaping soldier whooshing down a log water chute like a Disney ride. Siodmak's sweeping visuals deliver both grand images and ironic counterpoint, but ultimately <I>Custer of the West</I> eschews the heroism of Hollywood adventures for a portrait of the corrupt state of the American military and one man's hopeless fight against it. <I>--Sean Axmaker</I> Reader Reviews It's really a good DVD release? I haven't seen the DVD and do not buy it. Because? The DVD it's in 1,85:1. It was filmed in: Super Technirama 70 Printed format: 35 mm / 70 mm (Super-Cinerama) / 70 mm Aspect ratio: 2.20 : 1 (negative ratio) / 2.35 : 1 (35 mm prints) As filmfan I want only the original format. Sorry for this I can give only one point / star. But Ty hardin is great :-)

Custer of the West Available from Amazon Price: $14.98 Updated on 11-1-2008.

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