The Ranown Westerns was released by the Criterion Collection on July 18th, 2023.
True westerns are, in many ways, a lost art of American Cinema. Despite legends like John Wayne and Clint Eastwood built their careers around the gritty machismo and unabashed masculinity that fueled the genre, there hasn’t been a distinct Western star in years. Maybe even decades. Though the genre’s popularity has dwindled, The Criterion Collection has been working hard to preserve and bring those classic films back to viewers with the strongest presentation available.
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The Ranown Westerns Plot
The Ranown Westerns boxset brings together five films from director Budd Boetticher. Each of the films feature Randolph Scott as the leading man, utilizing his charm and brooding presence to lift the western genre to impressive heights and feats of entertainment. The Tall T, Decision at Sundown, Buchanan Rides Alone, Ride Lonesome and Comanche Station share incredible similarities, while each delivering a fresh and compelling narrative.
The Critique
I was introduced to Westerns later in my life. Though, I’d been a diehard film buff since childhood, I’d always viewed westerns as boring, stereotypical movies that my dad watched. They weren’t for me. It was Sam Peckinpah’s The Wild Bunch that first changed my perception. I quickly realized how closely the bond between westerns and samurai cinema was and that only bolstered my new found infatuation with six-shooting, horse riding, save the day western heroes.
This was my first experience with Randolph Scott. From the early moments of The Tall T it was clear to me that he was a different type of cowboy than Eastwood or Wayne had embodied. He carries a smile more often than not. He’s aged and with that age comes a distinct and palpable wisdom. He’s cheerful and charming, but skilled with a gun and with his fists. Deadly when he needs to be, and approachable when he doesn’t.
Perhaps one of the best things I can say about The Ranown Westerns is that they’re incredibly watchable. Each film within the collection boasts a brisk runtime, a breezily melodic score and a rising tension that pays off with an explosive conclusion. They’re the types of movies that embody the description of “rewatchable.”
The Special Features
The boxset holds six disks, packed with beautiful 4K transfers of the films and a slew of special features. Among those special features are introductions by filmmakers Martin Scorsese and Taylor Hackford. It may sound cliché, but Scorsese is my favorite working filmmaker and I’ll never turn down the opportunity to hear his thoughts and insights into a classic piece of cinema. There are audio interviews with director Boetticher, archival programs and footage, and super 8 version of Comanche Station. More than enough content to keep you entertained for a long weekend.
Would I Recommend This Purchase: Yes
Is It Worth a Blind Buy: For Western Fans, Absolutely.
8/10
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