The Far Country [Blu-ray]

*contains spoilersIt's the late nineteenth century and when we first see Jeff Webster [James Stewart] he's driving his few dozen steers into the town of Seattle to meet his partner, Ben Tatem [Walter Brennan, in a dry run for 'Stumpy' in Rio Bravo] and his drunken friend Rube [J. C. Flippen]. Accused of murder by the authorities in Seattle - he killed two men stealing his herd - Jeff hides aboard the paddle-steamer with the helpful, 'strong-willed', Ronda Castle [the croaky-voiced, Ruth Roman] until it reaches the town of Skagway where he escapes with his cattle into the town. Breaking up a hanging by the 'mephistophelian', Judge Gannon [John McIntire], his cattle are seized in lieu of a fine. Offered a job by Ronda to drive supplies into Canada, he uses it as an opportunity to steal his herd back from Gannon in Skagway and flee across the border. Arriving in Dawson with Ben, Rube and 'freckle face' Renee [Corinne Calvet], he sells his cattle to Ronda who plans to open a saloon. The 'uncivilised' town has sprung up around a gold field and Jeff and Ben buy a gold claim and settle down to pan for gold. The intention is that they will make enough money to buy a ranch in Utah. Meanwhile, Judge Gannon arrives in Dawson with some gunmen and starts to swindle the miners out of their claims. As there is no law, the 'judge' gets away with it. Jeff is a decent man and doesn't want to get involved - "I take care of me" - but when he and Ben are attacked and Ben killed on their way out of Dawson, Jeff is forced to turn to his guns and fight for what's right.Technically, a 'northern' i.e. a western set in Canada or Alaska, it was a Universal, 'super-production'. That is, a big production for a modest studio like Universal but a minor one for Fox or MGM. It was the fourth [not third as Kim Newman states] of the five Anthony Mann/Stewart 'adult' westerns that began with Winchester 73 [1950] and ended with The Man From Laramie [1955]. Written by Borden Chase - who also wrote Mann's, Winchester 73 and Bend of the River [1952] - it was filmed at the Athabasca Glacier and Jasper National Park, Canada. The film features many of the Mann's 'stock company' of actors who had and would appear in subsequent Mann westerns including, J. C. Flippen [Winchester 73, Bend of the River], Steve Brodie [Winchester 73], Chubby Johnson [Bend of the River], Royal Dano [Bend of the River, Man of the West, Cimarron], Harry Morgan [Bend of the River, Cimarron], John McIntire [Winchester 73, The Tin Star], Robert J Wilke [Man of the West], Jack Elam [The Man from Laramie], John Doucette [Winchester 73] and stunt double for John Wayne, Chuck Roberson [Winchester 73, Man of the West]. As with Winchester 73, Stewart took a percentage of the profits netting him an estimated $300,000.Kim Newman describes, 'The Far Country' as the one that's 'skipped over'. I couldn't agree more, in fact, I'd suggest, it's the one that's always forgotten. My dad remembered it straight away - "the one with the bell" - although he's more of an expert than I am as he saw it originally at the cinema. It's probably the worst of the Mann/Stewart western collaborations but that doesn't mean it's a bad film, it's just not as good as the others. Stewart's 'character' - upstanding, decent, honest but with a murky background - doesn't vary much through the 5 film series. He could be the same person through all of them if you think about it. Perhaps, surprisingly, the two ladies are second and third on the bill and before Brennan who at this stage, was a noted character actor and winner of two Oscars. The Far Country has Mann's strongest female character - Roman's 'bad girl' Rhoda - since Shelly Winter's Lola in Winchester 73. The top-hatted, John McIntire is the film's colourful villain and Newman suggests he may be based on notorious 'hanging judge', Roy Bean. [Wikipedia suggests, Soapy Smith]. McIntire manages to make him evil, greedy, seedy and charming all at the same time.The Arrow blu-ray's image is free of spots, lines or dots. However, the image is somewhat 'soft' and gloomy [especially in the exteriors] and the close-ups are not very defined. Knowing that early Cinemascope needed lots of light or the image looked dark and that it could be 'grainy' - check out Mann's own, The Last Frontier [1955] - I could've sworn I was watching Cinemascope but nope, apparently not. I'm guessing it was Universal's own widescreen process. There are two blu-ray discs in two different aspect ratios: one in 1:85:1 and one in 2:00:1. The extras include a 24 minute appraisal by the genial Newman and a short 33 minute documentary on the Mann/Stewart Universal films. This follows those Universal features from Winchester 73 through Bend of the River, Thunder Bay [1953], The Glenn Miller Story [1954], The Far Country and Strategic Air Command [1955]. There are also a story about Stewart's horse, 'Pie' and details of the falling-out of Mann and Stewart over the disastrous, Night Passage [1957]. There is also a commentary by Adrian Martin. English subtitles.

Cunningly interesting Western from a director who had few peers in the genre. Much like other Anthony Mann pictures, The Far Country blends a potent pot boiling story with an adroit knowing of impacting scenery. Both of which play out amongst some of Mann's peccadilloes like honour, integrity, betrayal and of course, death! The story sees fortune hunting partners Jeff Webster {James Stewart} and Ben Tatum {Walter Brennan} travel to Oregon Territory with a herd of cattle. Aware of the blossoming gold-boom, they plan to make a tidy profit selling the cattle in a Klondike town. Arriving in Skagway they find self-appointed judge Mr. Gannon {John McIntire} ready to meet out justice to Webster on account of Webster having fractured the law, all be it with honest cause, along the way. In punishment Gannon takes the partners herd from them, but they steal them back and head across the Canadian border to Dawson-with Gannon and his men in hot pursuit. Here beautiful women and a meek and lawless town will fill out the destinies of all involved.Interesting from start to finish, The Far Country benefits greatly from James Stewart's bubbling {anti} hero in waiting portrayal and Mann's slick direction of the tight Borden Chase script. The cinematography from William H. Daniels is superlative, tho not done any favours by current DVD prints, and the film has a few surprises and a "will he wont he?" core reeling the viewers in. Paying dividends on re-watches for hardened genre fans, it still remains something of an essential viewing for first timers venturing into the wonderful, yet dark, Western world of Anthony Mann and James Stewart. 8/10

This review is for the UNIVERSAL DVD with The big sepia photo of Stewart and a drawing of 2 guns at the top (this to hopefully avoid confusion as to which DVD I refer!). Ratio 16,9 (fills my whole TV screen)(or if you prefer, the cover states 1.85;1), a good transfer, but not quite absolutely mint, but still very good, clear sound, optional English Subtitles, and the trailer (always enjoy the trailers). The film is a solid western with plenty of action and good character support. Stewart is relatively mannerism free, and Ruth Roman and Corinne Calvet are contrasting women both in love (sort of) with Stewart. How tall was Calvet - she looks very small. With Brennan, McIntyre, Jay C Flippen, and Robert Wilke in good roles (Wilke particularly effective as one of McIntyre's gunmen), this should have been 5 star, but somehow there, for me, was just something missing on an emotionaly involved front, but that's just me. A must for Stewart/Mann lovers. (The locations are terrific)

Between 1950 and 1955, director Anthony Mann made five excellent westerns with Jimmy Stewart. 'Winchester '73', 'The Naked Spur' and 'The Far Country' are my favourites. 'The Man from Laramie' and 'Bend of the River' are also well worth seeking out. Jimmy Stewart once said that he identified with the character (Jeff Webster) that he played in 'The Far Country' more than any other. The film also stars Walter Brennan, one of the great character actors who featured in many excellent westerns. All in all, it's a fine film and ranks as a classic in the western genre.

I recently received the James Stewart film The Far Country and found it to be every bit as good as I remembered it.Although this particular DVD had been used before my purchase it was in excellent working order.

Nothing needs to be said about the contents of this well known movie. The picture quality of this HD transfer is disappointing, though, and this cannot be justified by age (I've seen many older movies restored in better quality). In particular the nature shots in the mountains lack clarity.

What was not to like.The movie ticked all the boxes with added bonus of a small booklet re movie its selfOne of my best westernsAll I can say is please release more classics this way

Great film just the picture quality isn't good one of the worse I have seen but still watched love the film