A Ladd Quartet
DRUM BEAT (1954) This action-packed widescreen Western wonder features a knock-out performance from Alan Ladd alongside a very young Charles Bronson in his screen debut. Ladd plays Johnny MacKay, an Indian "Fighter"
who would rather wage peace. Sent to negotiate a peace with the Medoc tribe, MacKay’s unfinished business with a childhood sweetheart (Marisa
Pavan) helps propel the renegade Medoc Captain Jack (Bronson) on the path to war. The war-tired MacKay soon gets new marching orders - capture Captain Jack, dead or alive. Directed by Delmer Daves. 16x9 Widescreen
THE BIG LAND (1957) This Reconstruction Era ranch saga finds Alan Ladd donning the war-weary visage he did so well, but this time as a cattleman trying to lead the oppressed to a new promised land - and a new railroad spur. Civil War vet Chad Morgan (Ladd) wants to put the way of the gun far behind him, but corrupt cattle buyers threaten to ruin his peaceful plans.
Joining up with a rummy architect (Edmond O’Brien), a saloon singer (Virginia Mayo) and a group of settlers, Morgan heads out to build a new town and a new peace. But the forces of corruption may yet tip Chad Morgan back to the gun. Directed by Gordon Douglas. 16x9 Widescreen
THE DEEP SIX (1958) Alan Ladd plays a Quaker gunnery officer caught between his pacifist beliefs and the horrors of war in this all-star World War II action adventure classic. After refusing to fire on an unknown aircraft, Ladd¹s naval officer finds his courage and loyalty questioned, even though his call gets proven correct. In order to redeem himself, he volunteers for a suicide mission to rescue a band of US pilots - a mission that nearly guarantees that this Quaker must kill. Co-starring William Bendix, Keenan Wynn, James Whitmore, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Joey Bishop and Ross Bagdasarian. Directed by Rudolph Maté. 16x9 Widescreen
GUNS OF THE TIMBERLAND (1960) Alan Ladd, Jeanne Crain, Gilbert Roland and Frankie Avalon star in this big screen adaptation of Louis Lamour’s ranchers vs. loggers saga. Jim Hadley (Ladd) had a grant to clear cut the trees off the mountain near Deep Well, but the town¹s ranchers, led by buckskinned beauty Laura Riley (Crain), beg to differ. They think the clear cutting will leave their ranches vulnerable to mudslides leaving the two forces are at... loggerheads. And armed to the teeth with guns and explosives. Also features Alana Ladd and Noah Beery, Jr. Directed by Robert D. Webb. 16x9 Widescreen
Medicine, Practiced at the Edge of Science!
MEDICAL CENTER: THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON (1973-74) Chad Everett and James Daly, as Chief of Surgery Joe Gannon and Chief of Staff Paul Lochner, continue their groundbreaking medical drama in its well-seasoned fifth year. As the country started to come of cynical age due to Watergate, urban blight and rampant inflation, Drs. Gannon and Lochner waged their healers¹ war against the likes of hysterical paralysis, sudden infant death, gambling addiction, kidney transplants and seismic sensitive seizures. Parallel to these perils of the body, the show bravely confronts infidelity, intolerance, mid-life crisis, repressed homosexuality and returning Vietnam POWs. Aiding the doctors are special guest stars like Julie Harris, Stockard Channing, Jill Clayburgh, Celeste Holm, Meg Foster and Stefanie Powers. Noir Queen Audrey Totter is on hand to lend regular assistance as Nurse Wilcox. A 6-Disc, 24-Episode Collection.
IT¹S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE COMIC-CON
Headed down to San Diego next week? So are we! Join us for two panels, two co-sponsored parties, and a hunt for promotional DVDs! Click here for our most up-to-date schedule information, and how to #FindWAC - because we want to meet YOU! Panels include:
Warner Archive presents Trailers From Hell Live is on Saturday, July 26 1:00pm in Room 25ABC. Join us and the gurus of Joe Dante¹s fabulous Trailers from Hell as we dissect classic cult, sci-fi and horror trailers followed by previews of some of our upcoming releases.
A Batman for All Seasons is on Sunday, July 27 at noon in Room 7AB. We join respected producer/author Michael Uslan, producer James Tucker, producer/director Brandon Vietti and some surprise guests as we examine Batman iterations and oddities throughout history. Attendees will be privy to a very special announcement that will excite fans both ³Young² and old.
Not going to SDCC? Stay tuned to our social media channels all week long on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr for our special brand of top-notch real-time reporting, which is usually when we¹re waiting in a line for something and not stumbling around in the heat surrounded by the press of humanity. (We¹re trying to make you feel better that you¹re not down there with us.)
I LOVE BROOKLYN
New York classic film fans! We¹re co-presenting a rare screening of the musical I Love Melvin (1953) starring Debbie Reynolds and Donald O¹Connor at BAMcinématek next Tuesday July 22. Critics Nick Pinkerton (Artforum) and Nicolas Rapold (The New York Times) will be on hand to introduce a double feature of journeyman auteur Don Weis¹ work that also includes The Adventures of Hajji Baba (1954). And if that¹s not enough to convince you to come out to the show, a few lucky patrons of the arts will win Warner Archive DVDs. See you there!