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| Dvdivas
was founded by John Gabbard in 2000. It's purpose has been and
remains to be to provide you, the entertainment community with
the latest dvds and movie reviews. It will continue to be your
link to the most popular dvd movies. |
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“The Far
Horizons"
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Reviewed
by: |
Wayne A. Klein |
| Genre: |
Western drama
|
| Video: |
1.85:1 Anamorphic
widescreen |
| Audio: |
Dolby Digital
1.0 |
| Languages |
English |
| Subtitles |
English |
| Length |
108 minutes
|
| Rating |
NR |
| Release Date |
7/12/05 |
| Studio |
Paramount
Home Video |
| Commentary:
|
None |
| Documentaries:
|
None |
| Featurettes:
|
None |
| Filmography/Biography:
|
None |
|
Interviews: |
None |
| Trailers/TV
Spots: |
None |
| Alternate/Deleted
Scenes: |
None |
| Music
Video: |
None |
| Other:
|
None |
| Cast
and Crew: |
Charlton
Heston, Fred MacMurray, Donna Reed, Barbara Hale, Herbert Hayes,
William Demarest, Larry Pennell, Alan Reed |
| Written
By: |
Winston Miller,
Edmund H. North based on the novel by Della Gould Emmons |
| Produced
By: |
William C.
Thomas and William H. Pine |
| Directed
By: |
Rudolph Maté
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| Music:
|
Hans J. Salter
|
| The
Review: |
Most period films are really about
the periods they were made in. That’s the case with the overripe
western drama “The Far Horizons”. Supposedly based on the
Lewis and Clark Expedition, the film has little to do with
the reality of what occurred and is an example of a big budgeted
drama that was a misfire from the moment it was conceived.
Fred MacMurray stars as Lewis and Charlton Heston as Clark
whose rivalry-at least in this film-is complicated by the
fact that Clark steals away Lewis’ girlfriend Julia (Barbara
Hale) and then proceeds to romance Sacajawea (a totally miscast
Donna Reed) the Shoshone Indian who helps the duo. I didn’t
know that Indians could have blue eyes but Reed’s baby blues
go all a-flutter when she meets Clark. The unbelievable romance
Clark and Sacajawea dominates much of the picture sacrificing
what fact for melodramatic fiction. ---
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| Image
and Sound: |
“Far Horizons”
receives a nice transfer that’s virtually blemish free from
Paramount. The picture suffers from a softness that suggests
that this was made from a mint print in extremely good shape
not the original negative for the film. The old three color
Technicolor process gives a bold, brash look to much of the
movie although the color can be woefully inconsistent. The mono
sound has a nice sharpness and presence with dialog dominating
most sequences (except the few worthwhile action sequences).
The score sounds marvelous here. |
| The
Extras: |
There are
no extras although a vintage film like this particularly about
a real life subject could have used a bit of historical background
on Lewis, Clark and Sacajawea. Why not use the History Channel
vaults and put together something on this trio? Commentary:
Again, a historical commentary would have been worthwhile.
Paramount seems to literally dump their older films on the
market without a thought about the audience their films may
be appealing to.
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| Commentary:
|
None |
| Final
Words: |
While “Far
Horizons” isn’t a classic, it would have an audience out there
that desires older films of this type made when the code restricted
violence, romance the portrayal of historical figures. Perhaps
even a featurette about the code and how it restricted or forced
the producers to change this film (along with many, many others).
Paramount has done a great job with some of their films but
there are some such as “Far Horizons” that appear without much
fanfare. While I’m not a fan of this movie and feel it’s far
from a classic, the film will still have a wide appeal to those
who grew up watching classic Technicolor movies on TV or at
revival houses. Paramount should make a bit more effort in offering
these collectibles to an audience as it’s unlikely to receive
another VD release any time in the future. It was kind of fun
to watch this movie if only to finally see Fred Flintstone (Alan
Reed) himself vs. just hearing him. |
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