Reluctant Witness: Robert Taylor, Hollywood, & Communism

Robert Taylor on DVD

Warner Home Video is releasing a "Western Classics" DVD box set on August 26, 2008. It includes six films, three of them starring Robert Taylor: "Many Rivers to Cross", "The Law and Jake Wade" and "Saddle the Wind". Considering how few of RT's films are available on DVD, these three are a welcome addition (and long overdue, in my opinion).
The link to the Amazon.com site is rather cumbersome, so I won't insert it here. Search on "Western Classics" on their site and it will come up.

I understand Warner's is preparing "Quo Vadis" for a late 2008 release.

Is anyone aware of any other RT films coming to DVD?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Birdy on July 4, 2009 at 5:56am: I have asked the WB-shop if I will be able to watch the dvds in Europe... They said no, because the format is NTSC and they don't ship to Europe. The video on demand-option won't work for me either due to copyright, region code and what else they said... Such a pity for me!

If I've seen right "Johnny Eager" isn't on youtube anymore... I can't find it. A few weeks before it was still there. I guess, WB intervened because of their own recent releases in the WB-shop.
The member on ioffer.com, that you mentioned Alejandra, doesn't offer any copies at the moment. I have seen some other offers there and on ebay, but I hesitate to buy something. I have no idea, what quality the copies are of and whether I will be able to watch them at all...

This way I have no other chance than to continue to look for his dvds in PAL R2 in other countries of Europe. Just received "Camille" from the United Kingdom and I assure you I'll have a nice evening this night!!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Alejandra on July 4, 2009 at 9:34pm: I'm sorry, I forgot to mention "ships US only". The only way to be able to watch these movies is using multi system code and region free dvd players. DVD region coding (which exists to protect copyright and film distribution rights...) ends up encouraging the spread of pirated DVDs.
The movies you can find in sites like ioffer.com are mostly copies from VHS or TCM recordings.

"Just received "Camille" from the United Kingdom and I assure you I'll have a nice evening this night!!"

I have no doubt. Romantic saturday night for you then!

Birdy said:
I have asked the WB-shop if I will be able to watch the dvds in Europe... They said no, because the format is NTSC and they don't ship to Europe. The video on demand-option won't work for me either due to copyright, region code and what else they said... Such a pity for me!

If I've seen right "Johnny Eager" isn't on youtube anymore... I can't find it. A few weeks before it was still there. I guess, WB intervened because of their own recent releases in the WB-shop.
The member on ioffer.com, that you mentioned Alejandra, doesn't offer any copies at the moment. I have seen some other offers there and on ebay, but I hesitate to buy something. I have no idea, what quality the copies are of and whether I will be able to watch them at all...

This way I have no other chance than to continue to look for his dvds in PAL R2 in other countries of Europe. Just received "Camille" from the United Kingdom and I assure you I'll have a nice evening this night!!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Alejandra on July 26, 2009 at 1:10am: Last DVDs available on Region 2 (PAL):

"La última cacería" (The Last Hunt)
English language with Spanish subtitles- Release date 3-3-2009.
English language with French subtitles- Release date 10-3-2007.

"Convoi de Femmes" (Westward the Women)
English language with French subtitles- Release date 8-13-2008.

"Vaquero" (Ride Vaquero)
French language- Release date 8-13-2008.

"Le Grand Secret" (Above and Beyond)
English language with French subtitles- Release date 9-17-2008.

"Traquenard" (Party Girl)
English language with French subtitles- Release date 3-8-2006.

(Movie poster); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Linda Alexander on July 26, 2009 at 11:37am: This is fantastic just for the images alone! Thx for posting.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Margaret Gaffney on July 30, 2009 at 2:05pm: The MGM vault has release under the TCM web site several of Robert Taylor movies such as Above & Beyond, All The Brothers Were Valiant, Billy the Kid, Quentin Durward, When Ladies Meet. I do hope that more will be release.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Linda Alexander on July 31, 2009 at 2:22pm: There are more & more coming out ... & it's only getting better. The more we indicate publicly--like right here, for example--that we expect Robert Taylor media be released, the more that message will be heard.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Alejandra on September 14, 2009 at 11:57pm: We forgot to mention Conspirator on this new DVD releases list:
http://www.wbshop.com/Conspirator-+EST-MOD/1000102620,default,pd.ht...
I can tell you the reason for my absent-mindedness. I don't like it. There's nothing remarkable about this film, it's neither edifying nor entertaining. Cold War's propaganda pure and simple. Does anyone agree with me? I don't understand why they chose this film instead of releasing Devil's Doorway, Westward the Women, The Last Hunt or Escape for instance.

The following is an article in which Bob talks a little about his stay in London. The "journalist" is Hollywood gossip columnist Louella Parsons:

By Louella O. Parsons
Motion Picture Editor
Internacional News Service

I was very glad to see Robert Taylor when he walked into my house to greet me on his return from Europe. Barbara Stanwyck was working, so he came without his favourite girl friend.
I asked Bob about meeting the King and Queen of England, and Elizabeth and Philip, at the Command Performance. I had seen his picture with Their Majesties.
"You would have laughed," he said, "to have seen Elizabeth Taylor rehearsing her curtsey. All day long before the presentation she was standing in front of a mirror practicing".
"Didn't you love the pictures of both of us? Barbara says she has never seen anyone look as frightened as I did, and Elizabeth kept her eyes fastened on the Queen's brooch."
"Were you frightened?" I asked him.
"Anybody who tells you he doesn't get excited over meeting a King and Queen of such tremendous popularity as King George and Queen Elizabeth, is not telling the truth."
"I think one reason England has held together through all the strife and struggle is because of the love the people have for tradition and the respect and affection in which the British hold the royal family."
"What about Elizabeth Taylor?" I asked him. Elizabeth was his leading lady in "Conspirator."
"Well, she's awfully in love with Glenn Davis," Bob said, "and her parents thoroughly approve. But she will wait until she is 18 to marry".
"She is an amasing youngster," he continued. "She will be talking on the set just like a regular teenager. Then suddenly she will go into a dramatic scene with me and change into a grown young woman. She is an excellent actress with great talent."
Bob, who waited around after he got out of the Air Corps without any real good parts, is happy these days, because M-G-M has three pictures lined up, and he likes them all-- "Battleground" "The Devil's Doorway" and "The Reformer and the Redhead," which is the first on his schedule of the three.
"After I finish 'The Reformer and the Redhead' with Lana Turner," he said, "Barbara and I intend to go back to Europe. I didn't have any time to do much but work while I was there. I did get to go to Paris for a few weekends. Isn't Paris a wonderful city?"
Bob and Barbara Stanwyck were among the first Hollywood stars to go to Europe at the end of the war. At that time, Barbara took off all her shoes, gave them away, and gave all of her clothes to those who had neither the money nor a place to buy such necessities.
"Did you have plenty to eat?" I asked.
"Yes, we had plenty. You see, I didn't feel that we should take food away from the Londoners, so Barbara sent me steaks, bacon and canned foods".
"But you know, I'd see the look in the eyes of the waiter when he served steak, and I couldn't eat it without sharing it with some of those people whose ration doesn't give them anymore than one steak a month. Even then they can't get meat, as you know."
Bob said he liked everything about London but the tea.
"I just couldn't drink tea," he said, "and when they served tea at the studio in the mornings and at 4 in the afternoon, I had to fix myself some coffee."
He was four months making "Conspirator" at Elstree.
"Were you homesick at all?" I asked him.
"I felt kind of sorry for myself Christmas Eve away from home." he answered. "David Lewis, of the M-G-M office, and I were in Paris at the Monsignor, and when I walked in, some of the violinists and the maitre d'hotel remembered me from the time I was there with Barbara".
"I was so lonely and homesick when the violins started playing 'California Here I Come,' and Barbara's favorite, 'My Heart is Like a Violin,' and 'Anchors Aweigh,' that I darn near broke down. Would you think I was a sissy if I told you I almost cried?"
"I would not," I told him, "I would think you were just what I always thought you are--- a nice boy."; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Alejandra on October 26, 2009 at 12:02am: Warner Archive-New Releases:

The Bribe (1949)
http://www.wbshop.com/Bribe%2c-The-+EST-MOD/1000116290,default,pd.h...

New DVD Box Set
http://www.wbshop.com/Robert-Taylor-6-DVD-Collection/WATAYLOR,defau...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Alejandra on November 1, 2009 at 12:09am: Robert Taylor 6 DVD Collection

Party Girl, Johnny Eager and Above and Beyond are a must see Taylor films. I liked Billy the Kid a lot but I don't know...I would have selected other films instead of Quentin Durward and All the Brothers Were Valiant though . Some of his westerns! The Last Hunt, Westward the Women, Devil's Doorway!!
Which ones would you have chosen?; ▶ Reply to This