Stranger On Horseback (1955/VCI DVD)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: B-     Film: B-

 

 

I’ve always been a fan of Joel McCrea, even when he plays B-characters and especially when he plays lead roles, as the case with Jacques Tourneur’s Stranger on Horseback (1955), which has now made its way to DVD.  The film involves a circuit judge (McCrea) in the Old West, who is trying to bring a killer to justice, but is caught up in some resistance with the killers cattle baron father and this short 66-minute affair is off and running. 

 

While it might not be the most memorable of all Westerns, the film does have a bit of a following, especially for fans of McCrea like myself and so its addition into the digital world is a great thing.  Featured here with its original 1.66 X 1 aspect ratio the film seems well-preserved with a pleasing transfer that doesn’t seem too soft or flat.  In fact, it also is general clear of debris that often plagues films of this age, but not really the case here.  The Dolby Digital 1.0 mono soundtrack is relatively clear and clean with all things considered, but is far from spectacular too.  It gets the job done for a film of this age though.  There are a decent set of extras that demonstrate that this film is sought after and fans will enjoy the Radio Show: Tales of the Texas Rangers feature along with an audio reading of McCrea’s bio, plus a making of audio feature and the original trailer, which is a riot!

 

 

-   Nate Goss