DEVIL'S DOORWAY (1950)
Label: Warner Archive
Region Code: Region-Free
Rating: Unrated
Duration: 84 Minutes 46 Seconds
Audio: English DTS-HD MA 2.0 Dual-Mono with Optional English Subtitles
Video: B&W 1080p HD Fullscreen (1.37:1)
Director: Anthony Mann
Cast: Robert Taylor, Louis Calhern, Paula Raymond
Devil's Doorway (1950) is a fatalistic American western directed by Anthony Mann (Border Incident) about a full-blooded Shoshone tribesman named Lance Poole (Robert Taylor (The Night Walker, in redface) who fought during the Civil War, having won the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery. However, when he returns home from the war to his hometown of Medicine Bow, Wyoming he discovers that he is less than welcomed by the townsfolk, in fact he's treated down right hostile. The doctor won't treated his ill father resulting in his death and the local saloon no longer serves native americans, not only that, but racist and crooked attorney Verne Coolan (Louis Calhern, Notorious) is using the homesteaders act to strip he and his family of their fifty acres of fertile land, as lance is Shoshone he is not a citizen of the U.S. and therefore not entitled to land. Lance hires female attorney Orrie Masters (Paula Raymond, Blood of Dracula's Castle) to find a legal remedy tot he unfair situation, and when that fails Maters calls in the U.S. Cavalry looking for some diplomatic solution, but things turn for the worse once they arrive, and side with Coolan, and Lance and his Shoshone family must fight for their land in a violent, action-packed and nihilistic finale that I found mighty impressive.
Devil's Doorway (1950) is a fatalistic American western directed by Anthony Mann (Border Incident) about a full-blooded Shoshone tribesman named Lance Poole (Robert Taylor (The Night Walker, in redface) who fought during the Civil War, having won the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery. However, when he returns home from the war to his hometown of Medicine Bow, Wyoming he discovers that he is less than welcomed by the townsfolk, in fact he's treated down right hostile. The doctor won't treated his ill father resulting in his death and the local saloon no longer serves native americans, not only that, but racist and crooked attorney Verne Coolan (Louis Calhern, Notorious) is using the homesteaders act to strip he and his family of their fifty acres of fertile land, as lance is Shoshone he is not a citizen of the U.S. and therefore not entitled to land. Lance hires female attorney Orrie Masters (Paula Raymond, Blood of Dracula's Castle) to find a legal remedy tot he unfair situation, and when that fails Maters calls in the U.S. Cavalry looking for some diplomatic solution, but things turn for the worse once they arrive, and side with Coolan, and Lance and his Shoshone family must fight for their land in a violent, action-packed and nihilistic finale that I found mighty impressive.
This was a fairly progressive western for its era, our main character is native american, plus we have a female lawyer, and sure, Taylor is in unfortunate red face makeup, but being of it's time there's just no other way I think that this film could have been made at in 1950, that's just where we were at at that time folks. Problematic as it is in hindsight Taylor turns in a strong, proud and sympathetic portrayal that I found quite wonderful. The film is also strongly supported by some excellent cinematography from John Alton (The Amazing Mr. X) and a solid score from Daniele Amfitheatrof (Major Dundee) make this quite a western gem.
Audio/Video: The Devil's Doorway makes it's Blu-ray debut from Warner Archive in 1080p HD framed in 1.37:1 the original aspect ratio. The black & white image looks quite nice, sourced from the best available preservation elements it has a solid grayscale with decent but not exactly deep black levels. Texture and detail impress in the close-ups and the image is mostly crisp throughout with a few source related dips in quality that did not deter from my enjoyment. Audio comes by way of English language DTS-HD MA 2.0 dual-mono, there's plenty of gunfire and dynamite explosions during the action-stacked finale, dialogue sounds just fine, as does the supportive score by Daniele Amfitheatrof (The Damned Don't Cry).
Extras include a pair of cartoon shorts from 1950, we get the 7-min Tex Avery directed "The Chump Champ" which has previously been issues on Blu-ray on the Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 1, which is terrific, plus the 7-min William Hanna and Joseph Barbera Tom & Jerry short "Cue Ball Cat", which I believe is making it's HD debut here and looking gorgeous having been nicely restored. Also present is the 2-min original Theatrical Trailer. The single-disc release arrives in a standard keepcase with a single-sided sleeve of artwork featuring the original illustrated movie poster artwork.
Special Features:
- Classic Cartoons: The Chump Champ (7:17) and Cue Ball Cat (7:07)
- Original Theatrical Trailer (1:48)
Buy it!
MovieZyng - Use Coupon Code: MOVIEDEAL for 5% Off Entire Order!
Physical Media Land - Use Coupon Code: MOVIEDEAL for 5% Off Entire Order!
