Denver & Rio Grande (1952)

Edmond O'Brien made several fine Westerns for Paramount Pictures prior to his epochal role in THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE. DENVER & RIO GRANDE may be his best outing until that 1962 classic. Starring O'Brien and Sterling Hayden, DENVER & RIO GRANDE is a classic railroad film, one of the best ever made, with a spectacular crash that even today is considered amazing. The film is beautifully shot in Technicolor, with an excellent cast, solid plot and action, and great production values. Although Paramount Pictures tended to make fewer Westerns than other studios in the 1950s, the ones it did make---with Charlton Heston, Alan Ladd, John Payne, and O'Brien---were always superior, no expense spared. DENVER & RIO GRANDE is very entertaining and repays re-watching.

Olive Films has been licensing and releasing a number of Paramount Westerns, including SILVER CITY (with O'Brien), PONY EXPRESS (with Heston), THE JAYHAWKERS (with Jeff Chandler and Fess Parker), RUN FOR COVER (Jimmy Cagney' best of his three Westerns), THE NIGHT OF THE GRIZZLY (with Fess Parker) and THE HANGMAN (with Robert Taylor). Let's hope that this very fine series of releases will continue with such excellent Westerns as WARPATH (also with O'Brien) and FLAMING FEATHER (with Sterling Hayden), both superior entertainment and in need of the professional release that Olive Films can give them.

Highly recommended.

Being from Colorado originally, the D&RGW's trackage passed near my home in Fraser, Colorado. The history of that railroad is well documented and the DVD follows most accurately the difficulties portrayed in the movie. It was sure great to see it on DVD since I do have it in VHS format. Truly a real gem of a movie!!!

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As a Narrow gauge fan I love the film. Plot leaves a lot to be desired, Durango to Silverton trains shots wonderful.

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Pop your popcorn and settle in for a 1950's-style Matinee Western that from an acting point of view is just barely a B-movie, but railroad enthusiasts will watch this VHS over and over again.

The true stars of this flick are the old Denver & Rio Grande narrow gauge from Durango to Silverton, and the Colorado scenery. Rio Grande enthusiasts will also be totally intrigued by the rare opening footage of Rio Grande ALCO PA's in silver paint for CZ duty, and many FT and F3 covered wagons still in black paint fresh from the EMD factory erecting floors. There is even a short cab ride through Glenwood Canyon, and an interesting long shot at Dotsero.

Engines 268 and 315 are in bumble bee makeup, and while the story line is both campy and corny, the many action shots of these fine machines are truly outstanding. There are also great shots around the yards in both Durango and Silverton, as well at Hermosa bridge.

If you love the Rio Grande, and the Colorado mountains it ran through, you will love this movie! I would give it 5 thumbs up, if I had that many.

CHT in Virginia

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On the VHS they recorded it super long play using a small amount of tape. This ruined the beautiful Technicolor. Still worth buying for the price, or cheaper, unless they redo it another way. Sound was not ruined. Picture clear enough to watch, but the details, such as leaves blowing in the wind, and the overall brillance of technicolor do not show through like they should.

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