Blu-ray News and Reviews | High Def Digest
Film & TV All News Blu-Ray Reviews Release Dates News Pre-orders 4K Ultra HD Reviews Release Dates News Pre-orders Gear Reviews News Home Theater 101 Best Gear Film & TV

Blu-Ray Releases Details

Roy Rogers - His First & Last Double Feature: Under Western Stars + Mackintosh & T.J.

Roy Rogers - His First & Last Double Feature: Under Western Stars + Mackintosh & T.J. front cover
List Price $17.99
Go to Store!
In Stock
Note to viewer This disc has not yet been reviewed. The following information has been provided by the distributor
Genres: Drama, Western
Starring: Roy Rogers
Director: Marvin J. Chomsky, Joseph Kane
Plot Sypnosis:
Under Western Stars | 4K Remaster
 
Originally intended for Gene Autry, Under Western Stars was the first starring role for Roy Rogers (previously Leonard Slye) at Republic Pictures and launched his legendary career. When severe drought and the greedy exploits of a local water company threaten the prosperity of ranchers in the Dust Bowl, Roy Rogers comes to the rescue. Selected for the National Film Registry in 2019, Under Western Stars, which also stars Smiley Burnett, Carol Hughes and Maple City Four, is presented newly remastered from a print that was made for the film’s director Joe Kane and thought to be the only complete, uncut 16mm print still in existence. 
 
Bonus Features:
  • Exploring the Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, CA (Lone Pine Location Documentary)
  • New Trailer for Under Western Stars
  • Mackintosh and T.J. original 1976 Theatrical Trailer
 
The film's song "Dust,” written by Johnny Marvin, was nominated for an Academy Award in 1938 and was performed by Rogers at the live ceremony. In 2009, Under Western Stars was selected for the National Film Registry Award by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant.
 
Under Western Stars isn’t just a classic western, it is the film that launched one of the most famous names, and voices, in western film history,” said Steve Latshaw, Post Producer, Verdugo Entertainment. “Doing this film justice meant creating a newly remastered version in today’s formats while staying as close to the original studio’s in-house style as possible both from a visual and audio perspective. We believe we have achieved that.”  
The newly remastered Under Western Stars will premiere at the Lone Pine Film Festival on Saturday, October 9, 2021, at 2:30 pm PST. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by Verdugo Post Producer, Steve Latshaw, and will feature Roger’s daughter Cheryl Rogers-Barnett along with film notable restoration and preservation experts. The panel will provide a real behind the curtain view of preserving Under Western Stars, other films like it and the growing challenges faced as films age and formats evolve.  
 
Mackintosh and T.J. | 4K Restoration
 
 
In his triumphant final film role, Rogers stars as Mackintosh, a migrant cowboy traveling across West Texas plains in his run-down pickup truck. While looking for work breaking horses, Mackintosh befriends T.J. (future Pro Rodeo Hall of Famer Clay O’Brien), a runaway teen. The two form an unlikely bond and find jobs together at a cattle ranch where Mackintosh impresses the owner with his bronco-taming skills. Trouble, however, is on the horizon, but Mackintosh proves himself as a man who is not afraid to take a stand.
 
Bonus Features: 
  • Lone Pine Cast Reunion with Clay O’Brien, Andrew Robinson and Larry Mahan
  • Interview with Billy Green Bush
  • Audio Commentary with Clay O’Brien, Andrew Robinson, and moderator C. Courtney Joyner
  • Original On-set Footage
 
Screenwriter Paul Savage, most known for his TV work in Wagon Train, Big Valley, and Gunsmoke, penned the film specifically with Rogers in mind and is one of the few films in which the actor did not play himself.
 
The film is essentially a moving photo album of ranch life in Texas in the mid-1970s,” said Sean Lawrence, Restoration Colorist. “Our approach was to try and be as true to the original intention and not impose modern aesthetics. So, we restored to 4K from the original 35MM camera negative and went through a color correction process to match the original film.”
 
Mackintosh and TJ’s original score is by Waylon Jennings and the soundtrack features songs by Jennings and country music icon Willie Nelson.
Release Details

Movie Release Year: 1975
Tech Specs & Release Details

Length: 161
Specs: 2 x Blu-ray Disc
Video Resolution/Codec: 1080p AVC/MPEG-4