The Far Country Jimmy Stewart

(aka "Tierras Lejanas" or "Je Suis Un aventurier")

USA 1954

Another Jimmy Stewart and Anthony Mann gem. They teamed to do some of the best westerns ever made and these classics always seem to be forgotten. Probably close to my favorite- Winchester '73.

The cinematography of the majestic Canadian Rockies serves as a monumental backdrop as again Stewart plays a jaded loner, this time named Jeff Webster. His only real companion is his sidekick Ben Tatum (Walter Brennan). Gold again is the elusive target and the honor code and male-to-male nobility make for a space but ripe narrative. Another classic western. They do not make films like this anymore. out of

Posters

Theatrical Release: February 12th, 1955 (USA)

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

Recommended Reading for Western Genre Fans (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)


The Crowded Prairie: American National Identity in the Hollywood Western (Cinema and Society) by Michael Coyne	The Invention of the Western Film : A Cultural History of the Genre's First Half Century (Genres in American Cinema S.) by Scott Simmon	The Searchers (Bfi Film Classics) by Edward Buscombe	The Western Genre by John Saunders	Westerns: Films through History (AFI Film Readers) by Janet Walker	The Encyclopedia of Westerns (The Facts on File Film Reference Library) by Herb Fagen, Tom Selleck	Gunfighter Nation: The Myth of the Frontier in Twentieth-Century America by Richard Slotkin	The Western (Inside Film) by David Lusted	Red River (Bfi Film Classics) by Suzanne Liandrat-Guigues

Check out more in "The Library"

DVD Comparison:

Universal (Universal Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Universal (James Stewart - The Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Universal (Spanish Edition) - Region 2 - PAL

Big thanks to Vincent Lacomme for the PAL Screen Caps!

(Universal (Universal Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Universal (Spanish Edition) - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers
Distribution	Universal Region 1 - NTSC	Universal Region 1 - NTSC	Universal Region 2 - PAL
Runtime	1:36:51	1:36:51	1:33:03 (4% PAL speedup)
Video	1.33 Open Matte format Average Bitrate: 5.53 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.85 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 8.67 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.85 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 5.93 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Universal (Universal Western Collection)
Bitrate: Universal (Stewart Collection)
Bitrate: Universal (Spanish Edition)
Audio	English 2.0 Mono	English 2.0 Mono	English 2.0 Mono DUB: Spanish 2.0 Mono, Italian 2.0 Mono, Russian (Voice Over) 2.0 Mono
Subtitles	English Closed Captioned, French, Spanish, none	English Closed Captioned, French, Spanish, none	English, Spanish, Italian, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish, none
Features	Release Information: Studio: Universal Aspect Ratio: Fullscreen - 1.33 Edition Details: • Theatrical Trailer DVD Release Date: May 6th, 2003 Keep case Chapters 21	Release Information: Studio: Universal Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85 Edition Details: • Theatrical Trailer DVD Release Date: May 6th, 2003 Keep case Chapters 21	Release Information: Studio: Universal Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85 Edition Details: • Theatrical trailer (4:3) - 1:48 set contains - Destry Rides Again / Winchester 73 / Bend of the River / The Far Country / Night Passage / The Rare Breed DVD Release Date: May 20th, 2008 Slim transparent Case (6 inside box) Chapters: 20

Comments

ADDITION: James Stewart - The Western Collection contains Destry Rides Again / Winchester 73 / Bend of the River / The Far Country / Night Passage and The Rare Breed. This would be considered and upgrade to have this now in widescreen and NTSC.

It looks about the same as the Spanish PAL release but has a much higher bitrate and a shade better detail. I'm still VERY pleased about this new Collection of which we will review/compare each title as we can (links in paragraph above). For these six western gems the price amounts to $5 a piece which is really a ridiculous deal.

- Gary Tooze

***

ON THE ORIGINAL AND PAL RELEASES: Note: The movie was shot in Academy Ratio (1.33) and framed so that it looks fine in widescreen, so it's an open-matte format. It was shown in widescreen in theatres equipped for the format. So both DVDs could be considered "Original Aspect Ratio".

- Vincent Lacomme

I don't like to think of myself as a widescreen fetishist. Meaning that many 'open matte' films for me are not totally discounted especially when they contain significantly more information, as this NTSC issue does here. This is dissimilar to bastardization through 'pan and scan'. Now my optimum choice would be the widescreen version that was shown in the theater - every time. The composition is lost in the vast open spaces on the top of the frame. Anthony Mann would not compose this way. There is a small amount of information also lost on the sides of the NTSC in comparison to the widescreen. The trouble with the PAL edition is it is very hazy and slightly inferior to the Region 1 in image sharpness. I'd love to see this marvelous film widescreen, but I would also like to as sharp (or sharper) than the current unremarkable Region 1 DVD. Universal NTSC also did this with another Stewart/Mann western (name eludes me - was it 'Bend of the River'?- no the box claims it was cropped - but was shot in 1.33) and it is very discouraging. Regardless, I enjoyed my Region 1 viewing being oblivious at the time there was a widescreen edition floating around. I wouldn't buy the PAL edition though. I would sooner put tape on top and bottom of my TV screen - but that is just me. The beauty of the comparison gives you your own choice. I enjoyed my Region 1 viewing immensely. Colors are good on both and as an extra they both include the theatrical trailer (4:3 - by the way).

- Gary Tooze

James Stewart - The Western Collection package

DVD Menus

(Universal (Universal Western Collection + Jimmy Stewart - The Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Universal (Spanish Edition) - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)

Screen Captures

1) Universal (Universal Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Universal (James Stewart - The Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC MIDDLE