THE PONY EXPRESS (1925)

[earlytalkiebuffRob]

I recently caught up with this famous movie in a shortened version lasting just over an hour, and with a music track which suggested a reissue. Do any longer versions survive? And in better condition?

[boblipton]

Grapevine has a 67-minute version on DVD.

Bob

[silentfilm]

I think that the shortened Kodascope version is all that survives of this film.


Wallace Beery

[earlytalkiebuffRob]

Sounds about the same as the one I watched, unless the Grapevine one is in better nick. Enjoyed the film, but a shame it was abridged. IMDb lists the running time as 110m, but with varying speeds this could be inaccurate...

[sepiatone]

I saw this for the first time on YT a couple weeks ago. Hard to believe it's the same guy who did The Covered Wagon. Both Wally and Betty Compson are wasted. Cruze seems to have been afraid of using closeups, they're there but this film would appear to have been made in 1914 instead of 1925. If a better print is out there well yes I'll give it another try.

[earlytalkiebuffRob]

And THE COVERED WAGON was also available only in a cut-down for a long time. So much so, that (if memory serves) Everson & Fenin regarded it as a 'lost' film. Having seen the restored version recently, comparisons are perhaps unfair. I thought Beery came over well, though agree that Betty Compson had little to do. Without knowing how big her role was originally, it is impossible to judge. And did Cruze have a hand in the re-editing?

It would be interesting to find out if anyone out there has memories of the longer version. At least we have its 'ghost' for the present...

[Jerfilm]

There is a 98 minute version of The Covered Wagon that I have on DVD. But I have no clue where it came from. I have the quality rated as "Excellent". And I'm fairly tough when it comes to quality ratings.

Jerry

[earlytalkiebuffRob]

There is a 98 minute version of The Covered Wagon that I have on DVD. But I have no clue where it came from. I have the quality rated as "Excellent". And I'm fairly tough when it comes to quality ratings.

Jerry

Sounds like the one I watched on YT earlier this year, of which I now have a copy. And agreed, an excellent, crisp copy. When I first spotted it I was astonished.

[azjazzman]

There is a 98 minute version of The Covered Wagon that I have on DVD. But I have no clue where it came from. I have the quality rated as "Excellent". And I'm fairly tough when it comes to quality ratings.

Jerry

THE COVERED WAGON was issued by Paramount on LaserDisc around the same time as WINGS. Both had Gaylord Carter organ scores, and this is the source for the DVDs that are around.

[Real_McCoy]

man they are clinging onto these 100 year old films. god forbid one slip out of their slimy grasp into the public eye.

[sepiatone]

There is a 98 minute version of The Covered Wagon that I have on DVD. But I have no clue where it came from. I have the quality rated as "Excellent". And I'm fairly tough when it comes to quality ratings.

Jerry

THE COVERED WAGON was issued by Paramount on LaserDisc around the same time as WINGS. Both had Gaylord Carter organ scores, and this is the source for the DVDs that are around.

yep, ...and probably the same print (Gaylord score and all) issued on the VHS 1987 tape, celebrating Paramount's 75th anniversary. That print of '''..Covered Wagon is impeccable, that's why I criticised Cruze's "The Pony Express". The stills of the TPE are spectacular when they show up but they are of course done by a Paramount still photographer. Incidentally I got my tape at the now defunct Sam Goody Music story, (at least I think they're defunct now).