Dakota Lil [DVD]

While I can understand the disappointment of some other reviewers that a colour presentation of this fine film has not been released, I think their complaints are misplaced. According to all sources, DAKOTA LIL was released by 20th Century-Fox in Cinecolor, a colour medium that was both cheaper but also less stable than Technicolor. At none of the Western film shows and festivals, and not on its showings on TNT or other channels, have I seen this film in colour. Indeed, it seems to fall into the same category as the contemporary Randolph Scott vehicle, FIGHTING MAN OF THE PLAINS---that is, that no Cinecolor version has been located. As such, I do not believe this present issue should be judged harshly.Indeed, Simply Media, which licensed this film from Renown Films, has given us a completely respectable and watchable B & W copy, that compares well enough with other B & W films from 1950. Let me add that I have three other copies of DAKOTA LIL, two taken off television, and one purchased at a Western show. The Simply Media edition is as good, if not better, than any of those, and thus, must be recommended (at least until a long lost colour version should show up).As to the film, it is first class Western entertainment, featuring two major Western stars, George Montgomery and Rod Cameron, with the added addition of Marie Windsor, who not only is a dependable actress, but possesses a fine singing voice. Other cast members include Jack Lambert, Wallace Ford, Ken McDonald, and J. Farrell MacDonald. Lesley Selander directs...and perhaps more interestingly, the musical score is by Dmitri Tiomkin, whose work is always interesting.In short, those interested in purchasing this Simply Media/Renown product, should have no problems. Highly recommended.

This is a big disappointment. It was released by Twentieth Century-Fox in 1949 in colour, but this transfer is in a dullblack and white, with a quite crackly souindtrack. It is licensed from a firm called Renown Productions Ltd, which is new to me. Renown Pictures was a British studio in the late forties and early fifties which specialised mainly in B-pictures.Others in this series include Fighting Man of the Plains,another Fox release in 1949, also in colour.However the DVD is also in black and white!Why?Surely a colour master could have been found.I have bought several Simply Media releases recently and all have been first class. What has gone wrong with these releases from this firm Renown Productions?

VERY good film well acted and up to my expectations as a film of this year and my favourite music composer which ailways enhances the film DIMITRI TIOMKIN MANY THANKS RONALD LAMBERT

now this is a good movies.

Great movie enjoyed it

DVDs is formatted wrong. It is PAL format and won't play. A wasted purchase.

Marie Windsor looks beautiful and Mr George Montgomery is a very handsome chap but the film itself is very ordinary.

Another Edward Alperson film (See "Rose of Cimarron") released by Fox in 1950, presented here in clear B/W 4.3 Ratio by the new to me, Simply Media. I couldn't help thinking, as I watched this, that we should be watching a film made in perhaps 1939/40 starring Richard Dix, Jane Wyatt/Claire Trevor, and Albert Dekker, in the Montgomery,Windsor,Cameron roles, with perhaps Victor Jory in the John Emory role as Lil's lovestruck pianist. As it is I suppose there is not much wrong with Windsor, who looks great, and is one of my favourite actresses, but I can't help feeling she wasn't quite right for this part. Neither was George, who hadn't quite found the gravitas of his later Westerns. Nothing wrong with Cameron who makes a nasty villain. Director Leslie Selander (where would Westerns have been without him), starts a bit slowly, but around the 40' mark he ups the pace, with chases, a hefty fight between George and Rod, and plenty of shooting. All in all a bit disapointing, but I've never seen it before so good for Simply Media for taking such a chance. Windsor fans, of whom there are many will, I suspect, disagree with me, and should surely get this reasonably priced good quality DVD if just for her. (Believe me, she looks good!)(PPS. Some reference books state this is Cinecolour but there is no Colour credit in the titles)