“The pairing of two Western greats – John Wayne & Robert Mitchum. This Western was directed by legendary director Howard Hawks and features a good combination of action, romance and humor. Fans of ‘EL DORADO’ will not be disappointed by this CENTENNIAL COLLECTION release. This DVD is the definitive version to own of ‘EL DORADO’.”
© 1996, Paramount Pictures Corporations and Laurel Productions. All Rights Reserved.
DVD TITLE: EL DORADO – PARAMOUNT CENTENNIAL COLLECTION #9
DURATION: 126 Minutes
DVD INFORMATION: Widescreen Version for 16:9 TV’s, Dolby Digital: English, French and Spanish Mono, Subtitles in English, French and Spanish, 2-Discs
COMPANY: Paramount Home Entertainment
RATED: NOT RATED
RELEASE DATE:Â May 19, 2009
Directed by Howard Hawks
Based on the Novel “The Stars In Their Courses” by Harry Brown
Screenplay by Leigh Brackett
Music by Nelson Riddle
Director of Photography by Harold Rosson
Edited by John Woodcock
Set Decoration by Robert R. Benton, Ray Moyer
Costume Design by Edith Head
Starring:
John Wayne as Cole Thornton
Robert Mitchum as El Dorado Sheriff J.P. Harrah
James Caan as Alan Bourdillion Traheme aka Mississippi
Charlene Holt as Maudie
Paul Fix as Dr. Miller
Arthur Hunnicutt as Bull Harris
Michelle Carey as Josephine (Joey) MacDonald
R.G. Armstrong as Kevin MacDonald
Ed Asner as Bart Jason
Arthur Hunnicutt as Sheriff Bull
Christopher George as Nelse Mcleod
R.G. Armstrong as Kevin McDonald
Now a two-disc presentation with all-new special features, this Paramount Centennial Collection edition of El Dorado delivers the goods. Legendary producer-director Howard Hawks teams up with two legendary stars, John Wayne and Robert Mitchum, in a classic Western drama. Mitchum plays to perfection an alcoholic but guts sheriff who relentlessly battles the “dark side” of the Wild West – ruthless cattle barrons and crooked “businessmen”. The Duke gives an equally adept performance as the sheriff’s old friend, one who knows his way around a gunfight. With a supporting cast that incudes James Caan, Charlene Holt, Paul Fix, Ed Asner and Christopher George, and filled with both brawling action and unexpected humor, El Dorado is pure gold.
In 1966, popular director Harold Hawks (1932’s “Scarface”, 1938’s “Bringing Up Baby” and 1940’s “His Girl Friday”) known for directing popular romantic comedies back in the 1930’s and 1940’s returned with his second western titled “El Dorado”.
Although Hawks was not a specialist in the Western genre, his film “Rio Hondo” was critically acclaimed and so, when he created his second Western “EL DORADO” (as part of his Western trilogy) eventually, his second film would be known for the unique pairing of western greats John Wayne and Robert Mitchum. Two stars that would guarantee “EL DORADO” to become a box office hit.
The film also would feature actor James Caan, Ed Asner, Arthur Hunnicutt and actresses Charlene Holt and Michele Carey.
“EL DORADO” is a film about Cole Thornton (John Wayne), a well-known gunslinger who has been hired a wealthy rancher named Bart Jason (Ed Asner), who hires Cole to help him in a ranch war with the McDonald family.
Cole makes a stop in the small town of El Dorado where he meets up with an old friend, Sheriff J.P. Harrah (Robert Mitchum). J.P. tells Cole that if he works with Bart, he will more than likely have to face off against him. Because of their friendship, Cole has no interest in crossing his friend. Meanwhile, Maudie (Charlene Holt) arrives and we learn that she has been together with both men but has always been in love with Cole.
Word gets around that Cole Thornton may be working with Bart Jason and thus the family head Kevin McDonald (R.G. Armstrong) has his younger son Luke stand guard to watch for Cole.
Cole delivers a message to Bart that he has no interested in working for him, when Cole returns back to El Dorado, the young McDonald wakes up from his sleep and shoots at him. Cole returns fire and shoots the boy in the abdomen. Cole runs to help the young boy but his father told him that when you get shot in the abdomen, your chances of survival are small. Thus he kills himself.
Cole returns the young boy back to the MacDonald farm and explains to the father how his son died but the youngest daughter Joey (Michele Carey) doesn’t believe him. So, when Cole leaves the Macdonald farm, he is shot at by Joey and the bullet is lodged into his spinal cord. Cole notices that he’s starting to lose sensation in his hand. He is nursed back by J.P. and Maudie and knows he needs a doctor to help remove the bullet but decides not to do anything just yet.
Fast forward a few months later and Cole comes across two gunslingers for hire, Nelse McLeod (Christopher George) and Alan Bourdillion Traherne.
Alan wants revenge for the death of a friend which one of McLeod’s men has killed. This prompts Alan to exact his revenge but now because he has killed one of McLeod’s men, his group wants revenge. But Cole being quick with his gun, helps diffuse the situation and saves Alan.
Cole eventually learns that Nelse has replaced him for the job with Bart Jason.  Before any trouble happens, Mcleod gets to meet Cole and they leave. Cole knows he must warn his friend J.P. in El Dorado. Alan who is grateful to Cole, partners with him. Cole not kind to remembering Alan’s whole name decides to give him a nickname… “Mississippi”.
While both ride on their horses to El Dorado, Meanwhile, Cole slowly starts to learn that the bullet in his spine is starting to lead to numbness to no sensation in his right hand and he falls. Mississippi realizes that Cole needs medical attention but Cole is a bit stubborn and places everyone above him.
As the two head to El Dorado, Cole knows that with McCleod being hired, he and his men will soon start trouble with the MacDonald family.
Cole feels that he must protect the MacDonald’s because he killed their young son.  Cole and Mississippi make it to El Dorado but first Cole wants to visit his sweetheart Maudie and what he learns is that she and the Sheriff are no longer together and that Sheriff J.P. has become an alcoholic and is in a big mess. This is not what Cole wants to hear right now, so he and Mississippi head to the Sheriff’s jailhouse.
Both Cole and Mississippi are shocked about how badly the Sheriff has gotten. He’s definitely in a mess, hasn’t showered and sleeps inside the jail cell.  Fortunately, J.P. has had the help of Sheriff Bull Harris but the three decide to whip up a concoction that will force J.P. to sober up and get rid of all his alcohol he has hidden all over the jailhouse.  As the guys try to work on the Sheriff, Bart Jason, McLeod and his men arrive in El Dorado.
The Sheriff eventually wakes up and really can’t remember much but when he finds out from Cole that they had a little fight, all Sherriff J.P. Harrah wants is more alcohol. So, J.P. heads to the saloon while Cole stays behind.
Immediately everyone at the saloon courtesy of Bart Jason and his men all laugh at the sheriff and make fun of him because he has become an alcoholic and an ineffective sheriff.
When the Sheriff arrives back to his station, he learns that he has become a joke but he’s willing to change his ways because as Sheriff, he needs to make sure this war between the Bart Jason’s men and the MacDonald family don’t get out of hand.
But it’s too late, the MacDonald family has arrived and one of McLeod’s men has stabbed a son of the MacDonald’s.
Cole and Mississippi join both J.P. and Bull as temporary sheriffs and the four go after McLeod’s men. Knowing that once they go against them, there is no turning back. Can a drunk who is out of it, a gunslinger who is badly injured, a young partner who can’t really shoot a gun and an older sheriff who carries a bugle horn be enough to take down a group of guns for hire?
VIDEO & AUDIO:
If there is one thing to say about the Paramount “CENTENNIAL COLLECTION” releases, many of these classic films have all been digitally remastered and look absolutely magnificent. These films containing the “CENTENNIAL COLLECTION” moniker are the definitive versions to own as they tend to have more features added and overall, like how CRITERION COLLECTIONS have spotlighted on films worldwide and have given top treatment, Paramount has done the same with several of their classic films. With that being said, I can only wish that a Blu-ray high definition transfer is in the works for these classic films because if they have been through a process of remastering, one can only expect how phenomenal these will look via HD.
For now, “EL DORADO – CENTENNIAL COLLECTION” is only available via DVD but this new version is remastered, in widescreen and features Dolby Digital audio.
The picture quality for a DVD is actually quite clean for a film nearly 40-years-old. The film utilizes a good number of outdoor shots and video looks quite clean for an older film.
For audio, I tested the audio on my receiver set at “Dolby Digital Mono”. What can I say….the gunshots really come alive in the sound department. Granted, the film is primarily dialogue-based but I realized how pronounced those gun and rifle shots sound on my home theater system.
Overall, “EL DORADO” has been given special treatment and fans of the film will not be disappointed.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
“EL DORADO – CENTENNIAL COLLECTION” comes with two discs. Here is what to expect on both discs:
DISC 1: The first disc includes the original film but also contains two commentary tracks.
- Commentary by Filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich – Peter Bogdanovich (“The Last Picture Show”) was good friends with Director Howard Hawks and for this commentary, Bogdanovich who is very familiar with westerns, talks about the people on the set and any tidbits of the film which Howard Hawks have told him.
- Commentary by Critic and Film Historian Richard Schikel, actor Ed Asner and Author Todd McCarthy. – The men talk about Harold Hawks, the talent and their overall thoughts about the film.
DISC 2: This second disc contains the special features
- Ride, Boldly Ride: The Journey to El Dorado 7-Part Featurette – (total run time: 41:50) This special feature is quite lengthy and focuses on Howard Hawks, the talents of “El Dorado” and much more. The documentary is broken up into seven parts:
– CHAPTER 1: THE PARADIGM OF AN ENTERTAINER – (5:32) A featurette discussing how unique Howard Hawks was. How he has had a constant run of smash hits durin ghte 30’s and 40’s and has an adversarial role with the movie studios.
– CHAPTER 2: STEALING FROM HIMSELF – (5:18) This chapter talks about how “EL DORADO” was somewhat a remake of “RIO HONDO”. Â How “EL DORADO” Borrowed heavily, the Western elements of “RIO HONDO”.
– CHAPTER 3: A TACITURN MAN – (4:15) People who knew Howard Hawks, his friends talked about how he was taciturn and self-contained.
– CHAPTER 4: PROFESSIONAL COURTESY – (11:39) This film features interviews about Howard Hawks, John Wayne and Robert Mitchum and those who worked with the men.
– CHAPTER 5: SPOTLIGHT – JAMES CAAN – (5:02) James Caan worked previously on a Howard Hawks film titled “Red Line 7000” and was later casted for a Western with John Wayne. Interview with James Caan and
– CHAPTER 6: THE DUKE, THE GREY FOX AND PAPPY – (6:58) Howard Hawks and John Wayne working together. Also, Howard Hawks having to say goodbye to John Ford.
– CHAPTER 7: AN OLD-AGE MASTERPIECE – (3:37) How “El Dorado” was filmed in 1965 and came out in 1967 and the challenges of media behind-the-scenes.
- The Artist and the American West (1967) – Vintage Featurette – (5:28) a classic (and very aged) featurette about the American West and also some commentary on the film “EL DORADO”.
- Behind the Gates: A.C. Lyles Remembers John Wayne – (5:32) A.C. Lyles (a movie producer for Paramount, especially the Westerns that were in theaters during the 1950’s and 1960’s) talks about his friend John Wayne and offers us behind-the-scenes of a variety of films that the Duke has worked on. From the winning of his award to his earlier and later career.
- Theatrical Trailer – (3:05) The original 1996 theatrical trailer.
- Galleries: These photo galleries contain Lobby Cards and Production
Included with the set is an 8-page guide about the talent in the film.
“EL DORADO” is rather a fun, action film that knows when to balance its seriousness with its humor. On one side of the spectrum, you get movie greats John Wayne and Robert Mitchum together. But on the other side, it’s about character development which “EL DORADO” is very much strong in showcasing.
The film features two legendary actors in their own right but then you start adding more talent such as James Caan as Mississippi, a character that brings the comedic element to the film. And then you have two beautiful women, Charlene Holt (Maudie) and Michele Carey (Joey MacDonald) who are women that are not weak, in fact they are independent thinkers who do things on their own. Considering that women were not exactly featured in equal footing, to see these women as strong and independent, this was quite rare in a film created at that time, especially for a Western.
Overall, “EL DORADO” was an entertaining, humorous but really enjoyable Western. I absolutely enjoyed the scene as Cole and Mississippi make a concoction to help the sheriff sober up and then you have scenes where Mississippi goes to check on a shooter that is hiding near the sheriff’s station (which turns out to be Joey) and he tries to apprehend her. And of course, the natural banter between Wayne and Mitchum that seem natural and real.
This is the first Western release for the “CENTENNIAL COLLECTION” and is #9 in the series. The DVD actually provides some interesting tidbits as Director Peter Bogdanovich who was good friends with Hawk, was at the set during the filming and is able to give his personal insight about Hawks and the various talent for the film. So, Western fans will definitely find some enjoyment with what is included on the two discs. There is a good number of special features that will definitely keep the viewer busy for a few hours.
Overall, “EL DORADO” is an enjoyable Western. Definitely not as superb as “RIO HONDO” but because the film manages to effectively use the talents of John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, James Caan and Charlene Holt effectively, made this film quite appealing.   If you are a John Wayne or Robert Mitchum fan or even a fan of this classic 1966 film, definitely check out “EL DORADO – CENTENNIAL COLLECTION”. This is the definitive version to own on DVD!