Regular Price $14.95

Starring: Robert H. Barrat,  Leo Carrillo,  Richard Dix,  Cliff Edwards,  William Farnum, 
Directed By:
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Release Date: 1942
Studio: Tapeworm
Format: Black & White,  Collector's Edition,  Color,  DVD-Video,  Flash,  Full length,  Full Screen,  Original recording remastered,  Restored,  NTSC, 

Editorial Reviews and DVD Information about American Empire (1942) DVD [Remastered Edition]

Description
Well known for his highly successful low-budget westerns including the "Hopalong Cassidy" series, Harry Pop Sherman recounts the emergence of cattle ranches in this offbeat western. This captivating saga of two boatmen-turned ranchers, who fought rustlers, the weather, their own ignorance about cattle-rearing and finally each other in an attempt to build a business empire, deals with human emotions, passion and greed as never before.

Set amidst Texas’ sprawling countryside, the narrative follows the fortunes of Dan Taylor and Paxton Bryce as they build up a cattle empire with a few heads of cattle they pinch from the unscrupulous Dominique Beauchard. While Dan and his sister Abby - who is also Paxton’s wife - settle down to life of patient anticipation and hard work, the restless Paxton Bryce cannot wait to grow rich. Director William C. McGann handles Paxton’s gradual metamorphosis into a hard hearted and greedy person insightfully and there’s very little chance that anybody would miss the point the narrative makes.

This thrilling western has everything that it takes to draw audiences to movie houses - a fabulous plot, fast-paced action, great cast, memorable performances, humor and more! Witness this action packed cinematic adventure which recounts, fabulously, what greed can do to a man!

Customer Reviews for American Empire (1942) DVD [Remastered Edition]

"Western Collection ... Richard Dix ... VCI Home Video (2005)"
VCI Entertainment present "RICHARD DIX WESTERN COLLECTION" (236 mins/B&W) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) --- now in Glorious Black and White --- VCI presents three outstanding films in the genre of the Western --- Excellent cast of fine actors with Richard Dix, Robert Barrat, Leo Carrillo, Cliff Edwards, William Farnum, Preston Foster, Frances Gifford, Jack La Rue, Chris-Pin Martin, Etta McDaniel, Merrill Rodin, Wally Wales and Richard Webb --- outstanding directors George Archainbaud, Lesley Selander and William C. McGann take the helm of each oater.

The first of three Richard Dix westerns - "AMERICAN EMPIRE" (Released: 11 December 1942) (82 mins/B&W), Dan Taylor (Richard Dix) and Paxton Bryce (Preston S. Foster) are two longtime friends out to make a fortune in post Civil War Texas --- Dan's sister and Paxton's wife Abby (Frances Gifford) assist them in their search, when they set up a thriving cattle business --- Paxton seeks to gain power over them all, and alienates himself from Dan and Abby. Only through personal tragedy does Paxton re-gain his senses.

Second feature - "THE KANSAN" (Released: 10 September 1943) (79 mins/B&W), has Richard Dix and Jane Wyatt reunited as western lawman John Bonniwell and rancher's daughter Eleanor Sager --- Bonniwell chases the James Gang out of town and is appointed marshal by the local bigwig Steve Barat (Albert Dekker) --- As things unfold, Barat is known to be a crook with delusions of grandeur, hoping to use Bonniwell as a glorified henchman in his rise to power --- Meanwhile, an unorthodox romantic triangle develops between Bonniwell, Eleanor, and Barat's brother Jeff (Victor Jory) --- Jory is a scene stealer whenever he's on camera and this is when he's at his best.

In the final feature - "BUCKSKIN FRONTIER" (Released: 14 May 1943) (65 mins/B&W), an action packed western adventure has good guy, railroad man Richard Dix trying to ramrod a trail right through Lee J. Cobb's land. Cobb, also owner of the local freight service, opposes the railroad. Matters are complicated when Cobb's daughter, Jane Wyatt, falls in love with the railroad man.

BIOS
1. Richard Dix (aka: Ernest Carlton Brimmer)
Date of Birth: 18 July 1893 - St. Paul, Minnesota
Date of Death: 20 September 1949 - Los Angeles, California

Hats off and thanks to Les Adams (collector/guideslines for character identification), Chuck Anderson (Webmaster: The Old Corral/B-Westerns.Com), Boyd Magers (Western Clippings), Bobby J. Copeland (author of "Trail Talk"), Rhonda Lemons (Empire Publishing Inc), Bob Nareau (author of "The Real Bob Steele") and Trevor Scott (Down Under Com) as they have rekindled my interest once again for Film Noir, B-Westerns and Serials --- looking forward to more high quality releases from the vintage serial era of the '20s, '30s & '40s and B-Westerns --- order your copy now from VCI or Amazon where there are plenty of copies available on DVD, stay tuned once again for top notch action mixed with deadly adventure --- if you enjoyed this title, why not check out VCI Entertainment where they are experts in releasing B-Westerns and Serials --- all my heroes have been cowboys!

Total Time: 236 mins on DVD ~ VCI Home Video. ~ (10/23/2005)American Empire (1942) DVD [Remastered Edition]

A Western Tragedy
Who knew that they made westerns that were modeled after deep works of literature? This is certainly not your standard white hats versus black hats western. Instead it's almost like Tolstoy as the main character has one minor flaw at teh begining of the film and then slowly becomes a terrible corrupt person because he can't help but keep giving into the bad side of her personality. It's a really deep character study and not at all what you would expect from a typical 40s western. I give it five stars for trying to rise above it's genre.American Empire (1942) DVD [Remastered Edition]

A Different Type Of Western
When I ordered American Empire I thought that it would be a standard western of good guys and bad guys shooting each other outside the saloon. To say that this film is not that is putting it lightly. Instead, it's a metaphor for man's inhumanity to man. Imagine "It's A Wonderful Life" if it had been told from the point of view of the Potter character. I liked seeing a movie that took the Western motif and tried to make a point with it rather than just giving us another shoot em up. Of coruse there is some shooting eventually, it's just not the entire point of the film the way it is with so many other westerns from this era. It represents a nice, interesting change for the better.American Empire (1942) DVD [Remastered Edition]

Thanks a2zcds for preserving this amazing offbeat, yet enthralling Western on DVDs.
"This is a wonderful example of how a man's uncontrolled passions and greed can destroy him completely. Director McGann has handled the narrative beautifully, inspiring his cast to give memorable performances. Although I had never viewed a Preston Foster movie before, I have just added his name to my all-time favorite lists of actors. Thanks a2zcds for preserving this amazing offbeat, yet enthralling Western on DVDs."American Empire (1942) DVD [Remastered Edition]