Johnny Guitar

One film that I have heard great things about from many different sources is Nicholas Ray's western Johnny Guitar (1954). The film itself has mostly been praised after its initial release. The film centers around a saloon owner named Vienna played by Joan Crawford. As she runs her saloon she is met with much animosity by the locals of the mining town.
The leader and initiator of this animosity is a woman named Emma Small played by Mercedes McCambridge. Emma is jealous of Vienna, especially for the Dancin' Kid played by Scott Brady who has a romantic attachment to Vienna. Emma succeeds in turning the town against Vienna as certain events unfold that can easily be traced to the Dancin' Kid and Vienna.
Things get even more complicated when an ex-lover of Vienna's, Johnny Guitar played by Sterling Hayden, strolls into the town by Vienna's request. As their feelings for each other turn up again, the complications get evenh thicker. All this erupting into a sizzling climax that leaves the audience on the edge of their seat.
This is melodrama at its finest. Nicholas Ray displays top directing form as he vividly portrays the scenary in a sharp color that makes the images nearly jump off the screen. Emotions in this film are more dangerous than the gunshots fired in the movie. Definitely a rare kind of western that almost really isn't even a western, it's more than that. The film is also an important part of Joan Crawford's career.
With all that being said, the availbilty of this film almost makes one weep. On amazon.com you can purchase this film, which is an import from Korea for $16.75. I myself saw this movie on YouTube in its entirety, but the video has since been removed since I've watched it.
But there lies that infinite question. Why should this great film suffer such a fate? Why is this film reduced to a Korean import with subtitles? Why have we abandoned this great film? I don't know the answer but swift action in getting this film a proper DVD/blu-ray release is a necessity. It seems almost unfair to lay everything on the Criterion Collection but since they are really the only ones doing anyhthing about these plights it seems hard not to mention them.
A Criterion release would be awesome for this movie but then again any release would. If the Criterion decides to release this film it will join another Nicholas Ray film on the Criterion: Bigger Than Life. This is another film that does not need to be forgotten and preserving this film is definitely a top priority.
This is a film about passion, jealousy, hatred, and greed and it is masterfully done by the great Nicholas Ray and wonderfully acted by Joan Crawford, Sterling Hayden, and Mercedes McCambridge.