Sterling Hayden News

A great example of dark comedy by a master filmmaker makes its way to Blu-Ray. Stanley Kubrick is a name that any film lover knows.

Joan Crawford and Sterling Hayden star in Nicholas Ray's film "Johnny Guitar." At Pickering Square JOHNNY GUITAR, directed by Nicholas Ray, written by Philip Yordan, 105 minutes, unrated.

STANLEY Kubrick was an upstart kid from The Bronx when, in 1955, he borrowed $40,000 from an uncle and directed, wrote, edited and photographed a movie thriller called "Killer's Kiss." Kubrick would not make a name for himself until his next movie, "The Killing" , a yarn about a racetrack heist featuring Sterling Hayden.

They are darn good Westerns. Not "great" Westerns. Or "lost masterpieces." Or "misunderstood gems." Or "neglected classics." Just...good, serviceable, entertaining oaters at the very least, with a few of them showing touches of intriguing scripting or direction despite their paltry budgets.