I'm looking for a copy (VHS or DVD) of the 1942 feature film "The
Forest Rangers" starring Fred MacMurray (not the 1960's Canadian
television series). Where can it be obtained?

I remember this one: it's one of your rare opportunities to hear Fred
MacMurray's rather pleasant singing voice.

"The Forest Rangers" is not for sale commercially on VHS or DVD.
However, you are in luck: this classic Fred MacMurray film is on the
list of movies available from Net Executive's Web site, "Classic
Movies."

Classic Movies
http://members.tripod.com/classic-movies/info.htm

Classic Movies specializes in providing non-commercial releases of
movies that are not otherwise available to the public. Here's a
statement from Classic's home page:

"Offered for sale here are non-commercial releases of classic movies.
Sources vary, such companies as Cinema Classics, Hellfire Video,
Creepy Classics and more. Some classic movies are from 16mm film
transfers, broadcast TV, satellite networks. A few contain network
logos. Since these movies are not commercially available in any other
way, we viewers have to put up with a few imperfections to see them!

NOTE: I will not sell gray market copies of commercially available
classic movies. There are many classic movies available commercially;
please support their sale, so more classic movies we know and love can
be released."

I have personally obtained films from this source, and was very
pleased with the service and the value. There is no fancy packaging
(the movies come in a plain box, without cover art,) but the video and
audio quality are as good as I have seen, considering that most of the
movies are quite old, and first-generation prints are often
unavailable. I cannot personally vouch for the DVDs, but the two films
I have ordered on VHS were excellent (and, like most of Classic's
titles, were unobtainable anywhere else.)

Like most of the Net Executive Classic Movie titles, "The Forest
Rangers" costs $12 (plus $4.25 shipping) on VHS, or $16 (shipping
included) on DVD.

Although you cannot order online, a convenient order form can be
printed from the site:

Classic Movies Order Form
http://members.tripod.com/classic-movies/form.htm

After a Google search using search terms "forest rangers" +
"macmurray" + "vhs" failed to turn up any evidence that this film is
in current video release, I turned to Classic, searched their film
title list, and bingo!

If anything I've said is not clear, or if any links are nonfunctional,
please ask for clarification before rating my answer, and I'll be glad
to offer further assistance.

Happy viewing!

Best regards,
pinkfreud

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Clarification of Answer by pinkfreud-ga on 03 Feb 2003 10:18 PST

Thank you very much for the five-star rating and the nice tip!

~pinkfreud

Wow! Exactly what I was looking for, and I never would have found that
myself... Thanks a million!