fxreyman
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Posts posted by fxreyman
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This is one of my favorite John Wayne films from the early 1960s.
I agree with some that historically speaking the film is not really that historical.
More Hollywood fiction, however it is a grand story and the battle sequences are very well done.
Wayne did a pretty good job of directing, although at one point Pappy Ford came visiting and after a few days started asking everyone except for Wayne if he could direct some scenes. Finally Wayne assigned Ford some 2nd unit photography scenes, which if memory serves were not included in the final edit of the film.
The Wayne stock company was in fine form in this film.
Also, Widmark and Wayne did not get along too well. Widmark being a far left liberal just could not stand Wayne's conservative views. At one point not too long into the filming even asked to be released from the contract he had signed.
Harvey however got along fine with Wayne, which is sort of unbelievable considering Harvey was a homosexual. At several points when they were not filming, Harvey approached Wayne about sleeping together. Wayne politely declined, and later would even say that Harvey was one of the most professional actors he had ever had the pleasure of working with. He would also say that he kept his distance from Harvey when they weren't filming.
And then there is the lovely Linda Cristal who would go on and play in TV's The High Chaparral.
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To be quite honest with you, I was NOT very impressed with their selections. I agree with about 12 of their picks.
But, I should say that when it comes to list making, ALL lists are very subjective, including mine.
Another thing to consider is this: Their list is heavy with foreign titles. 15 or 16 of the 50 are foreign titles. Nothing wrong with that.
When I compile lists of the best movies ever made, I never really have considered foreign film, at all. The reason for this is that I have never really found foreign film to be that satisfying to watch. Part of it is the subtitles (since I speak only English) and the other part is that quite frankly I am not all that interested in watching foreign films.
This is NOT to say that I don't appreciate foreign films, I just am not interested in watching them.
So when I compile lists I try my hardest to title my lists "Best English Speaking Films" or something of that nature.
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Politics
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Off Topic
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This may be so, but I still have reservations about Mr. Ebert's best 100 lists.
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Mostly any time some one or some institution can come up with a list I think is a good idea.
The end of year lists are very good, especially when it comes to movies I have not seen yet. And because I do not go and see many movies at the theater, I find these lists helps me immeasurably when trying to rent a newer movie.
That is not to say that I depend solely on these lists to help me locate a movie to watch, it only serves as a helpful tool in making a decision on which movie might interest me.
As far as the AFI lists are concerned, I see nothing wrong with those types of lists. I think since their introduction more than ten years ago, their lists have only encouraged discussion among movie fans, and I think that is a good idea.
As far as this list by Ebert is concerned, I have always been a little annoyed by his selections. He tries to be everything to everybody. His late partner, Gene Siskel, I think was much better at movie critique and was more at ease trying to speak to the average fan.
All-in-all, I think that if the average movie fan can come up with a list on their own of the movies they feel represent their favorite films, then that is good enough. The list does not need to be published and often the list can and should change with the list maker's feelings about the films at any given time.
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There is one BIG difference between the two.....
Dean WAS an actor, and as such even though he was only in three motion pictures, those three movies have become legendary not only for his acting in them but also because the three films were three of the best from the 1950's according to many film scholars. He was also a theater actor and appeared in several plays and television shows originating from New York. And he also studied acting at UCLA and later at Lee Strasberg's acting studio.
The following is from Wikipedia:
Dean's status as a cultural icon is best embodied in the title of his most celebrated film, Rebel Without a Cause, in which he starred as troubled high school rebel Jim Stark. The other two roles that defined his star power were as the awkward loner Cal Trask in East of Eden, and as the surly farmer Jett Rink in Giant. His enduring fame and popularity rests on only these three films, his entire output in a starring role. His death at an early age helped to ensure his legendary status.
He was the first actor to receive a posthumous Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and remains the only person to have two posthumous acting nominations (although other people had more than one posthumous nomination in other Oscar categories). In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked Dean the 18th male movie star on their AFI's 100 Years?100 Stars list.
So IMHO therefore, one can not even say that you could compare these two individuals. One was an actor cut down tragically early in his life and the other was a singer / entertainer who had developed into the world's most famous personality.
Edited by Fxreyman
Message was edited by: fxreyman
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Okay Mr. Grimes,
This should make you happy......
Here is a complete listing of the Duke's films from 1940 onward, as to my preferential listing. Oh, I should say that of his 1930's films there would ONLY be two listings and those two listings would be:
1. Stagecoach (1939).
2. The Big Trail (1930)
As far as his 1930's programmers or I should say poverty row studio films are concerned, the real reason I do not include them is that for the most part I really do not like anything that he is in before 1939 / 1940 except for the two I just mentioned. I just can't seem to get a good handle watching what I consider to be sub-standard fare (IMHO).
So with out further ado here then are the rset of his films in order of preference:
1940's:
1. They Were Expendable (1945)
2. She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949)
3. Fort Apache (1948)
4. Red River (1948)
5. Sands of Iwo Jima (1949)
6. Tall in the Saddle (1944)
7. 3 Godfathers (1948)
8. Angel and the Badman (1947)
9. Flame of Barbary Coast (1945)
10. The Shepherd of the Hills (1941)
11. The Fighting Kentuckian (1949)
12. Back to Bataan (1945)
13. The Long Voyage Home (1940)
14. The Fighting Seabees (1944)
15. Flying Tigers (1942)
16. Wake of the Red Witch (1948)
17. Reap the Wild Wind (1942)
18. Tycoon (1947)
The following are in no particular order, since I do not believe that John Wayne knew what he was doing when he filmed these supposed "films".
In Old Oklahoma (1943)
A Lady Takes a Chance (1943)
Pittsburgh (1942)
Without Reservations (1946)
In Old California (1942)
The Spoilers (1942)
Lady for a Night (1942)
Lady from Louisiana (1941)
A Man Betrayed (1941)
Seven Sinners (1940)
Three Faces West (1940)
Dakota (1945)
Reunion in France (1942)
1950's:
1. The Searchers (1956)
2. The Quiet Man (1952)
3. Rio Grande (1950)
4. Rio Bravo (1959)
5. Hondo (1953)
6. The Wings of Eagles (1957)
7. Operation Pacific (1951)
8. Island in the Sky (1953)
9. Trouble Along the Way (1953)
10. The High and the Mighty (1954)
11. Flying Leathernecks (1951)
12. Legend of the Lost (1957)
Okay, just as I wrote in the 1940's here are the stinkers of JW's career in the 1950's. He was supposedly trying to be creative and stretch his acting chops a bit with the wonderful portrayals:
The Sea Chase (1955)
Blood Alley (1955)
Big Jim McLain (1952)
The Barbarian and the Giesha (1958)
Jet Pilot (1957)
The Conqueror (1956)
1960's (again):
1. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)
2. In Harm's Way (1965)
3. El Dorado (1966)
4. McLintock! (1963)
5. Hatari! (1962)
6. True Grit (1969)
7. The Longest Day (1962)
8. The Alamo (1960)
9. The Comancheros (1961)
10. Donovan's Reef (1963)
11. The Undefeated (1969)
12. The Green Berets (1968)
13. The Sons of Katie Elder (1965)
14. The War Wagon (1967)
15. How the West Was Won (1962)
Again, here would be the clunkers of the 60's. What was he thinking or should I say what were the producers thinking of putting him in a Roman Centurian outfit for TGSET.
Hellfighters (1968)
North to Alaska (1960)
Cast a Giant Shadow (1966)
Circus World (1964)
The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)
1970's:
1. Chisum (1970)
2. The Shootist (1976)
3. Big Jake (1971)
4. The Cowboys (1972)
5. The Train Robbers (1973)
And, unfortunately the worst of the decade for JW. I cringe whenever I think of him singing at the beginning of Cahill. What a god awful film.
Brannigan (1975)
Rio Lobo (1970)
McQ (1974)
Rooster Cogburn (1975)
Cahill: U.S. Marshal
I hope this helps you understand my preferences a little more. Of course, I could do the same for many many other actors. But hey, did I not once write that what we really need on these boards is a list forum?
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Hey,
Don't lob me in with that statement. I was talking about the Dukester!!!!
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Hey Frank,
I know its late, but I got sort of involved with other stuff this afternoon and I could not post until late tonight. But hey, I am here now and I am getting ready to reply to your post.
*Man! You're always busy. That's a very good thing. This board has been so damn*
*frustrating. Just when you get into a nice discussion, the board strikes.*
Well, thats only because we have an inept technical staff working here and their managers don't really seem to care, at least from my perspective.
My 1960's John Wayne films list again:
1. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) Tom Doniphon
2. In Harm's Way (1965) Capt. Rockwell Torrey
3. El Dorado (1966) Cole Thornton
4. McLintock! (1963) George Washington McLintock
5. Hatari! (1962) Sean Mercer
6. True Grit (1969) Marshall Reuben J. 'Rooster' Cogburn
7. The Longest Day (1962) Lt. Col. Benjamin Vandervoort ? very expensive ($250,000 for four days of work) cameo
8. The Alamo (1960) Col. Davy Crockett
9. The Comancheros (1961) Ranger Capt. Jake Cutter
10. Donovan's Reef (1963) Michael Patrick 'Guns' Donovan
11. The Undefeated (1969) Col. John Henry Thomas
12. The Green Berets (1968) Colonel Mike Kirby
13. The Sons of Katie Elder (1965) John Elder
14. The War Wagon (1967) Taw Jackson
15. How the West Was Won (1962) Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman
16. Hellfighters (1968) Chance Buckman
17. North to Alaska (1960) Sam McCord
18. Cast a Giant Shadow (1966) Gen. Mike Randolph ? cameo
19. Circus World (1964) Matt Masters
20. The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965) Centurion at crucifixion ? cameo
*Nice job, my friend! I'm impressed. I thought I'd have to twist your arm to get them in*
*order... and I was ready to do it.
Your list is of great help to me. Just seeing**In Harm's Way rank #2 for you has increased my want to see it. I'm also a*
*Preminger fan.*
Well thank you! I really have no problem making lists, I just seem to have a great deal of trouble placing movies in order of preference. Or at least it takes a great deal of thought to rank them. As far as Preminger is concerned, this was Duke's first encounter with the director. I think I read somewhere that before casting Duke in this role, Preminger worried that the two of them would NOT get along, based on everything he had heard about Wayne's politics. But once Wayne got to the set everyday, Preminger saw what a workhorse Wayne was. He saw that Wayne knew not only his lines but many of the other actor's lines as well. And he saw that Duke did NOT retreat to his trailer when his acting chores were over, instead he hung around the set to watch and listen to what the other actors were doing. I think Preminger went on to say that he found Duke to be a most pleasant actor to direct and was always willing to accept direction from him. A real professional. I think Preminger, if he could have would have wanted to thank Mr. Ford for Duke's attitudes and work ethic.
*I started watching El Dorado and it wasn't doing anything for me. I really need to finish it out.*
Well, you know, a lot of people really did not like this movie. I mean IT IS a rehash of Rio Bravo more than Rio Lobo ever thought of being. And many people love Dean Martin and Walter Brennan in Rio Bravo, not as much for Hunnicutt and Caan. I myself like El Dorado better than Rio Bravo. Don't get me wrong, I still love Rio Bravo, but I just think that El Dorado is better. It is tighter, script wise and shorter in length. And I like the fact that ther are even more of my favorite character actors in it than Rio has. Like, Christopher (Rat Patrol) George, Ed (Lou Grant) Asner, Jim (Jock Ewing) Davis, R.G. Armstrong, Michelle Cary, and two hold overs from The Rifleman, Paul Fix and Johnny Crawford.
This movie is like a good glass of fine liquor (your choice) ..... that goes down really smooth. And it even has a Leigh Brackett script.
*I'm curious about Hatari! and Donovan's Reef.*
Hatari! is one of my favorites as well. It is really a story of a disparate group of highly trained people thrown together to try and get a job done. Then someone from the outside comes in, someone who is not who she is believed to be, a man. Many personal conflicts arise because of this new woman's presence. But over time Wayne's character slowing becomes attractive to her. And there are the usual comedic moments, especially involving Red Buttons.
Donovan's Reef as I said in an earlier post was like a big family reunion / vacation for Wayne and the Ford crew on location on Kaui in Hawaii. I like this film as well, just not as much as his other 60's films. I really enjoyed Elizabeth Allen's performance as well as seeing Jack Warden, one of my all-time fave character actors. But in many ways this film is of a lesser value to me than McLintock! is to you. It's beautiful to look at and the characters I love, but to me there is an absence of a story.
It's sort of funny that of these twenty performances ten were westerns. So that means
he must have believed that he was still a very relevant western actor, even if the genre
itself was in its last years.
*I'm guessing Wayne was at the age where he just wanted to do movies he wished to do and*
*I think westerns is where he felt most comfortable. That was probably "home" to him.*
I agree with that. He was after all, like the biggest western star of all time, even at this stage of his career. I mean, lets face it he would continue to make westerns up until 1976 with his fine portrayal of The Shootist.
The other thing about this ranking is that many of the these are still very enjoyable
for me to watch. Hence, their rankings can and will change over time.
*That's how I am. I've seen 49 Hitch films and I like most of them, it's just I love or really like*
*some more than others. But, usually, a middling Hitch is better than other films for me.*
The same can be said of Wayne's 1960 and 1970 era films.
Hellfighters was a chance for him to broaden his appeal with younger audiences,
hence the casting of Katherine Ross. North to Alaska was really a terrible excuse for
a movie. Circus World, I do not know what he was thinking, and to think he almost
lost his life during the big tent fire! Cast a Giant Shadow is a good Kirk Douglas
vehicle, but Wayne is sort of wasted in this film. Then the unforgettable
Greatest Story Ever Told, the equivalent to 1956's Around the World in Eighty Days. I can
see a producer saying before casting this movie: "Oh, I have an idea, lets tell the story
of the bible and throw in every famous actor and give them at least one line of
dialogue. If it can work in The Longest Day, why not here?"
*You made me laugh with all of that. How many Wayne films have you seen?*
Well that is what we are ALL HERE FOR, right?
I have seen about 70 of his films. I have not seen many of his early 1930 poverty row films, and I have not seen many of his mid to late thirties and some of his early to mid forties films.
His Oscar winning turn in True Grit is at # 6. And even though I love this movie, I think
Wayne deserved Oscar nominations for several other earlier films:
Red River
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
The Quiet Man
The Searchers
*From the films I've seen of Wayne, I'd say The Searchers, The Wings of Eagles,*
*The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, and Rio Grande were the ones where*
*I felt he delivered an Oscar-worthy performance. For some reason,*
*She Wore a Yellow Ribbon doesn't connect with me like it does for everyone else. I actually think of Wayne as being a "quiet man" in The Quiet Man. I felt it was*
*everyone else's film more so than his. He seemed to be in the "background" until the*
*end. My favorite Wayne character is "John T." from Rio Bravo.*
Well, I know that if Lynn was part of this conversation that she would disagree with you about SWAYR. My take is that Hollywood at the time (1949) really did not yet appreciate his acting talent. That is why I think he was nominated for Sands of Iwo Jima, a classic if there ever was one. And of course it being a war film played perfectly into the belief that Wayne was a huge war movie actor (which of course he wasn't). I think he probably deserved an Oscar nomination for SWAYR, but in many ways his acting was superb in Red River and The Searchers. Those two films really showed his range of acting ability.
*Hmmmm... that all sounds good to me. One of the things that was bothering me in what*
*I've seen of El Dorado is Wayne's age. He just seemed old to me. I'm thinking I would*
*be okay with his age in the kind of role you describe above.*
Well, he is old and he was playing an older gunslinger. I don't really know much about the history of the old west, but from what I have read about it, there were not as many gunfights as there have been portrayed in all of the western movies ever made. Just did not happen that way. Many sheriffs and marshals did not become involved with gun shoot outs and many of the "bad and good guys" never reached an older age. I think again, from what I have read the life expectancy out in the old west was much lower than people of the eastern half of the U.S. at the time. But Wayne was getting older, he wanted to continue to make westerns, and of course he had to be able to portray gunfighters as realistically as he could. Unfortunately for him he WAS getting older.
He was very good in Hatari! one of my favorites along with the comedy in
McLintock! And notice, most of the comedy in both of these films revolved
around Duke. He was part of some of the comedy sketches, never really the
focus of the sketches themselves. His co-stars were really the focus of the
comedy, especially Red Buttons in Hatari! although Duke did partake in several
more sketches during McLintock!, especially the mudhole scene, the falling
down the stairs scene and the chasing of his wife through town.
*I felt Wayne was definitely involved with the comedy in McLintock!. I don't think he*
*was as involved in the comedy in a film like The Quiet Man. I really like how Wayne*
*handles comedy in a film like Rio Bravo. I think you get to see all sides of Wayne*
*in Rio Bravo.*
Yes, I would agree. He is very much in the background. He does contribute but in many cases his was a very understated approach to comedy.
My top two westerns are where his acting chops really took over. Valance, he was
really great in a very understated performance. That was really Stewart's film, but Wayne
stole it from him.
*It's funny, but I always thought The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance was*
*Wayne's film, mainly because it is "Doniphon" who is being remembered. Wayne is*
*excellent in the film. I like his performance in The Seachers the best. That's a film*
*that Wayne really carries from start to finish and we see different sides of him. I also*
*think his performance in Rio Grande is excellent. We see Wayne as a husband,*
*a father, and a leader of men. It's a very emotional performance by him.*
Well, you asked me to rate his 1960's films. This would involve a totally different set of rankings.
El Dorado as I have written before, one of the trilogy westerns from Hawks was really
much better than Rio Bravo I think. Better story, better characters, and better
acting. Mitchum as the drunk sheriff was much more believable than Martin was, and
I thought that Caan was a much better actor at the time that Nelson ever thought
of being. And I think I am stepping off the cliff here when I say this but I really do
think Charlene Holt was much more sexy than Dickinson was.
*As I said earlier, I'm not digging the film right now. I like Mitchum the most. Charlene Holt*
*isn't doing anything for me yet. I prefer Nelson to Caan... so far. And I feel Wayne's*
*age. But, who knows, I may end up really liking the film if it picks up steam.*
Well, maybe that will change after you have seen it several more times.
So that is it. Unless you also want to know what my favorite pre 1950 comedies are????
Well, here is another list for you to ponder.....of course next week this list could be the other way around, except for Talk of the Town.
1. The Talk of the Town
2. My Favorite Wife
3. Ball of Fire
4. Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
5. The Lady Eve
6. The Awful Truth
7. My Man Godfrey
8. The Palm Beach Story
9. Bringing Up Baby
10. His Girl Friday
*Yes! You know we're the same when it comes to lists and I love hearing what you like. But*
*I want them in some kind of order of preference. I need some guidance. You know how*
*aimless I am.*
Your not aimless, just lazy.
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Just to remake a film because the producers believe that remaking a film as good as the original film with current actors is really not a very good idea. And that is what Hollywood is guilty of these days.
You take a film like this year's Star Trek. Now here is a film that was fans were eagerly awaiting. And guess what? When it did finally get releases it garnered very high praise from Trekkies and the general movie going fan alike. Rotten Tomatoes had it ranked at 95% favorable rating. One of it's highest rankings of the year.
Not bad for a remake, or in this case using the "new" catch phrase in Hollywood ..... Reboot.
The Pelham remake is a far less quality film than the original one was. In fact as of last week the film had earned only $68 million at the box office.
One wonders if producers when they are deciding what film to remake consider if the current movie going audience is even going to remember the original film that they intend to remake. I think that is what is wrong with their system. They automatically assume that there will be a built in audience waiting for the release of a remake. Sort of like what happened with The Fugitive in 1993. This year it was Star Trek. But the difference with Star Trek is that it was originally going to be released last December. When the studio decided that more money could be made during an early summer release, all of those fans waiting more than two years NOW had to wait another six months. So there was great anticipation for this new film.
The same can not be said of this new remake of Pelham.
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Hey Frankie!
Well, I sure hope you had a nice Saturday. After trying to post additional comments late Friday night I just gave up trying to post on this stupid site (the message board was down after 11PM). And after having to go in to the office and after returning from a friends party up in Denver last night this is the first chance I have had to post. I was happy to see your response (finally!). I would be MORE than happy to tell you what my favorite Wayne films of the 1960s.
Now when I rank these, I am ranking them like this:
1. performance of the actor
2. my enjoyment of the movie
3. story
1. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) Tom Doniphon
2. In Harm's Way (1965) Capt. Rockwell Torrey
3. El Dorado (1966) Cole Thornton
4. McLintock! (1963) George Washington McLintock
5. Hatari! (1962) Sean Mercer
6. True Grit (1969) Marshall Reuben J. 'Rooster' Cogburn
7. The Longest Day (1962) Lt. Col. Benjamin Vandervoort ? very expensive ($250,000 for four days of work) cameo
8. The Alamo (1960) Col. Davy Crockett
9. The Comancheros (1961) Ranger Capt. Jake Cutter
10. Donovan's Reef (1963) Michael Patrick 'Guns' Donovan
11. The Undefeated (1969) Col. John Henry Thomas
12. The Green Berets (1968) Colonel Mike Kirby
13. The Sons of Katie Elder (1965) John Elder
14. The War Wagon (1967) Taw Jackson
15. How the West Was Won (1962) Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman
16. Hellfighters (1968) Chance Buckman
17. North to Alaska (1960) Sam McCord
18. Cast a Giant Shadow (1966) Gen. Mike Randolph ? cameo
19. Circus World (1964) Matt Masters
20. The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965) Centurion at crucifixion ? cameo
It's sort of funny that of these twenty performances ten were westerns. So that means he must have believed that he was still a very relevant western actor, even if the genre itself was in its last years.
The other thing about this ranking is that many of the these are still very enjoyable for me to watch. Hence, their rankings can and will change over time. I will say that #16 and down are movies I really do not care for. Hellfighters was a chance for him to broaden his appeal with younger audiences, hence the casting of Katherine Ross. North to Alaska was really a terrible excuse for a movie. Circus World, I do not know what he was thinking, and to think he almost lost his life during the big tent fire! Cast a Giant Shadow is a good Kirk Douglas vehicle, but Wayne is sort of wasted in this film. Then the unforgettable Greatest Story Ever Told, the equivalent to 1956's Around the World in Eighty Days. I can see a producer saying before casting this movie: "Oh, I have an idea, lets tell the story of the bible and throw in every famous actor and give them at least one line of dialogue. If it can work in The Longest Day, why not here?"
His Oscar winning turn in True Grit is at # 6. And even though I love this movie, I think Wayne deserved Oscar nominations for several other earlier films:
Red River
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
The Quiet Man
The Searchers
He was good in True Grit, but was he really just poking fun at his previous on-screen acting incarnations? And he may have even deserved this Oscar. I am sure the Academy members who voted for him in 1969 thought so, and I am also sure that when he was up against the likes of Peter O'Toole, Richard Burton, Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight, many thought those other four actors were less deserving than Wayne was that year.
I just happen to believe that he gave better performances in my top five films I have selected. I really thought he did great in In Harms Way. Here was a story that was really made for him. And he did not have to be made up to look younger. A story that was about a career naval officer. He was 58 at the time, and he was at the age that most commanders and captains were being promoted to serve as admirals. And I thought his love affair with Patricia Neal was handled with a lot of class and maturity.
He was very good in Hatari! one of my favorites along with the comedy in McLintock! And notice, most of the comedy in both of these films revolved around Duke. He was part of some of the comedy sketches, never really the focus of the sketches themselves. His co-stars were really the focus of the comedy, especially Red Buttons in Hatari! although Duke did partake in several more sketches during McLintock!, especially the mudhole scene, the falling down the stairs scene and the chasing of his wife through town.
My top two westerns are where his acting chops really took over. Valance, he was really great in a very understated performance. That was really Stewart's film, but Wayne stole it from him.
El Dorado as I have written before, one of the trilogy westerns from Hawks was really much better than Rio Bravo I think. Better story, better characters, and better acting. Mitchum as the drunk sheriff was much more believable than Martin was, and I thought that Caan was a much better actor at the time that Nelson ever thought of being. And I think I am stepping off the cliff here when I say this but I really do think Charlene Holt was much more sexy than Dickinson was.
So that is it. Unless you also want to know what my favorite pre 1950 comedies are????
Now what you said about sequels is very enlightening. I agree with you. The producers in Hollywood are only trying to make money. And because it takes a great deal of money to produce a film nowadays, they go back and try to recapture past glories that did work. All you have to do is look at the Star Trek film released in May. A reboot, the new catch phrase in Hollywood these days. And Star Trek WAS a great reboot IMHO.
They ARE afraid to try something new. Although, most of the new material do not see the light of day until September to December. That is when the new original films make their entrances especially for Oscar consideration. Although with ten Oscar nominations now available to contenders next year, I would not be surprised to see Star Trek as one of the Best Picture nominees.
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And here is another one of my favorites. This one lasted just 13 episodes. There was a really good tele movie pilot that brought these two great characters to the small screen.
The opening title sequence is at the 2:48 minute mark.
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Here is one of my favorites. Too bad it only lasted for one season on CBS.
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You know Frank I sort of agree with you on some of your dislike for McLintock!
However, I will say that of his 1960's era pictures, this is one of my favorites of the Duke.
Wayne started working on this film just after completing his work on Pappy's Donovan's Reef.
Duke's old friend, screenwriter James Edward Grant was given the chore of writing the screenplay for McLintock! In fact Grant wrote Donovan's Reef.
Actually, Grant had developed a really good working relationship with Wayne over the years. He was brought in to Republic Studios to help develop film ideas for Wayne, when Wayne became an independent producer at Republic in the mid to late 40's.
Grant was introduced to Wayne by Ford in the early 40's. Both were consumed with Hollywood and both were heavy drinkers. They developed a strong friendship that lasted until Grant's death from cancer in 1966.
He either wrote the screenplay or was the original story creator for the following Wayne films:
Angel and the Badman
Sands of Iwo Jima
Flying Leathernecks
Big Jim McLain
Trouble Along the Way
Hondo
The Barbarian and the Geisha
The Alamo
The Comancheros
Donovan's Reef
McLintock!
Circus World
At the time that this movie was made, Wayne was suffering terribly financially and he needed a big hit to help him recover most of the lost money his just recently fired financier had lost for years of bad dealings. Luckily for Wayne, he hired his son Micheal to produced the film.
That really made it another family affair, just as Donovan's Reef had been. With a budget of $4 million, Michael brought the film in under budget and the film went on to be one of the bigger earners of 1963 with just over $10 million at the box office.
As far as the film itself is concerned, I like it. And even though I have the DVD I often find myself watching it on You Tube. I guess I am just tooooo lazy to put the darned DVD in my mac.
The movie has its moments. It really just has a lot of my favorite character actors in it.
But mostly I love the banter between G.W. and Drago, G.W. and Jake, and especially G.W. and Katherine. Stephanie Powers and Patrick Wayne are just a joy to watch, as is Edgar Buchannan.
I am sorry if you did not find this movie as entertaining, but I guess I am just a little bit more into it than you are. After more than 50 viewings, I guess you could say it is one of my favorite John Wayne films!
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And in keeping on-topic with this thread...I'm having a tough time thinking of what actress could play the strong matriarch as Stanwyck did. Can you? I really can't see it. Meryl? Glenn? Mirren? Geez. Oh, but I wouldn't mind seeing a scruffy Matthew McConaughey playing Heath Barkley.
Well you bring up an interesting question.
Based on what I have seen these past twenty years or so, the suits in Hollywood have thei hearts desire focused on younger actresses for older parts now.
Just the opposite for older men, older actresses can't seem to get many jobs anymore and that is a terrible shame.
Lets just name a few actresses who are over the age of sixty that are or were formerly known as A-Listed actresses that could be hired to play Victoria Barkley the widowed matriarch of the wealthy, influential Barkley family living in late 1800s Stockton, California.
Ellen Burstyn, 76
Faye Dunaway, 68
Jane Fonda, 71
Shirley Jones, 75
Diane Keaton, 63
Jessica Lange, 60
Shirley MacLaine, 75
Patricia Neal, 83
Debbie Reynolds, 77
Susan Sarandon, 62
Meryl Streep, 60
Now from this list I think one could argue that Burstyn, Jones, MacLaine, Neal, and Reynolds might just be too old to play this role, although Stanwyck was "only" 58 when the series began in 1965. Dunaway might appear to be too European like to play a rancher's wife, Keaton too "light" an actress based on recent film roles, Lange too New York-like IMHO.
All of these actresses would do okay, I think, but Fonda, Sarandon and Streep would do much better. Fonda at least has done westerns so, she does know how to ride horses and does look really good working a ranch (Comes a Horseman). Streep can do almost anything. And Sarandon would really help make the movie sell in Liberal Southern California.
There are other less known actresses or I should say actresses younger and more experienced with other mediums, such as TV and theater that could also do a fine job:
Anne Archer, 61
Bess Armstrong, 55
Kathy Baker, 59
Ellen Barkin, 55
Kim Basinger, 55
Joanna Cassidy, 63
Sally Field, 62
Holly Hunter, 51
Angelica Huston, 58
Marsha Mason, 67
Frances McDormand, 52
Michelle Pfeiffer, 51
Kathleen Quinlan, 54
Cybill Shepherd, 59
Sissy Spacek, 59
Mary Steenburgen, 56
Sigourney Weaver, 59
Now from this list I think you get a wider spectrum of talent. Some of these actresses have been nominated for Oscars and some have won. Of these I like Archer, Baker, Barkin, Cassidy, Huston, Quinlan, Spacek, and Weaver.
Archer and Baker have long been favorites of mine. They are both intelligent, good looking and have had their fair share of acting on TV, stage and screen.
Barkin is the wild card. Cassidy is not as well known except for showy roles on TV. Spacek has her Oscar. Quinlan is very understated in her roles. She was excellent in Apollo 13.
That leave Huston and Weaver. I can't really see Weaver in a western. However I thought Huston was great in Lonesome Dove.
Of these I would have to say that Archer and Huston would be my two picks.
But, in the end, whomever is the casting director will probably fold under the studio's direction and hire someone either too young or just not right for this important role.
I do not think this role requires someone that has Stanwyck's authority or presence, but it does need a woman who is strong and can stand on her own.
One other lady I failed to mention who I think is one of our finer actresses and I believe would make on heck of a fine Victoria Barkeley is:
Mary McDonnell
Now here is an actress that can be tender, yet tough as nails as she was in Battlestar Gallactica. And she is in her late fifties now and just as pretty as Miss Stanwcyk was in 1965. She has the fortitude and the likeability and as I said earlier she is as tough as nails.
Plus she was in one of the better westerns to come out of Hollywood in the early 1990's:
Dances With Wolves.
She gets my ultimate vote.
edited by Fxreyman
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Geeeze, and here I was thinking you'd be mad!!!!
I am so glad you get a kick out of annoying folks like me. I am happy to be of service to you.
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Geeeze, and here I was thinking you'd be mad!!!!
I am so glad you get a kick out of annoying folks like me. I am happy to be of service to you.
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This may help......with a little searching I found the following:
Mullan Road - 4th of July Pass, Idaho
From the U.S. National Register of Historic Places:
"The Mullan Road was designed to facilitate the movement of troops and supplies across the Rocky Mountains between the Missouri River basin in the Great Plains and the Columbia River Basin at the Columbia Plateau during times of Indian hostilities. *But because peace was reached with the Northwest Indians early on*, the road was used only once (in 1860) for military means. Instead, it became a popular thoroughfare for emigrants and fortune-seekers during the Montana and Idaho gold rushes of the 1860s.
Unlike the Oregon Trail and other famous trails of the same period, Mullan Road's route was selected based upon engineering reconnaissance surveys, and a road was actually constructed. Light grading and occasional bridging sufficed on the prairies, but substantial grading and bridging were required in the mountainous sections.
Facts
Although fords were used wherever feasible, over a hundred wooden bridges were built, varying in length from a few feet to well over a hundred feet in length. Because there was virtually no money for maintenance, however, most bridges were washed out after a few spring runoffs.
During the engineering reconnaissance survey, a sextant was used for determining astronomical positions, an odometer for measuring distances, a barometer for estimating altitudes, and spirit levels for determining precise altitudes and profiles along various alternative routes." ~ ASCE website
The location of this waymark is near July 4th Pass in Idaho where in celebration of July 4th 1861, Mullan's crew carved the year in a large white pine.
The Mullan Road was the first wagon road to cross the Rocky Mountains to the Inland of the Pacific Northwest. It was built by U.S. Army Captain John Mullan between the spring of 1859 and summer 1862. It led from Fort Benton, Montana, to Fort Walla Walla, Washington Territory, and it roughly follows the path of modern-day Interstate-90 through the Rockies.
Mullan Road was designated a historic site by the National Register of Historical Places in 1975, and the American Society of Civil Engineers designated it a historic civil engineering landmark in 1977.
Captain Mullan and his crew celebrated the 4th of July 1861 on top of this mountain as they took a break from clearing passage for the road they were building over it. Thus the current name of "4th of July pass" today.
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You were doing so well until this:
CelluloidKid wrote:
On Bette Davis, whose daughter she played in A Catered Affair . . .
CineSage, Jr. wrote:
For the record, play and movie are called "The Catered Affrair."
You LOVE to correct people don't you?
Yet in your zeal to correct them, you unfortunately did not use a spell check.
Instead of trying to be like an old English teacher trying to live past glories, why not just stick to talking about movies and leave all of the pretentious behavior at home and off of the web pages.
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It's not even really that.
When you get right down to the nuts and bolts of Hollywood, it's ALL about money.
The suits in Hollywood could care less about original stories. All they are consumed with is will it make money and will it appeal to teenagers.
Look at so many of the movies released so far this year. Except for a few bonafide adult movies, there really hasn't been much to write home about.
Although, I'd have to say that of all the movies released this summer so far, only one really could be considered an adult type of movie. And that was the excellent IMHO, Star Trek.
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If that was the case then these conversations wouldn't be taking place now would they?
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Yes, and of course, Christopher Columbus never found the new world either.
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*I thought I'd read something about that, but I wanted to be sure. Thank to all of you wonderful people who know more about film than I do, I am learning - slowly, but surely.*
I would think that after posting over an estimated 50,000 posts as two other major user names (and many more) you would know ALOT more than this pitiful statement attests to.
You may be able to fool some people around here, especially newbies ...... but you should really refrain from making ludicrous comments like this one.
And a personal note to the TCM administrators:
If you think that this is a personal attack, think again. It is a statement of FACT.
Your list is of great help to me. Just seeing*
Can you do it? Favorite Film in each Decade and Why? 20's to Present Day.
in Your Favorites
Posted
Oh my god.......
You must be a youngish movie buff, for picking Pearl Harbor as your favorite from this decade.
So what in your opinion is the third best Pearl Harbor film?
IMHO, there were only three really well made Pearl Harbor films.
1. Tora! Tora! Tora!
2. From Here to Eternity
3. In Harm's Way
The first one I mentioned is the definitive movie about the attack on PH. The second film is one of the greatest films ever and looks at Army life at Schofield Barracks on the island of Oahu in the months leading up to the attack. The third film was a really well made film with John Wayne as an older naval captain in command of a heavy cruiser on patrol when the attack begins.
By picking Pearl Harbor, you remind me of people who pick 1997's Titanic as one of the greatest films ever made. I will acknowledge that the special effects in Pearl Harbor are really well made, but for once I wish Hollywood could make a movie about an actual historical event like the attack on Pearl Harbor and leave all of the "so-called" romantic stuff out of the movie.
And then they throw in the Doolittle raid as a book-ending device to kill off one of the major characters? Come on!!!
One movie that Hollywood did get right about an historical event was 2000's Thirteen Days about the October missile crisis JFK faced against missiles in Cuba. That IMHO was an excellent historical movie.
Message edited by Fxreyman