rohanaka

Hi Jackie... I cannot imagine a highschool showing THIS movie to a bunch of seniors as a compensation for NOT skipping school.... ha. But we don't always appreciate the same things later in life that we did when we were younger... so I am glad you gave the movie a second chance!! :-) They are a stupidly vivid and slow moving target, like a big black snake on red dirt... These men were at the mercy of a military system that was outmoded and archaic. And then the Indians, in their sky blue and bright red, backlit by the sun, moving quietly and efficiently across the mountaintops, each an individual but still part of the group The indians had been around that area a lot longer and they had a better understanding for how to work WITH the landscape in their maneuvering and tactics. And by no means would I consider myself a "military historian" (again I say...by NO means!!! :-) ) But I think the US soldiers' warfare and military tactics were very "traditional" in a lot of respects for a long time in our nations history so I think you have a point there. At least the soldiers were not without a few tricks of their own... (as in making a big show about bedding down and waiting until after dark to move out, etc) But having said all that, there may have been some practical reasons for the "big parade"... especially when it came to their slow speed in allowing time for "scouting ahead" and also in response time to various obstacles they might have come across. And traveling in a long "parade" like that may also have kept certain "squads" in specific groupings to allow for better agility and defense of those who were weaker (for instance, I liked how they had certain people called "to the rear" when danger was a factor.) It might have also had something to do w/ the terrain... perhaps those in front cut a path for those who were needing to travel slower (for whatever reason). I am sure someone w/ more military knowledge would be able to answer better. As far as why were they there in the first place... I guess we could ask THAT question in about a gazillion different places as our nation grew and expanded over time. Not all indians were a dangerous, but the indians who WERE hostile were a huge threat to the people who had come west (and YES... lots of arguements could be made that the same was true of those people being a threat to the indians) but the fact is... that is what happened... and for better or worse... that is our history. So leaving THAT out of the equation, I am sure the military outposts that were placed here and there in the southwest were designed to help people who had decided to move and settle in the area and to also protect the area for those who were traveling through there as well. (whether to live or to just pass through). You know I was thinking about how one theme that gets portrayed a lot in this movie is the passing of time and how it changes everything... including the respect you have and/or used to have for those who are older or more experienced. The indians and the soldiers were an interesting contrast there... It is interesting to see how the Indians have NO desire to listen to their still living "forefathers" who have lived and fought and also kept peace for many years (or should I say "moons" ha) . But I like how Brittles is able to work within the "old guy" mold he's been placed in by time in a way that the indian leaders can't. He still commands the respect of his younger men. And he is seen as a leader and not just an old guy. Yet I like how he is told that the younger men need their chance to succeed or fail just like he had his. Still... (possible spoiler) he makes sure that they are set up to succeed and levels the playing field for them before he bows out... and I kinda like that he did it that way. Its a good way to help try to insure that the work you started is able to be carried out long after you are gone... PLUS... he KNEW the indian threat for what it was... and he knew those soldiers would NOT succeed in a long drawn out battle. And rather than have to "remember" then all for their bravery in battle (after all.. the inscription was "lest we forget") he made it so both he and they could look back on their time under his command and be able to say that he never once left a job unfinished. A much better way to leave his post. And PS.... I have loved Ben Johnson in almost anything I can ever remember him in... but the FIRST role I ever recall him in was not even a western (though he DID play a cowboy of sorts) It was Mighty Joe Young... still my favorite performance.

Go West Young Favell.... ha. You are turning in to quite the little Westerner!! :-) (and PS....I know Lynn revived her SWAYR thread in one of the other forums.... but I have avoided posting on there (or much of anywhere else for that matter) for the last several days... just ... well... just because. I have not been in much of a "rambling mood" lately. But I did read a lot of what folks said in there though and this film seems to have a LOT Of fans. But since you brought it up here too.... I say a little ramble would be ok in my book... (ha....you didn't even know I was WRITING a book.. did you?? Ha. Ok... all you smarties... NO commenting on how sometimes my rambles are AS LONG as books...ha) I LOVED watching She Wore A Yellow Ribbon last week. I had not seen it in a very long time and I enjoyed it very much. (PS... Ms Cutter... nice job again on your fan programmer selection and your chat with our beloved RO) I loved all the performances in this...but I think it is likely not as "in depth" in the characters as I wanted it to be (like maybe Ft Apache or Rio Grande) but still.... a very fine performance by the Duke and the standard crew (Bond, Natwick, MacLaglen..... oh... and wasn't that Ben Johnson just so.... doggone rugged and cute all at the same time.. AGAIN. (everytime I see him lately I think that more and more.) I liked that the Duke played "older' in this one... he carried it off very well. And I loved how he would go to the cemetery for the little chats w/ his wife. And (possible SPOILER) the way he got around his orders at the end... by keeping an eye on the time w/ his trusty new watch) was terrific. Very good film and a nice example of the Ford "Cavalry" Formula coming together to make a really good story w/ strong acting, great music, and terrific scenery. (and PS.... I am still looking forward to that big SW Ford tour family reunion someday my sister) :-) Message was edited by: rohanaka

Wow April... what a terrific experience for you!!! YOU are really riding high w/ the Fan Programmer stuff and this all coming in the same week... :-) Thanks so much for sharing this with everyone. It sounds like a perfect way to view such a terrific movie and I imagine it was the next best thing to being there 70 years ago!! And reading your post here is likely the next best thing to having been there LAST NIGHT as well!! :-) Thanks again!

Hello Frank Grimes.... Just a thought, but perhaps SURVEY might be a better choice of words than VOTE... since a vote requires the willingness of those in power to recognize the outcome of the vote... but I digress.... And PS... if there WERE such a thing as voting to be allowed on this site... it would also be a "given' that in order to protect the voting process we should adopt a one PERSON one vote policy... (notice... there IS a difference between the word PERSON and the term "screen name" or "user identity. At any rate... just to give a voice from the midwest(since you have yet to hear from anyone in a "fly over state...ha) .... if there ARE going to be multiple identities allowed on this board... then at the very least... if ONE of those identities is banned or removed from the board by the administrators because of serious violation to the code of conduct, then it would stand to reason that ALL of that same individual's identities also be removed. So with that being said... then my official "vote' (if there really COULD be such a thing as voting) would have to be a resounding yes... A voice from Missouri has spoken. And I thank you. Message was edited by: rohanaka... to add the words "A voice from" to Missouri... because NEVER in a gazillion years would I want anyone to be able to say that I think I speak for the ENTIRE state.... Thanks.

Hiya Chris... This is a title I have not heard of before.... (but I am sure that is nothing new..ha) It sounds like a good performance from Bond, though. I imagine he did a good job w/ the "mean" part.. he always seems to be good at playing "mad". I love the way he "yells" his dialogue sometimes... (Was he "shoutin' mad in this one? It seems like w/ his voice.. he must have been born to shout.. ha) In fact.. he almost always seems to play characters that sooner or later will end up angry and yelling about something, but often times in his movies the "angry" is done w/ comedy. However, I could picture him w/out the comedy angle and being quite tyrannical. I imagine he could turn out a really good "mean" guy performance, based on the range I have seen him play in other films. Sounds like in this one, he got to take a walk on the dark side for a change.

Great Job, Mr. "In Hollywood"... I really enjoyed your comments and you seemed very comfortable sitting there next to Mr. O. (I have to say ALL of you fan programmers had that going for you!!) Nicely done. And PS... thanks for the GREAT pic for your film too.

Woo Hoo!! Ms. Cutter!! I would just like to add my congrats to you for a job well done!!! Great commentary on the film, ma'am... and a terrific presentation all around! And PS.. what a great pic for your movie too!! I had not see SWAYR In a VERY long time... it was great to watch it all again. Congrats again to you (and all your fellow TCM Fan Programmers) You ALL have been doing a first rate job! :-)

HI MISS GODDESS.... Miss Melly and I are so happy for you!! What a treat to see you on TV tonight!! :-) You were lovely, young lady!!! And so poised and graceful. Congrats, to you little Missy! Nicely done. :-) Message was edited by: rohanaka

I swear, FrankGrimes is gonna break out in hives if he sees this thread GOOD!!! Thanks so much for all the GREAT poster selections Mr. In Hollywood!!!! :-)

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TCM!!! Thanks for 15 great years of film watching fun!!! Best Wishes!!

Congrats to you Mr. Filmlover!!!! Nice work. You were a natural. PS.... MISS GODDESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU GO GIRL!!! Your big day is here!!! Best Wishes kid. I know it is going to be terrific!!!!!!! Afterall... TODAY is.... NOT just.... another day!!!! I am on the edge of my seat for sure!!

WOO HOO!! Miss Maven... Congrats, young'un. VERY nicely done.

I don't know that it is so much antiviolence as it is make sure what you are fighting about is worth fighting about. Peck wouldn't fight anyone unless it was on his terms. What people saw as cowardice was a measured response. Hiya Chris.... you have it EXACTLY right.

HOLD ON...... let's back this apple cart up here a minute ....... HIYA Mr. Grimes..... FIRST before I "slam you" (Ha) I just want to commend YOU (and Molo as well as Ms G and Ms Favell ) for the really nice job w/ all the screencaps. Great job everybody. You all and a few others have brought up some REALLY fine points in this thread and this has turned out to be an interesting discussion (if you can wade through all the OTHER stuff that is on here) But Grey Guy... I wanted to say specifically what a great job you have been doing lately w/ all these rambles... this one included. I especially like your knack for picking up so many of the good points here from other folks and expanding them out even further.... BUT I have to ask.... HOW did THIS happen??????? First you said..... I actually believe Joe is an even better man than Shane, he's just not a gunslinger. And THEN you said.... Shane IS the better man but Shane doesn't have Marian. MAKE UP YOUR MIND!!!!!!!! And PS..... I think you are WRONG on both accounts by the way.... I think BOTH men are equal in terms of integrity and decency. They each have their strong suits in different areas of life... but in terms of one being better than the other.... I don't think so. I would say they are DIFFERENT men... And because of their differences.... they may come at life from different ways.... but both are equally honorable and both are worthy of the respect I(and love) they earn from the people around them. And PSS.... About all these cracks you've been making lately about my cooking.... HUH! Pretty fancy talk from a guy who only eats SAWDUST (and LIKES it). If you aren't careful.... I will have the Easter Bunny put some sort of crushed up VEGGIE surprise in your Jelly Beans... you'll NEVER see it coming, my friend. All kidding aside.... Great rambling, sir. You make this board a brighter place... Mr. NOIR. (I know... I am ruining your reputation for being such a rotten guy right now.. aint I a stinker?) FRIENDS... Once in a while, it is easy to lose sight of the things that we all enjoy about this message board... but not for very long. Keep looking for what is GOOD and RIGHT about this place, I say. It's still there... if you know where to look.

there was a giant white rabbit walking just a few feet ahead of me! Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha and ha!!!!! That is TOO funny... and PS... welcome to my world.... I have had NUMEROUS similar experiences in malls and stores with white rabbits, kindly and jolly rotund old men dressed in red, sporting flowing white beards .... even Tony the Tiger. And I am always compelled by the iron will of a VERY determined six year old child to not only "follow after" (out of curiosity) these sorts of "mall creatures" during a variety of holiday seasons... but also to stop, chat, and get our picture taken!! HA! It's a good thing I wasn't spiffed!! And your evidence for THAT would be.........??

Yes.... she liked most of it, but some of the story was still a bit over her head... I am sure when she is a little older, she will understand it more.

Has she seen all the Shirley Temple movies? Not too many, but she has seen a few.

Hiya Jake!!!! We can all come to the table and a have a differing perspective about the movie That, my friend, is what makes this little world go around. I know I have said this before in other chats with other folks... but I have always believed that films are nothing if not subjective and every one has their own opinion. We don't always have to see everything through the same lens... and that is ok. And I don't think we are all that far off in our differing opinions about Marian and Shane.... you took things one way, and I took them another. But our common ground is that Shane DOES love her and that she is at the very least attracted to him... and Joe knows and sees it all. And PS.. Ms Cutter... just a suggestion RE discussing why Ethan is left standing outside that door... go over to the Western Rambles and open us up on that little topic.... I think we can juggle both at the same time and then that way we aren't A) holding up the Shane chat here.. and sitting on the edge of our seat waiting to hear from you. :-) I LOVE that whole aspect of that film... and I would be very interested in hearing your thoughts. But if you would rather wait though... I will just sit around and (sigh) wait with you.. ha. :-)

Hellooooooooooo there April.... and everybody else!! I've had some "stuff" going on lately, and now I am so behind on all this conversation I doubt I will be able to catch up.... but just wanted to chime in on a few things I have noticed from a few folks... First of all the SCREENCAPS are GORGEOUS. I love them all. Nice work folks. Miss Goddess says... Anyway, the fights are my favorite of any I've ever seen in movies. I know, it sounds awful to say that. You little closet boxing fan... (we've had that chat before) you crack me up!! Ha. :-) And you are right when you say they are "real'... oh me. They are VERY intense and very well "mapped out". In fact.... they are so doggone "real", I have the opposite reaction to them.. I HATE watching them... ha. Molo says: One thing that has always bothered me is the first fight between Shane and Ryker's men. The homesteaders practically cower in the doorway. (No one seems to mind that Joey is in there though.) That's fine at first. It's Shane's fight, I guess, though in a broader sense it's not. When they all start to take on Shane, Joe jumps into the fight. Where is Torrey? The others? I guess I wouldn't expect old Fred to jump in there but it bothered me that nobody else did. Technically... that's TWO things ha! But you are right... It always bugs me that 1) Joey is GLUED to the whole thing and his eyes are as big as saucers. 2) EVERYBODY else is outside. Joey is the only one watching for what seems like FOREVER. That always bugs me for two reasons.... number one... WHY did his folks NOT pull him out of there? it was NO place for a kid... (that is the MOM in me talking... Ha) and TWO.... WHY did it take "what seems like FOREVER" for any of the others to even react at all. And you are right... even though it was "Shane's fight". It really wasn't. And they all knew that. And yes... Joe DOES finally get in on it too.... FINALLY... but gee... FINALLY comes a LONG time after it starts... (Ok... that's just me whining... ha. Evidently, it did not seem to bother Shane. ha.) And Jackie... I love your thoughts on the cinematography. You always have such a great eye for stuff like that... and I also like what you said about Ryker: Ryker made a huge mistake, though, by continuously attacking. He actually brought all the homesteaders together, into an even more closely knit group than before he arrived. I loved the scene after Fred Lewis' (Edgar Buchanan's) farm is burned down. It showed that the community was made of tougher stuff than Ryker ever knew. And that together, they were MUCH stronger than when they were alone. You have it right... the community working together is what made them all stronger in the end. And I see Ryker as being VERY weak (both in character and in his ability to lead his fellow "bad guys). Though he did not necessarily appear that way on the surface. Oh sure... he LOOKED and SOUNDED strong.... but in the end, for all his "strong" characteristics... Ryker lacked what it REALLY took to BE truly strong... at least in in character. Sure.... he had a long history of hard work and determination w/ that territory and he had really struggled to make a life for himself out there... but that's just it.... he was working hard to make a life for HIMSELF. He has no understanding of people who just want to earn an honest living and work hard for the satisfaction of making a better life for themselves and for their families... and for their community. Frank Grimes says: All Ryker cared about was himself and his own selfish agenda. He didn't give a whoop about others, he only wished to destroy them. He was hoping they'd all just give in to his wishes and demands, thusly making it easy for him to destroy the land, the community. And when he doesn't get his way, he starts to lie and deceive, hoping to fool others into believing him. That's it exactly. Ryker only saw what HE wanted as being important and he would stop at nothing to get what he wanted... but that did not make him strong. Conniving, weasly, low.... yes. But STRONG.... no. He used nasty underhanded tactics (like his false sincerity in talking to Marian) and his asking Joey what HE thought about everything... instead of sticking with dealing with Joe and the other men on an equal level. He underestimates both Shane and Joe by offering them money. Because that was the motivating force in his life, he expected everyone else to feel that way too. So as a result, he underestimated all of the homesteaders and their strength of character. People of weak character often do that in those sorts of conflicts. The homesteaders WERE stronger together than he was... . And I think it took one of their own getting gunned down for them to fully realize it. In fact... the funeral scene is like the turning point for BOTH sides of that conflict... because it DID NOT result in everybody turning tail and running the way Ryker thought it would. At any rate... a bully is only as strong as his victims will allow him to be. And I like to think that by combining their strength as a community... if it had not been for Shane's intervention... they still would have outlasted Ryker in the end. But of course.... they would have lost a lot in the struggle along the way. And THAT is what I think motivates Shane to take the steps he does. Because of his love for Marian.. and for Joe and Joey... He does not want Joe to be the next one to go down in the fight. So he ends the REAL battle FOR them before it ever really begins. And PS.. Molo... my "take" on poor old Stonewall... he did not "GET" the "strength in numbers" picture... And if the homesteaders had a weak link.. it was him. He had too much "independence" in his independent spirit and it cost him his life in the end. You cannot take on an "unknown" like Wilson without some sort of preparation. I think he had an "I'll show them" attitude and he cared more about "standing up" than he did about "taking a stand"... those are TWO very different things in a situation like that. The MOVIEMAN says... When Wilson (Palance) enters the bar for the first time how tough he is that the dog leaves. But what struck me is that the music that is played when WIlson comes to town and the gait of his horse are mirrored by Shane when he comes in. The music has prominent timpanis that emphasize a march like quality to both arrivals First of all... PS... thank you for the "league" comment... but YOU, my friend are TOO kind... And back topic... I LOVE how Wilson is introduced on the scene... the music is PERFECTLY ominous And the bit with the dog is very good. And he is SO well put together. I like how he "puts his gloves on" before he goes to work too. Ok... If I wanted to look REALLY whacko... in talking about appearance ONLY, I'd compare Wilson and Shane to Darth Vader and Obiwan Kenobi.. ha. Vader is all black and smooth and even shiny... Kenobi's clothes are brown and simple and very "un- shiny" But both men are a VERY evenly matched pair... and ok.. obviously the comparison has to STOP there because... in THIS fight... ( SPOILER ALERT) Obiwan kills "DARTH WILSON" instead of letting Wilson kill him... but for some reason that is just the whacko thought that popped into my whacko brain the other night. ha. MORE POSSIBLE SPOILERS: And PS.. for what it worth.. *MY take on the whole ending of Shane*....is that OBIWAN lives!!! Ha! I have NEVER thought of Shane as not going on after the end of the story... it NEVER entered my mind for YEARS that he might have died at the end. In fact... it wasn't until I watched a completely SEPARATE movie (The Negotiator with Kevin Spacey and Samuel L Jackson) that I even suspected it could be possible (as that movie uses this question of Shane living or not in a VERY pivotal part of the story line) But now with all this talk... and with the definite symbolic possibilities both w/ the cemetery and the mountains... I don't know now WHAT to think. I hate the thought of him being left to go on w/out putting down roots and always "searching" (Like POOR Ethan Edwards.... as you brought up, April) But that would have had to happen anyway... given the issues w/ him loving Marian and all. And I REALLY hate the thought of him keeling over in his saddle and just riding off into oblivion into those dark mountains alone. Oh... the undecideness of it all! Ha. Ok... Since I have ALWAYS believed he "made it"... and it NEVER entered my mind that he might not have... I'm taking a stand.... and I'm sticking with my original thought... Obiwa... I mean SHANE lives!! (I am too old and set in my ways to change now... ha) (oh.. I feel so alone now...) :-)

Hello... very sorry to hear about your father. It is good to have those memories of him though. And it sounds as if you are having fun discovering new films. I always enjoy that... and now I also have an "ever expanding" list of wanna see films too because the more I see.... the more new ones I want to find to watch as well. And PS.. The Big Country is an excellent film. It was actually what made me follow through w/ my thoughts on starting this thread as it is (as the movieman pointed out) a good one to ramble on. It has been a while since we discussed it here.

Shane is an honorable man who lives by a code and in that code is a belief not to take advantage of another man's wife--even though he deeply loves her and she is in love with him. Big Joe knows it, too. Remember the part in the movie where he says I can see and I know you will be taken care of if something happens to me.... Shane and Marian have a love that must not come to fruition. Shane knew this and took the only course available to him to live by his code. Jake.... you have a good start here... but I want to go a little further if I may.... I have thought and thought about this since the last time I watched this film a month or so ago. And the day before YESTERDAY... I might have been writing something different from what I am about to.... but I watched it again last night and the scene you mention where Joe tells her he knows she would be taken care of really jumped out at me. I never really paid as close attention to that before as I should have because now it has maybe swayed my opinion a bit more than before. I see this thing as a much bigger "picture" than a love triangle.. Maybe more like a love "rectangle" instead... ha. I think there are even perhaps TWO separate issues w/ regard to the "love" angle as well.... (maybe it's a love "parallelogram" HA!) :-) First of all.... On ONE Level... Shane looks at Joe like a brother. (maybe the brother he never had) and he sees Joe's family maybe as the family he never had too in a way... but he does this all from that "brother's" perspective. Joey is like a nephew to him.... and Marian is the sister in law. And he cares for all of them from that point of view.(stick w/ me here) And I see all three of them coming to love Shane from those perspectives as well. Joey OBVIOUSLY worships him. I like when he tells his mother... "I love Shane... almost as much as I love Pa". He KNOWS Shane isn't his Pa.... but he is beginning to love him like a member of the family none the less... And I think Joe starts to see Shane fitting into his family in a brother-like role as well. He sees the way Joey looks up to Shane and the way Marian cares for him too, and he is not "defensive" about it, but rather accepting of it. He has come to view Shane as a part of the family. But switching gears now, and moving to an entirely DIFFERENT level.... Shane DOES love Marian (in much more than a "sister in law" kinda way). And I do see Marian attracted to Shane too... but I do not see her IN LOVE with him. And I see Joe as noticing all of that, (especially now after last night's viewing in a way I never did before) He knows that if anything were to ever happen to him, that the feelings that Marian has for Shane COULD be turned to love ... And he also knows that the feelings that Shane has for her could be followed through with and allowed to grow. And I don't think he minds one bit. Because in the meantime, he also TRUSTS both of them. And it is not a BLIND trust. He sees Shane as a man of character and he respects that and honors it by giving him the trust he deserves... And he also KNOWS his wife... and knows that he can trust his OWN relationship with her. They love each other and have a bond that can only come from being married for all those years and working side by side to grow a home together. It is a MUTUAL love and respect. And he is confident in that. She may be attracted to Shane (for several reasons) and she may even LOVE him in a way, but I don't think she is IN love with him. However Marian DOES love her husband They have a life that has roots to it. She is absolutely JOE'S wife. And I don't think it would ever enter her mind to want to change that. Watching this all again last night, I noticed too (more than ever before) that the first time Marian and Shane both see each other... they are looking through a window... and they are each more or less placed in their own "setting". She is framed by the window and he is out in the great outdoors. Shane KNOWS from the very beginning that no matter what he feels for her, that he is not a part of that "picture". And SEVERAL times throughout the movie... that happens. She is on the inside and he is on the outside. The scene where he is outside standing in the rain looking in and talking to her and Joey is terrific... They are warm and safe and VERY much where they belong. And in his mind.... he's where HE belongs as well. There is also one very specific scene where .... he sees all three members of that family framed like a picture. He SEES them together as a family. He sees the home and what it means for their lives together. And again.. he is on the outside looking in. He has the right perspective. She is "home" for him. She is the life he never got to have. But then again... so are Joe and Joey (going back to the brother and uncle scenario that I mention) But ... it is NOT his home nor his family. And he knows it. He loved them all. And yes... I agree... He DOES do "it" for her... but he even says that he is also doing it for Joe and for Joey too. And I'm really taking him at his word on that one. Message was edited by: rohanaka

Helloooooooooo Ramblin' Molo.... I did NOT see the film you are talking about.. I totally missed that one.. It sounds like one I need to check out. I have to say that as an actor... our former president is starting to grow on me a bit. I was able to catch several of his films last month and he had some really fine moments in some of them. I will check out the title you are mentioning. (my wanna see list seems to be growing again! Ha) PS.... folks... I got to watch Tunes of Glory tonight.. It has some really fine moments in it. A lot of struggle between the characters... I don't think this is my favorite performance for sir Alec.... but I think he and Mills both did a good job. Thanks for bringing it up Miss B... I am glad I was able to get it watched (finally) :-)

Hello there Miss Goddess!!!!! And thank you so much for starting this thread.... I am really happy to see you all off to a good start here... I have always liked this film, though I must confess that I haven't appreciated it as much as I should until later years... The first time I watched it I was a lot younger and it was just a "cowboy" movie to me... But as I got older, and came across it again later on.... I started noticing all the interesting layers and the depth in some of the characters. And I think the "super hero" angle that was mentioned is a good one... He rides in as a mysterious stranger... and he takes a stand with the folks who need his help. He rescues those who need to be rescued. He becomes the object of worship for a young impressionable kid who only sees the excitement and glory of fighting but has not yet learned or come to understand that gunfights mean life and death and that sometimes, real men DON'T fight with their fists or guns (but other times they do). And through all this, in many ways, Shane still ends up leaving as... a mysterious stranger. (very superhero-ish indeed) April.... you are right... it is an emotional film. It is filled with a lot of "human" weakness and also a lot of strength. There is more than one kind of conflict going on in the story as well... I was not able to be home tonight when this aired.... but I am going to go watch my tape and will come back more for a little more chat. I am sure YOU have some more interesting commentary, little lady and I will be interested in what others have to say as well. And PS... Mr. Muddy Boots.... TWO great westerns in ONE week.... what IS the world coming to?????

Veta doesn't question so much whether Harvey is real, though I'm sure she hasn't come to terms with it, instead she is more concerned that Harvey has latched on to Elwood. This causes him to be an embarrassment to her and an impediment to how she wants Elwood to be and to the course she wants her own life to take. So desperate to be accepted as normal and conforming, Veta would turn away something as miraculous as a Pooka, out of fear of not fitting in. She only wishes Elwood would do the same. Veta thinks people just shouldn't go around seeing pookas and such. It just isn't done, and it isn't normal, and it's kind of spooky and she doesn't want to deal with it. She may wonder how he could be there, but I think she knows Harvey is there. By George, I think you've got it! :-) I think you are right and I would also say that the biggest problem Veta has w/ Harvey is that he makes Elwood seem even more "out of whack" and out of touch w/ the world than he likely already is. I think she wants Elwood to "conform" so that they can have all the trappings of polite society that she obviously is accustomed to (and that she thinks they all deserve) and that she's likely wanted this for a long while (even before Harvey showed up) She wants Elwood to shape up and have a prestigious job. And she wants to be accepted by all the best women in society as much as she wants Myrtle Mae to have the best chance at a good marriage to the right man. And she also wants the "upper crust" folks that their aunt associates with to be a part of her life and her family's life... and for the all to "fit in" with that social circle. And I think she would be bothered by Harvey whether he was a rabbit or just a guy... It's not him being an invisible bunny that upsets her so much as it is that Elwood has more or less settled in to his friendship with Harvey seemingly w/out a care in the world. Oh sure.... she is likely bothered by the prospect of her brother's best friend being a big white invisible rabbit.... but mostly because Elwood (as you pointed out) doesn't keep it quiet. And she is likely bothered even more in being able to see him for herself as well. But I think that the thing that bothers her most... more than all of that.. is that Harvey is the one that Elwood has chosen to relate to and be with, rather than living up to what she sees as his rightful place in society and fulfilling what she believes is his obligation to her and the rest of the family.

You should be in bed, Quiet Gal! I'm about to hit the hay for sure... I stayed up way to late to watch a movie... silly me... (I KNOW I am gonna pay for it tomorrow..er.. um... Later today for sure.... Ha.) But hey... look who's talkin'.... I should be in my cell It's HIGH TIME for that, to be sure!!!! (And PS.. if Stumpy catches you out and about, he'll fill you full of lead.... better get back in that hole pronto, mister!) Later Mr. Mud.... :-)