rohanaka

Hiya Chris... Knowing other works by Murphy it can be a little tough to buy him as a villain but you get used to it. and come to accept it. It wasn't so much that I had a hard time buying him as a villain...it just took me a while to maybe find out what he really had to do w/ the whole scheme of things... Again..there was so much "background story" for everybody that you don't really get a full idea of where the story is headed because it is too hard to figure out where it's been... It was almost like picking up a book and starting somewhere along chapter 3 or 4 ...you don't know where the story is going because you missed how it began... (does that make sense)? Brandon de Wilde from "Shane Now that I did not know... I have only seen Shane all the way through once...and it was a VERY long time ago. But I have seen that clip of the little boy chasing after him about a gazillion times... but now that you've put his name on the boy in NP...I can see the resemblance. One other bit I never quite "bought" (along w/ Stewart's music) was the way this kid keeps holding on to that box lunch... almost all the way to the end of the movie... and never once looked inside to get a bite to eat. He even holds onto it when he gets taken back to the gang of thieves...after he is yanked off the train. Even if I believed the kid would take this awkward shoe box everywhere he went, despite all that was going on...I had a hard time buying the "bad guy" who more or less kidnaps him off the train would let him keep it with him without even wondering what was inside... Anyway... I guess (without getting too "spoil-ish") they had to keep the box w/ him to let Stewart's ploy work out ok... but still seemed a bit far fetched. So was that really Stewart playing the accordion then? I knew it was his voice...but did not know he was really playing... When it comes to acting choices, I guess sometimes it is better to listen to the director than others. It is a shame to hear that this was so "instrumental" (ha...no pun intended) to the end of what seems to have been such a good working collaboration between the two men.

Another Ramble for my James Stewart Westerns Collection... I got to watch Night Passage last night... I would not put this one among my most favorites for Stewart...but I did enjoy the story more or less. Stewart had his work cut out for him in this one... It was VERY hard for me to buy the whole "traveling music man" aspect of his character... mainly due to his singing. We all have our strong suits... and I would say that after having watched... singing was not quite so high up on the list of things he was good at (both as the character he was playing...and as the actor PLAYING the character.) I know... I sound awfully judgemental. Obviously I don't make MY living off my singing voice either (but maybe I should if HE was doing it..... ha.) But to be fair... in the film... his "music" career was sort of a "fall back" job due to losing the job he was REALLY good at... so I guess I shouldn't be too critical... So... having said all THAT... there were parts of this story I liked very much. It was an interesting "twister" from time to time... never quite sure who to trust, never quite sure that even after I trusted them, I was right... Almost everyone in this film had a lot of "past" story that I almost wish was more of the plot because it might have made for a more interesting tale altogether. But I liked Audie Murphy...eventually. It took me a while to warm up to his character.. And Dan Duryea was ok as the villian but...well... he needed his pin stip "gangster" suit. I've seen him in other westerns..but for some reason this time, he just did not seem to be enough out of the city to be a "desparado" for me... though he did make a really good "whacko". I REALLY liked the boy... and the whole friendship between him and Stewart. And I liked the way the film ended more or less. But having said all of this... for sure the best thing to me about this whole entire film...The SCENERY.... Whoa Baby was it beautiful... especially the shots going up the mountain on the train... one of the nicest parts of this whole entire film. The colors are not "vibrant" neccesarily (Chris... there is a lot of "brown" in this one too) But they blend well and compliment each other... especially contrasted against the sky or the river...almost everything is a solid color (even in other areas of the film..like the sets and also in the wardrobe... not too many "prints" on the ladies' clothes etc.) but it worked for me on this one... (Now.... don't freak out because right in the middle of this clip Jimmy Stewart speaks (I think) Spanish... NOT because he is really speaking 'Spanish but because whoever did this youtube must have wanted it in Spanish... ha.) But again...take a look at the SCENERY... especially when they are on the open car on the train... (oh...and hold your ears if you need to, 'cause Jimmy is gonna sing. :-) KIDDING! only kidding...really he's not that bad. But I am glad he spent more of his career as an actor, not a singer...ha.)

separate warm and cold light, color and lack of color Hi Jack.... I recently watched Night Passage as a part of my "James Stewart Westerns Collection" DVD set that I got for Christmas(I will ramble on the movie some other time)... there are some really good images in that film...and a few scenes caught my eye with relationship to what you had described in some of your posts here... I looked up the cinematographer... and I know now why things were so interesting looking...he has quite a nice list of films to his credit... It's your old buddy (already mentioned) Mr. Daniels... William H. Daniels http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0200125/ I found this picture by googling the movie.... it turned out a bit small...but maybe you can see some of what I was noticing...again..with relationship to what you had already brought up about dark and light... hope this matches what you had in mind... There is a scene...a bit earlier than the one I'm posting where she first gets to the little barn area where this part of the story takes place...and the night skyline behind her is just so dark blue and yet is still lit up compared to the dark of the barn... it really caught my eye, anyway... Thanks for helping me to remember to take a closer look. :-)

=500>

Ha! Wendy that is way too cute. We didn't watch the Super Bowl...(I know.... such heresy.... I am going to probably be hit by a flying football helmet or something for that one any minute now...) but we are just not much for "pro" sports around here... We do like sports...just more into high school or little league type events... I feel fortunate to be married to someone who looks at it the same way as I do... if one of us was all gung ho about watching and the other wasn't... well... I am glad that is not on the table for us... ha. Instead we watched... The Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet... too cute... lots of puppies rolling around nipping and playing on a big "football field" covered in rubber balls and squeaky toys... with a Kitty half time show...thrown in for good measure. Though I have to confess I could only stand about 20 minutes of it at a time... we kept turning it in between commercials...but somehow the kidling always managed to notice we weren't turning it back to the show in a reasonable amount of expected time for the average commercial break... they do get harder to "pull the wool over" as the get older... ha. I like Alice's idea... a football/swimming pool sort of game... that sounds like a lot more fun. :-) Except if the people watching were in pools... I would have to have one of those big "floaty" raft things... as I tend to swim like a rock... ha. :-)

Well...after mentioning a couple of tunes over in the Western's Rambles... I went in and looked them up...sure enough... there's a youtube for almost every occassion.. Ha. :-) (For those who don't know the reference... these are all songs that bring to mind matrimonial promises given and kept....) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6Q-3rc-z3Q&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUFjFdRa4tI (this is one that I did not mention in the other thread...but has also been a long time favorite... I actually got to sing this w/ a bluegrass band at my brother's wedding...though I am sure not nearly so well as is sung here...) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIjj1mLa_38&feature=related And the following youtube is for the one other song I referenced in westerns. Though NOT usually one thought of regarding "marriage" promises...there is an explanation over in western movie rambles for any who care...and for those who don't... well...just enjoy the music and think of this as a fun song to listen to as a change of pace after all the mushy "love" stuff. Ha. :-) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44kg0IENTPU

46 Put down that ketchup dispenser right now! You two men have been carrying that thing around ever since he pulled that gag on us in the restaurant. And the whole time I have been worried you will get ketchup all over my chic, yet tastefully simple and perfectly pressed jacket.

I had a book with candids of the different stars - it may have been one called "Hollywood and the Great Fan Magazines", Wendy...You are always mentioning the most interesting sounding books. I bet you have a really nice collection.

Thank you Chris, for your kind words... You are among the last of a dying breed of true gentlemen to be sure. And early congrats on your anniversary. That is a milestone well worth celebrating! I told her they don't expire and that my promise is as good now as then You are about 9 years or so ahead of us, but that sounds like something the QT would say. It reminds me of the Steven Curtis Chapman song...I Will Be Here. (or the Randy Travis song...Forever and Ever Amen... :-) And it is VERY refreshing to find couples willing to stick with it through all the twists and curves life throws at them over time. Around here...we call it "riding the waves". And sometimes the water is smooth...and other times it's a Tsunami... It is funny because sometimes we will be in the middle of something rotten and the QT or I will just turn to each other and one of us will start to sing beach music (Little GTO chorus...."Wa Wahhhh Wa Wa Wa Wa Wa Wahhhhh.") NOBODY else has a clue what we are doing...but it is one of those "insider" moments that one of us will use to make the other one laugh. And believe me, after a few Tsunamis....we have learned that humor whenever possible is a GREAT way to help keep things in perspective. :-) Best wishes again on your upcoming celebration!

Hey there, Jackie! Would that we both could age as well as Ms. Barkley! PS...hope you fair better than I though. Sadly...I fear I have already passed the "expiration date" on aging well...now I am going for more of a "holding up well...considering" sort of thing! HA! :-)

Double "Thank You's" Chris.... first for the link to the excellent Morlock spot on Sergeant Rutledge...and also for the very nice ramble on Forty Guns. I have both these films on my Wanna See list... and your posts just make me want to push them both way to the top. I haven't been to the library in a while, but am planning a trip maybe early next week. I will see if I can get these ordered in. PS...Jack...I agree...Stanwyck is one Hollywood lady who wore her age well...I think her later years actually made her even more attractive, though I must confess that may be in part to the fact that this is how I always remember her first....as a kid...watching The Big Valley. But even seeing her "un-age" over the years as in increasingly younger woman as I got to know more about her earlier career, I still prefer her as I first knew her. I think she was a very beautiful "mature" woman who seemed to know how to take the years she'd been given and use very them much to her own advantage. (Working "with" the tide instead of against it, so to speak) :-)

Hi Chris... and you do not move too quickly... :-) Worth watching as a curiosity from a historic point Or was it more like watching as a curiosity from a "train wreck" perspective.... as in "a really long mess"?? :-) Sounds like it was a let down... Funny how sometimes a film can go to such great lengths (no pun intended) to impress w/ all the costumes and sets, etc and a huge ensemble cast like that... and still let you down w/ a misguided story or director....or ( it sounds like) both. Sorry it was a disappointment for you. Better luck next movie. :-)

Worth watching as a curiosity from a historic point Or was it more like watching as a curiosity from a "train wreck" perspective.... as in "a really long mess"?? :-) Sounds like it was a let down... Funny how sometimes a film can go to such great lengths (no pun intended) to impress w/ all the costumes and sets, etc and a huge ensemble cast like that... and still let you down w/ a misguided story or director....or ( it sounds like) both. Sorry it was a disappointment for you. Better luck next movie. :-)

those two wee cabbages for Mom are me and my brother.... Ha...my mom always used to tell me they found me in the cabbage patch too!! Ha.. I always knew we were long lost sisters!!! :-) PS...For you..the cupcake pantry is always open!! :-)

Best Wishes and Congrats to You, little missy, on your 10000 posts!!! Whoo Hoo!!! Chocolate cupcake for you..... And a couple of sweet little cabbages for mom too...enjoy!!! :-)

Hey there, Jackie.... The women take charge, AND end up saving the day, as I recall Exactly!!! They had men on BOTH sides of this fight...and if not for their intervention... things would definitely have turned out much differently. But throughout the entire film there were cases of the WOMEN making the difference.... (the bar room brawl between " Mrs. Callahan" and Frenchie.. MR. Callahan became a MUCH different "man" after that... and the big shoot out at the Claggett (sp?) family ranch... the MA was the one in charge of that NO doubt about it...) Anyway...(at the risk of repeating myself) It was a VERY surprising take on the women's roles in this film. And PS...that bit with "Mr. and Mrs Callahan"... TOO hilarious.. I loved how that part ended up finally... HE was one of my favorite parts of this film. someone so sure of himself that he isn't afraid to be laughed at or made fun of. Someone who can laugh along, but is always aware of what's going on - he knows the score. Someone who keeps his friends close, but his enemies closer. A thoughtful, responsible MAN, who uses his gun once and only once. And all the time looking like a fresh kid. He really lets those townspeople know what it is to be a man. Now THAT was a perfect description... right on the mark. And I agree... I think Stewart was the only one who could pull off both aspects of the character so well...Nicely said. I can't even think of anyone present day who could come close as well. want to watch Destry a little more closely! I keep finding myself wanting to put it back in and watch again... it was just so much fun... and to quote Dr. Seuss.. "fun is good"! Ha. :-)

dont remember who the director was, Texanna...it was George Marshall...but I know nothing about him apart from this film.

The idea of a western must have appealed to Dietrich as a few years later she played a saloon owner in John Wayne's "The Spoilers" and later still, a film of a different kind, "Rancho Notorious Now those are two I haven't seen, but will want to check into now...I really am interested in more of her work after seeing Destry. PS..Ms Cutter...I had heard that about Stewart and Dietrich...but still WOW..very surprising... :-) PSS Chris... more rambles It does seem to be a lean "ramble" season around here latley... I am missing some rambles from some folks too. I know you have been busy w/ your programming challenge... so I appreciate your input a lot! Maybe some others have seen this one and will want to chime in too. I WOULD say that I am still waiting on a certain "GREY" someone to still ramble for us about The Man From Laramie... but I am starting to think I will have to give up waiting... I may not have THAT many years left to live... Ha! Message was edited by: rohanaka Message was edited by: rohanaka

Well, I still have not gotten around to RE-watching Siverado yet, but I wanted to get in a quick ramble on something else... As mentioned before, I got The James Stewart Western Collections DVD set for Christmas...and there are some really good films in that set. Some I had seen before, but one that I had NOT watched was DESTRY RIDES AGAIN... I enjoyed it VERY much...in fact, it would now have to rank way up there on my list of favorite Stewart films. The first night I watched it, I liked it so much that I turned around and watched it again the next day.(and made the QT watch it with me too. HA!) This movie is both funny and seriously tragic all at the same time... and I have to say that "DESTRY" was NOT what I was expecting. Sort of like...The Quiet Man meets Support Your Local Sheriff. (And maybe with a little "Westward the Women" thrown in for good measure....those gals were a bunch of "ruffians"!! But boy...they knew how to whip those men into shape!) PS...The QT said he thought that THIS is more likely what most women back then were really like... instead of the petite little "prairie flowers" you see in a lot of westerns from this era. This to me was one of the more surprising elements of the story...but then, this film was all about surprises for me. In truth, it seemed to me that a lot of this film was very ANTI-stereotypical. I found a lot of very "un-typical" characters in this one, and some unexpected "characterizations" too. Just about the only standard western "type" was the bad guy...and maybe Frenchie... everyone else was NOTHING like what you see in a usual western story...(oh..except maybe Jack Carson too)... Stewart was TERRIFIC. Very smooth and relaxed (again...putting me a lot in mind of Garner's character from Support Your Local Sheriff...only Stewart was not quite so "campy") I loved the running bit he had w/ "I once had friend who..." or "I once heard about a fellow who..." And I have to say that I have never really appreciated Ms. Dietrich before now...she was PERFECT in this role. (though I must confess the second time I watched it I had to forward my way through some of that singing....NOT my "cup o tea"...) But she was feisty, sultry, and VERY much the "girl gone wrong"...that is until... And her final scene...where she wipes the lipstick away.. very, very touching. Again, the characters in this story are just so unexpected, especially given the time that this film was made when a lot of Westerns seemed to have a certain "formula"... good guy vs bad guy...etc. Now don't misunderstand...the good guys and the bad guys are all pretty well laid out in this story...it's just that they don't always fit the formula in terms of HOW they should behave... I was pretty sure I would like this film going into it, just because I rarely am ever disappointed by a Stewart film...especially his early work... but I still I found this one to be a VERY pleasant surprise.

44 GOTHCHA!! It's really a ketchup dispenser... had you going there for a minute though, didn't I?

You, as a mom, have a great responsibility to your daughter and to society for delivering to it a person who will make a positive contribution to it. Thank you for seeing it that way, Professor. A lot of people don't. I have worked around school kids of various ages for over 10 years.... and I can tell you it seems as if a lot of folks out there want to have babies... but not too many people are as interested in raising children.... and after having said that, I will leave off stepping any further up on the old soapbox..as I am sure I could go on and on (and on). I work in a school with emotionally disturbed children. (Trust me...you wouldn't want to meet any of them in a dark playground And THAT is a great responsibility too. One year, several years ago, I had 3 boys that I got to work with...they all had their own parole officers... it was an INTERESTING year. In a school situation, I know it sometimes takes a lot of determination to stick with a kid like that and not take the things they do "personally" . I imagine you have a lot on your plate emotionally everyday...but it could be rewarding just to see even one kid make progress. It's funny how the laser sharp foresight of Eve Arden and Jack Carson tried to help Mildred but...nothing could get through to her. Except for that whole "slap" thing... BTW, I STILL hate green peas Give me BROWNIES any day over those slimy green monsters!! (and their nasty little cousins "blackeyed peas" are NO better either.... Blech!!! :-) Ha... I once wrote an essay in high school... Our assignment: A Descriptive Essay My title: "Green Peas...Yuck!" My grade: A+!!!!!! :-)

For me, it was the way the film looked. The leaves on the trees, the way the hazy sun reflected on the water, and especially the light and shadow, mingling and spreading over everything...This mood is what I remember Wow Jack.... great idea for a thread. With the limited knowledge that I have of such things (meaning next to none) I think it will be interesting to see and read what some of the more learned post-ers on here (and I would put you in that group) would have to say on the topic. I can only add that for me, films (and why we like them or not) are a very "subjective" thing... But the visual aspect of a film... HOW it looks and the way in which the story is presented, while still a very subjective sort of medium... is a very concrete way of enhancing (and/or) detracting from the story as a whole. (does that make sense?) Any way... thanks for the interesting thread. BEAUTIFUL picture from Sunrise, by the way. :-)

Good evening, Professor Maven, ma'am. I appreciate you checking back in here w/ us. And thanks for bringing in some good points on this one... All the way back to Mildred marrying Bert at age 17. I believe she stated she wanted her kids to have what she didn?t have. Well said. And you have to wonder what sort of upbringing Mildred had as well...I think families w/ this many issues are rarely one-time events... often they are more like "endless cycles" BEING VEDAwould never be enough. She would need THINGS to be liked...loved. Whew...Now THAT gets us even deeper into understanding the whole Mildred/Veda "mess".... Very good point.... And maybe it helps w/ understanding the lack of "self respect" issue for Veda as well. Because I agree w/ you that selfesteem and self respect are somewhat intertwined...but I guess what I am saying is that ...Veda obviously "esteemed" herself as being worthy of having whatever she wanted and far superior to everyone else.. But she did not have any respect for herself in terms of how low she would allow herself to sink in order to get what she wanted... (such as the whole..."I'm pregnant/no I'm not"... sort of thing etc...) Maybe I could have worded myself a bit better there.. believe Kay would have turned out okay You are likely right... I just wonder how much Mildred might have tried to work all the "football" out of her...with the dance lessons and such. Kay did have a better sense of shrugging off the mold her mom tried to put her into though.... she might have succeeded in spite of things... but THAT would have been a whole other movie... :-) there is no doubt in my mind, Mildred really loved her daughters...in her own way. I agree 100%. She loved them... but I just think her "pride" (especially in the early years...before she had to go it alone) was a motivating factor more than her love for them in trying to get them what she may have always wanted for herself.) If she could accomplish what was lacking in her own life through them...it would still be a way for her to have those things for herself. (I am likely not saying this in a way that will make as much sense as it should... I just saw this as being a form of "selfishness"and yes..."pride" on her part) But your line about the ?fully loaded toddler? is great...brilliant...excellently put. Thanks...but I have to confess to you, one of my main reasons for being so interested in THIS assignment from the very beginning was due to a slight "moment" I had w/ my own child shortly before reading your original post. She is no longer a toddler... (just turned 6) but she is still VERY articulate for her age...and when she is willful...oh dear me.... she is definitely a "pistol". HA. :-) I just remember thinking back then that it all starts when we are young... Our attitudes toward authority and how we show compassion toward others in life and whether or not we think more of ourselves than we ought to..those all come very much from how our parents teach us when we are young. Kids are like "playdough" sometimes... and we can mold them into something beautiful...or we can turn them out as rotten little monsters... it is a HUGE responsibility...but one that is very well worth it all in the end. :-) OH....NOW. How did I get HERE!! I need a brownie myself now.... and PS... there are probably a few extra napkins around here somewhere... I'll see what I can do. :-) Thanks for letting me work all these little "mom" moments out. This is a fun class... we can show up early, show up late... We can even show up in our pajamas...WHO would ever know?? But it is nice to get a chance to chat all this over with such a "flexible" teacher!! (PS...how's the big video assignment?? Hope you are having fun.)

Whyaduck...it sounds as though you have a lot to deal with right now. I'm very sorry to hear about your dad and will pray that you and all your family are able to find comfort together in this difficult time. Also hoping that you are recovering soon from the flu as well. It won't be good for you to let yourself get too run down at a time like this. Take care.

41 First Man: "Now look... we can stand here all night like this... or you can just give in now. I am the reigning Staring Game Champion for all time . Undefeated in 48 of the 50 United States...and the District of Columbia... you don't stand a chance." Second Man: "You're going down, old man....right here...right now."