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rohanaka

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Posts posted by rohanaka

    Wagon Master (1950) - January 16, 2009 1:00 p.m. EST

    in Westerns

    Posted

    "A hundred years have come and gone since..." Miss Goddess first told me that Wagon Master was coming on and that I should set my VCR.. :-)

     

    OK...maybe only a little over a week or two...and it really was only a week ago tomorrow since it actually WAS on...and I taped it. But it SEEMS like I have been trying to get to watch this one for at least a hundred years. :-)

     

    Before I start in on the main thing that caught my eye (or ear as you will soon read) I need to first give a nod to the "Wagon Master" himself.... One of the things I have always liked about Ben Johnson....other than his beaming smile... is his voice. The way he speaks is just perfect for every mental picture I have of a movie cowboy. His long drawn out "almost twangy" words are just perfect for this movie...He has that sort of "aw shucks, ma'am" quality in the way he speaks sometimes....but he can also get a tough and determined tone with that same "drawl" in it...I don't think I am explaining this as well as I should...but I will just say it "worked" for me. And he may not be the best actor of all of the "leading men" I have seen in a Ford film....but I thought he did a fine job in the title role. So practical and matter of fact When asked if he'd ever drawn down anyone.... his reply..."Only snakes" And both he and Harry Carey Jr. were just so doggone cute. (PS.. with regard to Carey...was there EVER a "fresher" face than our young fair haired boy of a "Godfather??" )

     

    Ok...on to the rest of the ramble... boy oh boy...was there ever a lot of music in this film. Almost enough (almost but not quite) to make me think it bordered on "musical"...but of course...No one was singing "to" anybody... just "with" each other. And it was very effective. I know Ford used music a lot of different ways in a lot of different films, and I am sure a lot more educated folks here could tell me a lot more about all of that... I just know what I hear....and it's all good. The Sons of the Pioneers kept the main theme going along quite nicely and the rhythms and the words all mixed together to tell the story...before it even got started....but also throughout the entire film....it was almost like they were "narrators" of sorts...in between a lot of the dialogue they give us this little commentary in the words of their song. And the folksy square dance scenes (oh...and the "squaw" dance) were just that much more a part of the whole "musical" feel that I got from time to time as the story moved along. This film really brings the music more to the front than a lot of other films where it seemed more like Ford used the music in the background. Both techniques I assume were for "setting the mood" but each method does this in it's own unique way. I just wasnt' expecting this from Ford....very entertaining.

     

    And what about the scenery...not since The Big Trail have I gotten such a feel (from a black and white film) for all that hard work it must have taken to cross that rugged terrain. I think the landscape is nearly (though maybe not quite) as much a character in this story as the music. Very effective method of conveying all the various hardships involved in such a journey.

     

    And what a nice group of actors... Ward Bond was perfect....all loud and bellowing...just like I like him. And a lot of really fun "character" roles amid all the main ones. (you mentioned "Mowbrey"... what a fine little bit of acting for no more than we actually get to see him...I LOVED his stand up moment there toward the end when they are getting ready to climb that big dangerous ledge... and of course...No Ford western is worth anything w/out some really rotten bad guys... and The Clegg's were NO exception...rotten to the core...each and every one.

     

    Thanks again, little lady, for recommending this one. To quote the "Movieman"... Good fun. Good performances. Good way to spend 90 minutes. :-)

     

    Message was edited by: rohanaka

    Off Topic: Favorite Music?

    in Your Favorites

    Posted

    how can you like chocolate. yucky stuff!

     

    Whaaaaat??? No chocolate?? (PS...I like the chocolate covered raspberries and also chocolate mint candies too.)

     

    Well... if you are not a "chocolate" peroson what sort of sweets DO you like, little Missy??? OH wait....how about..."Butterscotch" ???? :-)

     

    butterscotch.jpg

    Movie Rambles

    in Films and Filmmakers

    Posted

    Hiya Molo!

     

    He's everywhere!

     

    Indeed! Ha...He did seem to get around for a while...I used to only know him from You Can't Take It With You... but over the last few years I have begun to see him cropping up more and more.

     

    John Loves Mary which was the film I watched last night

     

    Now that's one I have not heard of before you started talking about it w/ the Grey Guy...you need to fill me in...

     

    PS...regarding Frank showing up at for his Laramie ramble... Maybe I've been selling him short...maybe he was there...but we just missed him...

     

     

    Nahhh....that's just the sort of thing he'd WANT us to think.... :-)

     

    uh oh!

     

    Uh oh, indeed!! The calendar is getting close to that 7 year mark by now, isn't it????? :-)

    Movie Rambles

    in Films and Filmmakers

    Posted

    Molo: I could sense she was goin' for the rope.

     

    Mr. Grey: I couldn't believe Quiet Gal gave you grief after two rambles.

     

    Oh...I have not yet begun to "grieve..."

     

    She's itchin'.

     

    THAT is NOT a "typo" now is it????? :D

     

    You see, the trick is to draw out your rambles. This way, one ramble seems like ten.

     

    Sell it somewhere else buster.... :P

     

    Message was edited by: rohanaka

    Movie Rambles

    in Films and Filmmakers

    Posted

    Hiya Molo...

     

    Interesting little movie.

     

    Yes it was...I am glad you got to watch it. I am not as familiar w/ Montgomery's work as you but I think over all he did a fair job...he did wear out that laugh a bit early though.... works a lot better on a giant gray rabbit then on him.

     

    The scene where he is sitting around hitting the secretary with rubber bands...that is so telling of his "mindset"...he really had a low-life mentality. And it was a huge obstacle for him to finally start to overcome his own failings. I agree I would have liked to see both the Muncey and the cousin thing get a bit more developed. I think I was expecting Silkey to stay and let Arnold just go it alone and limp back to the states with a hollow victory... it would have been great to see him turn over his title to the boy and just stay on there as a member of the family...and then really work his way toward actually becoming a member of the family....but the THAT would have been a whole different movie, wouldn't it?

     

    Again with the spoilers...

     

    To me, the portion of this story that was the hardest to buy was the whole "gun fear" thing... It was stupid of Arnold's character to overestimate that aspect of Silky's personality....and I did not find it a realistic move on his part to just lay the gun down....especially knowing it was loaded. But...I guess that is what we were supposed to believe he'd do...because that is what he did. Maybe I am being too critical. :-)

     

    At any rate...I have to say, this was not what I would consider a GREAT story...but I did think it was a good one...with a few weak moments.

     

    Nice ramble, there Mr Molo! ....Now about that OTHER Edward Arnold film....hmmmmmm..... :-)

    What the Heck Is Going On???

    in General Discussions

    Posted

    In keeping with what I understand as the original intent of this thread (and please forgive me if I misunderstand) ...I can see where there is a lot of cause to be curious about some of the newer posters on this board. I too have often wondered about some of the "first time" posts that get made around here. But part of that "wondering" includes trying to decide if I am really talking to a firstimer....or if I am just talking to one or more of the same people who already post here under a different name. I feel there are some that may just be entertaing themselves at everyone elses expense (you know... by posting multiple comments using mulitple names.)

     

    Duplicity (or attempted duplicity) in your posting here is not a good way to make friends w/ others....unless you want to just sit around and have all your multiple screen names chat back and forth with one another. I suppose there may be some who might find that entertaining...perhaps if they had nothing better to do with their time.

     

    And that at least for me is what the heck is going on...

    Movie Rambles

    in Films and Filmmakers

    Posted

    Hiya Molo.

     

    I think we shot ourselves in the foot by bumping his old "classic film demarcation" thread. It turns out on re-release it was a much bigger hit and is taking up a lot of his time.

     

    So THAT's what that pain in my foot has been all this time! HA. :-) You are right, that thread has turned out to be quite the little conversation starter. Sometimes a good thread just needs the right audience. Looks like Mr. Grey's is here to stay. :-)

     

    Tonight I'm definitely watching The Earl of Chicago. I'll report back tomorrow.

     

    I will look forward to it. Give my regards to Silky and the gang. :-)

    Movie Rambles 2

    in MOD REVIEW

    Posted

    FF...For the purposes of clarification, I will only make this ONE further response to you...regarding only a FEW of the comments you made..(again in the Movie Rambles thread).... But in NO way should you consider this response by me as an interest on my part in continuing our conversation. I will NOT respond to ANYTHING else you may choose to say to me on this subject again, no matter how "cleverly" you may attempt to reword what it is I am trying to say.

     

    FilmFatale wrote: Would you have been so quick to find offense if the lineup had been Doris day, and I'd just asked "Hope you're all enjoying the Doris Day lineup tonight?"

     

    Of course not. And it was NOT that portion of your post that I found potentially offensive. But I suspect you fully know that.

     

    FilmFatale also wrote: For more than a year or so, you and pretty much everyone that I came across on the boards had been nothing but friendly to me. I am very much saddened that some people seem to have changed the way they felt about me, apparently, based on nothing more than their assumption about my sexual orientation. And no, please don't pretend that I am accusing you personally, because I am most definitely not.

     

    This is a huge reason, FF, why I feel you to be very insincere in your explanation about your "innocent" intent this evening. You persist in insulting people you claim you wish to converse with and then act surprised when no one wishes to speak with you. I don't say this to be mean. Believe me I don't. But I grow weary of your constant complaint. I regret that it has come to this. I truly take no pleasure in saying these things to you. But I feel this is something I have wanted to express to you for a very long time.

     

    May I just go on record as saying that NO ONE that I am aware of cares one ounce WHAT your sexual preference may or may not be...but MANY people on here have grown weary of you making false claims against their character in stating that as the reason behind their choice to place you on "ignore".

     

    The truth is that personalities will not always mix...and sometimes this is apparent from the beginning...other times it takes a while for folks to figure that out. Sometimes after getting to know someone by observing their behavior throughout the board (rather than in just select conversations) it becomes obvious that (for whatever reason) their personality may not be compatible with yours. And although it is unfortunate....life is like that. So if that happens...and if people appear to be ignoring you...it may be best to just find folks you DO seem to get along with and that you may have more in common with and that may be willing to discuss whatever it is that you have on your mind....and feel free to chat with them to your heart's content.

     

    And this is a big enough board that if you try really hard...you can find SOMEBODY to talk to about just about anything. But you may not find EVERYBODY willing to talk with you about EVERYTHING. And when that happens, common courtesy would seem to dictate that you refrain from harassing individuals who clearly do not desire to speak with you. As someone who has spent a lot of time observing children of all ages, may I suggest....it might be a good idea to take a lesson in playground etiquette...If one set of kids are playing on the swingset...and you don't seem to get their attention...don't yell at them and stomp your foot about it...just go find another swingset. You can't bully your way into a friendship....but if you are not careful, you can bully your way out of one.

     

    Again....I take NO pleasure in saying all of this. And whether you believe it or not, I bear you NO ill will. I hope you find whatever happiness you may be seeking in this world. And I pray that God blesses your life with his richest blessings.

     

    But having said all that, I would not be doing you any kindness if I did not ask that you please try to more carefully consider your fellow posters and their feelings in the future. Whether or not you truly meant to be offensive could be a matter of debate. But the fact that at least I have found your remarks tonight to be that way is not. And I suspect that I am not the only one.

     

    This is going to be my final word to you on this. And while it will be a total waste of your time to reply to me, if you should decide to answer back to anything I have said here, please do NOT attempt to place ANY spin on my words as I feel I have made them perfectly clear. NO one reading this should have ANY trouble understanding what it is I am trying to say here tonight...unless they purposely WISH to be misleading.

     

    So again, and for the last time, I bid you a good evening.

    Movie Rambles 2

    in MOD REVIEW

    Posted

    FF....I decided to respond to your post about Martin Luther King Day in THIS thread rather than cause any further distraction in the MOVIE rambles thread...

    Hope you all are enjoying the Martin Luther King, Jr. lineup

     

    While it is true that today is a day set aside to honor him (and deservedly so) and while it is also true that folks across the country, and perhaps even the world, may choose to do that in many different ways...I don't know if tonight's lineup is perhaps the best representation of films possible to celebrate the man or not. I certainly am no expert on the subject...and EVERYONE is entitled to their opinion....even the TCM programmers...so if this is the lineup they have chosen, who am I to argue?

     

    Most likely nobody's going to be rambling about any of those,

     

    Depending upon your meaning here...this could be considered an unfounded insult to the characters of your fellow posters . FF, it is so sad to see you appear to be so judgmental. Surely, I have misinterpreted your intent in the wording of your post. And if not, then I hope in the future you can find a kinder way of expressing such blatantly antagonistic remarks.

     

    And as I have NO interest in a back and forth argument with you, either here or in the PM world...please do not feel obligated to respond to my post, as you will only be wasting your time. I truly have not desire to argue. I only say these things now to perhaps give you insight as to how easily your intentions may be interpreted as hostile and unkind, and perhaps save you from any hostile retorts you might receive in the future from those less self controlled than many or most of the posters that you appear to have insulted tonight.

     

    Thank you for your time, and I bid you a pleasant evening.

    Movie Rambles

    in Films and Filmmakers

    Posted

    I might have you beat. I've been waiting for Frank to talk about this Gloria Grahame movie since...

     

    Miss Maven, If we each had a penny for all the films we are waiting for him to chat about....

     

    ist2_3737073-stack-of-coins.jpg

     

    (Wouldn't it be nice if they were fifties instead????) :-)

    Bugs Bunny / Robert Montgomery 1940

    in General Discussions

    Posted

    how the consequences of what happened affected Gerald, the cousin.

     

    Again with the spoilers....

     

    Helenbaby...I so much wanted some sort of nod to the younger cousin there at the end...I'd have loved to see Silky say something to Muncey about "Look after the kid for me" or ANYTHING like that. There was a whole lot that could have been put into that aspect of the story that I think would have made the ending even more ironic. The relationship between him and the boy (especially w/ Nana thrown in there) was so nicely done, it would have been a nice touch for them to carry it out a bit further before things progressed at the end. Oh well....tough break for me. They didn't ask me my opinion when they were writing it all down, now did they? :-)

    Nth degree

    in Games and Trivia

    Posted

    Victor McLaglen was in the Informer

    Directed by John Ford

    Who also directed The Grapes of Wrath

    With Henry Fonda

    Who was in Your Mine and Ours

    With Van Johnson

    Who was also in Brigadoon

    With Gene Kelly

    Who was in Singin' In the Rain

    With Debbie Reynolds

    Who starred in How the West Was Won

    Which also featured Jimmy Stewart

    Who was in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

    With John Wayne

    Who stared in ...Ft. Apache (you thought I was going to say the Quiet Man, didn't you?) :-)

    with....Victor McLaglen

    Off Topic: Favorite Music?

    in Your Favorites

    Posted

    April and Miss Butterscotch....nice happy songs lists....

     

    "Jump!" - Van Halen

     

    HA....I have such fond memories of this song...when it first came out I was working a summer job as a "summer camp worker" at a private school and I remember we used to take the kids swimming....and the pool always had music playing...whenever this song came on, the kids would all scramble out and get on the edge and "jump" when he says..."Might as well jump" and then they would climb back out really fast and do it all over again....it was so cute.

     

    I have way too many "happy songs" to make a list....but two I know for sure that would be on it, because they make me smile absolutely every time:

     

    Bobby McFerrin's Don't Worry Be Happy and Little River Band's Reminiscing. :-)

    Off Topic: Favorite Music?

    in Your Favorites

    Posted

    Rohanaka: probably favorite solo...Sweet Freedom

     

    FrankGrimes: Sweet Freedom" is my favorite of his,

     

    Copycat! :D Ok..seriously now though...it is a fun song.

     

    Just for you:(ok..maybe me too) this one has a little bit of an extended version to it...pretty nice guitar solo at the end...don't know who the guy is...but the BASS player....looks like a "shaggy" Wiliiam H. Macy...maybe he was moonlighting! :-)

     

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXKJSJVohX8&feature=related

    Movie Rambles

    in Films and Filmmakers

    Posted

    I cry no fair!!!

     

    ha....MsCutter....I don't know how long you have been waiting on that whole "Star is Born" thing....but some of us here have been waiting for The Devil and Daniel Webster since...Oh me...I can't even remember how long....

     

    PS...Molo...that Grey Guy may have led you astray again...whatever shall we do??? (Just remember...there is that whole frozen rope thing...The Oxbow can always handle two more....Frank has yet to show up for his Laramie ramble too. I can see now I am going to be very busy...so many hangings, so little time...) But PSS....glad you are going to get to some good Greer films...and also hope you enjoy The Earl of Chicago too...if you have to throw us over for a different ramble....at least you are choosing some good ones!! ) :-)

     

    Message was edited by: rohanaka

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