rohanaka

what Ford movie you're watching next? Well...sadly I have to regroup now and rethink my list...I am out of Fords at the moment. I think the library has hit the bottom of the well of all the ones I have ordered...I am going to go back over my list and see if I have any that I may have forgotten to ask them to order...but there were a couple they were not able to get for me so those I will have to either rent or wait for TCM to show, or find another resource...will have to see what happens. Enjoy the Informer...though that is not a word I would think of when describing how I felt about watching it....there is not a lot of 'joy' in that film..but it is a very interesting story and features some very fine performances.

Behave yourself! Always NEVER! Me, too! I simply adore those two, especially my sweet "Mike" (J. Farrell MacDonald). I think it's so touching how the dynamics of the relationship of the three is presented. You can tell that Mike and Spade are closer to each other than Bull is to either of them, in terms of relating. They are alike. Bull is a little different. This is perfectly brought to life from the book. In the book, these two guys acknowledge the greater capacity for good in Bull, while they two are more rascally and really enjoy being naughty and a bit lazy. They are almost like a pair of youngsters, irresponsible and not to be trusted too long unsupervised especially if there is booze to be had nearby, or in Spade's case, cards and a few prospective suckers. Bull keeps them in line but Lee makes them want to at least try to stay in line. Mike and Spade are my kind of guys. Although, I contend Layne is the best man in the film. Mike and Spade are definitely closer because they are very similar. They are like twins. Bull is clearly the most "responsible" of the "Bad Men." He can be very serious and very focused. He's also driven. Again....you two...very nice insights...perfect take on these two and how they relate to Bull....and vice versa.... I love when they are coming in after a night of partying...and Bull says..."Drunk again" and they answer back...."So are we!" Too funny. Interesting mention about the fences.

They were so real. I continue to marvel at the extreme sensitivity Ford showed from early on toward elderly characters. I'm not sure I can think of anyone else who so consistently gives them not only "cameos" and meaningful bit parts, but also seems to convey a personal statement about how intrinsic their place is in all our lives. They are not "they", they are US in his movies. He doesn't just leap over the generation gap, he fills it in or creates a bridge, or heck, maybe he was too wise to even believe there is such a gap at all. April....I love this...You are so right on target. If '"they" are NOT us....WE will be THEM soon enough....so it all comes together in the end...nicely said. I consider Bull to be the original incarnation of "Tom Doniphon" (John Wayne in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance); he is willing to sacrifice himself for the happiness of a woman he cares about. That is the very thing about the Bull Stanley character I felt the strongest. I remember saying to myself (I talk to myself a lot) "here is 'Tom', full-fledged in '26. Ford would reprise some of his characteristics, namely the self-sacrificing nature, in other characters but in '62 he emerged again fully formed. You guys are exploring an aspect of Bull that I never really considered before...but I think there are comparisons that could be made...nice insights...(and PS...I talk to myself too...I am famous for it sometimes) :-) PSS....thanks for telling you know who to behave with his nasty little name calling....but you might as well tell the sun to stop shining.... :-)

What I find to be the prevalent message of 3 Bad Men is: all that glitters is not gold. Hmmm... Hiya Man of the Thousand (or so) words...Grey Guy...that theme is definitely present throughout the story...but I also think a more universal message might be Don't judge a book by it's cover because out of the major characters in the story..only Lee and Dan were really what they first appeared to be...everyone else more or less were revealed to be who they really were. Now obviously...The Sheriff of Rottenham :-) was revealed pretty early on...but our 3 friends got a nice, gradual lifting of the veil so to speak...and it was a wonderful revelation. The "3 Bad Men" are far from pure. They are definitely running afoul of the law. They are not wrongly accused. I love this aspect of the film. True...all true. And that is what makes their "revelation" so emotional...the repentance angle is one of my favorite themes in a story like this. A lot of westerns seem to turn on that sort of wheel and it has always been such an appealing aspect of that genre for me. Do you find the "3 Bad Men" to be an offshoot of the 3 Wise Men? Is "Sheriff Layne Hunter" similar to King Herod? Hmmm...my short answer on that would likely be no....not really. But there could be some ways of looking at it that may escape me at the moment...the Wise Men were actively SEEKING the one that Herod wanted to destroy...but our 3 happened on their object of worship in a way that was not of their own choosing. And Herod was far more duplicitous. To me, Layne didn't really try too hard to hide the fact he was scum...other than maybe in a few select moments....like offering Lee the water and his brief visit at her wagon. Most of the time, he seemed proud of his sinful ways. He seemed to flaunt them every chance he got. And it was little secret to everyone (except poor Millie) that he had low morals and a love for evil by the way the more "respectable" townsfolk complained to the preacher about him....and by the sway he had over the less respectable folk in town. But again...there could be aspects of the biblical story I am overlooking. What are YOUR thoughts?? the "Wanted" posters are very legit, though. They truly are bad in the sense they are doing bad. That doesn't mean they are completely bad through and through. We learn of their goodness through "Bull," who is looking for his sister, who he deeply cares about and dearly loves. But I don't believe there is any mistaking their being criminals. Absolutely. And I agree w/ April about Bull coming from some sort of family where he was "taught" better. I think he knew right from wrong...possibly they all did. But they fell into a life that let them follow a path that was wrong. And they seemed content to stay there. Until..... once he saw "Lee" was awoman, he froze. He immediately went from taker to giver. Ahhh, the great power of woman. And there was great reason for why a woman would make such an impact with Bull... I think it was important that Lee was a young woman in need of protection. I'm not saying that Bull would have robbed an old worn out hag of a grandma like me either...but he likely would not have had that soft spot aching to be filled in his heart without the grief he felt over his sister...which will lead me to maybe break w/ the idea that some may have that Bull's choice to avoid "romantic leanings" was a conscious one. I don't think the thought ever crossed his mind. To him it was like finding a baby bird w/ a broken wing and he only saw his duty to help and protect her above anything else. Had it not been for his sister....perhaps there could be another way for me to see things...but his attitude toward Lee is strictly brotherly supervision and protection...at least from the point of view of my soft and cozy couch....I know others might not agree. As an "oldest" sibling...it is a very deep abiding almost instinctive thing to watch over you little sister (or in my case it was brothers) and you never get over that, no matter how old they get. And I think Bull saw Lee almost like his "second chance". And I LOVE the look of disbelief on Mike and Spade's faces when they realize he is not going to let them carry out their plans....this is a side of him they have never seen.... When the true identities of the "3 Bad Men" were reveleaed to Lee, they ALL looked at her. They all looked to see how she would react to them being naughty, just like sons to a mother. They were "3 Bad Boys" at that moment. She didn't flinch... she "forgave" them. They were her boys, her "3 Bad Men." This helped to bring out the very best in the "3 Bad Men." And, you are right, her belief in them to be good opened the door for them taking great pride in their newfound responsibility to her. Again, the power of woman Never underestimate the power of a woman!! :-) But I have to confess that I think there was more to it than just her being a woman...it was the whole idea of her acceptance of them and her "belief" that they were the men she saw them as...they HAD to be that way now...or they would be letting her down....and THAT is where her true power over them had the biggest effect...they would have likely moved heaven and earth to keep from letting her down once they realized her opinion of them was what gave them their greatest worth. *And I think that the GOOD in these bad men was there all along. And they had just been living in contradiction to there own true selves until Lee came along and made them see their own potential.* I believe that. This is why I say humanity is grey. We all have our bad moments, be they intentionally or unintentionally so. We sometimes have to learn our lessons through our bad, our mistakes. This does not make the bad all of a sudden good. It's still bad. Again with the Grey!! :-) I don't know....maybe everyone of us has a potential for Grey when we make wrong choices that lead us away from who we really are....but to me..and here comes that muddy little hill we seem to always slide down....I really do believe that in terms of our true character...we are mostly either black or white. I believe the 3 Bad Men would have gone back to rustlin' if they would have lived and left the side of Lee. Left to their own male devices, I believe they would have returned to their vices. You do make a good point here. I'd like to think that they would have kept themselves out of the muck of their old lifestyles...but I don't know. I think because her effect on them was SO transforming...they likely could not have left her even if they tried...except in the way that the did in the end...as a sacrifice to her...out of the love they had for her. It is my belief that if you put a good woman by the side of a man, his chances of being good increase dramatically. Whoa...I am almost afraid to touch that one w/ a ten foot pole...let me think...I believe what you are saying here is true...if the man is truly good. If he is NOT...then I think he will more likely either drag her down w/ him and/or end up breaking her spirt and her heart (a la Millie and Layne) So the white hat good guy was one thing and the black hat bad men were another. Don't judge a book. Ha! I knew I stole my earlier idea from SOMEWHERE!! :-) I find it amazing that John Ford made such a film in the 20s. It's quite impressive. The more I hang out in the realm of "classic" film...the more I lose a lot of my pre-conceived notion that movies made before the 1960's somehow had a more wholesome quality to them.... some did to be sure...but there were likely just as many that did not. But having said that, I think the attitudes I see in this story were a little more "cutting edge" than most ....because back then...(based only on my limited knowledge of such things) the good guys usually DID wear the white hat. It seems to me that Ford liked to explore the whole concept of looking for the character under the hat so to speak and this film is a great example of that. I LOVED the ending to 3 Bad Men. It's one of the greatest endings to a western (or film) I have seen. It's very similar to The Wild Bunch, but far more emotionally powerful. I just love "tragic" endings and this one is easily one of the best . I have never seen The Wild Bunch...but it is on my list. I like a good "tragic" end...when it is done right. I HATE a wasted sacrifice. And the end to this story shows that the "all" that they gave was SO worth it in the end. The happy family on the prosperous homestead....very appealing ending. I told the QT that I thought this film ought to be "required viewing" as a predecessor for anyone wanting to study westerns as a genre...To me it is a "standard setter" which is something I like to look for in a really good film. I can see this one being held up as a measuring stick for other films as a comparison...and many would fall short of the mark. SUNRISE...More George O'Brien! And that's a GREAT performance by O'Brien. You are so right....and now...a confession...I had NO idea that this was the same guy!!!!!!! And I am so embarrassed because Chris mentioned him the other day too and I looked him up (but truthfully I was looking for Ford titles...he was in several) UGH!!! I am so unworthy of all you film gurus....you all have so much more knowledge about who was in what and such....I am a lowlife wannabe... Sunrise is such an emotional film for me...I saw it a LONG time ago for the first time...and have seen it a couple of times since....I don't think I could say enough good things about it...but having said all of that...oh...I just have to lean toward these 3 Guys....(I can't call them bad anymore) they have won me over as my favorite silent film ....but boy oh boy....Sunrise is neck and neck w/ them to be sure. It is airing again on TCM I think in March...so if I watch it then...I might have a real dilema on my hands as that little pendulum starts swinging back the other way....it is a reallly close race.... I'm impressed. Oh...don't be...I got a long long way to catch up to everyone else's expertise here...but I am having a LOT of fun learning about all these films. A year ago...I never even heard of 3 Bad Men...and now..it is among my all time favorite films. And I am a full fledged member in the newly formed 21st Century edition of the Tom Satschi Fan Club. :-) Enter the "3 Bad Men." Another western pays homage to this, but with an evil spin. Tell me more...PS..thanks for posting my favorite shot!!! :-) I kept a copy in my files because it is just so cool. :-) I love this small little moment in 3 Bad Men. It says a helluva lot. The little side stories in this one...with the landrush and the "settlers" etc...I love that aspect of this story too...and the whole bit about the soil being the true treasure was really nicely done. It could have taken the story a whole other direction if it had become the focus...but it was a nice little bit on the side just to add some very nice flavor. Let's get ready to ramble. I'm a big-time talker. I don't know if I should talk to you anymore for that "mistress" wisecrack...not to mention your personal attack on my COOKING!!!!! Perhaps I will be benevolent and try to overlook such unkind behavior....or MAYBE I will just believe in your "goodness" and hope you will act good as a result...it worked in the movie...but then again...I am no LEE....and well...you are NO BULL...or was I supposed to say you are Full of Bull??...it's getting late and my mind might be wandering.... Seriously...I am so happy to finally hear from you on this one.(Hopefully we didn't hound you too close to death!) A very fine ramble Mr Grey...and THAT is no bull!! :-) I will talk further about the ending in future posts Ramble on my Grey friend...you are off and rolling...(yes...I said you are off...make of that comment what you will!!) :-)

Only 8 days later. I'm improving! OH!!! Yippee Skippee Do!!! April is so right. Grey Guy, WELL worth the wait...but there was never any doubt. But I was getting worried after all that wait I was about to have to give you another of my old Grandma's sayings..."What are you waitin' for..the Robert E. Lee?? (I think that is a song....about a train) Thank Goodness I didn't have to sic GRANDMA on ya!! I am so happy to see your post!! Let me go get the kidling ready for bed and tend to a few chores...and I will be back (if you can't wait for me...I understand...just check in when you can) I've got lots more to say. April...feel free if you want to start chatting. This is just too good to wait on any longer!! Grey Guy....you sure know how to keep us on the edge of our seat!! Thanks so much and I'll talk to you soon!!!

he's on his own in his lonely place. Oh...Grey Guy...give yourself up...don't make our beloved Tom have to go after you!! :-) now I can ask youwhat does that line mean?? You can ask...but the only answer I can give is that it was just something funny to say when you are in the dark....at least that is how my Grandma always used it. (And if she were still alive...she'd have turned 99 earlier this month...as it was she made it to 94) Anyway...she was old enough that it IS possible she might have gotten to see our beloved Tom on the big screen...who knows?? So I am guessing...this must have been a popular saying in her day... Just after the lights went out in a room, she'd always say... "Where was Moses when the lights when out? :...and then usually one of us grandkids would come back w/ the standard answer..."In the dark"....but she would always come back w/ ..."He was down in the holler w/ his shirttail out" (Which we always took to mean he had to go out back to use the facilities...To which we would always bust out laughing...There is no explaining "family" humor....) :-) But to this day...my mom and my brothers and I still use that line when we find ourselves in the dark...Ok...the LITERAL dark...not the figurative one...I am often THERE....and Moses is NOWHERE to be found.... :-)

Captain Kangaroo Good Morning Captain!!! :-) Mr. Moose What an instigator!!! Look out below!!!! HA! April....I'm editing my post because I didn't see your earlier one until just now....but I guess a good "ping pong ball drop" is worth repeating!!!! (Oh...did somebody say...Ping----??? never mind!) :-) Message was edited by: rohanaka

No you can't! (Carolina! This is the easist one you ever posted!!! ) :-)

Probably getting his gang of lousy thugs together for the big "chase" scene...but we all know what THAT will get them!!! (Look out from behind that rock!) PS...say...where WAS Moses when the lights went out?? (Oh..I got such a rush of nostalgia w/ that line..my Grandma used to say that all the time.. I miss that old lady!!)

No you can't!

Here's a litte quiz...pretty easy I would imagine.... What Duke film features him giving Walter Brennan a big old kiss????

No you can't.

When Time Ran Out In The Cool Of The Day Under The Roofs Of Paris Where Love Has Gone... ...With the Wind Across the Everglades...

Hey April....at least on good thing is coming out of all this browbeating we are having to do (aside from the obvious entertainment value) ....that Grey Guy sure is posting a lot of mighty nice screencaps in his attempt to dodge his duty. :-) (but let's don't tell him...he might think we want him to do it..and then he will stop...again w/ the psycho stuff...um...I mean that psychology stuff...) :-)

Haven't you heard? I'm a gentleman Eh??? What's that you say??? I cain't quite hear ya sonny....EH??? (That's me..hinting REALLY big that I hadn't heard that!!) :-)

It's a Wonderful Life With Father of the Bride of Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man From Laramie

Or did she eat some of Quiet Gal's cooking? OK--I take back all the stuff about you 've never been rotten....at least not to me!!! How would you like an extra frozen rope in your Christmas stocking this year MR. Smartmouth????

I'm the kind of a guy who actually puts thought into his gifts. I don't like getting people stuff they don't want. It's wasteful to me. Oh sure...use the old "handful of kiddies" Christmas Shopping excuse... Actually....it does not surprise me a bit to hear you say that...You are very devoted to all those kidlings...I think there will be lots of smiles on their faces thanks to you and your brother....and that makes all the work worthwhile. I love playing games, so long as they are not the harmful kind I am the most harmless "Peacemaker"you ever saw (That is unless you pick on a friend or family member.....) And mind games are only fun...if all the players KNOW its a game...or unless you are picking on a rotten person who REALLY deserves a good gotcha... (you may be "grey" but you have never been ROTTEN--at least not to me...yet...) :-) Tell me about it Well....let's see...15 years ago...we got married and....OH...trust me...you don't have enough time in your day. :-) You can post those in your "Western Rambles" thread That's been my intention all along.... Ohhh, the heck with 3 Bad Men, let's talk about The Man from Laramie. My point exactly!!! FOCUS Grasshopper!!!

It's a perfect night to watch Christmas in Connecticut..... IN Connecticut...... IF ONLY!!! I LOVE that movie...I hope to get to see it too. Enjoy all the pretty white stuff...all our snow got "rained out" yesterday so it's not so pretty out there any more...still plenty cold though....and this weekend..ZERO!!! (with 20 below windchills....I haven't lived in Alaska for over 30 years....but I am sure it was NEVER like this!! YICK!!!) Glad Alice is doing better...I'd rather be sick myself than have the short person be under the weather...

PS...here's a new angle...guilt...You DO realize I have been holding off rambling about The Man from Laramie and Two Road Together...just because I did not want you to get distracted.... :-)

Hello there Mr. Grey...I am not EVEN going to ask where your ramble is...not because of your nice words just a while ago (very kind...thankyou) ...but because I am trying to use reverse psychology...maybe if I stop hounding you ....you will THINK I want you to NOT post your comments....and then just to be ornery...you will....oh wait...in order for all that to work I guess I should have NOT told you about my scheme...so ...what the hey....Oh...WHEN are you ever going to post for us???????? There....I am really trying a new tactic....reverse reverse psychology....in which I will appear to be "bumbling" at this whole psyche game to lull you into a false sense of security...oh wait..now I am telling you all about THAT plan too...but then again..if I WERE bumbling....) I just love these little mindgames...or do I????????? :-) You talked about your husbands in the most wonderful of ways. I don't know about Jack...but mine has to be a saint to put up w/ the likes of me...so he deserves all the nice things I can say about him....(but don't tell him I said that!!) :-)

Santschi-Girls! April...THAT needs to go on the back of those t-shirts!! Glad you liked the Rx...hope it helped. As far as the snow is concerned...eventually it will melt...but in the meantime...When life hands you snow...make snowballs!! (And then you can throw them (in secret of course) at those folks who fired your boss! Seriously...hope things improve for you. Try to have a nice afternoon.

Your wish is my command, my sister.... Here is one Tom to give you a hug.... Here is the other to give you some flowers... And the chocolates are from me...hope you have a better day!!! :-)

Hiya Molo! I have seen Portrait of Jennie a couple of times...but not recently. Very moody Is a good way to describe it.... It is a different sort of love story to be sure...but it seems to work for me. :-) still plan to ramble about The Devil and Daniel Webster soon I am looking forward to that. I enjoyed getting to watch that one and look forward to the rambling. as near as I can figure you all were about to hang Frank and some how he got out of it again. For some reason the scene of Rooster Cogburn yelling across to Eula: See ya at the hangin' popped into my mind. If he doesn't get to posting pretty soon, I'm a thinkin' his days of "getting out of it" are going to come to an end.... The Oxbow is looming off in the distance....(No pressure there, Grey Guy! HA! ) :-)

Kathy - I have a record of Carmen's popular hits... I bet it would be good to scrub the floors to! I will have to try it out.... More than likely I will find myself sashaying around with a fruit bowl on my head..... HA!!! Now that I would like to try for myself as well...but does it have to be fruit?? I will need a nice snack after all that hard work cleaning house and that just sounds way too health conscious...Maybe I'll try sashaying w/ a dish of chocolate candy instead....OH!..I know..I will have a dish of chocolate covered CHERRIES (clear centers if you please) That way I can still call it a "fruit!" :-) Everybody...grab your mop and bucket and sashayyyy!!