rohanaka
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Posts posted by rohanaka
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Oh Miss Maven... far be it from me to agree with FRANK GRIMES (usually) ha
(But since he is agreeing with the MOVIEMAN too, ha.. it will be OK this time, ha) The Grey Dude says: A new voice is always worth listening to you. Especially yours, Lively Gal
Yeah.. what HE said. HA!
I say.. you go girl!! I am really enjoying your perspective on my beloved Rip and Vance. ha. (and I bet you have a lot to say on that low life TC too) HA!! All kidding aside.. it is a great story WELL worth chatting. We DID have a very good rumble ramble over it all already.. but a year is too long to go by to let it just gather dust. I hope you will let us hear more from you when you get the chance. -
Well Miss Maven, you have me on the edge of my seat. I an looking forward to your next post on MY favorite Mann film (too) ha.
Now, like you I have not seen all of them either.. but to date. The Furies is definitely my favorite. And it was a TOTAL (total, total, total) surprise to ME.
I started out rolling my eyes at it even (the first time I watched it). I was thinking. oh.. this film is going to be one of THOSE.. (you know.. spoiled rich girl.. stomps her foot.. everybody pays attention.. blah blah blah... yawn)
But then came:
And after THAT it became a totally different movie altogether for me.
I am loving Stanwyck?s scenes with Dame Judith Anderson. They crackle and bristle as Vance tries to hold her contempt and fear at bay for this woman who can usurp her position in her father?s house and in his eyes
Everything (I mean everything) about this movie changed for me w/ the appearance of Flo in the story. It was a turn I TOTALLY was not expecting and I LOVED how it all came together. (and fell apart) for Vance, Rip.. and even TC after that moment in the story (you know... THAT moment, ha)
I am really looking forward to reading your thoughts on "the men" of The Furies. I have to say that I was in a definite minority over both TC and Rip in our "rumble ramble" that we had over in the Western Rambles thread last summer, ha. But I truly enjoyed BOTH characters very much. But truthfullly, as we went further and further along in our LONG drawn out ramble on this film last year.. I got more and more (and MORE) drawn into all the various characters and exactly what it was that made them tick. It is a REALLY good film for that sort of thing.
The Furies is one film that I can honestly say caught me by surprise (and I mean that in a GOOD way, ha and THANKFULLY not in the same way as say.. FLO! (ha)
It really is a fun film and a very intriguing story on a lot of different levels. I will look forward to hearing more about your take on it all, ma'am.
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wow... that's quite an opener!!!
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Oh, for goodness sake, I missed this post
Uh huh.... I figured it was something like that.. (You forgot to read the Shiftless" warning lable on your rope, didn't you? So you missed the part where it says "Once you have made the threat to act against the accused, you have to follow through and be sure you either a) make sure they do what they are supposed to do.. or
let them SWING! GOLLY.. everyone knows the first rule of "Peacemaking" is NEVER threaten a neck tie party.. unless you know how to use the equipment.. OH for goodness sake.
We will get to it soon
Now where have I heard THAT one before???
I hope you're ready to disparage the film as much as I am
What??? You forget, this is Ford country.. where seldom is heard a "disparaging" word.. except for those wrongheaded things spoken by some GREY person. ha.
All kidding aside.. although I enjoyed the film and thought it was a very intriguing story, (and I loved several of the performances) I DID have a few issues with this film (in terms of how it all came together and a few other details as well) It was kind of like a John Ford Cavalry movie meets CSI meets Law and Order meets Glory meets.. The Andy Griffith Show. ha.
But I will save the rest of my comments for our chat.. if and WHEN you show back up, that is.
(Oh gee.. now I better go and find MY rope... sigh)
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Oh if only Barney were here!
Well... we NEED Barney Fife.. but sadly.. he is unavailable..
Instead the part of Barney will now be played by...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsKO_r76kfQ
It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood..
Oh wait.. sorry, wrong show...
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Hello Miss Applegate,
that archaelogy on MissG's brilliant concepts, and your own insight is pure inspiration
Thanks, but I owe it ALL to Miss G. She was the motivating force for me. Duke and O'hara fan that I am I still may not have sought out this film if she had not drawn attention to it for me.
And thanks for sharing the comments about your folks. I imagine that does lend an extra perpective to that story for you.
(I will have to check out the article you added in your link later, but just from the first part I read, it looks like a good read)
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Oh my gosh, my golly, Miss Applegate... now THAT was some evening.
I just kept reading and reading and wondering WHO were you going to run into NEXT! (wow)
I remember a little girl I used to babysit for (way way back when I was a teen) once got to go to Disneyland. She came back a week later and showed me the picture where she got to meet Mickey Mouse.. and I said, "Wow.. can I shake your hand?" because to me, ha, THAT was impressive. But GEE!! This is like that incident on steroids, ha. (OH me. With all the folks you got to meet... shaking your hand would be too much for me.. can I even just watch you shake hands with someone else?? ha)
I am glad you got to have such a special time, and I have enjoyed the way you have been able to describe it all so well for us here. I feel like I was walking along side you the whole time. (although I am sure I was not nearly so well dressed and my hair... oh my hair, ha.. alas.. ) But OH me.. it has been fun to tag along.
PS: thanks for the interview w/ our beloved Mr. O, too. That was a real treat as well. Everything I have ever heard or read about him (or seen in inteviews with him like the one you posted) makes me just think "beloved" is exactly the right word. I bet getting to meet him was the best part of the whole experience, for sure.
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These two certainly didn't lack love. And I don't think they were selfish exactly...... it was almost like, what was good for one was the worst for the other, and vice versa.
That is a great way to say it. I think Miss G had it right in her original posts too.. the Navy really owned Spig (or he let it be first place at least) His family was a high price to pay for it, though. I just wish we could have gotten to see both of them take a different perspective as in... instead of pushing one another away... saying "all these things may be working against us, but you can't get rid of me that easily".
Again... very sad.
Edited by: rohanaka on Jul 5, 2010 12:52 PM
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Hello there Miss G...
"John Dodge". Ha. Great name. Those are all Ford's things in the office, there
Ha... I wondered if they were. (loved the little stagecoach on his desk). If anything (given all the things you have ever told me about Ford and his personality) I think Bond likely "underplayed" him. ha. (Not loud enough.. ha) But still a VERY fun surprise to see him in the film like that.
I'll try to reply as soon as I can acquire the energy. I was out most of yesterday and have a lot of catching up to do
No hurry, little gal. Hope you get a chance to relax some today. :-)
Kindness is in short supply on this board
Is it just me... or do you smell excelsior burning???? :-)
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you did not pull any punches
Thanks Jackie... I am really glad I got to see this film (after such a long wait)
I find a huge amount of "real" in those characters and their situation. Because his disability is not really the story here. It's their disability - their marriage
That's it exactly. And you are right. It is heartbreaking. (but also, for some, very real) It was a sad commentary on what can happen in a marriage when two people focus more on what they want to have or be for themselves than on what they want to give or to be for each other. One should never feel like they have to totally lose all of who they are in a marriage to make it work.. but both people (over time) have to be willing to put the "me" aside and focus on the "we" if things are ever going to prosper. When it works.. it is a BEAUTIFUL thing.. but when it fails.. very sad.
I also love Dan Dailey here. Just the way he is filmed - coming in, every day. Making every day a new and exciting one, but still coming....every day
He truly was "a friend in need". My favorite scenes for him were in the hospital. I hate to think where Spig would have ended up w/out him.
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Just so long as she is not packing heat:
:-)
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I thought I'd let Quiet Gal know, the pressure is on
Ready whenever you are O Sultan of Grey.... or as the kiddies say nowdays... "Bring it".
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A friend told me this news story sounds an awful lot like the film Little Nikita
I have been thinking about that ever since the news story broke. (I even mentioned it to my husband that I was expecting Sidney Poitier to show up any minute now)
As for was it "good"... maybe entertaining is a better word. It had some nice intrigue and a bit of action. I will say... It was not bad. I remember liking it ok, (but not enough to seek it out to watch it again since then)
It has been a VERY long time since I saw it, but if I recall the main focus is on Poitier's character trying to use the kid as a way to get info on his parents and their spy activities. (and the kid is more or less CLUELESS that his parents were ever even spies at all) But again, I may not be remembering it all. (I am an old woman and my old tired brain aint what it used to be, ha)
Edited by: rohanaka on Jul 4, 2010 1:04 AM
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Oh brother....
Punch it Jackie... full speed ahead. ha.
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I just want to say how flattered I am you actually went to the trouble to find and drag out that long winded monologue I wrote ages ago! Oh wow, I still haven't learned to say things in a succinct fashion, lol.
Oh golly, girl. It was VERY rememberable and NOT at all "long winded". It truly has been in the back of my mind ever since I read it and it has kept me looking forward to the chance to see the film for that long too.
It is a thorny film---it is not a whitewashed biography of Frank Wead, which is all the more interesting considering Ford was his friend and insisted on making the movie before anyone else tried to do the story of the man. I think, personally, it's because Ford may have seen much of his own marriage and self in Frank's story. He wanted to tell the truth, but also to give us a chance to understand and, hopefully, not to judge. I think it's one of the most remarkable and unusual films he ever made.
It is all that and more. Nicely said, youngun. (and ha... I also wanted to mention earlier and forgot.. WHAT about that Wardie Bond.. ha. I LOVED his send up of "Pappy". That put a huge smile on my face the minute he put on those glasses. LOVED it. ha.)
I will look forward to hearing more from you on this film (if you are so inclined) and also.. IF you have the time and want to post any of them.. those screencaps from your original post were GORGEOUS. I almost "swiped" a couple to repost here.. ha. But did not want to be a "cap thief" ha.
Ok.. off to see the Sergeant.. no really.. I mean it.. Honest... this time I'm really going. REALLY! ha!!
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Hellllloooooooo Miss Goddess!!!
Wow. I am stopping in here for a moment to tell you that (ha) Sgt Rutledge did NOT get watched yet (but I WILL be taking care of that this evening, barring any unforseen circumstances, ha. NEVER let it be said that I left a challenge from the Grey Dude unanswered) ha.
But I have to tell you the REASON the dear Sergeant was yet again put on hold.... Thanks to AMC and their all weekend salute to my beloved DUKE, ha. And thanks to the QT being set on watching what I had been planning to TAPE so I could watch Sgt Rutledge instead.. I ended up going with The Wings of Eagles this afternoon.
OH MY GOLLY it has been a long time coming (for almost TWO years now) I have remembered your VERY excellent and splendid post on this film (posted elsewhere on the message board and LONG since buried) but I went in and looked it up as a refresher after watching the Duke and my sweet Maureen today.
And IF I may.. I'd like to FINALLY (finally) respond to some of your really thought provoking and well written words. (to make it more enjoyable for the folks to be able to read for themselves, I have take the liberty of copy and pasting some of your comments from the other thread in here)
LONG ago (in Nov of 2008 to be exact) Miss Goddess wrote:
Watching this movie helped me understand a little better the significance of the use of color cinematically. Ford uses a restricted "palette" so it was easy for me and specifically, I noticed how he uses the color blue in all its various hues. This is just my own opinion or interpretation, I don't say that any of this is what the director meant or implied. From what I've read in a couple of Ford biographies, blue is a color Ford generally uses sparingly in character wardrobe and when he does, it usually connotes something relative to "trueness" or goodness. I think it does so in Wings of Eagles, but that it also has a double significance: it also (along with white) represents the "Navy", Spig's other world---the world he is most comfortable in, the world that he most conforms to---and, as is inherent in the military, a world which demands conformity in order to function.
I saw it.. I saw exactly what you meant. It is a BLUE blue movie. But it is BEAUTIFULLY blue. And you are right about the feel it lends to the story and the characters too.
And your call here is RIGHT on the money:
The color significance of blue is most interesting in the character of "Min" (Maureen O'Hara), who to me is the "heart" of the movie, as the woman often is in a Ford film. She starts out wearing the loveliest, Spring-like shade of Perriwinkle. The contrast with her red hair takes your breath away. She also is seen in white and only occasionally in navy-and-white. However, by the end of the movie, she has begun to wear the darkest shade of blue, Navy Blue. Navy blue is Spig's usual color, in an out of uniform, and it's now surrounding Min, just as The Navy does. In a crucial and climactic scene between them they are virtually identically dressed: in Navy and white suits. In "uniform"---which may denote conformity
Oh my word. Was she ever beautiful in this film. And yet to me, this was one of her most "un-beautiful" characters ever. You get to see her flaws and all. In fact.. you view both him and her that way. (and I am speaking of their inward failing more than any outward flaws) That to me was one of the most obvious things about her.. (especially when she was wearing the navy and white) CRISP clean, flawless in appearance... even her hair is TOTALLY perfect.. and yet.. inside.. wounded, and very much broken. What a contrast.
Min's defeat, the Navy has won. But she goes down fighting, throwing off the navy jacket
It was almost as if she could barely stand the thought of it (the jacket) on her back anymore.
But going back to the parallel meaning of "blue", which is truth, in the most honest moments Spig and Min share, Spig is wearing blue and in one scene, there are even blue flowers before them, "witnessing" their exchange. The color is at its most bittersweet and ambivalent in Spig's rhapsodic daydream of his past good times with Min, starting when he unfolds the vibrant blue folio with their pictures---notice in the "memory" how the Navy has still claimed Spig for her own and even Maureen is dressed in his favorite uniform
That for me was one of the best moments in the entire film. I loved him looking back on his family and his life with them (all too brief as it was) and reflecting on what TRULY was the best part of the entire journey he'd been on for so long.
I also want to mention Maureen's extraordinary acting and then I'll have done with the subject until others have seen it or wish to comment. I think Maureen's performance in The Wings of Eagles is one of the greatest overlooked performances in all of movies. And one reason why is that she had to play most of her toughest scenes to no one but the camera (or perhaps to the director sitting, as he customarily did, just under or next to the camera). Ford so very interestingly places the actors and the camera in a way no one else would I'm sure of it. And he does so to tell us something about the characters of Spig Wead and his wife, Min. In most of Spig's scenes, he is not facing the camera (us---the audience), but slightly angled or in profile, on his stomach in the bed or even with his back to the camera. Min, in contrast, is often placed squarely in front of the lens, facing us---compelling us---directly. It's as if Ford is saying look at her, look at Min and pay attention. It also seems to say she is naked and honest about her emotions and Spig is hiding from them or denying them. It's extraordinary when I think of what if must have entailed for Maureen to pull what she had to out of herself and her ability to play such anguished emotions (there are several scenes like that) directly facing a machine and not being able to look at a human face (unless it was Ford's). That is TOUGH WORK in case y'all don't realise it. It's hard enough in a two-shot when you can feed off of your partner's response but when you are isolated--- and the positions also indicate isolation to me---it can be terrifying. And you can see her terror in her eyes, it works so perfectly for the character!! I don't think I ever truly esteemed her gifts as much as I should until I really looked hard at this film.
Beautifully said, little darlin'. I have always admired Ms O'Hara and her acting talent. But you are rigth.. this is likely one of her very finest films (in terms of showing her depth as an actress and her ability to truly draw you into her heart by the way she expresses her emotions. You can feel the gutwrenching frustration and sadness, and loneliness.. and anger. OH me.
You know.. one of the things that the QT and I both commented on was how "unlikable" we found these two people to be. Usually, you just fall in love with the sorts of characters that you find Duke and Maureen playing (when they are together in a film) That is not to say that I found the movie unlikable. Quite the opposite. But I don't think these two people were MEANT to be liked (in that way) I think the story was what it was. There was a LOT to admire about both of them.. but in terms of "liking" who they were as people.. I found it very hard. (especially just before and directly after the accident)
This truly is an unusual Ford film (compared to many of his others) with regard to family, anyway. (although there were plenty of other "Fordie" moments to be found. The patriotism and the respect for the military.. and the "brawling" for sport were all there for sure. But the family roles were all out of whack in this film. Very unsual.
I told the QT that if he EVER (ever, ever) were in a bed like that he would not need his old navy buddy to come in there and tell him to move his toe. ha. I would be there kicking his behind until he moved it. ha. The Navy buddy could just be there for moral support. ha. And THAT to me is the saddest part of this story. The way they BOTH gave up on one another so easily. They obviously loved one another.. but they just did not have enough strength (for two such stubborn characters) to be strong TOGETHER when it really counted. (like when "the Commodore" died.. or when Spig had to move away... she should have gone with him.. those little girls were ROBBED of knowing their daddy by stubborn pride... OH, don't get me started, ha. What a sad story of wasted love and opportunity for happiness.
But the worst of it all was when he drove her away (in the hospital)... and she went. I looked over at the QT and told him, (in no uncertain terms) "You can't get rid of me that easily". (and of course, ha.. he said.. " I know. You are like a bad penny, you'd just keep turning back up") THAT's my QT!!! (ha)
Somehow Daily was always so aggressive and even obnoxious before but Pappy softens him up and makes him almost puppy-ish---and immensely likable. I was extremely touched by his portrayal of "Jughead", the man who saw it all and tried in his way to play "cupid" between his best friend and his wife, who saw Spig's faults but tried to protect him from the inevitable result of his selfishness. And got no thanks for it.
OH I think dear Jughead was my most favorite character in the whole entire story. What a friend. (even when overlooked... the way he turned up in that Taxi... sigh) He truly was ALWAYS there as a friend in need. He was a great character.
Thanks again, so very much, Miss G for drawing attention to this film for me. (even though it has taken me a couple of years to finally get to it, ha) I can't honestly say this is my favorite Fordie... not by a long shot.. but still a very good film and very compelling story. Very much worth watching. (And I think I mentioned this way back years ago when you made your first post.. you should have that thing published in a movie magazine.... VERY thought provoking comments about a what I am sure is a too often overlooked film.
And now.. I MUST go see about that Sgt Rutledge.... NEVER let it be said that old Shiftless got the better of ME! Ha.
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He might run into one fo these poisonous creatures
HA!!!! Now there's one to add to my arsenal for sure!! ha.
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Okay Miss Peacemaker, you know you can do it! I have faith in you
Thanks, little missy.. I have (thanks to a dear friend :-) ) the long neglected disc in my hot little hand. The time is now!! (I may have to tape poor Duke and Maureen this afternoon and watch them another time, ha) I have a LOT going on the next few days... but I will make every effort to get things taken care of. Oh, imagine that upstart of a Grey Guy thinking he can swing a rope at me... That will NEVER do. Ha.
(did I mention it was a world gone MAD????????) ha.
PS: Jackie.. it's a "rumble" ha.
Edited by: rohanaka on Jul 3, 2010 2:33 PM
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Oooohhh, it feels good to be the hanger and not the hangee, for a change
OH good golly.. it's a world gone mad. (gulp)
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It's kind of "out there"
Ha...well then (depending on who you talk to, ha) I should feel right at home with it.
I could tell just from the one clip I saw on youtube it was not your average story. (and then all that I read too, was really intriguing as well. I will keep an eye out for it. Wouldn't it be fun? I read some more about the place and it grows more and more fascinating. I would love to go there. Just the size of it takes my breath away. That and the Grand Canyon are two western places I want to see (I've seen the GC from a plane and that was pretty jaw dropping).
Oh little darlin'. The QT and I have talked about going to the Grand Canyon the entire time we've been married. (and that is 17 years just last week, ha) We have always had SOMETHING come up and never been able to get there yet. (Everytime we talk about it, one of my favorite sayings is..."It's not like it's going anywhere..ha. And if it DOES go somewhere, then it won't matter anymore if I did not get to see it, ha) But I DO hope to go there someday. And everytime we talk about going, we always talk about Monument Valley too. The QT has been to both these places (years and years before I met him) and he talks so fondly of both of them.
Someday (sigh...) A Ford Family Reunion as a part of that trip would be like the icing on the cake, ha. I say lets' do it. I'll bring the potato salad.. OH wait.. that is YOUR specialty. I will bring.. a VEGGIE tray.. that way if the GREY guy suddenly wanders in (because we know HE wouldn't be caught DEAD at a Ford Family renuion.. HA) we can scare him away w/ the bell peppers and cucumbers!! HA!!!!!!!!
Ah.. the Grand Canyon... Monument Valley... meeting up w/ my John Ford fam friends... and shaking a carrot stick at the Grey Dude.. now THAT would be a dream vacation for SURE.
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Hello Miss Applegate.. just wanted to pop in and say I read your Day 1 Part 4 some time ago, but its taken me a while to get back in and read up on your latest entries. Golly, it's the next best thing to being there. (sigh) :-)
I wanted to say thanks again for the fun read (PS.. enjoyed watching your all too brief moment of fame. I could not make out much detail on my little computer screen.. but that was a LOVELY coat, ma'am.)
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Wowsa Miss G, I am sorry I could not find this film you folks have been chatting. I am loving the discussion. And PS: I did see a little clip of it on youtube.. AND I read the synopsis on the TCM database. (Ha.. after reading it all.. I can even see the comparisons the Grey Dude made re: Raiders even.. Oh what is the world coming to? ha.) I will keep an eye out for this film, for sure.
I'll meet you all in Monument Valley
OH my golly it's a Ford Family Reunion. :-) I can't wait. I have needed a vacation for so long now... I can't even remember how long. ha. Forget all those "touristy" type trips and such.. Traipsing around Ford Country w/ you folks would be the living end for me. What a blast! (can't you just hear us.. "HEY... look over there.. I saw that cliff in Ft Apache." Or "Wow.. that's the very same hill in the back ground from the Searchers" ha.) All kidding aside.. I bet that tour that you posted about a while ago is first rate. If any of us ever DO make it there.. it has to be on our list, for sure.
(And PS: gals.. if we are ever going to get on Larry King like we talked about to tell him how we are all long lost sisters who found each other on the TCM website..ha. We'd better hurry.. he's retiring soon, you know. HA!
PS: Jackie:
Frank gets a kick in the pants
It's the least.. so very least... that he deserves. HA!
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Link was just that: a "link" between the past and the present or future. But he had to clean house, first.
It also instantly puts the person in the past because we don't think of the west in terms of the present, and they especially did not do so in the 1950s nor would they associate Gary Cooper with the present. Yet it's a man of the west who's going to try to survive in a new society, or revert to the old one. When this movie was made, I think the whole country was trying to do that.
Wowsa... I am w/ the Grey Dude, Miss G... you are on fire!! (and I mean that in a GOOD way, ha)
I think you both have raised some excellent points about the possible deeper meanings behind the story. (and the characters) I can't wait to hear what Miss Maven has to say about it all.
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MAN OF THE WEST
Woo hoo! Enjoy yourself, young'un.
I am predicting another hit for you, little gal. A conflicted gritty hero with a past, murder, mayhem, a REALLY awful bunch of bad guys.... , and another gorgeous gal (in an "impossible" romance situation) What's not to like?
I will look forward to hearing your thoughts.
(But since he is agreeing with the MOVIEMAN too, ha.. it will be OK this time, ha) 
I say.. you go girl!! I am really enjoying your perspective on my beloved Rip and Vance. ha. (and I bet you have a lot to say on that low life TC too) HA!! 
let them SWING!
Western Movie Rambles
in Westerns
Posted
Hiya Miss Favell...
I am with you. There were flaws in this film (that frankly were a bit distracting and disappointing) BUT... that is not to say that it kept me from enjoying it. Because I truly did find it a very interesting and thought provoking story. The problem was I just had to keep riding along (on a twisty curvy sort of road) to go with the "flow" of things as the story got told.
I was joking a few days ago when I said it was like "a John Ford Cavalry film meets CSI meets Law and Order meets Glory meets... the Andy Griffith Show". BUT.. really that is not too much of a joke, ha. There was a LOT going on. But eventually it did finally come together to get the story told.
I too really liked the technique of the flash back. (especially the very first one w/ Constance starting her testimony. WOW, was that ever eye catching. It really drew me in. In fact I remember that I caught my breath and sat forward in my seat, even. But over time, I kept wishing it had not been a "flashback" story and that we really could have followed things as they happened throughout. It might have made it all come together better (at least for me)
The "doofy" characters and the whimsical moments were VERY very distracting. I have seen Ford use humor to lighten a serious story VERY effectively (such as some of the amusing characters and moments in The Searchers) but in this film.. it was VERY heavy handed and I truly felt some of the comedy (such as the moments with Burke's character) was so over the top that it was too misleading for such a (dramatic and powerful story) She could have been TONED down a lot... and fit quit nicely into the frame of the story w/out being so absurd. Usually I love those little "homey" touches of silliness from Ford, because I am myself a bit "homey and silly", ha, (hence my Andy Griffith comparison) but this time I was a bit disappointed by it all.
But Sgt. Rutledge has something else going on.... there are other forces in action with this movie. That it got made at all, with any vestige of Ford's humanity in it is impressive. I am not blaming the studio for Ford's choices, just wondering what was up? You can almost see the two distinct movies within the one, each vying with the other....and the Rutledge parts of the movie are SO much better than the other sections. I wonder if this was a conscious choice on Ford's part? Maybe he used this device to point up the humanity of Rutledge and his men, compared to the white folks?
It is possible. But I am not sure if that is what he had in mind or not.
The scene in which Rutledge stands and defends himself was beautiful - as were almost all of the scenes showing the buffalo soldiers themselves. Those were the men I was interested in, and Ford vested them of an inner beauty unmatched by any of the surrounding story
In a way it reminded me a bit of the film Glory. The battle scenes out in the desert where you get to see all the men in action (and interacting w/ one another) were terrific. And then, when Rutledge was testifying at one point he says something like he "loves" the 9th(?) Cavalry (not sure if I have the # correct) and I thought of the campfire scene in Glory where Denzel says "I loves the 54th" (we go around our house saying that for no apparent reason all the time, ha) Anyway.. parts of this film reminded me of the other one very much. And I liked the comparisons.
I also enjoyed how the bottom line for Rutledge was his military experience. That for him, color meant little, but his honor and military experience were everything. The military was an equalizer for him..... an outlet for his creativity and a way to show his strengths. I am sure that this is what Ford felt, even for himself. If that is not always the case in the real world - in Ford's world, the military should be an equalizer.
I like that generally speaking the soldiers received the honor and respect for their service that they deserved. They were not talked down to (by most) and were not belittled (by most) because of their race. They were portrayed as men of honor, serving their country and I liked that about this film a lot.
I also liked the "scientific" approach to the investigation too. The doctor explains some of the details of the crime to Hunter's character (hence my CSI comparison) I liked how attention to the evidence was what really gave this trial a chance to be more than just pointing a finger at the convenient target. It gave the defense a place to go other than just relying on the testimony of others.
Again, to miss the bigger picture for the small details is a shame. Though I understand the flaws are there, I would rather take a look at the strengths of this film. For an African American man to come out and say "I am a man" in 1960? And then for another to say, the color of a man's skin should not matter... Well, this film deserves some respect when discussing it.
THAT is right on the money, little gal. It was a powerful statement being made and I think that is also why I found the distractions in the film so disappointing.
Mini spoiler alert:
I also was very disappointed by the final scenes (as Rutledge is walking past Hunter and Towers) After the trial is all over.. .and it is OBVIOUS what the truth has been all along... I may need to go back and watch it again... but it ANYTHING ever said to Rutledge again? I dont' think there was. There was nothing said by the people leading the Court Martial.. nothing even said by the Defense attorney.. or even by Ford (as I don't think we even get a shot of the look on Woody's face at the end of it) All we get to see is him restored to his leadership position and walking his men by the two "love birds" I wanted MORE. Some sort of apology to him for all he had to go through.. or SOMETHING. (maybe I am wrong... it has been just over a week since I watched it and I might be forgetting something. I need to go take another look at it to be sure, but that is how I am remembering it all)
OH gee... I am so whiny.. ha. The truth is.. the things I disliked about this movie are there.. but the bottom line is.. the things I really LIKED about the story more than made up for it in that it allowed me to really enjoy the good parts of the story and forgive the "distractions". I am glad TCM has been able to show this film a couple of times lately. I hope it gets more attention in the future as I think it is one that not a lot of people may be familiar with... but should be.