-
Posts
5,834 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
1
Everything posted by rohanaka
-
> {quote:title=JarrodMcDonald wrote:}{quote} > It's because I'm fairly new on these boards. Some of them have histories with you guys and they see fit to warn me. I find it amusing and also a serious problem. Hello Jarrod. Never having spoken to you before, I wonder if you could clarify who are the "Some of them" and also who the "you guys" would be. That sounds like a rather divisive statement and I would not like to misjudge you in any way. PS... sorry I spelled your name incorrectly in my original post, I have since made an edit. Edited by: rohanaka on Mar 23, 2010 12:44 PM
-
Sorry to interrupt... just wanted to take a quick moment and thank Miss G and the Grey Dude (and I think Jackie and Miss Maven too, if I recall) for making me watch The Maltese Falcon (HA!) finally. OH wow.. Chalk up another one on my newly started "BOGART MOVIES THAT I LIKE" list. ha. (That man is starting to grow on me like... oh what.... a tomato vine?? ha) I realy enjoyed his Sam Spade.. and I enjoyed all the twists and turns too. But WOW.... what can I say???? That Sydney Greenstreet really tipped the scale (NO pun intended) for me liking this film.. OH my golly was he ever something. Absolute perfection in that role. But honestly.. I just enjoyed the whole entire movie.. it moved quickly, yet took it's time in the conversations that counted. I really could not wait to hear what each character was going to say next... GREAT dialogue in that whole story... The only real criticism I can think of right now.. ha.. Mary's HAIR... oh gee.. but I am sure at the time it was all the rage.. ha. Well, I WISH I had more time to dive in deeper... but alas.. the next several days are not likely going to give me that freedom. So I will just say for now that I can happily claim yet another fine HB performance on my newly formed Bogie favorites list. It has been a lot of fun discovering some new films and finding out that I actually maybe could possibly perhaps (ha) been ever so slightly OFF in my original assessment of Mr. Bogart. But I am glad to be making up for some lost time. The QT has seen way more of his films than I have and was really suprised when I told him I had checked out The Treasure of the Sierra Madre last week because I had never watched it. So when I told him that I wanted to watch this film tonight because I'd never seen it either, he did yet another one of those double takes.. "WHAT??? You've never seen THE MALTESE FALCON?? What planet are YOU from? ha. OH golly... he has a way with words now and then.. ha. Almost 17 years of marriage and we still have SO much new to learn about one another... ha. (PS... the QT also told me that the next HB film I need to check out is The Caine Mutiny... ha. Even he is getting into the "re-educate Kathy about Bogart" act.. ha. So which one of you has him on your payroll now?? Ha) :-) Edited by: rohanaka on Mar 23, 2010 1:44 AM
-
BRONXGIRL'S MOTHER, HENRY FONDA'S HIRSUTENESS, ETC.
rohanaka replied to Bronxgirl48's topic in Films and Filmmakers
You're all laughing, and I'm crying. Ha.. and I'm crying from laughing!! ha. Thanks Miss B (and B MOM) for the smile... So she saw THE BROWNING VERSION last night. Mom: I couldn't understand a lot of what was said. Hey.. tell Mom she was not alone.. ha. I had a hard time understanding some of their "proper" conversation too. ha. (But PS: more importantly.... ask mom how HARD she wanted to slap that wife.. oh my golly.. I bet she could've set that gal straight about a thing or two, ha) -
Hiya Ollie.. I have to agree with you sir. I think The Wizard of Oz has to, at the very least, rank among the greatest ever (and in my book, it would be at or near the top) You didn't know I was writing a book, did you??? HA!!!!!! :-) (kidding..ha. But, BOY just imagine how many pages THAT thing would have as much as I like to blab on and on!! ha) So many lyrics are now clich?s because they fit so commonly in our speech I was thinking that very thought the other day. There are so many "Wiz-icisms" ha.. in our culture and almost everyone knows them.. "We're not in Kansas anymore" "There's no place like home" and yes.. I know.. ha. that was around longer than the movie.. ha. but I think most people still think of this film when they hear it) etc, etc. Top notch special effects long before CGI could come close. I still think the Wiz superimposed over the spouting flames, and the head itself, the voice - everything about those scenes are penultimate in effects. OH.. and don't forget the cyclone!! (or twister.. or tornado.. ha. depends on what part of the country you live in..ha) Oh wow... I still think that is one of the most realistic "storms" in a movie I have ever seen. It was actually menacing.. and terrifying.. and BEAUTIFUL all at the same time. (much like what I think a real tornado would be.. ha. But I hope I never see one anywhere else but on tv to find out) HI Miss Bronxie: What's always fascinated me about ?THE WIZARD OF OZ? is the deft way it depicts the unconscious reality of dreams; dream-logic...When Dorothy is trapped in the witch's castle, and she hears her three friends on the other side of the door, she calls out, "Hurry, the hourglass is almost empty!" as if they already know what's going on inside.? Ha.. that hourglass line always bugs me.. ha. At least since I have been old enough to figure out they have no idea what she is referring to.. ha. I keep expecting the scarecrow or lion to say.. "What hourglass" when they break through the door. ha But you are right.. this film doesn't worry about those sorts of issues. And it doesnt' have to make sense all the time anyway.. it IS a dream. (Or is it??? ha.) Hiya Miss Maven: comment just re-confirms my thoughts that we (humans) really have more in common than we don?t have things in common. You have it right.. I think movies (and with regard to this conversation.. especially classic films) just have a way for breaking through all those other "issues' and give us all a common ground to build on. It is fun to meet so many people from so many walks of life and get to know a few of them. This message board has given me a chance to learn so much about films and actors and directors I might never have even noticed before.. but also to meet some really great people along the way. And PS: Thanks for sharing more of your memories from the Fan Progammer event. That STILL seems like the coolest thing I think I ever heard. ha. (and here I am getting to talk every day to some of you folks.. GEE.. I love that) Oh...and you're right about this as well: having movies ON DEMAND, or on DVD or VHS has taken the anticipation out of the experience of movie viewing, somewhat. But there is something to be said for having access at our fingertips. I'm torn. Me too, kiddo. ha. I do like the convenience that the modern day technology allows.. but I miss some of that anticipation of looking forward to FINALLY getting to see that old fave that hasn't been on in a long while.. But come to think of it... GEE.. since my DVD and tape collection is NOTHING compared to some folks.. I guess I do get to have that "anticipation" thing TOO, here at TCM as well. ha. I get so excited to FINALLY get to see a film I haven't been able to catch before. But.. my problem is just REMEMBERING to check that doggone schedule... I have grown so forgetful in my old age... (sigh) Edited by: rohanaka on Mar 21, 2010 2:00 AM
-
> {quote:title=movieman1957 wrote:}{quote} > I learned three things watching "My Darling Clementine." (I pretty much already knew them.) Doc Holliday is an arrogant SOB. Chihuahua throws like a girl. And Wyatt Earp is as slow and measured and deliberate as any western character. OH me! ha. Chris, why don't you tell us how you REALLY feel. ha. :-) I like your bold take on all three characters, sir. And I do see your point about Doc.. he does have a level of arrogance. But you know what I saw mor in him... self deception. He wanted to believe he was NO LONGER the man Clem once knew (and in many ways he wasn't) but he still had his pride and he still had a level of honor about him that all that booze and "wrong living" could not cover up. He made sure Wyatt knew Chihuahua had lied about where she got that necklace. It was not that he wanted to rat her out, or even the Clantons. He wanted HIS name cleared. That said a lot to me about what he really was deep down inside, underneath all the "outer shell" he'd built around him. I liked that about him a lot. And you are right on target about Wyatt. He was a very "deliberate" sort of person. In fact, I saw a different kind of arrogance in HIM than I did in Holliday. But it suited him a lot. He was a straight shooter and he did not put up w/ anything once there was something he was being asked to put up with. (and I liked that about HIM a lot too) And as for Chihuahua throwing like a girl.. ha. well... she WAS one wasn't she??? (and PS.. we gals will take that as a compliment... she was a DEAD shot w/ that pitcher, now wasn't she??? ha) > Earp is at times nonchalant of his own fame. He throws his name around as if he were like anyone but everyone knows him and it carries weight. It does not go to his head. It is different with Clanton. There he uses it for effect. He knows it got Clanton's attention. OH boy, the look on old man Clanton's face. It was is he had just swallowed his gum.. if only for a moment. And then he looked MAD. > About the ending scene. My DVD has both versions. The first has Wyatt talking to Clementine. He tells her of his plans, shakes hands and gets on his horse and rides off. The second is the final version where the scene has a studio shot of Wyatt kissing Clementine on the cheek. I prefer the former. Wyatt, with his gentleness and shyness with Clementine doesn't strike me as the kind who would be bold enough with her to kiss her. The first way just seems more natural. I liked the kiss. I wanted the kiss. Give me the ending with the kiss. (HA!) :-) > It is probably Mature's best performance. Even with the twist of history the story and the supporting cast adds plenty of depth and makes for a first rate film. I am sure a lot of liberties were taken with the historical facts (we are talking about a Fordie, afterall) and the whole incident at the OK Corral is the stuff that legends are made of. But boy... it was a grand film, wasn't it? And the ending with Holiday was a very poignant one. In this version he got to go out on his terms (rather than the sadder way that history records)
-
Thanks, my friend. And you too again, Miss G. But lets face the REAL truth.. ha. I am just a blabber mouth and you folks are my enablers.. ha!
-
Ha... Ms. Favell.. again we posted at the same time. ha. (It is our " trademark signature") ha. if you liked it, you could stay my friend. WOW... ha. You took your movies SERIOUSLY.. even back then! ha. (ps.. I LOVE this film, ha. glad I pass the test!! ha)
-
Wow. little missy!! > {quote:title=JackFavell wrote:}{quote} > Ford's use of rhythm in the film is outstanding. He uses it to great effect creating the quiet, still, wide open spaces and the crazy loud wide open town. I've never seen such a contrast between two places before... Ford was brilliant in the way he makes that town seem like a free for all, just by sound and light.... it also points up how long the Earps have been on their own in the desert... the town is so amplified to them, because they have not seen people for so long. I love how you catch so much stuff. Your posts are always so valuable to me because I get a whole new perspective on things after reading > The whole barber and church scene is so leisurely, so flowing, the peace of the desert has come to the town, rolling over it like the smell of honeysuckle.... or is that cologne? Ha!! I loved that bit w/ Wyatt saying "It's me" ha. It is one of my favorite parts of that segment of the story. So matter of fact. Almost as if he should be rolling his eyes when he says it (only a little bit disgusted, ha) > Now that the Earps are here, things will be OK, or maybe because of the new church.... the bell rings calmly, the tower looms over the landscape but doesn't dwarf it, since it is hollow and airy, letting the sunlight and sky shine through. I really noticed that church bell this time too. It almost seemed as if it was sounding the news. "Come on out everybody. We are going to be a real community now, and you are all invited" I found myself wondering how far that thing could be heard (with the wind carrying the sound out there in the desert. > Linda Darnell - she is never better than in this picture. God, she was good! I never realized before how sympathetic she is. A beautiful performance. And the way she throws that pitcher of water over Ward Bond - beautiful! I wanted to hit her and hug her all at the same time. She is so cold and "self" preserving. (as in, I have to look out for my own interests because NO ONE is going to look out for me, but me) and it DID make her more sympathetic because of it. I could see her as a little girl never getting anyone's love and then growing up longing for it still. She had a spirit about her though, ha. (I love the scene w/ that pitcher too. VERY unexpected) > The scene with Doc, sitting in his room looking at the mirror. Because of the other Ford films I have watched, I see this as the bookend to Wyatt's heartfelt graveside talk with James. Except Doc has no dead watching after him from above - he only sees himself looking back at him, full of reproach and self loathing. He is very alone, even if it is his own fault. A beautifully shot and acted scene. OH talk about a sympathetic character. I loved the part where he completes the Hamlet soliloquy in the bar. OH my. > Henry Fonda - I cannot get over this performance.... He could charm a lion, that one. That is a great way to describe him (especially in the scene you mentioned)... A lion charmer. But he himself was almost cat-like in the way he moved. (I liked the way you described him as he went after the indian) He was grace and charm, (and just the right mix of 'manly" and "awkward" w/ Clementine, too. ha) He was also very much filled w/ "fight and determination" at the right moments. But in a quiet deliberate way. No "hot headed knee-jerk" stuff with him. I really like this performance for Fonda a lot. I wish you had gotten to see the shoot out part this time. OH me... I still found it as suspenseful as ever. But wow.. so quiet in places. NO sound at all... not even the wind. It really built the tension.
-
Thanks ladies... I appreciate you putting up with my "ramblings" ha. Miss G: I did see a LOT more to the set design when I watched on the big screen a while back. It's an extraordinarily crafted piece of fantasy OH I am still jealous that you got to see this film on the big screen like that. I remember the story you told about what a special night it turned out to be for you and your friends. And just the experience of all that "granduer" up on the larger screen had to be an awesome thing. Miss Favell: have always noticed in those scenes with the globe (oh the horror of auntie Em turning into the wicked witch!) how ornate it was, and the different birc a brac in her castle room.... it's a little weird but since i was a kid I have been fascinated by witches, and I like the part where she starts making up a potion... the jars and stuff always make me interested in what's going on in the background.... and I see an armillary sphere there in one of those caps too that is very cool That whole part of the movie used to scare me so much when I was little, ha, that I must have tuned out all the little treasures on that table top. ha. (and you are right... OH THE HORROR of sweet beloved Auntie Em turning into the witch...AAAGGGHHH. ha. It still sends a shiver up my spine. (And PS: Wasn't it a wonderful world when THAT was the scariest thing we ever had to think about in a days time?? sigh) One of the things that cracks me up about this movie is not even in the movie at all... but in movies made by MGM at the same time. The one that immediately springs to my mind is The Women..... in the fashion show section, there are all kinds of outfits that look exactly like Munchkinland garb - and this isn't the only movie in which women show up wearing tall munhckin striped hats, or full aproned dresses that are obviously inspired by or designed by the same designer of OZ How funny.. ha. I will have to watch for it the next time I see that movie.. but I do recall those ladies had some unique designs in their wardrobe... guess they weren't so unique afterall. ha. Those Munchkin folks were STYLIN' . OH gee they had so many different things going on in that part of the film. And I brought up the variety that I saw in the Emerald City folks.. but wow.. I should have mentioned the same thing for the Munchkins too. That pic I posted of them all standing there (with the flowers coming out of the mayor's back) is a perfect example of all the variety and style they had going on in those costumes. PS: Miss Maven... You and your sister sound like we did as kids growing up.. we could NOT WAIT for The Wizard of Oz to come around every year. Even as I got older, it was still something I looked forward to. That is the down side to all the convenience we have with the ability to have all our favorite films so readily accessible nowdays. You lose a bit of the anticipation. Oh for those nostalgic moments again. (sigh)
-
Hello there, Miss Goddess and my fellow rambling friends... I hope you won't mind this little detour, but the kidling and I had way too much fun a couple of weekends ago making some screencaps for my daughter in law (for her birthday). She is an avid Wizard of Oz fan (and even a collector) and so when the kidling got that film for Christmas this year on DVD, I promised the daughter in law some pics from her favorite scenes of the movie. Well, I started out just making THOSE screencaps... and well... ha... the kidling showed up and started saying, "But Mom, what about..." and "Oh.. get that part too" and before you know it... ha... I had this whole PROJECT going on. Now I have to say that I have always loved The Wizard of Oz. And as I have grown older, I am truly beside myself just seeing my daughter enjoy it too. It is so much fun to experience it all again with her. So she and I spent a LOT of time going over all the finer points of this film together. Boy did we have fun. I will say that one thing that I find to happen a LOT in making screencaps (and I know you will know what I am talking about because many of you have said it too) is the amount of extra detail you can catch in a film when you are studying it so closely like that. So I was not surprised when I started to see some things that caught my eye. But OH MY GOLLY, as we went along, I have to say this movie was packed FULL of all sorts of fun and interesting things that I never noticed before. (at least they were fun and interesting to me and the kidling) ha. Now I have to say, that some of the clarity I was seeing on the screen got lost when I made these screencaps, and that is disappointing to me. I really wish you could see it in the same sort of detail that I did. But to get the FULL effect, try watching the DVD on your computer sometime. It really is an eye popper. But be that as it may, with your permission, I would like to share just a few of the pics I made to give you an idea of some of my new found ?things? I either never noticed, or fully appreciated before about this movie. First off, I never really fully appreciated how beautiful and rich all the black and white scenes really are. As I sat there pausing all the various places in the DVD so I could capture the images, I just kept staring at all the pretty color. And I know that sounds backwards (because I am not talking about the ?color? portion of the film, but the black and white) And I realized that I truly do love this early part of the film for how rich it looks (even as much if not more as I enjoy the bright vivid colors in the ?Oz? portions of the movie.) But truly, when it comes to noticing ?new? stuff about the movie (that I never saw before) most of it happened after Dorothy steps outside that door and everything turns to color, OH me, that is where the fun really began. Now again, I could post shot after shot from just about EVERY scene in the movie, ha, because I just never really fully appreciated it all before. (but I will spare you) ha. But I do want to share just a few because it just amazes me that the costume people and set designers would put so much EXTRA detail in a film that has SO much to look at already. First of all, with regard to the flowers, let me just say, WOW. Did I ever see more and more this time than I ever have before. Now I know you are saying ?But Kathy, every where you look in Oz (except the witch?s castle) you will see flower after flower so what?s so new about THAT?? And you?d be right. There is LOTS of vegetation growing everywhere. I just never really noticed how MUCH. (and PS, I had noticed for the first time that the munchkins had flowers on their shoes about a year of so ago, so that was no surprise this time, but LOOK at the back of the mayor?s coat.) I NEVER noticed those flowers on his back before. The kidling and I laughed ourselves silly talking about where we thought they might be growing from. (And we?ll just leave it at that. HA!) :-) Also with regard to the costumes, I never noticed that there were some little ?swirls? on the backs of the tin mans ?gloves? before. You might have to look a bit closely, but the kidling picked those out as we were watching. (good eye for a 7 yr old) And speaking of details on costumes, the WITCH was a total surprise to me as well. And this detail I am mentioning may be hard to pick up. (but I hope you can make it out) I had to sort of crop the picture and change the size to get it to show up at all in the screen cap, but BOY did it stand out on the computer screen as I was watching I never realized her dress was anything but just a basic black plain old witch?s garb. But BOY does it have some detail. It has a lace up bodice, and an almost scallop design along the hem of the blouse. (I think it is two pieces) I NEVER ever saw all that before. Even her broom had details to it I never noticed before. Look closely at the ring near the end of the handle, (on the pic above) and also look at the basket weave that holds the straw together (on the pic below) Way more interesting than just your average old broom. And yet with so much going on in all those scenes where the broom is present, who would have thought they would have gone to so much trouble? And again, with regard to the witch, one place where all this attention to detail really caught my eye (for the first time) was in her castle. I always THOUGHT it was the most ?dull? set of all, because it was just this big cold, gray, scary looking stone building without much color or without any real character. But BOY was I wrong. LOOK at the detail on the mosaic pattern on the table (behind the crystal ball). not to mention all the neat little artifacts and trinkets (mostly gold) that are scattered on the top of the table. And look at the crystal ball as well. LOTS of interesting ?stuff? going on with the base of that thing. And there is a sort of zodiac looking pattern on the floor, not to mention all sorts of ?witchly? tools on the shelf behind where she and Dorothy are struggling (for Toto) and OH , ha, LOOK at the skeleton hand on the book, I NEVER saw THAT before. Now I know this has been a long post already, so I hope you will forgive me if I just mention a couple more things. One is, all the ?style? that is going on in the Emerald City. Oh my golly. I never realized all the variety there is to be found in all the hair styles, hats, dresses, and coats... Even the makeup. Everybody just looked like they were wearing ?green? before, but then I started to really study them, and they are all a bit unique and individual. It may not show up as good in this cap, but I really was impressed. (oh, and PS: check out the ONE guy w/ his hat off and the RED hair, ha) Another thing that I KNEW about this film as a kid (but never fully appreciated as an adult) is how SCARY it all is too, when the witch starts to really come after Dorothy. All this new attention to the details in the film really made that stand out for me even more. OH my golly. Those monkeys chasing after everybody, and that forest with all the creepy trees, and that awful scene where it changes from Aunt Em to the witch in that crystal ball... OH good grief, just looking at all those shots one by one, I got the chills up my spine JUST like I used to when I was little (but at least this time I did not go run behind the kitchen door, ha) Well, my friends. I HAVE to stop. Ha. I am SURE by now you are rolling your eyes and thinking, "OK, Kathy, we get it. You are obsessed with the Wizard of Oz, now? Plus, if I don?t quit now, I will likely be posting LONG into the night. Because I think I really AM obsessed, Ha. (and also if I don't shut up soon, you will kick me out of this place forever) So I am sorry to drag you all into my obsession, ha. But thanks for letting me share all this with you. And for putting up w/ my ?OH WOW! LOOK AT THAT? party. But truthfully, I love that I can be still amazed in a whole new way by this film that I have loved for so long. I like that I can find something new to appreciate about this movie after all these years. I have always thought of it as a feast for the eyes to be sure. But it just amazes me how much stuff I have missed from a movie that I have watched repeatedly (I have no idea how many times) since childhood. (and I am an OLD woman, so that is saying a LOT) HA! Thanks VERY much for letting me ramble (on and on) again my friends. I appreciate you putting up with me. Edited by: rohanaka on Mar 19, 2010 1:10 AM
-
> {quote:title=MissGoddess wrote:}{quote} > "Kind and beloved Pappy"?? Well, kind when no one could catch him at it and certainly beloved but also an ornery Irishman with a tongue like a whiplash, ha! I'd read before that they did butt heads, which doesn't surprise me. I don't think Mr. Brennan was one to put up with Ford's cantankerousness. Ha... well.. as for the "kind, beloved" comment.. let me get my tongue out of my cheek before I go on.. HA!!!! (and PS.. despite his "irrascible ways" I bet Ford was beloved by those who knew him best.. even some of the ones who got that whiplash tongue aimed at them most. ha. But OH I imagine you are right... I doubt my dear sweet Walter was among them.. ha. Looks like he did not take his tongelashing sitting still. ha. (and PS, I don't know at all what he was like in real life.. but he had "cantankerous" down pat in a lot of his roles, especially later on.. I wonder if he modeled any of them after Pappy??) HA!! :-)
-
OH my gosh, my golly..... I just finished watching My Darling Clementine. (sigh) I am so glad to get a chance to see it again.. AND this time I got it on TAPE, too (yippee!) But, oh, MISS G!!!! Did you catch what our dear, beloved Mr. Osborne said tonight AFTER the movie, about my dear sweet, Walter and our kind, beloved PAPPY??????????? ha. Ford: "Don't you even know how to mount a horse?" Walter: "No, but I have got three Oscars for acting!" Oh my goodness.... just imagine the jaws dropping around the movie set THAT day. ha. Edited by: rohanaka on Mar 18, 2010 9:57 PM
-
The Holts - Jack, Tim and Jennifer - A western dynasty
rohanaka replied to JackFavell's topic in Westerns
hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!! Oh wait... put that gun back down!! This is no laughing matter!! ha. :-) -
The Holts - Jack, Tim and Jennifer - A western dynasty
rohanaka replied to JackFavell's topic in Westerns
> {quote:title=JackFavell wrote:}{quote} > Hey, don't go away Hey.. Jackie... what is that pistol you have behind your back.. no really.. I mean it... I didn't take any gold!! I PROMISE!! ha. Thanks kiddo... I tend to get so excited when I find a movie I enjoy that I just blab on and on. I hope you do have more to say... I would love to read it. I think this film is one of the most exciting "new" films I have watched in a long time, so I am sure we've only scratched the surface. I just did not want to be a "treasure hog" ha. (Oh... don't tell Dobbs I said hog, ha) :-) -
The Holts - Jack, Tim and Jennifer - A western dynasty
rohanaka replied to JackFavell's topic in Westerns
he was probably already trying to figure out how to get rid of Howard and Curtin too Mr. Dobbs, I am sure you have it right. He had no ability to reason anymore and he was a train wreck waiting to happen for sure. By the time he finally snapped, if Howard had been along, as the oldest, he might have been the first to go. (but then again, maybe Curtain might have stopped him before Dobbs got to him... OR... Curtain might have died trying to protect the old man, and then Howard would have done in Dobbs. But since it all played out differently, the world may never know.) Well, Ms Favell,... thanks for letting me blab on and on, kid. I'll be keeping my eyes out now for the name Holt, for sure. Like I said earlier, I knew the faces and some of the movie titles, I just never sought out the name. (and PS My Darling Clementine is on my list for tonight for sure!) In the meantime, I just want to say thanks so much for letting me visit your camp here,and sit a spell. ha. I did not mean to go so "Treasure Crazy" on your thread, ha. (It must be gold fever. ha). But leave it to me to ramble on and on in a non rambles thread. ha. I have enjoyed my little journey here up the mountain and back down again, though. (But PS... all you prospectors, don't worry, I left all the gold alone, I promise. I am too much of a wimp to do all that digging or carry it out. ha I was just along for the sight seeing. ) -
The Holts - Jack, Tim and Jennifer - A western dynasty
rohanaka replied to JackFavell's topic in Westerns
Funny you should say that, Ms Cutter. I did think of it while I was watching last night w/ regard to some of the scenes w/ Cody (even before they read the letter) I guess Ox bow minds think alike. :-) And you are right. That would make a great double feature to watch them back to back... but BOY, imagine how wrung out a person would feel after all that tension and emotional upheaval, ha. I don't know if my ticker (or my guts) could take it. I take my movies so personally sometimes, I would be an emotional wreck by the time it was all over, for sure. ha. -
He just builds & builds the suspense until it makes you slightly uncomfortable that something really bad is going to happen before the good guy prevails. He doesn't pull any punches and doesn't seem to care if everything doesn't end happily. helenbaby, I likely have less experience with Lang than probably anyone on this message board, but I am coming to appreciate him more as I view his films. And from the very limited knowledge that I have, I think you have it right about the way he is less worried about "happy" and more involved with the suspense and the building of tension in the story and the characters. (and again, I know very little about what I am talking about... but what you have said is a great way to describe much of this film for certain)
-
The Holts - Jack, Tim and Jennifer - A western dynasty
rohanaka replied to JackFavell's topic in Westerns
> {quote:title=FredCDobbs wrote:}{quote} > Something really great about the Treasure movie is when Howard warns all those men at the Oso Negro about greed and gold fever, and how strange and suspicious men become when their piles of gold begin to grow. You are right. Howard did know what he was talking about. And he also mentioned that he preferred to be by himself, because he knew it was the safest way to avoid the sort of fighting that eventually went on between them all. (and to protect one's own stash) He made mention of how he had gained and lost several different fortunes over the years, so he likely had seen (and experienced) it all. > Then later, even Curtin was willing to go along with murdering Cody, when his big pile of gold was at risk. We will never know if Howard, Curtin, or Dobbs would have backed down at the last minute, before killing Cody. And then, as if relieved that he actually didnt have to kill Cody after all (after Cody spotted the bandits, and Howard suddenly needed him), Howard said to him, Come on down, friend, get something to eat before they arrive. So Cody went from a man about to be murdered to a close friend in about 30 seconds. That whole part was really interesting to me. I believe that they would have all pulled the trigger in the end, as much as I hate to think of it. I think Curtain and Howard may have done it to protect themselves one way, but I think Dobbs was doing to protect himself another. They all had different motivations for wanting the money, but in the end, I guess you could say greed is greed. (and murder is murder too. Cody would have been just as dead, no matter each man's motive) Cody was a huge risk for them, no matter how decent a guy he may or may not have turned out to be and he had the same "gold fever" they did. Although I likely would have put him more in the benign category of greed along with Curtain and perhaps Howard. He did not seem like he was a raging "gold fever" victim like Dobbs, at least not yet. He was (supposedly) there for his wife and kid as much as himself, but at the end of the day, he was a risk. And he would have only made what was already a too "tense" situation worse. So I can see why (though morally would not agree why) Curtain and Howard may have gone ahead w/ the idea to remove him from the equation like they did. But I think you are right that they both were happy that the decision was taken out of their hands. (But with Dobbs, I don't think so. If Cody had lived through the bandit attack, I think Dobbs would have been the first one in line saying "Ok boys, let's finish what we started") Again, I think this film was a very interesting study on human nature and all the various motivations a person may have when it comes time to see how much money can change you... or rather perhaps... just bring out who you really are. -
The Holts - Jack, Tim and Jennifer - A western dynasty
rohanaka replied to JackFavell's topic in Westerns
OH golly... hahaahahahahahaha!! I HAVE seen that one before. HOW could I have forgotten those sweet little tear filled (ice cube filled) eyes?? ("If there's one thing I can't stand it's to see a peng-u-in cry!") Ha!! I love it when Bogie shows up at the South Pole. Edited by: rohanaka on Mar 17, 2010 6:51 PM -
The Holts - Jack, Tim and Jennifer - A western dynasty
rohanaka replied to JackFavell's topic in Westerns
No... but I bet it was a riot. I love those old send up's in the classic looney tunes. :-) -
The Holts - Jack, Tim and Jennifer - A western dynasty
rohanaka replied to JackFavell's topic in Westerns
> {quote:title=MissGoddess wrote:}{quote} > I could have sworn it was the director, John Huston, playing him, wasn't it? You have it exactly right, little missy. And last night when I was watching, it did not "click" for me, but I knew I knew his face, (duh, ha) When I looked him up in the cast... it made perfect sense why he looked so familiar. I am just used to the more recent photos of him in his older years, as a "grizzly old guy" ha. Edited by: rohanaka on Mar 17, 2010 6:29 PM (because I have to say WOO HOO that I finally discoverd how to use the little "quote" box thingie.. ha. I just realzied there were little *"* marks there on the top of my tool bar. ha. I never thought to ask anyone how to do it before, but I always wondered.. ha. We technophobes are shy that way sometimes. ha) -
The Holts - Jack, Tim and Jennifer - A western dynasty
rohanaka replied to JackFavell's topic in Westerns
think Dobb's was older than Curtin, his time for a career or even just finding jobs was running out... he was more desperate for some satisfaction, or for status, because he's been doing the job to job route for much longer.... he had little future or hope left. I can really see it affecting him more because of his age. Holt seemed to be altogether more hopeful, or maybe just less paranoid I think you are right about their ages being a factor. Look at Howard too, and how he seemed to comprehend how the money could affect a person.They were all "greedy" but for different things. (And if you think about it, I imagine Howard may have been ?all three? men in one at some point in his life). When they are all sitting around telling what they would do with the money, Curtain had his eyes on making a future for himself. He wanted to establish something that would last (a farm) and let the money provide a ?foundation? for his future. Howard had already lived out his youth and only wanted to be comfortable in his old age. Dobbs had NO plans except he wanted to be rich. He wanted luxury for himself (not the same as comfort). He was too old to think about laying a foundation for his future (like Curtain) but he was not old enough to settle for just being comfortable and happy (like Howard) so he was stuck in the middle, and the only thing (in his mind) that was left for him was the ?greed? for luxury. -
The Holts - Jack, Tim and Jennifer - A western dynasty
rohanaka replied to JackFavell's topic in Westerns
Welcome to the "Wonderful World of Humphrey Bogart Thanks Mr.B. I have to confess this has been a major breakthrough for me. ha. this is about the 5th or 6th new (old) Bogie film I have seen in the past several months. I never knew what I was missing until now. :-) The Mexican boy who sells Dobsie the lottery ticket is none other then Robert Blake or as he was know then Bobby Blake, late of the "Our Gang" where he was know as Mickey Gubitosi and later as "Baretta" on TV.Don't know if you read all the post on this thread but thew old man with Walter Huston at the flop house is Tim Holt's father Jack Holt. Wow, I say again the longer I hang out here, the more I learn. I do recall seeing somewhere on here about Jack Holt being in the film, but did not know that little boy was Barretta! ha. He started out so much cuter than he ended up, ha. -
The Holts - Jack, Tim and Jennifer - A western dynasty
rohanaka replied to JackFavell's topic in Westerns
I'm curious if you know who the man in the white suit was I do NOW.. ha. (I confess, I went in and looked him up) Funny, because last night when I was watching I kept saying "WHO is that guy?" I knew the face, I just was used to seeing a white beard on it. ha. he had learned that you just never give up and the "customer" will be so worn out dealing with you they'll give you money just to go away - like Bogie said He just kept whittling him down further and further until he got to the right price, ha. What a salesman. For him, it was likely life or death, so he was not about to stop until he got a sale. And then there's Barton MacLane - the greedy man who duped them out of two weeks work - he got his money by crooked means.... and I think likely if Tim and Bogie hadn't been duped by him, they wouldn't have been as ready to go on the hunt for gold... it's like an infection, greed. You know, that scene where they beat him up to get their money was really telling for me. They COULD have emptied out his wallet, but only took what was rightfully theirs. So the "greed" bug had not bit them just yet. I really do think they were both decent guys who had just fallen on hard times. And then when the gold fever hit, that is what pushed Bogie's character over the edge. He ended up just like Walter Huston's character described (when he said what usually happens when people strike it rich) Whereas Tim Holt's character showed that he was really made of "better" stuff. It is like he said to Bogie, when they both were claiming that "greed" wouldn't happen to them... when it came to how the money would change a man, it sort of depended on the man. Both men got "bit" by the "I'm gonna make it rich bug" but Bogie must have been more susceptible. He got "raging" gold fever, whereas Holt was able to keep his head when the fever set in. Again, it sort of depended on the man. Have you ever seen the movie "A Simple Plan"? It is very violent and it is a bit hard to watch, but it sort of falls into that same thought about how an average "decent" person (who might othewise have turned out to be just a really great guy) can turn into something altogether different when the money shows up. Very thought provoking. -
C'mon gal....get it together. I don't want to keep reading "I missed this and that." Aggghhh!!! ha. I am undone. (hangs head in shame) I know... I am a pathetic excuse for a rambler, lately. :-( even the SHIFTLESS one has a better posting record than me. (sigh) So many movies, so little time. (I need to get that stamped on my forehead, ha)
