[Western Movie Rambles]

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.

[RAMBLES Part II]

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)

[RAMBLES Part II]

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

[Western Movie Rambles]

> {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!! :-)

[Western Movie Rambles]

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]

hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!

 

Oh wait... put that gun back down!! This is no laughing matter!! ha. :-)

[The Holts - Jack, Tim and Jennifer - A western dynasty]

> {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]

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]

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.

[Gloria Grahame a complete package]

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]

> {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]

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]

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]

> {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]

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]

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]

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.

[A Walk on the Noir Side]

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)

[The Holts - Jack, Tim and Jennifer - A western dynasty]

Hiya, kid!

 

This is my favorite Bogie role, at least right now. He is so very strong in the film

 

I think I am going to have to go with you on this one too. With my limited Bogie experience, I may be premature in saying this, but I really do think this must have been one of his best works ever. He realy was something. But from what I am seeing in the films I have gotten to enjoy with him SO FAR, ha, I am sure I have only scratched the surface. (And to think I have wasted all those years. Ha)

 

I think the film's brutally efficient directing style is one of the reasons. John Huston never pulls away at the wrong time, is never coy about what is going on.... the camera's 'eye' never stops looking at each man (and his psyche) - that would have been death to the film. It just plays out clearly and straight forwardly

 

That is what I like about your posts. You always have such insight into those sorts of things. You seem to understand the motives behind the direction.

 

Huston makes sure we notice the details, not in a big spotlight kind of way, but economically. Like at the beginning, we see Bogie's collar is frayed almost beyond anything we've ever seen. When he gets his hair cut, the flourishes of the barber are captured - so foreign seeming to me.... and then we see the white, tender, weak part of Bogie's neck, where the hair has been cut away.... we will see how gold exposes and cuts through to his inner weakness, before the film is done

 

I liked how after the barbershop scene his hat did not fit anymore. Lot?s of little details like that, but they all fit together to make the complete picture of who the characters are.

Those early scenes were just FILLED with all sorts of interesting side characters too (like the barber). The little boy with the lottery tickets really got my attention. OH WOW, when Bogie throws that water in his face, any other kid would have ran out, but not him. He just sort of blinked and kept on going. Now THAT was a fine piece of acting. And I really liked the man (in the white suit) who kept getting hit up for a hand out too.

 

The conversation between him and Dobbs was really unexpected. I like how both men treated each other. The rich guy COULD have gone in to a rant and called him all sorts of names and maybe even looked down on him. But he didn?t . He stated his case with polite respect. And I liked the way Dobbs responded. ?I only noticed the money, not the face?. You could tell he did not LIKE asking for a handout. It made me like him so much to see how sincere he was in really just wanting to get out of the hole he was in. He really started out as such a GOOD guy, it made me so sad to see the downward spiral in his character later on.

[A Walk on the Noir Side]

Dadgummit!! ha. I totally missed this film the other day. I was busy from early afternoon until later in the evening and did not even get it recorded.

 

Wow.. you folks have me kickin' myself for sure. ha. I do know it is at the library, so maybe can get it and watch sometime. I love to see a good "psycho nutjob" come unglued.... but only in the movies. ha.

[Happy St. Patrick's Day!]

Thanks for the info on Sara Allgood, Ms. Favell. She was a bit of Irish treasure, to be sure.

 

Happy St. Pat's, young'un. :-)

[The Holts - Jack, Tim and Jennifer - A western dynasty]

Hiya Ms Favell... just wanted to pop in here and say thanks for making me more aware of the Holts. I never really knew the name, but looking through the thread, I recognize the faces... and some of the titles too. Gee, the longer I hang around here, the more I learn.

 

And I have to say.. I just got finished watching The Treasure of the Sierra Madre for the first time. I found it at the library the other day and decided to give it a try. TOTSM has been on my wanna see list for a LONG time, but I hate to confess I sort of ignored it due to my whole "HB" thing. ha. But since I am starting to come around with him.. and then after I saw all the talk in your thread about it as well... when I saw it on the library shelf, I realized that I had put it off long enough and I HAD to give it a try. (I know.. ha.. it TOOK me long enough) :-)

 

I thought Bogie did a real stand out job as Dobbs. But then I think all the characters were well acted. I can see why this film has been on so many people's "favorites" list. I think I would have to add it to mine now as well. (somewhere..ha. Whatever you do, don't ask me to make any more lists and rate anything in order again any time soon!! ha)

 

Wow.. what a great story.. and some REALLY intriguing characters. Again, I think Bogie was terrific. And since this IS the Holt thread, I will add that Tim Holt's role in the film was VERY nicely played too. I liked how he and Dobbs sort of started out the same.. but ended up completely different. How they viewed the money (and what they were willing to do for it, and because of it) is what made their real "characters" rise to the top. Pretty interesting study on human nature.

 

But truly.. I gotta say.. for this film, my heart belongs to Walter... oh golly was he good. Funny, but not "silly". Witty and gritty all at the same time... and in the end, a REAL stand up sort of guy. Very entertaining.

 

Ok.. did not mean to interrupt. Thanks for letting me pop in here and blab a bit. Carry on, all you Holt fans! :-)

[RAMBLES Part II]

At least Aline didn't chase hers off the front porch, down the steps and out into the lawn, emptyin' her six-shooter into his worthless hide.

 

Hahahaha!!!!! And there won't be any bereaved widows showing up with incriminating letters.. that we know of...

[RAMBLES Part II]

moviemorlocks article on Aline MacMahon in Heat Lightning, by our own MoiraFinnie:

 

Wow, that was a great read. Thanks for posting it, Ms Favell. :-)

[RAMBLES Part II]

The handsome guy gets the pretty girl. Yes, she sat next to Everett; even tried to act like he?s seen her dolled up before, when clearly...he had not. But keep your eternal optimism, Ro. I believe Everett will win her in the end. First, a lovely walk on the moonlit desert. Then a ride into town for some ice cream. He might even take her to a picture show. They?ll have a life together...as long as he takes it easy.

 

Hiya Miss Maven,

 

I think Everett will win out too, someday. (I like your scenarios about how they might evenutally progress. I see them as an older couple enjoying retirement out there in the desert someday.

 

Like that?s a bad thing?

 

Ummmmmm... probably depends on who is writing the definition in the dictionary. But I am glad we don't have to define it here, dear friend. :-)

 

also think it says a lot about our Aline. That she doesn?t have to hide what she did. It could play out both ways:

 

She shot him ?cuz he was about to steal the jewels

 

She shot him b?cuz he admitted to using her

 

Oh, I think she SAID A) that it was because of the jewels. But we all know it was really because of what he said. Should she have pulled the trigger??? Oh golly... I know my heart says one thing but my head says another.

 

PS: Ollie.. glad to have you stop by, sir. I enjoyed your comments about Aline.. I need to look up some of the titles you folks have mentioned. I have some catching up to do, but I can already see (by the few of her films I have seen) why she is a favorite. She really is something, isn't she?