movieman1957

He did several TV works and a film called "The Last Starfighter." (imdb)

It is a good "father/son" tale and Carey is quite patient with a community who mostly refuses to let him in. He refuses to be mad at anyone, not even Peter, I think, who gives him a rather rude house warming. *SPOILERS BIG TIME* Carey knows he will have trouble. (Not trying to give anything away.) Knowing what we know later shouldn't someone have caught on to why he was there and his connection to the area?

Preston's hair is one of those things that make me shake my head. I really like the film but if you can get Andrews a man's cut from that time then Preston could get one too. There is enough "Clouseau" business to keep it all fun.

Beulah is a piece of work. It is hard to imagine a woman was ever of a personality that she could have been a new bride looking forward to life and children and growing old in a family. An accident changes all that. She becomes bitter and cold and mean and uncaring. Another accident almost revives it but really takes away the chance to be that again. April mentioned Betty Field and she is great fun. A tomboy that hasn't lost her ability to be a girl, if you will. I had thought that if done a few years later Gail Russell might have been good in her role. It looks like a hard life. It takes its toll on the community. They are superstitious and wary of anyone they don't know. Change almost does not seem an option. An oath sworn unto themselves is not easily broken. They never let consequences get in the way of what they "need" to do.

> I'm just being stubborn... and honest. I could just roll over, and there are times it's better that I do. But I'm too stupid to do that. I need to speak my peace. Then I'll roll over. Always speak what's on your mind. That is what helps make these discussions so --exciting-- interesting.

For a little excitement I bring you some Schubert. His 9th Symphony, the last movement. This is referred to as "The Great" as to distinguish it from his 6th Symphony which is also in the key of C. http://www.youtube.com/watch#playnext=1&playnext_from=TL&videos=tfnnbuSc6D0&v=pDddeA4hN-4

*Shepherd Of The Hills.* Whatever else is to be said of this film it is arguably the most beautiful looking film I have ever seen. I can only assume it was shot in the Ozarks (more likely Oregon) it is green in the right spots and blue in the right spots and even the interiors are lovely. John Wayne leads the cast but it feels more like Harry Carey's movie as he plays someone who comes to the area to buy a piece of land. He is looked on with suspicion since he is a stranger to them. It's a journey for several characters. Carey comes to connect with his past. Wayne looks to cleanse his past and everyone else is caught, for better or worse, in the middle. SPOILERS It takes a while for the story to unfold to find out why Carey is there. He buys a piece of land that is "unhappy." No one wants to go on it and some people are unhappy that it was sold to him. Wayne's mother is buried there. He goes for a visit and at her grave the music comes in the background that plays a lullaby theme. (One interesting shot has Wayne cast a shadow over the grave much like Joanne Dru does when visiting Wayne in "Yellow Ribbon.) Later after Carey moved into the log house he sits at the piano and punches out the same lullaby connecting him and Wayne. The journey then becomes about their connection. (Another interesting shot of Carey coming into his house very much suggests the later "door" shots in Ford's "The Searchers.") Unusual location and setting as there is really no time frame but this is an isolated group of superstitious people who also have religious aspect to their community. Carey comes and is able to help the community medically and befriends them through his help. The most moving scene is where Marjorie Main prays for Carey after he helps a little girl. Having been on the receiving end of such a gesture it is a wonderful subtle scene. Supported by a good cast of familiar faces it is not a terribly deep movie and some of it is a little slow and hard to get hold of but if you only watch it once enjoy the scenery because it is what every film should look like and so seldom does. Edited by: movieman1957 on Feb 27, 2010 8:21 PM

>2001: A Space Odyssey is a film that mesmerizes me. If I cannot come to understand how others (most) would find it to be boring and stupid, For me "2001" is painful to watch. To me it may be the most boring thing I've seen. Maybe if they knocked an hour off of it... but I digress. I'd like to apologize to all for having created such a dust-up over the word "exciting." Little did I know... No. Much of "Ft. Apache" doesn't fit that description. In fact maybe it is meant to give a sense of life in the Army. It, I assume, was not always exciting.

We mentioned "Ft. Apache" in another thread and I though it might be worth a note here. (Took me awhile to find the ramble but it was done in May 09.) *Sir Francis wrote:* *I find Fonda's "Thursday" to be more fascinating than his "Frank" in Once Upon* *a Time in the West. I think it's one of Fonda's best performances. He is pitch, posture* *perfect. Fonda never ceases to amaze me. He was a brilliant actor.* It was mentioned how you didn't think it was very exciting until the end. While I don't totally disagree I think it is Fonda's performance that brings a different kind of excitement if more properly called tension. He is butting heads with everyone during the early part of the film. He comes in and turns their world upside down. They may not be so Army and Fonda can't stand it. As this all builds the anticipation of what will drive someone over the line to respond to him. The fact that Ward Bond gets that job and lets him have it in his home in front of others is the climax of that subtext of the film. Now, to his credit "Thursday" takes it like a man, acknowledges his indiscretion and moves on. It is also this superior attitude that also gets him in trouble with the Indians later. It is not about common sense but all about "the book."

Alan Parsons turned rock intsrumentals into an art form. Seldom tackled by anyone else he had a gift for atmosphere more than melody in these but they the arrangements and production make them an interesting listen for me. (No video here.) "The Time Machine." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLn1lTyIado Sounds like the end credits to a European action film.

Have we done "Ft Apache"? We could have a roaring good one there. I think there is some excitement before the end but I'll leave that until later. Back to the debate.

Look at the buzz they have created intentional or not. I hope it is a good one or we will have some disappointed people.

I don't know who would have been clamoring for Wayne to come in to "Wagon Master" because he would have been wrong for it. He would have overpowered it. It is helped by it being a smaller, less well know cast. I am sure by the time this showed up people would go because the advertising would have shown it as a "John Ford western." Instant audience. I think by 1950 there are certain things inherent in a Wayne western. Very little of that lives in this movie and any attempt to include that would have diminished it if not destroyed it.

>me... I am too "blabbishly challenged" to be able to keep it so succint. ha) If so it is beautifully so.

They mention Harrison's fondness for Carl Perkins. George's work in "Honey Don't" is pretty good too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvG7wUhNO4w

I think that the fact that is a religious group gives the group a deeper connection. That is also an interesting comparison with "Stagecoach." That group creates conflict which gives that film a deep and different story.

One thing that strikes me about "Wagon Master" is it appears to be a film Ford wanted to do for the love of doing it. I think it also shows in "The Quiet Man." I think some films he makes because he is making a statement or it needs to be a big film (Ft. Apache.) It is not a film to fill a need. (Rio Grande.) Great films both but the approach is different. You all make for such interesting reading. Would a regular wagon train, instead of Mormons. made a difference to the story?

George could be a wonderful poet. "All Things Must Pass." "If I Needed Someone." Great guitar work and interesting chord structure. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Px2h0K5AU7s And he could be fun too. "It's All Too Much." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U14xSCKQEmM&feature=related

We have a very flat Eastern Shore and lovely rolling hills and low level mountains in the western part of the state that are fairly close to the more urban areas but could just as easily be in another region. Edited by: movieman1957 on Feb 24, 2010 10:01 PM

You are welcome to come to the wide open spaces of Maryland.

Featured may be too strong a word but they do play an important part in the middle. When Glenn Ford is hurt the Elders take him to help because he helped them. The younger ones don't want to get involved as it will only draw attention and trouble to them. I think they are often portrayed as a group who understands society's feelings toward them and, to a degree, feel that they are better off in their own group. They are always on their way to somewhere.

More Beethoven bliss. The second movement from his 5th Piano Concerto.

*Sir Francis* I think part of the film's appeal is that it is a gentle film. (No pun on Ben Johnson's horse commands intended.) It is genial. Even when Bond is having one his fits it doesn't really seem he is mad. He is annoyed but not really mad. The Mormons in film are often on the move because they are not wanted. Usually the young ones are all too aware of their being excluded. The Elders though do not forget that they shouldn't act like others just because they are being mistreated. This theme comes up in "Jubal" as well. Only when the bad guys show up does the film take on any urgency. Their arrival at least brings the haphazard group together. I agree with you about the Johnson/Dru relationship being like the Wayne/Trevor pairing but Johnson has a naive gentlemanly quality that plays not all that differently than Wayne but Dru seems to have more of attitude than Claire and that makes for a distinction that isn't a distraction for me. I think your comment about "on the hill" plays well because there are lots of landscape shots that may be more character than some other Ford films. *_Wendy:_* Thank you.

Would love to see more too. Even the Fox movies would be worth a look again. And if they could get the foreign language versions of some it would be great for comparisons. Many early sound shorts I haven't seen anywhere in probably 20 years. We are due.

This is a film I like and am interested in. Knowing you and the way you write I know it will be worthwhile. It was. I understand your point though. I hope that what I write might be worth someone's time and that it would be interesting and carry the conversation on. Sometimes it works sometimes not but we try don't we? And if I can make someone laugh all the better.