movieman1957

That's great. Now we have to go bail Kathy out of jail. She should get time off for good taste though. "Impetuous! Homeric!"

April: I'll dig it out and see if I can tell. I read this somewhere. I have a book by J. Place called "The Westerns of John Ford which may have mentioned it so I'll check there. Other than that I don't really remember.

Hi April: I didn't watch "The Horse Soldiers" yesterday but I have a TCM version of it. I always thought Holden was good in the part. That character is the epitome of sarcasm and who better to play it? The arguments between Wayne and Holden work because they have a different approach to the war and their being in it. The only time, as I recall, Holden calms down, so to speak, is when he delivers the baby. However, he can't quite let it his guard down as he makes one more biting comment to Wayne. Overall I like it. It might be a bit long but everyone is pretty good. There is one thing that is funny about the picture, intended or not. There is an actor that actually plays two roles in the movie. I know he play a Union doctor who comes into the saloon to treat someone but he also plays a Confederate (doctor?) earlier in the picture. It made me wonder if he was just handy?

Kathy: Selleck plays a small town police chief named Jesse Stone. The three titles come off of that name. I've seen a couple and it's an interesting character with a troubled past. He is a man of few words. They are enjoyable enough but not great. I hope he doesn't think he is too old for westerns.

Kathy: Glad you got to see "Crossfire Trail." Good, solid entertainment. Nothing fancy or deep. Selleck looks made for westerns doesn't he?

*Witness For The Prosecution* *And Then There Were None* *The List Of Adrian Messenger* Darn, everything just went blank.

Re: *The Wings Of Eagles* A biography of "Spig" Wead who helped pioneer flying for the Navy. O'Hara plays the wife and is quite beautiful as the picture below shows. Mostly a drama with a few fun parts it deals with their life in getting the flying program and also a life changing event. Not top notch Ford but still worth a look.

I know where you'll be. Your lounge pants, the beverage of your choice and a long afternoon. Sounds fine.

>Chris always sounds like he's on an even keel Well if I am it is because you all keep me there. There are days where I feel like Kathy but worse. Nothing is right. Those are the days I don't like being me very much. It is not my circumstances, my family or my life overall. It is just me. I have to be with me all the time and I don't always enjoy it. That is why, among other things, this place is so grand. It is the people. The fact that we have movies in common is all the better. It's great but it is not the only thing we cover. That's nice. I tease myself about being exceedingly average. It is the one thing I really do well, be average. There is a basis for the way I make fun of myself. It's true that the best humor has a basis in truth. Well, that's enough of that.

Hi April: I watched *Heaven With A Gun* tonight and it wasn't all that good to me. You mentioned it was made in 1969. Had I not known it it seems obvious it is a late 60's western. I felt at some points I was watching a "Dragnet" reunion. Not that they are less than quality people but there were several from the show. I am hardly in a position to criticize someone's talent but the music seemed more 60's than almost anything else. At times it seemed out of place and not very compelling. The cast is fine. I like Ford, Jones and Noah Beery. I did find out watching that Ford and Beery went to the same horse riding school. They ride the same way. It is a decent storyline but seemed slow. The tension didn't build much for me. A little surprise and (irrelevant) nudity also screams late 1960's. Didn't care for the ending. Rather anticlimactic I thought. Finally, a perfect example of why these films should never be shown in Full Screen. Awful.

Well maybe not atop a skyscaper but are they kind of going on a "Cinema Paradiso" theme? In Baltimore every summer they have an outdoor movie festival every Friday night. They show the movie from some man's bedroom across a street onto the side of another building. Not the best "screen" to watch on but does it draw people.

The two leads you refer to are different types of loners. Will Kane is forced to become one. Some think Kane is afraid. I think only in the sense that time and age may have slowed him to where he thinks he can't compete against the three. I almost expect his to say "If I were ten years younger... The proof of his duty is that he came back. He knew they would come after him, retired or not. No one blames him for leaving. Doesn't Lon Chaney mention that if Kane left than the town might be spared anything? Saving them the trouble and maybe the guilt of what could happen. "High Noon" is a great story and well done. My only problem is Kelly. She is lovely but I wish they would have used someone older. "Man Of The West" didn't strike me as forcefully as it did you. It's been a little while since I've seen it but I'll have to look at it again to give you a really good discussion. From what I remember you bring out several good points about his desire to keep clean. But when the bad guy mentality is needed it can come in handy.

>Advanced age! I can't believe that, you seem very youthful to me, Chris. "Seem" is the key. If I don't think about my age I don't feel it. Billy Crystal's "Fernando Lamas" had it all wrong when he said "it is better to look good than to feel good." The truth is if you feel good then you have a pretty good shot for the other. (Of course, you have to have good material to start.)

The only thing I've done recently was something my music minister asked me to write which I did and then we never got around to using it. There was a song we planned (published and recorded)to do that was a single verse with a chorus that was repeated several times. To make things more interesting my father and I each added a verse to it. We played our version and people were very complimentary of it. Dad was very proud as he had never heard it performed. Other than that I have bits of things laying around but nothing I've made into anything. I have a poem a friend sent me that I am putting it to music and hope to surpise them with it. I do have a friend who wants to do one of my old songs at church as a duet. I told her only if she does the lead.

T: Thanks for the fun picture. I always welcome birthday greetings but I feel uncomfortable bringing attention to myself. I feel very much a part of the group even at my advanced age. You and the rest are a wonderful group of folks and help make this a fun place.

Theresa: I didn't tell anybody as I didn't want to make anything of it. Someone over on the other board (SSO) knew about it and he mentioned it so I had some lovely comments there but I wouldn't have done it myself. My wife and I had lunch and went on a long drive to enjoy the scenery. We listened to somer fine music and enjoyed our time together. We had a small dinner and she fell asleep around 8pm. She planned on getting up an hour later but never made it. (She works at Starbucks and had to be in at 4:30am the next day.) Mo (my daughter) had class so I made her go rather than miss one to have lunch with us. She worked that night and my son was on a day trip to NY. All in all it was a very quiet birthday night. (Too quiet.) Thanks for the birthday wishes. Chris

I've seen "Marco Polo" and it's ok. It doesn't always pass the believability test. Just from the stand point that a 6'4' man from Montana can pass himself off as a 16th century Italian adventurer travelling to China can it can be a hard enough sell. It's not bad it just didn't strike me as great. Never heard anything of the Ford connection. imdb does list it in Ford's credits and his work as "uncredited" but don't give any support to it. It would fit in as "The Hurricane" made right before it was a Goldwyn production as was "Marco Polo." Archie Mayo was capable enough but imdb also says that John Cromwell was fired early on so it could be that Ford pitched in until Mayo came on but not enough info there to tell.

I can't see any of the pictures. (Just my luck.) It is nice to see Sir Francis discussing a Ford movie. (If only Cooper worked with Ford....) Oh, I also love the scene "Could you tell me how to get to Innisfree?" Nothing like a good argument over the best way to get from here to there.

Speaking of the ending don't anyone think you can find out what Maureen whispers to Wayne. You can't because Maureen is not telling.

Hi Kathy: Lots of terrific moments in the movie and many great supproting characters. This was pretty much a family production. Ford and his brother. Wayne and his kids. O'Hara and her brothers. Fitzgerald and his brother Arthur Shields all make for nice background to enjoying the picture more. Among my favorite moments are "The Fireside Reconciliation." Anyone who thinks you always need conversation in a scene has never seen this one. "The Conversation At The Stream." - It may be in "The Irish" but you know what she says. "Keep his head up you fool!" Has there ever been a reaction as wonderful as Maureen's realizing what she just said. When Wayne calls for the "Woman of The House." I've always thought a term of affection and honor. I call my wife that sometimes. "Buying drinks." Too proud to let someone else buy their drinks while in the midst of a gentlemanly fight. A clash of cultures and of egos. They meet after the fight and they throw Maureen's money in the fire. Peace in the family. There are more but that's enough for now.

Kathy: Thank you for the links. A birthday head slap and "singing" Corgis are a wonderful gift. I especially liked the dog on the far right who didn't do anything as I recall. Smart dog. (I'll see you in Movie Rambles.) Barbara: Thanks for your kind wishes. You didn't miss it as no one here knew it. How did you know The Beatles are my favorites? Other Librans are Angela Lansbury, whose birthday is also the 16th. Jean Arthur's birthday is the 17th as I recall. Michaela: Thank you for the birthday wish as well. Thanks to all. Chris

22 - "There is not a pimple on my face."

>Hi Chris... is that personal experience talking there??? Inquiring minds want to know! Yea. The 16th. (Thank you.)

Thanks for the comparison on "The Lonely Man." I've always liked "The Tin Star" so it's on my Netflix list.

Kyle: Greetings from the East. Could it be Audrey Hepburn or Mae West? Me