movieman1957

You're right. Young Harry is a very handsome boyish kid. Old Harry turned into a grizzled rugged looking man almost over night. I think it was somewhere around 1963 or so.

I like about 3/4 of :"Josey Wales." It's about twenty minutes too long for me. I'll add to the list - *In The Line of Fire* and *Where Eagles Dare*.

I have a problem with recording the SD signal on TCM but it will record the HD signal. I never got a good explanation.

*I hope you had a great trip home, movieman Chris! It was SO good to see you! I can't tell you how amazing it was! You made my entire year.* I'm glad you weren't "weirded out" after I got there. The trip home was better than the trip up but that's not saying much. We all got home safely. It was a great day. Thank you and the family so much for a wonderful time. *I think Bridge on the River Kwai kind of pits those two worlds against one another, and both come up short, don't you think? American war movie machismo, win at any cost, pitted against British stiff upper lip, follow the rules of engagement, do what's proper at all times.... either way you lose when you win, and both are blind to it.* That's the beauty of it. What is so compelling about the story is you have two Brits in completely different situations applying the same code of devotion to what they see as their job. That is why there is such a contrast to Holden's character. MissG is right about Holden's character though. Through all the whining and self serving attitude he may be the most realistic character in the film. (If you don't count the doctor.) Edited by: movieman1957 on Sep 5, 2012 4:06 PM

Gee, go away for a long weekend, meet a good friend for the first time and come home after no access to anything and there is so much to catch up on. My word. *The Cowboys* for me was typical Wayne of its day. Up to a point. But after that point it kind of becomes cliche. The ending certainly fits that description. The best thing about it - Dern. It was the first time I had seen him anywhere and I thought he was evil personified. He wasn't afriad of Wayne or anyone. Roscoe Lee Browne was terrific. I've never been able to take a liking to *W.C. Fields*. Mostly I find him terminally cranky and flat out mean. That's not to say he is always that way but he's been there enough to make me stay away. He has none of the finesse of Groucho nor the charm of any of the other great comedians so for me there is little to see. That's just me though. As for *"Bridge On The River Kwai"* there is a question as to what level of testosterone you want. Part of the drama of the film is steeped in the manners and being "proper." At what level do either of those have a place in a Japanese POW camp. It's a stuggle of wills more than anything. Guiness vs. Hayakawa. Holden has a completely different job. He's not about manners. He's about himself. It's not a typical war film. There is not a lot of action to it. There is not a lot of preaching to it. There is a lot about rules. So depending on what kind of war film you expect or are looking for may color whether you like the film. I think it's a first rate film.

When you've seen all the Marx Bros. films would you rank them? I could use a thorough chat.

Mostly westerns and mysteries. I'm glad to see "Animal Crackers" so high on your list. It's one of their longer films but thankfully it is not burdened by that many muscial numbers that don't involve the boys. One thing I've noticed about the film is that if you remember the scene where the boys are trying to swap out the painting and they lose power in the house? The part that involves "Groucho" isn't Groucho. That whole thing, or at least most of it" is done by stand ins and the dialogue looped over. Also noteworthy are some rather racey lines. One of my favorites is when Groucho has proposed to Dumont and the other lady and they complain it's bigamy. Groucho responds "It's big 'o me too. Let's all be big." Some of the 30's Wayne pictures to me are pretty much interchangeable. They usually have very good stunt work but have lots and lots of riding to somewhere. If you want a fun one try "Randy Rides Alone." Wayne is a singing cowboy. I've seen most of the westerns on your list. I like "The Violent Men" a lot as well.

Thank you very much for the music. I'm quite fond of some of Vaughan Williams' music. This was a new piece to me. (Something else for us to talk about.) Sorry to be so long to tell you but I just got back from TN and the funeral.

For my Aunt Mabel. RIP. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1J5912WbAQ

They've always shown newer movies. Not a lot of them but some have always been part of the schedule. You're likely to get a few when James Caan has his day. Thumbs up for Arbuckle.

This is what happens when the ladies take too long to "get ready." We don't care.

"Theodora" was a happy find for me. A friend loaned me the film as she knew I liked Dunne. What a wonderful surprise because I had never heard of it. She's wonderful and Douglas is fine too. I thought when I saw him in "Ninotchka" I thought him more of a drama star. But "Theodora" and "Too Many Husbands" showed he was a gifted comedy actor. One of my favorites. Edited by: movieman1957 on Aug 24, 2012 7:37 PM

Happy Birthday. I hope you have a grand day. I hope you've been celebrating for the last week or so since you've been scarce. Anyway, have fun.

He'll have to go to the box.

"Kwai" is playing at on the big screen here next month. My friend has never seen it so that will be our third classic film at the theater this summer. I haven't been "to" the movies this much in years. Edited by: movieman1957 on Aug 19, 2012 8:26 PM

Lately, I've noticed HBO has been showing things in widescreen so maybe this will be too.

Heflin is the unlikeliest of heroes, isn't he? Thinking about what you said makes me think that this character is not really that far removed from Joe Starrett in "Shane." A modest, hardworking man who takes his family responsibilities seriously to the point of danger. I agree about the star level of the cast. Bigger names get bigger scenes and bigger character attitudes and you don't have the same movie if all that comes in.

"3:10" is quite the treat. It is a film rich in tension and drama and despite its lack of action a very good western. You are dead on about Ford. One of the nicer subtleties is his relationship with Felecia Farr. Something as subtle as her buttoning her blouse shows they have had an afternoon fling. Something so small speaks volumes. The tension built in the hotel room is very strong. You think Heflin is going to let him have it. The good intentions of Mr. Butterfield and even Alex (Henry Jones) is admirable and heartfelt. It's a simple story told in a simple but very effective manner. As for the remake it follows the same story line but goes about it in quite a different way. Russell Crowe is not unlike Ford. I don't see Christian Bale with the same sympathy as Heflin. They even throw in a characteristic with Bale that adds nothing to the story and for me it was a distraction. There is much more action to it and the journey to Contention is longer. The ending is similar in some ways but so different in its execution. It's not that it's bad or anything it's just so different in its approach. You're liking it or not may have more to do with your affection for the original. It is certainly a film made for a modern audience.

*That's correct, Quiet Gal and I were discussing The Longest Day. I kept waiting for someone to suggest that film for John Wayne. Does he have a very small part?* Compared to the other roles it is not that big. He's in charge of the parachute jumpers. Though he's an important part of it I would not classify this as his film. As all star epics go I think it's worth watching. It at least gives the Allies and German side of the day.

Good evening Sir Francis. I've only seen 11 of them. Some general comments - *Allegheny Uprising.* Generally I liked it. My problem, oddly enough, was with Claire Trevor's character. She's trying to be tough as the men but runs around like a silly school girl with Duke. Not many films set in this time period so that makes for interesting viewing for me. *Mister Roberts.* Love it. Sure there are some slow spots but it has a great cast and I think it's well done. William Powell gets the unsung hero award for this one. *My Cousin Rachel.* It's been awhile but I remember Burton being well cast in a moody atmospheric drama. *Dallas*. Okay western but nothing particularly special about it. Cooper's outfit at the start was pretty unusual. *The Sands of Iwo Jima.* I think Wayne does a fine job. He's better than the movie. Nice scene where he picks up the woman who is trying to hide her son. (or do I have that one mixed up.) Surprise end packs some punch. *The Story of G.I. Joe.* First rate war drama. Pulls no punches and appears pretty realistic. Impressive part from Robert Mitchum. (If you liked it there are a few other war films of a similar nature I could suggest for you.) It sounds like you were talking about "The Longest Day." As those big star studded epics go I think this is among the best of them. It sure gave director Ken Annakin busy afterwards. These are sometimes hard to keep a consistent narrative going when you have some many story lines going but I think they advanced them all well and gave a good overview of all that had to go into that historic day.

Thanks for the link. "The Cameraman" has always been a favorite. Even though I'm no NewYorker this information, as well as your other articles, is very interesting.

Not at all dear friend. The thought that you and Wendy and MissG and Sir Francis and others put into these films always gives new ideas and perspectives to make the next viewing new. Rambling is a gift. P.S. I have never said "blah, blah, blah" to anyone. Wouldn't dream of starting with you.

It's always a treat to read your comments.

*It would be easy to think of it as not touching him, something that didn't concern him since it wasn't in his face every minute.* Thank you. I'm glad it made sense. (Sometimes I wonder.) I didn't see your comment as I was typing mine but that is part of it. I'm sure he knew but as it hadn't come to him he wasn't in any hurry to get involved. His boys, on the other hand, were keen on it. There must have been some news. That's what I like about the dinner discussions. The boys are determined to have their way but try to do it in a respectful way. Oddly, it is like "How Green Was My Valley." The boys there are determined to have their way as well. When they can't agree they don't throw a fit but they calmly get their things together and go. They're independent but are honoring their father as head of the house. But you are so right about the news not being a constantly at him. We are today. Just try and avoid any Olympic updates if you're watching. If you want to watch it later and catch it "as it happens," good luck. You have to avoid any web news or sports sites, Twitter, Facebook, crawls on any news channels or friends who can't keep a secret. Edited by: movieman1957 on Aug 1, 2012 12:53 PM

I get he feels no obligation to the state. As he says they never really did anything for him. He's fine living his life apart from what is going on. The dinner discussions are interesting as they debate the reasons for the boys going vs. staying. They feel an obligation plus, I'd bet, a little adventure. I guess I can understand the carelessness about the security of the farm, but I'd bet he never figured on murder. He'd already run off one group, those that came for the horses, but that's a different world than what happened. They're two separate things but that's almost unimagineable. When they become involved it's a different world. He's fighting his war. It just happens to involve everyone else. He doesn't care who he has to go through or what needs to be done. He has his mission and he's not going to let a thing like The Civil War stand in his way. The emotion of tempering his goal with the cost is almost too much to think about. He must feel he has failed his family. Even at the very end it's all bittersweet. It will be a tough thing with which to live. The war has brought nothing but heartbreak and sorrow. He really couldn't care about the outcome except for what it has done to him. It's Ford-like and maybe that is why it may be McLaglen's best work.