movieman1957
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Posts posted by movieman1957
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I don't think, in film, it is uncommon for feuds to have lost their original meaning. Even if they did Bondi wouldn't have cared. She just wanted an end to it. It is not about right or wrong or winning or losing it is all about keeping her family safe.
I would suggest that Falin's burning the camp is completely different than what the company is doing in the mountains. What Falin does is really as much to get back at the other family as it is MacMurray. He wasn't going to have them benefit. Even though he was also making a profit the damage was of more value to him.
Glad you commented. I hope you'll copy it over there.
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I think you are right about the changing role of women from the 70s when I remember Mom watching them. I also think part of it may have been when she went back to work she found out that she could miss weeks and not really miss anything at all. It was easy to get out of the habit.
Carolann talks about watching them with her mother as a child. Her mom and friends would watch several during the day. Later I think they couldn't devote that kind of time to them. Choices were made and some suffered.
When I was in high school (early 70s) the choices were much the same as yours. Though in this area with several UHF stations I got a good dose of movies and other programs during the day.
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My mother watched "ATWT" for years. Nancy, Bob, Kim, John Dixon and the gang. I teased her about it but I'd watch it now and then. She didn't watch anything else so I had no idea how it stacked against others.
She hated John Dixon. She often said she was going to have to go NY and kill him. He was so evil and it was almost as if no one could see it.
The only time I saw Nancy was a holiday. I knew where we were in the year when she showed up.
I did admire that they put on an hour show five days a week. We could make fun of it but it had to have been hard work. No doubt some other talk show will probably replace it.
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"The Trail Of The Lonesome Pine" SPOILERS.
I think MacMurray was more on Fonda's side than he knew. I think Fred enjoyed the visits from Spanky and Sylvia more than being friendly for the sake of the business. Fred fought Fonda to show, I think, he really was on his side but that he wasn't going to just back down.
Sydney absolutely did not want to end up like her mother. She knows how much this feud has worn on her and she wants no part of continuing the trend. The idea of learning something is exciting and her way out. She'll have no part of "Things have been fine for generations, why change?" attitude of the town.
I was thinking this film has the broader since of tradition, if you will, against progress. Sydney may be the only one, other than Spanky, who gets the idea of progress being just that.
You are quite right about Fonda. He may not be educated but he was not dumb at all. If anything his lack of experience may have been his biggest hindrance.
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On the 30th at least I'll know where I'm going. Maybe my bride would like a second visit. With Sir Francis and you suggesting the same movies I'll try and work it in. Thanks to you both.
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Yes. I'm going to try and go on the 23rd. If I can work it out and even if I have to pay two admissions I'd like to see "Act of Violence" and later "Vertigo." I saw the latter on the big screen sometime back in the 80s but would like another go. Carolann likes that one too. Maybe some others. I tried to get to some Joel McCrea films they ran a few months ago but it just didn't work out
Whether I get to anything else depends. It is in that no man's land. Close enough to go but far enough away to not go, especially late, during the week.
I thought of you not only because of "Scarlet Street" but I think you mentioned Robert Siodmak on you rlist in the other thread but didn't see the film at the festival on your list. (Criss Cross?)
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I thought early on, since there was feud going, the "shocking" death would come, it was only a matter of when.
Fred may have started out doing this for the company but I don't think it took long for him to get past it. Fonda is certainly the emotional one as he is the one having everything taken from him. I'm not sure Fred knows he is in love with Sydney until he says it. I think he is pretty unaware of what the impact his relationship with her early on is having with Fonda.
Interesting climax.
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The American Film Institute in Silver Spring MD is having a noir festival starting on October 16. (Sir Francis, "Scarlet Street" is coming.)
http://www.afi.com/silver/new/nowplaying/2010/v7i4/noir.aspx#verti
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The lovely Miss G said:
*Oh my goodness! I just watched a "western" that had me bawling like*
*I haven't over a movie in a long, long time. It's 1936's Trail of the*
*Lonesome Pine, from the director of The Shepherd of the Hills and*
*it takes us to the same territory as that later film, with a couple of the same*
*principal performers.*
*At first, I thought, "oh, this is a warm-up for The Shepherd of the Hills",*
*but oh boy, DON'T sell it short. Stick with it because even though many*
*of the themes are just the same and the two films are almost siblings,*
*it has it's own emotional punch. It lacks the mythical dimensions of*
*the later film but it has plenty of heartwrenching human situations. The*
*cast is just as compelling as the later film, though it lacks the mediating*
*character of Harry Carey, jr. And it's just as beautifully photographed.*
*I mean GORGEOUS.*
MissG:
I just finished watching this film. Aside from the setting and the color pretty much any comparison with "Shepherd of The Hills" goes out the window.
Who can't love Beulah Bondi. Her name, Melissa, is seemingly out of character for this time and location. This is not unlike Melissa herself. She is no beauty but she has a beautiful heart and all this family strife is just killing her. She is sweet, caring and wants everything to be right for everyone. I love it when she says "I was born old." (One of our favorite movies uses that line too.) She is a joy to watch and as much a contrast as "Ma" in "Shepherd" as one can be. She is a saint.
I agree that this doesn't have the depth of "Shepherd" but it does have its own emotional impact. Sydney is good though one may argue her transformation may be a bit sudden. (Count me there but it is not a huge distraction.) A fine cast. MacMurray is quite good as he walks the line between friend of the family and loving Sydney while not alienating Fonda.
How one family can weather the sorrow seems more than impossible and the film, maybe rightly so, doesn't try to answer it. You just know they are past the darkness of the feud and maybe those that died will not have died in vain.
I'd like to hear more from you about it.
Edited by: movieman1957 on Sep 14, 2010 10:06 PM
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Two days in and Casey seems to be enjoying himself and sharing some wonderful stories. If Joan is your cup of tea, come join us.
(See the link in Lynn's post.)
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I'm not really in a position to comment on the movie as it has been some time since I have seen it. Your comments about the women and why they married did remind me of something I saw this morning. While watching a bit of "Remains Of The Day" Emma Thompson has threatened to leave her job over the firing of two Jewish girls. When confronted about her leaving she concedes that, in her words, she is a coward. She has no family and no place to go.
Could it be that these women, save for Hallie, marry as a security measure more than love? Possibly. I wonder if the men might not see it as a matter of security and really imagine it as a real love. Taken in the context of the time these movies are set that would seem to be a very legitimate reason for the women, at least in their minds. Could it be the only thing worse than marrying the wrong man is being not married at all?
I think men want a woman that is smart, can handle things and meets them on a level where they are interested in the same things and if not would be willing to learn. (Maybe women want the same.)
From a personal standing I love being married. I can't imagine not being so. Knowing myself I often wonder why my bride has stayed with me all these years but am so glad she is still here. I certainly don't think she had a list. I can't imagine what factors I meet. I certainly didn't offer her a great lifestyle but I treated her right. I treat her with love and respect.
On some level there has to be more than love.
I'm not really sure if that really answers your questions. If not maybe I can have another chance.
Edited by: movieman1957 on Sep 12, 2010 3:50 PM
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>Of course I do! I've never been in love! I wonder if it's a good thing. I'm conflicted.
It's a good thing. I promise.
(Great discussion.)
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>Does a one legged duck swim in a circle? ha. I will take your advice sir.. I am always open to finding new favorites.
I love it. Never hear that one. When you get ready our friends and I can make any number of acceptable suggestions. (Can't guarantee your library may have them but the US Mail still works.)
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In my opinion the worst of the Scott/Boetticher westerns is "Westbound." Worst may be too strong a word as weakest may fit better. To me it is more like some of the early 50s westerns. A generic story with not as much depth as the others. It is a WB release (different than the others) and that is why it is not included in the regular box set. But in that regular set you are correct.
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Monty Python's Cheese Shop sketch
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I am also glad Wayne turned down "Dirty Harry." I believe he was too old. Can you imagine Duke riding around on the top of that bus? Eastwood fit it right in that he was the right age and I think his prior movies gave him the right reputation. (Sinatra seems even less suited for the role.)
Some of the others don't hold up as well. The problem with a lot of films from the 70s is that they are so 70s.
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I am so glad you enjoyed it. For its day this (and the other Scott/Boetticher films) was considered more of a "B" picture. To me, it's curious, whether anybody watched them that critically. These were not big budget films. I am pretty sure they were second feature films. Scott hadn't made a major film in a while. O'Sullivan had not done much past supporting roles and few of those and Boone seems little more than a tv actor at this point. Who knew we had such a gem?
You might also try "Ride Lonesome." I also like "Buchanan Rides Alone" but it is not as deep a film as "The Tall T" and even "7 Men From Now."
Scott and McCrea made only westerns after about 1947 or so. If you love westerns you'd be doing yourself a favor to check some of them out.
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At first glance I thought you had met an unfortunate end by a spear. Then I saw you were just tired.
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>i just can't help but wonder if tcm is looking for a a decent programmer. i could do a much better job than the schlub they've got going right now.
I hear the guy they have is pretty popular. "Schlub"? Aren't you the mannerly one? Let us know when you get the job.
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>Honestly, I have had to work hard just to keep up with all the good writers here lately. You and
>Jackie, Chris, Fred, C-Mave and the Peacemaker have made the last several days a pleasure.
You flatter me to be included in such fine company.
Congratulations on 23000 posts. Thank you being such a bright, wonderful part of my world, You've helped me learn to watch films more deeply. And with the conversations you've had with the others in the group you've given me plenty to enjoy.
Now back to sparring with Sir Francis. I need a laugh.
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I wonder if that fits the trailer rather than the poster?
Interesting that the outfit is wrong and I don't remember Scott looking like that at any point.
Edited by: movieman1957 on Sep 8, 2010 4:28 PM
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Scott talks about his ranch once or twice. This helps set up that part in addition to what you both mentioned. As I recall he invites Mrs. Mims to join him even without the bull.
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>Wowsa, Mr. Movieman... see what you started bringing this one up for a ramble????
Was that me?
Another thing to watch for when you get to see it is pay attention to Scott and Boone when they meet at the depot. They barely stop staring at each other the whole scene. They size each other up less by what they say than how they react to each other. Only once, that I recall, does Scott look away and I think that is at O'Sullivan but it is only for a second.
I think this is what gives Boone his respect for Scott. He doesn't flinch. He doesn't look away or drop his head. By continuing to stare at Boone Scott is letting him know this isn't going to be an easy time for him.
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>Call me dense, but what the heck does the title mean?
You are not dense at all. Having watched some of the commentary it seems no one else did either. I don't remember what it was going to be called but as I recall even Boetticher didn't know where it came from.
Western Movie Rambles
in Westerns
Posted
Great pictures. The one of the rock in the water reminded me of when I saw it in the film. It was rather delayed. The shot sat on that view through the gate out into the water. It waited for the man to get there and then out of nowhere the rock comes and lands right in the appointed spot in the opening of the gate.
It's a lovely shot. You did a wonderful job in point them out.