movieman1957

The problem with "Raindrops" is that it is in the wrong movie. It probably would have fit better in something like "The Sterile Cuckoo."

I remember them. They were a bit silly but harmless. They had a Top 40 record back in the mid 70's. (I still have it.) And one of them, up until recently, was writing and producing for Ringo Starr. Edited by: movieman1957 on Aug 12, 2010 9:52 AM

Dvorak Symphonies 7 and 8. Really like the 7th. His early ones await to he heard again.

I only have a few of his that I haven't seen. "Wee Willie Winkie" is sitting in my closet now. I haven't been through "Up The River." I assume I am in the minority since I haven't seen "7 Women." I did see a bunch of his silents years ago when AMC did one of those Film Preservation weekends. They're out on DVD now so they shouldn't be a problem to see. My guess is there may not be much left that might surprise you. That doesn't mean they aren't worth watching. I thought "Arrowsmith" was pretty good and it had the benefit of having Ronald Colman. A lot of his real early films have escaped me, save for one, "Straight Shooting" and that is courtesy of a certain young lady.

Re: "The Iron Horse." I saw it a couple of years ago and I remember being pretty impressed by it. One of our favorites, George O'Brien, does a nice job in the lead. Being a silent film there may be some baggage with it but I enjoyed it. Oh, you listed "Tobacco Road" down near the bottom. I must agree. I watched it earlier this year for the first time in close to 30 years and I must say I nearly hated it. There wasn't much to it and some parts were insulting. Hard to imagine it was such a hit on Broadway but the times were different.

You and your lists. I love them. The Quiet Man The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance She Wore A Yellow Ribbon Wagon Master The Iron Horse Another half dozen could come in at any time. I'm surprised that "Ft. Apache" or "Rio Grande" have received so little love. "Stagecoach" isn't even around much either. I agree with MissG that "How Green Was My Valley" must be near the top of all family films.

Robert was right both times.

>I much prefer this movie. As do I. If I remember right Dom DeLuise running around too. It figures with Sidney Lumet and Fonda together again they would have a pretty powerful film. Matthau is even a bit of a revelation.

"Fail Safe" has suffered from its timely release with "Dr. Stranglove." Someone did a live TV show several years ago. I thought Hagman did a good job as the interpreter too.

I had it all set up to tape and I thought unless she is leading the singing in this short this was not at all what I expected. Too bad. It was the one thing worth taping yesterday.

The hysteria the town becomes engulfed in might have been an interesting thing if they hadn't played it so broadly. I didn't know about the other things you mention. I love learning about this stuff.

My problem with "Cheyenne Autumn" has less to do with the length save for the ridiculous middle with Stewart. It seems so completely out of place and not relevant to the rest of it. I can't believe someone somewhere didn't talk him out of it.

"Heaven's Gate" is awful but there is more going on but it often doesn't make any sense. It's big. It's crowded but you kind of scratch your head. Well, I did. The fist 45 minutes could have been lopped off and no one would have been worse for having missed it. I will say that if someone comes to "Once Upon A Time In The West" early in their learning of westerns it could put them off the genre completely. It's deliberate and deep and it is easy for what is going on to get lost. I've sat through them both so that either makes me dedicated or lifeless.

Turn your hat brim down and we can be twins!

My Five Least Favorite Films - (Those I hope never to have to see again.) *2001: A Space Odyssey.* The film spends way too much time doing nothing. Boring doesn't begin to describe it. *Man of LaMancha.* My wife and daughter love it but why have a musical where no one can sing. *Circus World.* Everyone is lousy here. Big budget does not always equal grand things. *Alice In Wonderland.* I still don't understand it. Too much of everything but sense. (2010) *The Moon and Sixpence* sticks in my mind as maybe, next to "2001" the most boring film I ever sat through. Maybe I was sick. (More modern stuff would include anything with Adam Sandler.) Edited by: movieman1957 on Aug 10, 2010 3:44 PM

*MORE SPOILERS* The closing line is one of my favorite lines anywhere. I like the way he delivers it. You mention the beauty of the landscape and that is wonderful but in a moment of weirdness it struck me that Scott's outfit matches perfectly the color of the rocks and sand. You are, of course, right about Scott's performance. He must be subtle and on guard the whole time. About O'Sullivan, I've always thought the part to be too whiny but reflecting on it I can understand why she would be. This is a terrifying experience for her. No matter what she thought of him she saw her husband gunned down. She doesn't know enough about Scott, initially, to trust him and after the introduction to the bad guys she, like us, feel they can and will do anything. I really like her willingness to be plain almost to the point of being unattractive here. And she is the right age. However, when Scott grabs her by the hair and plants one on her maybe that changed her own confidence a little. She clings to Scott at the end though. Edited by: movieman1957 on Aug 10, 2010 10:30 AM

I think Boone is designed to conflict us. At once he is a man who would do something like he did to the child and on the other he is one who wants a ranch and to do something other than he is doing. He is annoyed at the company he must keep so he revels in talking to Scott. It is a depth his partners can't give him. There is also a scene where Boone takes O'Sullivan her breakfast and lays it next to her while she sleeps and then gently pulls the blanket up on her. It seems as if he is a little regretful that she got caught up in this because she was not the original target. Boone, I think, is the more interesting character. Scott is good but he is Scott. His congeniality at the beginning belies his toughness later but the character is not as varied as Boone's. Nothing wrong with that.

"Let It Be" hasn't been shown anywhere in some time but I did watch it recently on Youtube. There isn't much to recommend for it. There is no narrative and it is fairly painful watching your favorite band going through the motions. Assuming Apple has the rights to it I doubt it will turn up anywhere soon. "Yellow Submarine" is a visual feast. It is worth seeing just for the animation. If you can get past the bad puns the music and animation are a treat.

>I was truly shocked by the incident early in the film, with the child. I think that in its most basic way tells what kind of people we are going to be watching more than anything else in the rest of the movie. They don't fool around and they mean business. I agree Boone is a more interesting character because as we go there are things that seem normal about him. Once Scott and Boone have their stare-off when they meet at the depot there is a kind of respect for each other. Not necessarily a good respect but for what each is capable of doing. They play mind games throughout the rest of the film.

"Road To Casablanca" or "My Favorite Casablanca" but as Groucho Marx learned there would have been a letter from Warner Bros waiting for them.

Sir Francis: You better not let MissG see your list. So many Ford films. I hope if you are having the "Frank Grimes Film Festival" I can get a ticket. Very impressive collection. I am not quite so detailed in my breakdown. Mostly by title, year, genre, primary actors, director and, because I had room, studio.

You are quite right. Some of us spoke a few weeks ago about doing a "ramble" on it. Hopefully, we can start. I watched it the other night but am hopeful some others are ready to join in. Along with "7 Men From Now" it is my favorite Scott western. More later.

Anyone caught up with "The Tall T" yet?

>I've never seen Pork Chop Hill though I remember reading a little about it in Woody's autobiography. A tough Korean War drama about the Americans trying to take a hill. Undermanned and overwhelmed Peck tries to coordinate the battle. Strode plays a character who, at first, is a coward. He doesn't want any part of their war and isn't afraid to let them know. Then later..... Good cast of up and coming TV people. It's available at Netflix.

It helps if I put it in the right thread. Edited by: movieman1957 on Aug 5, 2010 10:25 PM