movieman1957
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Posts posted by movieman1957
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The thing that struck me and it is a significant part is that even though Taylor had earned the Congressional Medal of Honor it made no difference to anyone in town. The respect that honor demands was absent and there was no way they would give it to him all because he was an Indian.
The bigger issues of land and heritage and rights over shadow that one aspect later but it demonstrates that sometimes others can't have done enough to earn a little respect.
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I watched a few episodes of "Medic." The first thing you'll notice it is a pre-mustache Boone you will see. One thing that did strike me is that in one show they devote the whole episode to a heart operation. Now for 1954(?) this would seem to be a huge show. Very close shots of the surgery and detailed narration. I didn't go too far with them as as good as some of them were some weren't very good either.
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As luck goes I turned on "Drum Beat" with Alan Ladd yesterday and who should show up? Robert Keith. He had a speaking role in that one.
Never thought much of Aldo Ray one way or another. Knew him but that is about it but he was terrific here. I love the way Ryan hated Ray being right all the time. Ray couldn't explain it but I guess some experience gives you things you can feel more than know.
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Did you get to watch "Men In War"? I think in this is his best "good buy" role. I know there aren't that many but he was terrific here. Overall I really liked it. I kept thinking I had seen it before. I remember the story line of the Colonel but I don't know if it was here or lifted to some TV show later.
We can talk more if you want.
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I haven't talked to her in maybe two months. Just wanted to know if she was all right.
How about a nice Moody Blues song to get Eric out of your head.
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Sorry.
Anybody heard from butterscotchgreer?
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Wow. That is some list.
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> I hope I didn't sound offended or anything!
You didn't. I was thinking I didn't explain myself well. You mentioned "Monte Walsh." We were thinking the same thing. That movie did cross my mind especially early on.
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That was a fun part of the film. Every time Hart would dunk him he would do him the favor of putting his hat back on him.
*JF*
I didn't mean to suggest, if I did, that he should have recreated Ford's land rush. It most likely would have been too big for this movie. It was just by way of comparison. Pure entertainment is what this picture was about. Enough of a story to carry it along. Some good action. Some good characters, mainly his sidekick. Good guys, bad guys, ladies and horses. Yep, a Saturday matinee.
That two gun stance must have been his signature as he did it in both movies.
On another note I saw "Hombe" but that is a discussion for a later time.
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*Mini Spoiler*
*One other little (very little) criticism too... was the bad guys sure did seem to give up awfully easily at the end.. compared to how ROTTEN and awful they were throughout the rest of the story.. but I might be remembering it wrong.*
You're not.
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May I suggest -
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I watched "Tumbleweeds" this morning. I liked it was well. One thing about Hart is that if they can call Keaton "The Great Stone Face" he runs a close second. The boyish good looks of "Hell's Hinges" are barely there but they do come across now and then. Overall I like him here. He is still a tough guy that goes to mush as soon as he meets a pretty girl but after that he is still the toughest man around.
Beautiful cinematography. The first shot that caught me was early on when the homesteaders are coming to town and they comment on the passing of the west. There is a shot of the five men on a ridge in shadow all with their hats off as paying respect for a friend who has died. Beautifully done.
I wouldn't say the land rush is as good as "The Iron Horse" but it is exciting. As beautiful as watching Hart ride through the rest of the crowd it is a bit of a stretch to think that he could start that late, run the horse that hard for that long past that many people and live to tell about it. It was a sight though.
A good supporting cast with a pretty good back story. Some humor thrown in for good measure and you have a fun 90 minutes.
I saw the DVD that has Hart's "Farewell Address." While heartfelt it seems way over the top. I kept thinking why couldn't he deliver it the way he acted. It is good to hear his voice.
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Let me pass on my congratulations to you. Thanks for sharing so much with us. We can always count on you to make things fun and interesting here.
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I'm such a slacker as I only now finished "Hell's Hinges." What started out as an intense drama that just happens to be a western finishes as only a western could. It has a bit of everything. There is some humor, action, redemption and some pretty good acting. (Maybe even the first curse word 23 years before Mr Gable uttered his line.) Hart, I thought, was one of the few that weren't too broad in their approach. Some things were done for the sake of time. The sister turns Hart into a pussycat in less than two minutes. The preacher seems alcoholic after one night. And so on.
What was interesting and troubling at the same time was the lengths a town would go to destroy not only a man but a town's faith. You'd think they would have just ignored him. It's not even enough to ruin his reputation they have to rid the town of any trace of God. In the end they have revenge exacted on them.
The climax was really exciting. Hart as avenger. He not only comes after the town for what they did to the preacher but God himself has been insulted and he can't have that. In his wake the town is gone. No grace, no mercy except most of the people are spared. It was visually striking.
I wish I could play piano like that.
Thanks for bringing it to our attention. Maybe "Tunbleweeds" tomorrow.
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I had not seen "Devil's Doorway" until about a year ago. I really enjoyed it. The premise is interesting and I found Taylor's part novel. The idea of living in both worlds and then be pushed out of the one that has so highly rewarded him make for a sad tale. Watching his strength in defending his land and his heritage against in an ultimately lost cause makes you respect the character.
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Lafitte:
Where have you been? I've been looking for you to tell you I saw "Eroica." A very interesting film. THe premise is really interesting. I really enjoyed it. Glad you suggested it.
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I've only ever heard of "Amos Burke." Looking at "Man In A Suitcase" I thought it might have ties to a British production. In addition to Norman Rossington, who played The Beatles agent in "A Hard Day's Night" it also listed the Second Unit Director as John Glen. He only went on to direct James Bond films.
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Thanks for the covers. No challenge would be complete without the fine work on these covers. I appreciate it.
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TCM does generally show the bug all the way through the short films.
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I think "Speedy" is one of the Essentials, Jr. selections this year.
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Variations On A Dress. Nice. Very nice.
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That reminded me of "The Big Country." Peck comes out on his first morning at the ranch. Two different sets of people respond to his "Good morning" with a "howdy." Peck then says "howdy" to the next group by only to be met with a "good morning" in return.
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I am more familiar with the westerns (although "El Cid" wuld be good because it is so rare.) "Winchester '73" is good for the reasons mentioned before. It also has Dan Duryea as a first class jerk. A really good shoot out climax and a much darker sense than westerns before.
"The Naked Spur" would be a good choice as well because it shows Stewart in a different light. A good cast of people trying to cross up each other and some great outdoor locations. A nice evil turn by Robert Ryan helps.
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That picture must be Steed's place. who else would have roses and dueling pistols on the wall. She still is a very attractive woman. She did a "Law and Order" a few years ago. She wasn't so pleasant but looked good.
Western Movie Rambles
in Westerns
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The sheriff was trying to have it both ways. He respected Lance and wanted his treatment to be better but, you are correct, he wasn't going to go up against the crowd. He wanted to wait it out, rationalize with them and, in a western, that wasn't going to work.
If money equals power than Coolan was there. I think his bigotry just added fuel to his fire when he whipped up all the anger against Lance. He gets the crowd to do his dirty work for him. He is great at making speeches but he's back in the tent when it all comes to a head. He is just waiting. He'll come in and run things when it is over. Or so he thinks.
At least that is the way I remember his actions.
I wonder if he was already there to and was planning to do the whole thing before Lance came home. I doubt he would have known who Lance was much less his connection to the land. Lance only served as an obstacle to him. He was stirring up trouble when Lance first shows up. Even though most of the others knew Lance and seemed to like him that didn't stop Coolan from making trouble. It was one more way to stir up the people against Lance.