redriver Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 FORT APACHE is the most serious. Issues of honor, legacy, protocol. YELLOW RIBBON the most sentimental. Military funerals, graveside chats, Confederate loyalty. RIO GRANDE is the romantic one. More traditional western drama. And music. Lots of music! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronxgirl48 Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 thanks, rr, for those succinct capsule comments on FORT APACHE and SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON; most helpful. I like all the music in RIO GRANDE; I think it really sets the tone. Message was edited by: Bronxgirl48 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken123 Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 Early on in " Rio Grande " son Jeff, played by Claude Jarman ( Jr ), " has a soldiers fight " with a much older cavalry veteran, played by Fred Kennedy, he didn'r like " mick sergeants ". During the filming of Ford's " The Horse Soldiers ", Mr. Kennedy was thrown from his horse and was killed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissGoddess Posted January 21, 2008 Author Share Posted January 21, 2008 Hi Kenny, that was so tragic about Fred Kennedy's accident. I read Ford's interest in finishing the movie just petered out, he was so devastated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissGoddess Posted January 21, 2008 Author Share Posted January 21, 2008 More reasons I love Rio Grande: 1) Maureen O'Hara has the field pretty much to herself...she's the only woman in a leading role in the cast and Ford gives her several extraordinary scenes. The most beautiful is when she opens up the chest and finds the music box and opens it. The way it is shot, through some sort of scrim or filter is gorgeous and all the emotions that wash across her face as the music plays is simply exquisite. I think its one of Maureen's finest moments in her entire career. She's just grand in this role. 2) John Wayne doesn't wear a hair-piece, rare for this point in his career, and I like him this way. His character is kept at a simmering point throughout the picture. He's a man who has paid dearly for his devotion to duty over family and the thinning hair adds to this impression. But then he is not an old man---like Bronxie said, his physicality is still graceful and lithe for a man his size. I like the way he lept into the rear of the wagon after he took off his shirt. Like a panther. Ford knew how to capture human grace so well and without calling too much attention to it. 3) I've already raved about the music but it bears repeating. This is the busiest sountrack in Ford history! Don't forget the Indian mourning wails, and the little girl ringing the church bell. 4) Maureen does do alot of "waiting" but it's never passive. She's waiting for Kirby to tell her what she needs to hear but he keeps reisisting so she has to take a step in---she waits in his tent (sitting on his bunk); she asks for his clothes to wash; she tells him she regrets he didn't choose the serenade tune, "Kathleen". I have to watch it a few more times to understand better his reasons for holding back so much. 5) I love the scene after the Indian attack when Maureen and Claude Jarman, Jr. just stand their, glaring at Kirby, all the years of blame and resentment showing in their eyes. Not a word is said but it shows the barriers between them. 6) Chill Wills' eccentric old Doc. He's decidedly eccentric. Why does he whack poor "Uncle Timmy's" hand like that and then go back to whittling a little too emphatically. It's the funniest bit of business! 7) The ending had me wondering about whether a certain character would recover and live but I don't want to spoil it for anyone. I hope I'm wrong in my doubts. Duke and young Pat Wayne on the set of *Rio Grande* Vic McLaglen, Harry Carey, Jr. and Ben Johnson Maureen and Duke (on the litter) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
movieman1957 Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 You ask about the "Kathleen" scene. My thought on Wayne "holding back" is that he doesn't want to seem to forward. It is obvious they have had a passionate but troubled history. I think he doesn't really see her reactions to him and doesn't want to presume anything or make her feel like he is wooing her again when HE feels it would be out of place or too forward to give her the wrong idea. You also asked about Wills cracking that stick across McLaglen's hand, I think. In the conversation he is cursing himself for what he did in to her farm (burned it.) He holds his hand as if it were diseased and he wishes someone would cut if off (figuatively, of course.) Wills, almost on a whim, does the next best thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissGoddess Posted January 21, 2008 Author Share Posted January 21, 2008 That sounds right, Chris, about Kirby's point of view. He certainly was self-disciplined! I thought the way Chill played that scene was so interesting because it seemed so off-the-cuff and unrehearsed. Poor Vic looked dumbfounded he hit him so hard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissGoddess Posted January 21, 2008 Author Share Posted January 21, 2008 Why does John Wayne looks so worried? It's nice to see J. Carrol Naish out of ethnic uniform and playing a straightforward character in General Sheridan. He's playing what I call the "George O'Brien" role. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redriver Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 "And there's the black hand that did the dirty deed! I wish you'd hit it off with that stick!' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissGoddess Posted January 21, 2008 Author Share Posted January 21, 2008 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissGoddess Posted January 21, 2008 Author Share Posted January 21, 2008 Bronxie, *The Oklahoma Kid* and *Tribute to a Bad Man* are both airing on TCM January 24th, at 5:00 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. respectively. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredCDobbs Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 >It's nice to see J. Carrol Naish out of ethnic uniform and playing a straightforward character in General Sheridan. Dang! I thought he was Santa Anna! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissGoddess Posted January 22, 2008 Author Share Posted January 22, 2008 Lol! That would be the expected casting---this was Fordy casting against type! Isn't "Sheridan" an Irish name? If so, then we may finally have an example of J. Carrol Naish, Irish-American, playing an Irish-American. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
movieman1957 Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 If you are in the mood for a comedy that is a western tune in Jan. 25 at 9:45. "Support Your Local Sheriff." After follows "Support Your Local Gunfighter" follows. It is a chance to see the late Ms. Pleshette. Message was edited by: movieman1957. I had the date wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissGoddess Posted January 22, 2008 Author Share Posted January 22, 2008 Those two movies are so cute and funny! I love James Garner, he's terrific. I always saw Walter Brennan's character as a send up of his evil Pa Clanton. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redriver Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 Very funny movies! I like Garner too. Not a great actor. Certainly not a versatile one. But so doggoned likeable! How can you not enjoy a show with him in it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronxgirl48 Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 Just saw THE COMANCHEROS this evening and I really liked it. Either a precursor or was influenced by (depending on which was filmed first) THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN. And now Elmer Bernstein's score is my favorite under my "Rousing Western" category. LOVE IT; can't stop humming it. You know, I always used to be turned off by Stuart Whitman's eyebrows and he never appealed to me particularly, but here, oh, mama! As a dude gambler learning life lessons from Duke, he is so adorable and I don't know why. The eyebrows still threaten to take over his face, but he has such chemistry with Wayne, and he plays the part with considerable charm and ease. Very good supporting cast -- Lee Marvin steals it, no doubt. Then there's accommodating judge Edgar Buchanan, Bruce Cabot with his pinkie ring and Palm Springs tan, Nehemiah Persoff surprisingly UNDERACTING! as the overlord, and all-purpose serious dark-haired Ina Balin, who in some scenes looks remarkably like Sophia Loren. (well, I had a long day at work when I came home late, plopped down in front of the t.v. and turned on you'll pardon the expression the All Money Channel to specifically see this movie) Duke borrows "He'll do" from RED RIVER to comment on real-life son Patrick, the way he assessed Monty. Brutal action scenes -- those poor horses. I didn't know this was Michael Curtiz's last film. Beautiful landscapes too. Wayne is utterly relaxed and seems to be enjoying himself no end. Message was edited by: Bronxgirl48 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronxgirl48 Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 Miss G., thanks so much for reminding me about THE OKLAHOMA KID and TRIBUTE TO A BAD MAN. I'll be watching! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronxgirl48 Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 I haven't read any biographies of Ford, but I have a theory that he must have grown up with a very tough Irish mother, a real disciplinarian. In almost all of his films, woman are VERY STRONG, to say the least. I hope this doesn't sound weird or anything, but I think he maybe liked being dominated by them, in a harmless kind of way? (hope that doesn't sound too much like psycho-babble, which it probably is) Wayne's and O"Hara's love for their son in RIO GRANDE is so very touching, and their love story is, too. "I never want to say goodbye to you, Kathleen". Ford loves Maureen as an actress, that's for sure, and brings out all her best in this movie, and in that scene. I like Duke's hair au natural, as it were, also. A lovely, lovely film. Message was edited by: Bronxgirl48 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissGoddess Posted January 23, 2008 Author Share Posted January 23, 2008 I really enjoy *The Commancheros* too and had it on just as I fell asleep. The score is great and it's a fine exit piece for the great director. "Relaxed" is a fit description of the Wayne/Whitman teaming and it's a nice fit. This movie is best seen without 250 commercial breaks, though, to really enjoy the rythm and pace. Still, I'm always suckered into watching it when it shows up on AMC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissGoddess Posted January 23, 2008 Author Share Posted January 23, 2008 I think there were something like five or six kids so his Mom had a houseful. His father ran a successful saloon which was also a community political hub. I believe Ford was also quite close to one of his older sisters when he was growing up. I think he was one of the best directors of women ever, a view not shared by many. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redriver Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 Whitman was a charming actor. He had a short-lived western TV show called CIMARRON STRIP. Not a particularly good show, but he did his job. In The Duke's later years, he withstood some good natured kidding from Ivy League students. One asked if that was real hair or something else. Wayne assured him it was real hair. "It's not mine. But it's real." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissGoddess Posted January 23, 2008 Author Share Posted January 23, 2008 Howdy, Red! Are you referring to Duke's hilarious appearance at the Hasty Pudding Society? I would [love] to see all the footage of that gig---I think it was one of the coolest (and smartest) things Wayne ever did, PR-wise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronxgirl48 Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 Thanks for filling me on Ford's background. I haven't seen enough of his films to agree or disagree on your assessment of him directing women, but he really seems to respect them as a sex. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronxgirl48 Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 I don't remember watching CIMARRON STRIP back then. I read he's still alive and a multi-millionaire! Ya gotta love Duke. He knew how to make fun of himself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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