Western Movie Rambles

[JackFavell]

I disagree with *The Westerner* being uninspiring visually - I love the cinematography - Gregg Toland did a great job creating an authentic feel for the film. But I do see what you mean - it is not a sweeping outdoor western. I still like the look of it.

 

I do like it a lot, if only for the interplay of the two main characters - Gary and Walter Brennan are good together.

 

The leading lady is bleh.

 

I can't wait to see *Blood on the Moon*, I saw part of it last time it was on, and could have kicked myself for not recording it.

 

Don't forget *Fort Defiance* with Ben Johnson earlier in the day at 4:30 pm ET. I've never seen it, but it has Peter Graves and Dane Clark, and the story looks interesting. Probably not a classic but worth looking at for Ben.

[MissGoddess]

I have *Fort Defiance* reminders set up.

[JackFavell]

Me too, of course!

[rohanaka]

Gary and Walter Brennan are good together

 

I meant to say last night (but was just too worn out and weary, ha) that I always liked The Westerner. Espcially Brennan's take on Judge Roy Bean.. It might not be TOO historically accurate, ha. but I think he did a GOOD job (of being bad and YET sympathetic). It is not my fave role for him.. but I did enjoy it very much.

 

PS Jackie: Don't forget Fort Defiance with Ben Johnson earlier in the day at 4:30 pm ET. I've never seen it, but it has Peter Graves and Dane Clark, and the story looks interesting. Probably not a classic but worth looking at for Ben.

 

Woo hoo.... a day of Westerns.. and Ben too!! I don't know if I am going to be able to catch that one or not.. I will have to try and see if I can get it recorded. (but not sure if I can get my VCR to work for that or not)

 

PS: Fredb.. also meant to say thanks on the tip for the two movies I was wanting to catch.. I wish I was less technophobic, (and less "chicken" about ordering online) I am lucky to be able to just check emails and post on here.. ha So I have to find all my movies at the library (and/or buy in the store) and that limits me a bit. But it would be great to find them somewhere. I will keep an eye out.

[JackFavell]

I hope you can watch Fort D or get it recorded, only because it is impossible to find anywhere else.

 

I agree about Walter Brennan - but it IS my favorite WB performance.

[OllieTSB]

I've got FORT DEFIANCE scheduled for recording, by the way. There are quite a few Dane Clark films coming up and, to be honest, I'm not a fan of his but I have quite a few films he's in. And I don't recognize any of these but I'm going to record them anyway. I hate it when TCM baits me like this - I get used to being fed a stream of unknown gems, and then they give me some with great recommendations like yours on FORT D. Darn.

[JackFavell]

I do like Dane Clark, but I don't really picture him out west. Maybe west of Flatbush.

[CineMaven]

< ( Spit Take! ) >

[stjohnrv]

How- do Missy, well I'm thinking you had U-er kindly schoolmarm face on when ya forgave Hawks for EL DORADO and so I'm a wondering if u-er clemency reached out a 3rd time for RIO LOBO??? I surely hope not! If-en I stirred Ur tail feathers with my questioning u-er judgement I'll be a asking u-re pardon straight off.

 

Edited by: st john rv on Sep 22, 2010 2:50 PM

[MissGoddess]

How do, stjohn,

 

It's been a long while since I watched *Rio Lobo*. I remember not caring much

for it at the time.

 

No ruffles apparent.

[wouldbestar]

I watched Rio Lobo Saturday and found it better than I expected. John Wayne and Jorge Rivera worked well together and Jennifer O'Neill held her own with them. I guess I have to break down and try El Dorado all the way through.

 

As I have repeatedly proved to you all I am practically computer illiterate, will somebody _please_ show me how to add the little suns to my posts? They are so expressive. Thank you to whoever helps me with this.

[MissGoddess]

A smiley face is made by typing a colon followed by a right parenthesis.

A sad face is a colon followed by a left parenthesis.

A winky face is a semicolon followed by a right parenthesis.

[CineMaven]

And here is a raspberry:

 

[fredbaetz]

"Rio Lobo" was the last film Hawks directed and he even thought it was "A poor film", he had wanted Robert Mitchum to co star with Wayne again, but Mitchum said it was even a bigger piece of crap then "El Dorado"

John Wayne won his Oscar during the filming of "Rio Lobo" and when he returned to the set, everyone was wearing an eyepatch, even his horse.....

[MissGoddess]

> "Rio Lobo" was the last film Hawks directed and he even thought it was "A poor film", he had wanted Robert Mitchum to co star with Wayne again, but Mitchum said it was even a bigger piece of crap then "El Dorado"

 

That sounds like Mitchum, ha! Nothing flowery about him.

[wouldbestar]

MissGoddess and CineMaven: Thank you for your help but I cannot even get the suns themselves on the board. And I love raspberries, especially when they're mixed with some gooey chocolate treat!

[wouldbestar]

I just spent 21/2 hours watching Duel in the Sun for the first time. Wish I could go back to noon and gain that time back.

 

The scenery was breathtaking, the score marvelous, the costumes beautiful. The actors-all great practitioners of their raft- tried hard to make us believe it was all real. But the ?epic? story was anything but and sank the rest of the work.

 

The whole romantic triangle story never rang true for me. Pearl was not an evil woman, just looking for love and respectability within the confines of Society?s mores. I believed that Pearl felt she loved Jesse in the beginning and why but didn?t find the Pearl/Lewt affair to be that believable.

 

Peck and Jones had no chemistry for me, here or later in Grey Flannel Suit and to make the story work a strong sexual magnetism had to be there. I never saw love from him, just lust and control; he only showed affection for the father who let him get away with murder. Pearl?s feelings were more real but based more on neediness and desperation than love. She is at her best when Lewt shoots Jesse for taking her in and she decides to avenge him. It?s obvious that she loves Jesse as much as she is capable of truly doing so and is happy that he has Helen.

 

Pearl and Lewt?s beginning-the near rape-was clumsily written and that ending was just unbelievable for words. They mortally shoot each other but with dying breath say ?I Love You? which is supposed to make it okay. Yuck!

 

I understand this was not a box office hit when released, critically panned, and outraged moral watchdogs. Didn?t the Legion of Decency condemn it because of the way Pearl was portrayed? I imagine it was pretty racy for 1946.

 

Carey, Sr., Gish, Cotten, Bickford, Jones, and Peck plus magnificent production values- it?s a shame so much money and talent was spent on such a misfire.

[wouldbestar]

Well last night I got to see all of El Dorado, the only one of the "Rio Trio" I've missed. Like Rio Lobo I found it better than I expected. Yes, they took two scenes ver batum from Bravo and Maudie and Mississippi were recut from Feathers and Colorado but there was enough originality to keep you watching.

 

I actually liked Arthur Hunnicutt's old geezer role better than Walter Brennan's Stumpy from Bravo who I found anything at times. James Caan was funny as Mississippi and had good chemistry with Michele Carey as Joey. They lit just enough sparks to let you use your imagination as to what happens next.

 

The added McDonald/Jason fued was well done and it's always good to see R. G. Armstrong in anything as well as Jim Davis-two of the best voices in Westerns. Ed Asner made you see him as someone other than Lou Grant. Mitchum and Wayne worked well together and I liked how they showed what being drunk really does to you physically.

 

Charlene Holt was wasted in the movie. After she rides into town with Cole near the end, you never see her and don't know what happens between them. Do they get together or does she write off both Sheriff and Gunman? I know I've said before women in Hawks movies sometimes seem more window dressing or plot devices rather than fully developed characters; this was one of those.

 

I stayed up to see The Violent Men again as I've never seen either in HDTV and like it. And today we have good Westerns all day. You can bet I'm going nowhere today.

[fredbaetz]

Ranked Arthur Hunnicut right up there with Brennen, at times I preferred him. He was outstanding in "The Red Badge of Courage", "The Lusty Men" with Mitchum, "The Last Command" as Davy Crockett {hate to say it, but he was a better Crockett then John Wayne. More down to earth }, "The Tall T", he wasn't it long enough and his Academy Award nomination as Zeb Calloway in Howard Hawks "The Big Sky". Just loved to hear him speak....

[fredbaetz]

double post

 

Edited by: fredbaetz on Sep 29, 2010 3:39 AM

[MissGoddess]

Hi wouldbestar,

 

*El Dorado* is the first movie I remember noticing Arthur Hunnicutt. Like you, I totally

enjoyed his character and i love his voice, too. It has to be one of the most instantly

recognizable voices in classic movies.

 

For me, the only real draw in *El Dorado* is seeing Wayne and Mitchum teamed up.

That is a treat and I wish they'd worked together before (as a team). The movie is

just okay to me, though better than *Rio Lobo*. Michelle Carey very nearly ruins it,

I can't remember a worse performance by an actress in a western. I don't know what

Hawks was thinking. I'm sorry to sound so harsh on her, but I've watched this movie

for years and have never gotten past my aversion to her.

 

I agree Charlene is wasted. They shouldn't have had a female interest for Wayne

and Mitchum at all if it wasn't going anywhere. I liked seeing Ed Asner.

 

*Duel in the Sun* is not a favorite either. I wish I could say better!

 

P.S. I just realized now you were referring to something else when you

asked how to post "suns". I thought you mean the smiley faces. I haven't

seen any suns posted on the board, so I'm not sure how to help with that.

[movieman1957]

> Michelle Carey very nearly ruins it,

 

It is about having the young people in the movie, I think. Not only is she not that good one might make an argument that she is unnecessary to the movie. Short of a tight shirt and killing Asner to complete the family's revenge there isn't much there. But that is just me.

[wouldbestar]

:) MissGoddess: That IS what I was referring to but I didn't get the whole picture. When I tried your instructions on the reply I expected to see a sun. When I didn't, I thought I was missing something. The light finally went off in my head and I followed your instructions on another post and when I hit send it pooped up on the thread smiley face and all. I told you I'm an electronic dufus so I won't even ask about different colors. I'm going to count this as an early birthday gift and hope any more I get in the next two weeks are just as enjoyable. Thanks again to you and CineMaven. :)

[MissGoddess]

Yay!! Congratulations!

 

I don't think we can change the colors of the fonts if that's what you mean. At least

not without using some fancy HTML that I have no idea how because believe me, I'm

a technophobe from way back!

[wouldbestar]

Sometimes some creative person makes the smiley faces pink, blue, purple or some other color to emphasize the mood. If I can get into that fine, otherwise I'll take my recent victory and be grateful.