Western Movie Rambles

[FrankGrimes]

AAGGGH. Grey Guy... what are you trying to do?? Give me NIGHTMARES?? Posting that pic of UGH.. that awful FRANK guy. ha. Great.. NOW I am going to have to break out the PEPTO for sure just so I can fall asleep.. ICK!

 

I thought he was a favorite of yours!

 

I am definitely more set in my ways..ha. I DO like my Duke and Ford, ha. But I also like a LOT of non-Fordie/non-Duke Westerns though my list does not reflect that as much.. (especially if you look at the top 12 or so) because I was only making a list of movies that I actually own... and I do tend to try and get my faves (if I am going to go out and buy a movie) But I am sure my list WOULD look different.. somewhere after maybe.. say.. #8 or 9 if I were making a list STRICTLY of favorites ( both those I own.. and those I only dream of, ha)

 

You should come up with your 20 favorite westerns. And I don't care if it's all Wayne and Ford.

 

Well now THERE is your next assignment, mister. (sometime when you get the chance) Do not let that one get lost in your "dust laden" mountainous pile of unwatched movies. (HA!) It is really a great film.. I am SO glad Jackie brought it to our attention on the message board here. And I remember thinking that it would be one you would really like (but then again, I STINK at "pegging" you sometimes, so WHO knows, ha. You are MUCH better at guessing movies that I will like.. but as we have already established.. ha.... I am MUCH more set in my ways than you, ha)

 

You think I'd like it? Hmmmmmmmmm... that's a good tease. It's not that long, so I should be able to watch it this week.

 

But....

 

10. Forty Guns

11. The Searchers

19. The Ox-Bow Incident

 

#10.... ahead of 11 AND 19?? REALLY??????????????????????????? Oh good gravy.. ha. What, oh WHAT are we going to do w/ you???????

 

I love Forty Guns! It has many "high moments." I was stunned by quite a few things in that film. Plus I like that it's a racy western. Sam Fuller! And I'm big on Barry Sullivan's "Griff."

 

And PS... I can KID you about all this because I KNOW you know I am kidding... ha. One thing I will ALWAYS say when it comes to picking favorites is that EVERYBODY has a right to their own choices. ha. GOOD gravy.. movies are NOTHING if not subjective and I LOVE to watch and see how many different (but also the same) choices often turn up when the lists start getting put together.

 

Lists of favorites can give you an idea of a person's personality. But I like lists that are in some kind of order. Then again, if a list isn't in order, that also tells you about a person's personality.

[MissGoddess]

> {quote:title=rohanaka wrote:}{quote}

> Yeehaw, Miss G!! If I am reading your list right.. the "bold" numbers you have listed out to the side indicate your #1-10 favorites.. and I DID guess right, ha. I was pretty sure you had TMWSLV in that #1 spot.

>

 

How do, Peacemaker!

 

Yes, number one is pretty solidly fixed these days. It's what comes after that

can shift about.

 

> You have a great collection, kid. I bet it was a lot of work getting all those titles. I see a LOT of my "dream" films on there, ha.

>

 

I'm actually surprised how few commercial DVDs I have in the genre. Way less than the guys. I was speculating that my DVD-R list is going to be where the majority are.

 

> Once you are up and ready to go.. be sure to bring them on down when you come for the BBQ.. ha. German Potato salad AND some good old Western flicks.. now THAT will be a good time for SURE! ha. (oh golly... wouldn't it be fun if we really COULD have a "film fest" BBQ?? ha.. It has been WAY so very long since I got to sit down and and enjoy some really good westerns.. Oh.. AND almost as long since I had some good BBQ too.. (and GOLLY.. I even LIVE in one of the BIG "BBQ" regions of the country too.. so how sad is THAT?? ha) Oh boy.. do I ever sound pathetic, ha. :-)

>

 

Mmmmmm...you're making me hungry! It sounds absolutely delicious. Especially if ribs are on the menu. I love ribs and a good, home-made hamburger.

 

> Oh..and by the way.. the big suprise for me on your list was your #5 choice (The Far Country) I did not realize that one was so high "up there" in your esteem. It is a great film though, so I should not be SO suprised. (oh golly.. that Walter Brennan.. sniff, sob) ha.

 

I bumped it back up after recent re-watching. It was pretty much the first western I remember getting into in a big way, and it still has a lot of appeal to me. I can watch it over and over, which I can't say about some of the others, especially Ford, which are kind of heavy for just relaxed watching.

 

And it's so emotional, especially with old Walt. I love his relationship with Jimmy.

 

It's probably Mann's most sentimental western, too, which is another big reason I like it so much.

LIke Jackie said, *Man of the West* is a great film but it's very heavy going so I don't watch it as often.

[MissGoddess]

Then again, if a list isn't in order, that also tells you about a person's personality.

 

That she's bone lazy?

[FrankGrimes]

That she's bone lazy?

 

Yes, that's one of the possibilities.

[rohanaka]

I thought he was a favorite of yours!

 

Of course he is.. in some sort of WHACKED out topsy turvey alternative UNIVERSE or something. Ha.

 

You should come up with your 20 favorite westerns. And I don't care if it's all Wayne and Ford

 

Oh brother.. I am LOUSY at list making (as you well know) but truly..ha. The top 7 or 8 on the list I already posted are pretty close to being in the right order. I'll think about it.. tomorrow..ha. Because.. afterall...

 

You think I'd like it? Hmmmmmmmmm... that's a good tease. It's not that long, so I should be able to watch it this week.

 

OH great.. ha.. now you are going to hate it for SURE (no.. I don't really think that) Truly.. I will be surprised if you don't at least like it somewhat. I think it has a good portion of "dark" and "grit" and "cynicism" mixed with some other REALLY powerful (yet more "postive") themes as well. (and I would say more but don't want to give it away) So I will look forward to hearing your thoughts.

 

I do not know for SURE how far back you have to go to find the chat we had on it.. but as I recall it was sometime this past spring maybe.. and I think most of the folks who watched found it very favorable. (but that is NOT always an indicator of whether someone else will like it either, ha. So you will have to watch for yourself and then let me know)

 

I love Forty Guns

 

Blah.. ha. (though I guess I SHOULD be honest... ha. I only tried watching this movie one time..and fell asleep.. but I remember thinking (about the parts I DID watch) that it was NOT my cup 'o tea. ha. Maybe to be FAIR, I should re-check it out of the library sometime and give it another chance.. nah... (ha) I will just wait until it shows on TCM again and try to give it another chance.. maybe....

 

PS: Miss G:

Mmmmmm...you're making me hungry! It sounds absolutely delicious. Especially if ribs are on the menu. I love ribs and a good, home-made hamburger

 

Ribs and burgers are DEFINITELY on the menu. ha. (and chicken too, ha) And PS: I like my BBQ sauce sweet and tangy.. (but not TOO sweet) But we can have a variety sampler (in case you or Jackie have a different opinion on that) ha.

 

SO are you going to post the DVD-R list TOO??? I bet that one IS a mile long, ha.I imagine it is really nice to be able to just push a button (or something like that) and make those recordings. That would be a dream come true for me. ha. (my old vcr is NOT as good a recorder as I would like for it to be.. and I am out of NEW VHS tapes..and am down to recording OVER and over the old ones. ha. (Someday I will step into the 21st century and get myself one of those fancy DVD recorder doo-dads, ha. But TODAY is not that day, ha)

[JackFavell]

Dang it! I forgot Devil's Doorway. Put it t number 8, in between Shane and Fort Apache.

 

Frank, I hope you watch Hell's Hinges soon. It's amazing.

[movieman1957]

No way I can compete but here is what I have....

 

3:10 To Yuma - 1957

3:10 To Yuma - 2007

7 Men From Now

Angel and The Bad Man

Bend Of The River

The Big Country

Big Jake

The Bravados

Buchanan Rides Alone

Cheyenne Autumn

Cheyenne Social Club

Chisum

Colorado Territory

Comanche Station

The Comancheros

Conagher

Dances With Wolves

Dark Command

Day Of The Outlaw

Devil's Doorway

El Dorado

Escape From Ft. Bravo

The Far Country

The Fastest Gun Alive

Firecreek

Four Faces West

Ft. Apache

Ft. Defiance

Ft. Massacre

Gunfight At The OK Corral

The Gunfighter

Gunsight Ridge

The Hanging Tree

Hangman's Knot

High Noon

High Plains Drifter

Hondo

The Horse Soldiers

How The West Was Won

Jubal

Last Train From Gun Hill

Last Stand At Saber River

The Lawless Street

The Man From Laramie

Man of The West

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

Monte Walsh - 2003

The Naked Spur

Night Passage

No Name On The Bullet

North To Alaska

Once Upon A Time In The West

Open Range

The Outriders

The Ox Bow Incident

Pale Rider

The Professionals

The Quick and The Dead - 1987

The Quick and The Dead - 1995

Ramrod

Red River

Ride Lonesome

Rio Grande

Rio Bravo

Rooster Cogburn

The Searchers

Sergeant Rutledge

She Wore A Yellow Ribbon

Shenandoah

The Shootist

Silverado

The Spoilers

Stagecoach

Stars In My Crown

Support Your Local Sheriff

Tall In The Saddle

Tall Man Riding

The Tall T

The Tin Star

Tombstone

Tribute To A Bad Man

Trooper Hook

True Grit

Two Rode Together

Unforgiven

Wagon Master

The War Wagon

Warlock

Westbound

Westward The Women

Will Penny

Wincehster '73

Yellow Sky

 

Also some Wayne "B" films. There may even be a couple I've forgotten. Many DVD-Rs here.

[JackFavell]

Aaaah! *Westward the Women* ! Dang it!

 

Also Fort Defiance and Fort Bowie. And Stars in my Crown.

 

You guys have to cut it out. I might was well give up on ranking my favorite movies.

[MissGoddess]

I may have to give up...my list is missing alot of dvds I actually have and it looks like my dvd-r lists are totally incomplete.

 

Great list, Chris, I knew you'd have a lot covered and many that I have, too.

[fxreyman]

So you want my top ten favorites list huh?

 

Well, as you well know, I like making lists. Usually though the lists are without numbers in front of the titles. But like so many others have indicated here, their lists change quite often. I know yours do not, you claim however.

 

So, out of the western movies I own I will give you my top twenty-five, okay? That should make you happy!

 

Again, this list will be a list of favorites out of all the westerns I own.

 

A list of my favorite westerns of all-time is another completely different list, just so we are straight on this.

 

I did forget one thing however when publishing my first list a couple of nights ago. I recently purchased the 20-Film Westerns Super Pack that has 20 some odd films on it from TV and film. However I am somewhat dubious as to include them here. But since only two of the films on these two discs are TV made, I have decided to include them anyway. So if I add these films to my collection, my numbers would be 85 instead of 72.

 

The new number of films at 85 would be more, but I have decided to remove some films. I have decided that a few of the films I originally included in my first list do not represent the west, entirely or even somewhat. The Last of the Mohicans, Gettysburg, Glory, and Rough Riders are historical films about a certain period of time in American history. Even though they may have horses and gun battles IMHO they are films about war. The Sundowners is about an Australian family seeking work in the outback and even though horses appear, it is not really a western film. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, could be considered a western film, but IMHO it really is a morality drama with some western mythology thrown into it. And Lone Star (Chris Cooper) which is really one of my all-time favorites is a modern who-done-it played out in a western border town. This is not a real western either.

 

Now some of the other titles I have here could also be considered to be non-westerns as well. But they are here because their central theme, though in modern times do take place in a western landscape and have all the normal trappings of western lore to deal with. That is why Bad Day at Black Rock, Bite the Bullet, Blazing Saddles, City Slickers, Comes a Horseman, The Electric Horseman, Giant, Hud, Junior Bonner, Legends of the Fall, Lonely Are the Brave, Powderkeg and The Professionals are here as well. They may be films set in modern times, but are still westerns IMHO.

 

So here then is my "so-called" complete list of westerns in my film library that I will pick for my top twenty-five:

 

The Alamo

Angel and the Badman

Bad Day at Black Rock

The Ballad of Cable Hogue

Between God, the Devil and a Winchester

The Big Country

Bite the Bullet

Blazing Saddles

Blue Steel

Boot Hill

Broken Lance

Buchanan Rides Alone

Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid

Chino

Chisum

City Slickers

Comanche Station

Comes a Horseman

Conagher (tv movie)

The Cowboys

Cry Blood Apache

Dances With Wolves

Decision at Sundown

Desperate Mission (tv movie)

Dodge City

The Electric Horseman

El Dorado

Fort Apache

Giant

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

The Grand Duel

The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral

The Gunfighter

The Hanged Man

Hellbenders

How the West Was Won

Hud

It Can Be Done Amigo

Jeremiah Johnson

Junior Bonner

Kid Vengeance

Legends of the Fall

Little Big Man

Lonely Are the Brave

The Magnificent Seven

The Man From Laramie

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

McLintock!

My Darling Clementine

My Outlaw Brother

The Naked Spur

Once Upon a Time in the West

Open Range

The Outlaw Josey Wales

The Ox-Bow Incident

Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid

Powderkeg (tv movie pilot)

The Professionals

Rage at Dawn

Red River

Ride Lonesome

Ride the High Country

Rio Bravo

Rio Grande

The Searchers

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon

The Shootist

Song of Arizona

Stagecoach

The Sundowners (Robert Preston)

Support Your Local Sheriff!

The Tall T

They Died With Their Boots On

Three Godfathers

This Man Can't Die

To the Last Man

Tom Horn

True Grit

Union Pacific

White Comanche

The Wild Bunch

Will Penny

Winchester ?73

Winds of the Wasteland

Wyatt Earp

 

And now...... the moment old Frank has been waiting for, my top 25 favorite westerns:

 

1. The Professionals

2. Bite the Bullet

3. Winchester '73

4. My Darling Clementine

5. The Man From Laramie

6. Chisum

7. El Dorado

8. Ride the High Country

9. She Wore a Yellow Ribbon

10. Support Your Local Sheriff!

11. Fort Apache

12. Will Penny

13. McLintock!

14. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

15. Lonely Are the Brave

16. Rio Bravo

17. The Searchers

18. True Grit

19. Red River

20. The Shootist

21. The Outlaw Josey Wales

22. The Ox-Bow Incident

23. The Magnificent Seven

24. Open Range

25. Powderkeg

 

Now let me say a few things about my selection process. This is the part that Frank likes the best, even more so I think than the actual list. There are several ways one can select their favorite films. One is by pure enjoyment, another is by how many times they have watched a particular film, another would be who of their favorite actors are in the film, and so on.

 

My criteria is quite simple: If one of these films is on tv, while I am surfing the putrid tv landscape and I stop and watch it, that probably means more to me than any other factor. Because I am stopping at a particular point in the film is not important, rather it is the film itself, based on my previous experience with the film.

 

The other main reason why I select certain films is usually the ensemble acting. I really love films that have several main characters but also have a fine supporting cast. That is crucial to me. I really never enjoy just watching one person dominate a story.

 

For instance, I love Chisum (1970), one of the Dukes last westerns before he started to get sick again from cancer. Here his character is the main driving force in the film. But, the other minor characters get quite a bit of screen time as well. Especially Ben Johnson and Forrest Tucker. I like that.

 

My experience at watching the above 25 is unlike any other experiences I have. Take The Professionals for instance. That movie could be playing on some tv channel with commercials every 10 minutes or so, but I will still sit there and be glued to my set. I enjoy the film that much. And that film to me is a pure joy to watch. I know that John Wayne is my favorite actor, and many of his films are represented here, I think it says a lot that not one John Wayne western is in my top five. Instead, I have chosen other more character driven films. And that is what I have chosen for my top five. Great acting, especially ensemble acting. The writing is great, and the action never lets up. The Professionals is really as tory about how four, completely different men are thrown together to solve a problem. Each are "professionals" in their respected areas. But what is so good about this film is the interplay between not only the four leads, but also what happens when they learn they have been "duped". Even though their employer may not have been so upfront with them, they continue on to conclude their "contract", even though they know it to be false.

 

Bite the Bullet is a true love from the start. I know, I know, Gene Hackman as a cowboy? Why not. A true test of acting to be sure. He comes across as a genuine person who deeply cares about the animals he has to take care of. But this film based in part on actual horse endurance races of the early 20th century is also a character study. The ensemble acting is great here as well. James Coburn, Candice Bergen, Ben Johnson, even Dabney Coleman all provide great lessons in acting. The scenery is beautiful as is the use of (at the time) still operating steam locomotives. The scene where Gene Hackman's character reflects on how he met his wife in Cuba is priceless. And, who can not remember a more poignant moment when Ben Johnson's character tells Hackman how he made it through life and how he wants to be remembered.

 

Winchester '73. Now here is an intense character study of one man's (well two really) to find the killer of his father. **SPOILER ALERT** And it's his brother!! Of all people. And they meet, several times until the final confrontation on those rocks. Another great example of ensemble acting. I especially love the way Millard Mitchell provides the voice of reason to Jimmy Stewart's character.

 

So hopefully this gives Frank and everyone else a little insight into how I look at films and how I make selections for top "whatever lists". And remember, this is just my list of favorite westerns that I own. If you want another list, you will have to ask nicely!

 

Now it is time to mosey on over to the general store. See you all a little later today......

 

Message edited by fxreyman

[rohanaka]

Oh golly.. I am with Miss G and Jackie..ha I yield to all the superior list making skills on this thread. ha. WAY cool lists Mr. Movieman and FXReyman too.

 

Golly I am going to have to look into some of these titles and likely there will be a HUGE revision in my wanna see list (because I don't just have a "I wish I owned that movie" list. ha. My WANNA see list is THE list I really am most interested in crossing off..ha.

 

And I have to say (just from hanging arournd with you folks) that you would NOT believe the number of titles that I have been able to "X" off of my "Wanna See" list and have since added many of them over onto my "Favorites" list, ha.

 

But doggone it.. ha. JUST when I think I am getting ahead and my Wanna See's start to "dwindle" down to a comfortable size..ha. THEN you folks come along w/ your LISTS and I have to start all over again. ha. OH what WONDERFUL dilema to have, for sure, ha.

 

PS: Chris.. since yours are in ABC order.. I willl ask.. (maybe you have posted this already and I just did not see it) Which are your top 5 or so favorites??

[movieman1957]

Some of yours I haven't heard of. "Powderkeg"?

[fredbaetz]

Honorable mention. These are rarely mentioned, but I think they deserve more then a passing nod.

 

"Santa Fa Trail" Errol and Ronald taking down John Brown with Michael Curtiz at the helm.

 

"Nevada" Robert Mitchum in an early outing in his career. One of his first starring roles..

 

"Along Came Jones" A playful look at the genre with Coop poking fun at himself..

 

"I Shot Jesse James" Sam Fullers first film and a dandy norish one with John Ireland as the "I"..

 

"Paleface" and "Son of Paleface" Comedy classic westerns with Hope, Russell and Roy Rogers and Trigger who steals the scenes he has with Bob, {Trigger} that is...

 

"Trail of '98" with Doloras del Rio and Harry Carey as the baddie. A silent classic which lost 4 stuntmen who drown during filming

 

Edited by: fredbaetz on Oct 10, 2010 4:20 PM

[fredbaetz]

"Powderkeg" was a 1971 pilot for a TV series that starred Rod Taylor and Dennis Cole as kind of soldiers of fortune who drove around in a Stutz Bearcat before WW 1 in the southwest. The series was picked up, but only lasted one season under the name "Bearcats" To bad, it was a fun show, that was a little different....

[CineMaven]

I have Fall Issue TV guides from 1969 till I guess the 90's and I can still see the picture of Taylor and Cole.

[movieman1957]

I have lots of them I really like but if my favorites are those that I watch more often then (in no particular order)

 

The Big Country

The Searchers

Shane

The Tall T

Silverado

Liberty Valance

The Man From Laramie

Jubal....

3 Bad Men

and almost anything by Anthony Mann

 

There are others but I like most westerns. In fact a bad western is still somewhat enjoyable.

 

MissG:

 

I saw "Rawhide" on your list and that is one I have always liked, It could fit into several genres. A rather odd title but it is full of suspense and the evil Jack Elam. Good stuff.

 

Sir Francis:

 

Unrelated topic. I saw a new Samuel Fuller movie last night. "Fixed Bayonets." Another tense Korean War saga.

[FrankGrimes]

HELL'S HINGES ARE SPOILED

 

Howdy, Denver -- I just watched Hell's Hinges

 

And now I have. I haven't read what anyone else wrote just yet, but I will.

 

The movie gets better as it goes along.

 

I completely agree.

 

At first, I thought it was going to be a pretty simplistic film, but by the end, I found myself very moved by it.

 

The ending saves the film for me. I was nearly puking for the first forty minutes. I thought I was back in Sunday school. Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

 

It is amazing that this film has survived all this time, showing that in 1916 they could put some extremely powerful images on film, and not just D.W. Griffith. This film shows me that William S. Hart was quite a good filmmaker, though the direction was credited to Charles Swickard. Together they put together a fine film with really great crowd scenes.

 

I really liked the burning of the town. It was very impressive.

 

And I believe this is the earliest feature film I have seen.

 

I figured it was going to be a rather Victorian style film, with purple prose in the titles - since William S. Hart was a bit declamatory and stage oriented..... and it did start out that way, I won't lie to you. I was torn between noticing how well Hart expressed himself on camera, and finding him to be a bit play-actorish compared to some other cowboys I've seen. I found myself drawn more to John Standing who plays the girl's brother, the Parson. He was quite good, but then he had the show offy role.

 

I liked Hart. He reminded me of Gary Cooper in his look. I also liked his western get-up, the first one.

 

 

But then Hell's Hinges turned into something different, something almost modern. Hart won me over with a truly stunning ending, and his quiet, thoughtful portrayal. He became more subtle over the course of the film, and that was very pleasing, and his final scenes were thrilling and spare. The final scene was one of the tenderest I've seen in a silent of the time.

 

Once they killed the parson (Jack Standing) and torched the church, I was into the film. But it was the very end that made me give it a passing grade. I thought Blaze's (William S. Hart) words were very sweet. I also liked some of the shots.

 

 

[FrankGrimes]

Howdy, Rey -- So, out of the western movies I own I will give you my top twenty-five, okay? That should make you happy!

 

Perfect!

 

The Sundowners is about an Australian family seeking work in the outback and even though horses appear, it is not really a western film.

 

I've yet to watch that one, but I do agree with you. I don't consider the Outback to be western.

 

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, could be considered a western film, but IMHO it really is a morality drama with some western mythology thrown into it.

 

I don't consider that a western, either. Why? I'm not sure.

 

Now some of the other titles I have here could also be considered to be non-westerns as well. But they are here because their central theme, though in modern times do take place in a western landscape and have all the normal trappings of western lore to deal with. That is why Bad Day at Black Rock, Bite the Bullet, Blazing Saddles, City Slickers, Comes a Horseman, The Electric Horseman, Giant, Hud, Junior Bonner, Legends of the Fall, Lonely Are the Brave, Powderkeg and The Professionals are here as well. They may be films set in modern times, but are still westerns IMHO.

 

Bad Day at Black Rock is one I don't consider a western. It just doesn't feel like a western to me. It seems to be more about a western "town" that is holding a racist grudge against the Japanese more so than an actual western. So I view it as a western setting more so than a western. Any film that takes place in Texas could be considered a "western" if the guys and gals wear cowboy hats and boots. Urban Cowboy, for example. The Misfits could then be seen as a western because there's a "cowboy" and he ropes cattle and there's a rodeo and it takes place in the west and guys wear cowboy hats. That's basically a "western" setting with me.

 

It's interesting that you mention The Professionals because I never even thought of it not being a western but you are completely right about it. Is it truly a western? They are mercenaries (the western "A-Team," as I call them) who are looking to bring back a woman to a rich American businessman. Is that a western? But if you question them, how about The Wild Bunch? It's also a western that mixes with the Mexican revolution. I guess the fascinating twist is we are on the side of the bandits, not the law. I love both films.

 

And now...... the moment old Frank has been waiting for, my top 25 favorite westerns:

 

1. The Professionals

2. Bite the Bullet

3. Winchester '73

4. My Darling Clementine

5. The Man From Laramie

6. Chisum

7. El Dorado

8. Ride the High Country

9. She Wore a Yellow Ribbon

10. Support Your Local Sheriff!

11. Fort Apache

12. Will Penny

13. McLintock!

14. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

15. Lonely Are the Brave

16. Rio Bravo

17. The Searchers

18. True Grit

19. Red River

20. The Shootist

21. The Outlaw Josey Wales

22. The Ox-Bow Incident

23. The Magnificent Seven

24. Open Range

25. Powderkeg

 

Wow! I didn't know The Professionals was your favorite western of all time! Fantastic! It's a fun one. I like the ending and message.

 

So in your top ten, you have four Wayne films and in your top twenty, you have ten Wayne films. So half of your favorites are Wayne. That's what I was getting at with me being more varied. I'd call you a "Wayne" western fan. That doesn't mean you don't like other westerns -- you like them far more than me -- it's just your very favorites are Wayne. As I was saying, there's a strong Wayne/Ford presence with those on the board whereas I'm more varied. I'd say Movieman is also rather varied but he leans Wayne/Ford much more than I do. My lean is Mann/Stewart.

[fxreyman]

Is this all you have to say?

[FrankGrimes]

Huh? I'm confused.

[rohanaka]

And now I have

 

Well aren't YOU Mister Busy Guy..ha. I

 

am glad you got a chance to watch it. Hope you have a few more comments for us, but from what I read so far, it sounds like a mixed review from you. (I am such a lousy "pegger" when it comes to trying to imagine whether you will like a movie or not) but from what I read it sounds like there were parts you did enjoy. (Whew.. I am glad it was not a total loss.... shades of MCLINTOCK!! ha) :-)

 

SPOILERS UnHINGED:

 

The ending saves the film for me

 

Now see.. that was a suprise for me to read... ha. It ends on a "positve" note so I figured that would be your biggest complaint.

 

I thought I was back in Sunday school. Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

 

Ha... on behalf of Sunday School Teachers everywhere.. I can only say.. "OH come on now, and snap out of it, and just settle yourself down.":p (That is what I tell the "unruly" little boys in the kindergarten Sunday School class each week and.. gee.. it USUALY does the trick, ha. Maybe because THEY know how to listen. For you.. I am sure we will have to break out the hat pin or something. HA)

 

I do agree that there were some pretty strong "faith" themes in the film.. but I really did not feel like they were all as heavy handed as they MIGHT have been given the time this movie was made. Truly I felt you got a GOOD mix of "saints" and "sinners" and their differing points of view with this story.

 

Admittedly, it WAS pretty clear who the "good and bad" guys were in this story..but I liked that the BIGGEST "sinner" of all was the one who SHOULD have been the most reliable and faithful.. and he paid a HUGE price for it in the end.

 

And RE: Hart's character.. the turn around for him, to ME, was very moving..and pretty well paced. It is not like one of those "instant" Christian moments where he just turned over a whole new leaf out of the blue. It took him a while. and it was a gradual thing. And the screen cap you posted of him praying is one of my fave parts. I really like how he ends up praying FOR her (as in "for her welfare and happiness" rather than his selfish way of praying "for" her earlier on.. as in.. wanting her for himself) It showed how far he'd finally travelled (in terms of who he was as a person) from what he started out like early on in the film. (But then you know me.. ha. I am a sucker for a good old fashioned repentance story)

 

Once they killed the parson (Jack Standing) and torched the church, I was into the film

 

That was SOMETHING, wasn't it. Oh, that brother was such a piece of work.. I say again,, he paid HUGE price. A very tragic end to his tale to be sure.

 

Edited by: rohanaka on Oct 11, 2010 7:47 PM

[JackFavell]

Ro is right, Frank, I think this was very even-handed film for the time period.... there are so many movies from the teens that are really heavy with moralistic tone. I found this one refreshing - the main character was NOT a simplistic "good guy". Most films of the time would have had the parson as the hero of the story.

 

Starting the story with the parson's questionable ethics and his "banishment" to the west turned all that D.W. Griffith schmaltz on it's ear. I thought it was a very complex adult story with a stunning end. It still shocks me, that fire and the town's destruction. I thought you'd be stunned too.

[MissGoddess]

i was quite impressed with hell's hinges myself. i agree about the ending,

really strong. i think Hart brought a lot of nuance and realism to the genre and

clearly he was very much taken with and dedicated to making quality films about

the west.

[FrankGrimes]

Howdy, Ford Floozy -- Ro is right, Frank, I think this was very even-handed film for the time period.... there are so many movies from the teens that are really heavy with moralistic tone. I found this one refreshing - the main character was NOT a simplistic "good guy". Most films of the time would have had the parson as the hero of the story.

 

Oh, I didn't know any of this. My silent film experiences are German Expressionism, which often deal with lust, desire, and fears. I'm a little wary of American silents... but I'd still watch them. What I saw of The Wind, I really liked.

 

Starting the story with the parson's questionable ethics and his "banishment" to the west turned all that D.W. Griffith schmaltz on it's ear.

 

Oh, really? Very cool.

 

I thought it was a very complex adult story with a stunning end. It still shocks me, that fire and the town's destruction. I thought you'd be stunned too.

 

See, I didn't see the story or characters to be all that complex. There was the gamblers, boozers, and dance hall girls (sinners) on one side and the puritans on the other side. That's very black and white (simplistic). Blaze (William S. Hart) likes Faith (Clara Williams), a heavy-handed name, hence his motivation in defending her interests. And this happens immediately. The sinners and puritans clash over burning down the church. I didn't see any complex thinking or any confliction involved in this story.

 

Are you saying it's complex because the hero was a bad guy before the girl?

 

You're right, I was very surprised by the burning of the church and the death of Bob (Jack Standing).

[FrankGrimes]

HELL'S HINGES SPOILED

 

Well aren't YOU Mister Busy Guy..ha.

 

That's definitely a "ha"! I also watched Ride Lonesome. While the Boetticher westerns have fallen in the "middle" on my favorites list, I really like them.

 

I am glad you got a chance to watch it. Hope you have a few more comments for us, but from what I read so far, it sounds like a mixed review from you.

 

I liked the end, primarily the sweetness of Blaze. I also liked the burning of the church and saloon. As Jackie said, those visuals were on the shocking side. But I really wasn't into the first two acts.

 

(I am such a lousy "pegger" when it comes to trying to imagine whether you will like a movie or not) but from what I read it sounds like there were parts you did enjoy. (Whew.. I am glad it was not a total loss.... shades of MCLINTOCK!! ha) :-)

 

It's definitely not McLintock!! That one was painful! Although, I do adore Maureen. And I usually struggle in figuring out what you and Jackie will like, too. That makes it fun. I also love it when you attempt to predict if I'll like something or not.

 

Now see.. that was a suprise for me to read... ha. It ends on a "positve" note so I figured that would be your biggest complaint.

 

I like happy endings! But I prefer tragedy, it's true.

 

Ha... on behalf of Sunday School Teachers everywhere.. I can only say.. "OH come on now, and snap out of it, and just settle yourself down.":p (That is what I tell the "unruly" little boys in the kindergarten Sunday School class each week and.. gee.. it USUALY does the trick, ha. Maybe because THEY know how to listen. For you.. I am sure we will have to break out the hat pin or something. HA)

 

I would be constantly sitting in the "sin bin" in your class! And I'm a goody two shoes!

 

I do agree that there were some pretty strong "faith" themes in the film.. but I really did not feel like they were all as heavy handed as they MIGHT have been given the time this movie was made. Truly I felt you got a GOOD mix of "saints" and "sinners" and their differing points of view with this story.

 

I thought the lines were clearly drawn and a little cartoonish. But the violence surprised me.

 

Admittedly, it WAS pretty clear who the "good and bad" guys were in this story..but I liked that the BIGGEST "sinner" of all was the one who SHOULD have been the most reliable and faithful.. and he paid a HUGE price for it in the end.

 

I didn't view him as a nasty sinner. But I guess since he was to be the most faithful, he was not to be tempted. We was just weak, that's all.

 

And RE: Hart's character.. the turn around for him, to ME, was very moving..and pretty well paced. It is not like one of those "instant" Christian moments where he just turned over a whole new leaf out of the blue. It took him a while. and it was a gradual thing. And the screen cap you posted of him praying is one of my fave parts. I really like how he ends up praying FOR her (as in "for her welfare and happiness" rather than his selfish way of praying "for" her earlier on.. as in.. wanting her for himself) It showed how far he'd finally travelled (in terms of who he was as a person) from what he started out like early on in the film. (But then you know me.. ha. I am a sucker for a good old fashioned repentance story)

 

I thought it was immediate. He liked Faith, so he defended her. I liked that he was still himself, though.

 

That was SOMETHING, wasn't it. Oh, that brother was such a piece of work.. I say again,, he paid HUGE price. A very tragic end to his tale to be sure.

 

I really didn't have a problem with Bob. His family and the Church elders knew what he was yet they let him continue. They basically knew he was going to fail. They failed him.