MissGoddess Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Happy trails, Kathy! Encore is airing West of the Divide, Dawn Rider and Randy Rides Alone this afternoon. I can't say I'm paying ultra close attention, but it's nice having a young and lean Duke in the background on a cold, hard afternoon. I'm staying close to home while it's frigid outside. Tonight they are airing Fort Apache and The Horse Soldiers and if I don't watch TCM I'll probably sit with those yet again. I look forward to your conclusion on *The Big Trail* whenever you get the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Encore is airing West of the Divide, Dawn Rider and Randy Rides Alone this afternoon. I can't say I'm paying ultra close attention, but it's nice having a young and lean Duke in the background on a cold, hard afternoon. I'm staying close to home while it's frigid outside. Sounds like fun! Nothing like a nice western when it's cold outside, I guess B-) Tonight they are airing Fort Apache and The Horse Soldiers and if I don't watch TCM I'll probably sit with those yet again. I could think of worse movies to watch again. I look forward to your conclusion on The Big Trail whenever you get the time. I do too, I'm sure it's going to be a very interesting ramble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackFavell Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Hi April...actually...um...I...you know what I am going to say....I fell asleep. I am laughing because I told Andrew (my husband) he should come on the boards sometime because I make him watch so many movies. He said that he might, but that his review for every movie would always be the same..... "I fell asleep." The Big Trail just knocked me for a loop when I watched it the first time. I wasn't paying a lot of attention to plot or story, but it was a beautiful movie. The locations were so lovely and realistic that any plot contrivances were forgiven. And when the young Wayne showed up on the screen, it just hit me like a ton of bricks- "Oh, THAT'S why he became famous." He was so relaxed and comfortable in his body, that you just can't help but notice it. I mean what a body.... There is nothing better than John Wayne filmed against the green trees and the blue skies, prairies and mountains..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 I am laughing because I told Andrew (my husband) he should come on the boards sometime because I make him watch so many movies. He said that he might, but that his review for every movie would always be the same..... "I fell asleep." Wanna know what's the funniest thing? When I was a teenager and starting to get into the habit of watching movies, I would often wonder why so many adults would often fall asleep while watching a movie - no matter how good it was. Let's just say adulthood has brought another perspective on this. The Big Trail just knocked me for a loop when I watched it the first time. I wasn't paying a lot of attention to plot or story, but it was a beautiful movie. The locations were so lovely and realistic that any plot contrivances were forgiven. I don't suppose you'd remember if you watched the old "regular" version or the widescreen transfer with the "Fox Grandeur" version? To me personally it was a revelation to find out there were widescreen movies being made way back in the early 30's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackFavell Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 > {quote:title=Film_Fatale wrote:}{quote} > I don't suppose you'd remember if you watched the old "regular" version or the widescreen transfer with the "Fox Grandeur" version? To me personally it was a revelation to find out there were widescreen movies being made way back in the early 30's. I don't know, but I do believe it was on TCM last year (2007), sometime in late summer or early fall. I think it was right after I got my cable switched so I could get TCM......maybe in July, or August? I think it WAS widescreen, now that you mention it. That's probably why it looked so good to me. Unless it was on AMC.... I just can't remember what channel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 I don't know, but I do believe it was on TCM last year (2007), sometime in late summer or early fall. I think it was right after I got my cable switched so I could get TCM......maybe in July, or August? I think it WAS widescreen, now that you mention it. That's probably why it looked so good to me. Unless it was on AMC.... I just can't remember what channel. It might have been the Fox Movie Channel. I think it's the only channel that has shown the letterboxed version of it in the last year or year and a half; I recorded it one of those times it showed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackFavell Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 I don't get FMC. The more I think about it, the more I believe it was AMC. I bet that's why I was not watching carefully, because I couldn't stand the commercials. I do believe that it was a premiere of the letterboxed version, though. I am almost positive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 I do get AMC, but I practically never watch it... except perhaps for *Mad Men*, because the sight of movies getting butchered with pan-and-scan and commercials... it's almost more than I can bear! :0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackFavell Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 > {quote:title=Film_Fatale wrote:}{quote} > I do get AMC, but I practically never watch it... except perhaps for *Mad Men*, because the sight of movies getting butchered with pan-and-scan and commercials... it's almost more than I can bear! :0 Oh, I agree. And How! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rohanaka Posted November 24, 2008 Author Share Posted November 24, 2008 I am laughing because I told Andrew (my husband) he should come on the boards sometime because I make him watch so many movies. He said that he might, but that his review for every movie would always be the same..... "I fell asleep." HA! That sounds like something my husband would say. There is nothing better than John Wayne filmed against the green trees and the blue skies, prairies and mountains..... Was the Big Trail colorized or something? The VHS copy had was black and white....and not too great a copy at that. But I agree...even in old timey black and white the scenery was really powerful, and the Duke was WAY COOL. He really did just about jump out of the screen a time or two. His "mad" faces (as my daughter would call them) were getting quite the work out off and on throughout the story. And his boyish smile got even more of a work out...what a charmer. You could tell he was still learning the "ropes" when it came to delivering some of his lines, but all in all, he really was starting to show the promise of the man to come. You know, after seeing this, it makes me think his whole career might have gone an entirely different direction, he was just so "leading man-ish," But I am glad he ended up being such an influence in the western genre instead. Though w/ films like The Quiet Man and several of his other films, (especiall the military ones) he did have more range than some folks give him credit. Especially when you think of all the different sorts of characters he played...even if all you do is look at the westerns, he had a wide range of skills. I've become more and more aware of his ability to use his facial expressions to convey certain emotions and deeper meanings behind his words...and you could just see the start of that quality in him beginning to develop in The Big Trail. I also enjoyed the story for what it showed about the pioneers (or pilgrims) and all the hardships they endured. It really was heartbreaking to see some of the battles they had to fight with the elements, and with the indians, and sometimes even w/ each other to get to their destination. There were a lot of really fun characters in this film too. I especially loved seeing El Brendel...that part where he was sitting in the big mud puddle and his mother in law got onto him about leading the wagon too deep into the mud and he says something like..."What are you complaining about...I am sitting on my mule"...(and there is NO mule visible under him...only a huge puddle)....what a laugh riot! :-) I am glad I got to see this film...it was a lot of fun...and the fact that I fell asleep the first time is NO reflection on the movie...just on me being too old and worn out to stay up that late. I should have known better. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 I am glad I got to see this film...it was a lot of fun...and the fact that I fell asleep the first time is NO reflection on the movie...just on me being too old and worn out to stay up that late. I should have known better. :-) So glad you enjoyed the movie, Kathy! I was almost sure that you would... B-) I'm not sure what Jackie meant about the colours, but I do believe there once might have been a colorized version of *The Big Trail*. If that's not what she meant, maybe she was just talking about the Duke movies that were shot in colour. I have nothing but the greatest admiration for all the great pioneers who made their way West, facing so many risks and obstacles. I'm just curious whether you found this movie more fun (or equally enjoyable) compared to *How the West Was Won*. Obviously the two are from very different eras of filmmaking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rohanaka Posted November 24, 2008 Author Share Posted November 24, 2008 compared to How the West Was Won Wow..I don't know if I can compare them or not. I think overall I would have to say that if I were to rate them in terms of story and how they were made and which was my most favorite, then HTWW would come out on top just because it is so grand and the story is so overwhelming. But The Big Trail is really a fun movie and I have to say that just in terms of enjoyment, I probably liked them both the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 That's kind of what I figured, Kathy. *HTWWW* is also a big big favourite for me. As for *Big Trail*, I was able to make it through about 20 or 30 minutes before I had to run a few errands, so I'm still hoping to catch it all the way through... hopefully before Thanksgiving!! B-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 In an unrelated western ramble... I am still dumbfounded after watching that promo for *Rio Grande* that was shown after *Hollywood Party* earlier today. They are advertising it as the colorized version... they even had a scene where it went from B&W to color... while the voice-over said "For the first time... IN COLOR!". This is a very shocking thing. I can't imagine what's come over the TCM programmers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissGoddess Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 I'm glad you enjoyed *The Big Trail*, Kathy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 Is anyone watching *Hollywood Cowboy* right now, and if so, is it any good? B-) (I am TiVo'ing but can't watch right now). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackFavell Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 Ro said: Was the Big Trail colorized or something? The VHS copy had was black and white....and not too great a copy at that No.... I was just carried away by my I-M-A-G-I-N-A-T-I-O-N. Sorry. The black and white images were so vivid, I guess I just saw how green everything was, and the beautiful sky..... I too was shocked at that ad for Rio Grande. I cannot think why they would show that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 I too was shocked at that ad for Rio Grande. I cannot think why they would show that! I am really worried about that... my understanding is that TCM had never shown colorized versions of classic movies, and had vowed to always show classics uncut and unaltered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackFavell Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 Maybe it's only the PROMO. not the actual movie??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 Maybe it's only the PROMO. not the actual movie??? But the promo is advertising the movie as being in colour... if you recorded *Hollywood Party* you can see the promo near the end of the recording... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackFavell Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 They made a lot of those promos when Turner came out with colorization. I was just thinking that maybe they just dug the promo from the vault...... I will certainly be offended if they show the movie colorized, and I am sure that they will have a LOT of complaints if they do..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 Well, I hope that's the case, Jackie. I'd really hate to see them play a colorized version of any movie, let alone *Rio Grande* !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackFavell Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 I agree completely, but the fact that it IS Rio Grande makes it even more striking an error in judgement...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 If it turns out it was just them playing the wrong promo, all will be forgiven... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackFavell Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 I actually looked up the TCM schedule, and they have it listed the same as always... B&W. Not that I trust the schedule completely, either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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