My Take

Posted by Herb7734 9 years, 7 months ago to Entertainment
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During the holiday season, I'd like to lighten up a bit. Instead of world politics or weighty philosophical concepts, let's take a look at movies. The western is the genre I'd like to focus on. It is a typically American subject and as far as I can tell, only one foreign director has ever made any decent Westerns and that was Sergio Leone. Remember "The Good The Bad, And The Ugly?" Here's my take on my favorites. They are quite different from most critics.
1. The Big Country. If ever there was a Randian hero, it is Gregory Peck's performance in this film loaded with great actors and even the music is great. 2. Shane. Alan Ladd's best role and performance ever, and also a hero that Rand could applaud. 3. True Grit, John Wayne's portrayal of an old guy rising into heroism deserved his Acadamy Award. What do you think?

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  • Posted by jimjamesjames 9 years, 7 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Hoppy and his horse, Topper, came to Lincoln Elementary, Redondo Beach, California, when I was in the third grade, 1951. Monty Montana, did the same that year, twirled his rope for us....
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  • Posted by $ root1657 9 years, 7 months ago
    What about the series Firefly? The creator was always interested in the old description of Startrek as wagon train to the stars, so he created Firefly, which is a whole lot of Western, complete with train robberies,long jackets, old fashioned gun fights and all of that.

    For those who aren't gonna get all purist with their genres, and might find it interesting, it's actually REALLY well made.
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  • Posted by $ Snezzy 9 years, 7 months ago
    We get all horse-technical, and watch the stunt in Blazing Saddles where Mongo knocks over the horse again and again. (The horse was trained for the stunt.)
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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 9 years, 7 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Nice thing about all the DVDs on an external HD i watched them last night. The last one had it's moments but was nowhere near the caliber of the first one. The young actress was for sure no Kim Darby.
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  • Posted by Herb7734 9 years, 7 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Re: Exploring the West. It goes both ways. Recognizing the places you had been when you see the movie, and recognizing the places when you were actually there from having seen them in the movie. All those John Ford epics shot in Monument Valley, then going through Monument Valley and realizing that those magnificent mesas were not just movie sets but real and thrilling to look at.
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  • Posted by Herb7734 9 years, 7 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Really? I liked the girl from the original better. That doesn't mean I don't recognize how good the "new girl" was. Someone should show a double feature of them both. True Grits.
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  • Posted by Herb7734 9 years, 7 months ago in reply to this comment.
    eeeewwww.
    The singing cowboys? I remember chewing on my Mason Dots and waiting for the song to be over so we can get some action going. They were popular programmers, and definitely a slice of Americana, but not exactly up there with "Left Handed Gun."
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  • Posted by Herb7734 9 years, 7 months ago in reply to this comment.
    In a few short sentences, the idea of Capitalism is put forth. Where's John Wayne now that we need him? "Joined the choir invisible" -- Monty Python
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  • Posted by Herb7734 9 years, 7 months ago in reply to this comment.
    No more heroes unless they're super. But even Superman has given up "Truth, Justice, and the American Way."
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  • Posted by johnpe1 9 years, 7 months ago
    we recently enjoyed Big Jake, but the best one from the duke
    is McLintock, IMHO, with the statement, "I work for everyone
    who wants to sit down and enjoy a good steak." . and his
    explanation to Stephanie Powers about what happens
    between a man and a woman....... -- j
    .
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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 9 years, 7 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I met Hopalong Cassidy once when I was in First Grade...Clint Walker and Charles Bronson with wife Jill Ireland and he dude that played Data.

    Hopalong was a bare memory. But he took time to speak with a six year old.. Of all of them Clint Walker became a role model for moral values when I was in my fifties. Mr. and Mrs. Bronson were the most polite and well mannered.

    I changed my opinion of entertainers after meeting Bar(f)bra Streisand and her husband what's his name? They showed no discernible values whatsoever.

    After reading your choices I can agree that was when we had American Values and an American culture..
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  • Posted by msmithp2 9 years, 7 months ago
    On the lighter side, I have lways enjoyed "McLintock" starring John Wayne. The is one scene that always resonates with me when I hear it. The young Devin talking as McLintock's daughter is driving away with her "eastern dude" beau.

    Devin Warren (Patrick Wayne)
    "What can I do? I'm just one of her father's employees. I'm just a hired hand around here."

    GW McLintock (John Wayne)
    "Every so often, Dev, you spill the strangest ideas. Everybody works for somebody. Me, I work for everybody in these United States that steps into a butcher's shop for a T-bone steak. And you work for me. There's not much difference."

    Great little speech speech that captures the idea that work is value delivered and should be treated as such.
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  • Posted by $ Suzanne43 9 years, 7 months ago
    Don't forget the Gene Autry and Roy Rogers' movies. How much more American values can you get.
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  • Posted by evlwhtguy 9 years, 7 months ago
    In the original True Grit the John Wayne portrayal of rooster Cogburn was the best, but the Mattie character was nowhere near as good at the more recent production. Bridges portrayal of Cogburn in the more recent production was good....but nowhere near so good as John Wayne. The portrayal of Mattie in the newer production was so good that it carried the whole movie and in my opinion makes it a better movie than the original.
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  • Posted by dwlievert 9 years, 7 months ago
    I agree with the 3 you have selected! I also like "flawed" westerns, ones in which one feels admiration, said admiration is "tinged" with reminders.......

    Two that come to mind are Hombre, and The Searchers. Honorable mention goes to The Outlaw Josey Wales, if for no other scene than the one between Josey and the Indian Chief "Ten Bears."
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  • Posted by Abaco 9 years, 7 months ago
    Always loved the Eastwood westerns. I recognize some of the locations as places I've been while exploring around the Sierra...
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  • Posted by Herb7734 9 years, 7 months ago in reply to this comment.
    The newer version of True Grit had some really fine acting in it as well, but, in my opinion didn't quite make it to the original. I agree with you on Kim Darby. She was remarkable.
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  • Posted by Herb7734 9 years, 7 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I always thought of Deborah Kerr as sort of an ice princess until that scene of her making out in the surf with Burt Lancaster. I'll have to look at The Sundowners again. I know I saw it but certainly not in the past 30 or so years.
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  • Posted by khalling 9 years, 7 months ago
    thanks for reminding me. all good selections queuing them up. I also recommend the Sundowners. Deborah Kerr is the heroine in this story
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  • Posted by freedomforall 9 years, 7 months ago in reply to this comment.
    That is a great scene! It's a near perfect western,. The cinematography is amazing. The dialog is just enough to advance the story and define the characters.
    It is the story of thoughtful, ethical, hard working people who join together in a militia to free their country from looters and corrupt government.
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