My Take
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?
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?
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.
For those who aren't gonna get all purist with their genres, and might find it interesting, it's actually REALLY well made.
The only truly great western spoof, second only to Brooks' take-off on Hitchcock with "High Anxiety." Come to think of it, not 2nd to anything. Yet one of the funniest moments happens sans western when Hedley Lamar tries to get a discount at the movie theater with a student I.D.
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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McLintock also has some political undertones, circa 1963. The territorial governor Cuthbert H. Humphrey was based on Hubert Humphrey, and John Wayne's attitude toward government bureaucrats was illustrated by the bumbling Indian agent Agard.
Hepburn in Rooster Cogburn -- "I'm proud to have ya for my friend." -- j
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age I put on, the fewer great ones we seem to have. -- j
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special people and their interviews on tv where, well,
Maureen would tell about traveling with "the duke" and
his pulling the car over at a home, his going up to the door
and asking if they had any whisky. . and they did, and
they shared ... ! -- j
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with fans afterwards!!! -- j
p.s. does BW mean best wife?
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Beautiful Wife as opposed to Best
Wife!
came back to me when I saw BW....... ha!
Major Congratulations, Sir, to you and your beautiful wife!!! -- j
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Our fights never lead to break-up. Making up is rather fun, though.
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Hepburn in Rooster Cogburn -- "I'm proud to have ya for my friend." -- j
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Ohio:
Damn! That completely escaped me. Right on!
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."
Nice take.
If we include TV series...how about F Troop?
but, it was so fun and interesting. thanks again for reminding me.
we also watched Apollo 13 because they just released 10K photos from the Apollo years AND by the film roll. great history and so dang interesting
Lordy, I'm beginning to feel ancient.
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."
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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in bed. . I approach her with an "Are you hungry, again?"
and try to get her to laugh. . we pick on one another like that
frequently. -- j
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with our arbiter "Mickey," a stuffed puppy. . and she does
the voice of the puppy. . I am outnumbered! -- j
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the enemy of capitalism whom we have now! -- j
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Oh yeah, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is likely my favorite western.
And of course, for me any movie that has gold in it is a must!
Although McKenna's Gold is a bit of a stretch for a geologist. But Lurch as an Indian makes up for it all!
One of my favorites is Shane. The classic line about guns being as good or bad as the person using it. That should make it required viewing in schools for that alone. And Jack Palance as the bad guy? Fantastic!
Another movie that has re-watchability is River of No Return, starring Robert Mitchum and Marilyn Monroe. No great philosophical themes, just a perfectly constructed adventure story with the incomparable scenery of the Canadian Rockies as a backdrop.
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