Posts Tagged ‘Harry Carey Jr.’
Wednesday, September 1st, 2010
Review:
Sheriff John Wayne has a brutal murderer in jail and is waiting for the arrival of the Federal Marshall, while the prisoner’s brother does everything he can to free him. Accompanied only by former drunk Dean Martin, cripple Walter Brennan and a reluctant Ricky Nelson, they must keep the prisoner and battle the onslaught of their enemies. The story is simple, but powerfully told, with lots of nice little moments of both dramatic tension and comic relief. This western is essentially a thriller - and quite a good one at that.
Random Observations:
Rio Bravo at the IMDb
Director Howard Hawks really tended to recycle his ideas. Not only did he remake this film only seven years later as El Dorado, he also frequently reused characters and lines. This is the third film where the woman says to the hero: “I’m hard to get. You only have to ask” or something along those lines. The other two films? Only Angels Have Wings and the awesome To Have and Have Not - nobody can say that line like Lauren Bacall.
I actually somewhat prefer El Dorado, although this is the objectively better film. The reason? Why, Robert Mitchum is in it!
Awesome musical trio in this film, with Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson and Walter Brennan… Who, incidentally, also was in To Have and Have Not in a not dissimilar role.
Harry Carey Jr. and Malcolm Atterbury are credited in the film despite having all their scenes deleted - or in Carey’s case, never filmed.
“My Rifle, My Pony and Me” is a pretty awesome song. Luckily, Walter Brennan does not participate here.
The film is a direct response to High Noon. See that review for why Hawks and Wayne considered it necessary.
Part two of the three-part John Wayne Week! One more film on Friday.
Tags: 1959, American Film, Angie Dickinson, B.H. McCampbell, based on short story, Claude Akins, Dean Martin, El Dorado, english, Estelita Rodriguez, Harry Carey Jr., High Noon, Howard Hawks, John Russell, John Wayne, John Wayne Week, Jules Furthman, Lauren Bacall, Leigh Brackett, Malcolm Atterbury, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Only Angels Have Wings, Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez, Ricky Nelson, Rio Bravo, Robert Mitchum, To Have and Have Not, Walter Brennan, Ward Bond, Western
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Monday, August 30th, 2010
Review:
After his family has been murdered by Comanche, John Wayne sets out to take his little niece back from them. For years he tracks the tribe, with the help of an adopted son, more intent on revenge than anything else. This John Ford film features what may be Wayne’s best performance and has a magnificent story. Ford, of course, is a very able director and the film is very close to being perfect, even if it has become rather dated and the story and themes could be explored much better.
Random Observations:
The Searchers at the IMDb
This film is a favourite of many contemporary film-makers. Steven Spielberg claims to watch it before starting each of his films to remind himself what a perfect film looks like.
The film reminded me of a quote from The Dark Knight: “You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.”
The only film to star both Natalie Wood and her little sister Lana. But while Natalie is by far the superior actress, she is upstaged here by her ten year old sister.
It’s a bit strange to see this film after having seen so many films that have been obviously inspired by it.
We continue our Themed Weeks Theme with John Wayne Week. Two more Wayne westerns on Wednesday and Friday!
Tags: 1956, Alan Le May, American Film, Antonio Moreno, Beulah Archuletta, book adaptation, Dorothy Jordan, Drama, english, Frank S. Nugent, Hank Worden, Harry Carey Jr., Henry Brandon, Jeffrey Hunter, John Ford, John Qualen, John Wayne, John Wayne Week, Ken Curtis, Lana Wood, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Natalie Wood, Olive Carey, Patrick Wayne, Pippa Scott, The Dark Knight, The Searchers, Vera Miles, Walter Coy, Ward Bond, Western
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Wednesday, March 10th, 2010
Review:
Another John Wayne western, where this time around he plays a cavalry colonel dealing with his son, whom he hasn’t seen in fifteen years, turning up as a trooper, and then his wife coming back to fetch the kid home. There are some nice scenes, some good explorations of the tensions after the American Civil War, but overall, the film is hardly memorable.
Random Observations:
Rio Grande at the IMDb
Conclusion of John Ford’s unofficial cavalry trilogy, following Fort Apache and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon.
The film was made quickly and cheaply so that the studio would allow Ford to shoot his next film on location in Ireland and in colour and could finance that endeavour.
Tags: 1950, Alberto Morin, American Film, based on previously published material, Ben Johnson, Chill Wills, Claude Jarman Jr., english, Fort Apache, Fred Kennedy, Grant Withers, Harry Carey Jr., J. Carrol Naish, James Kevin McGuinness, James Warner Bellah, John Ford, John Wayne, Karolyn Grimes, Maureen O'Hara, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Peter Ortiz, Rio Grande, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, Sons of the Pioneers, Stan Jones, Steve Pendleton, Victor McLaglen, Western
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Tuesday, March 9th, 2010
Review:
John Wayne (at 41) played a 60-year old Cavalry Captain about to retire immediately after General Custer’s now infamous defeat. The American West seems threatened by the Natives and the Cavalry desperately tries to keep it safe for the civilians in this story which is incredibly boring and mainly consists of people riding around. Add to that a completely inappropriate comedic bar fight, a highly unrealistic climatic scene and annoyingly patriotic overtones delivered in the voice-over narration and you might end up with a bad film. But actually, the film is quite good, saved by the beautiful scenery shot in colour, that serves as perfect background for the musings about a man who has none nothing but the military retiring. Add some aspects of the integration of the Confederacy back into the Union and you actually get a pretty good film - if you can look past the hours spent just riding around.
Random Observations:
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon at the IMDb
Second part of John Ford’s Cavalry trilogy, following Fort Apache.
The film also has a romantic subplot, which doesn’t really add anything to the story, but gives Wayne another chance to shine as the wise and good old guy who the other soldiers look up to.
Tags: 1949, American Film, Arthur Shields, Ben Johnson, Chief John Big Tree, Chief Sky Eagle, english, Fort Apache, Frank S. Nugent, Fred Graham, George O'Brien, Harry Carey Jr., James Warner Bellah, Joanne Dru, John Agar, John Ford, John Wayne, Laurence Stallings, Michael Dugan, Mildred Natwick, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Noble Johnson, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, Tom Tyler, Victor McLaglen, Western
Posted in Minute Movie Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies | No Comments »
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