Posts Tagged ‘Western’
Friday, September 3rd, 2010
Review:
60 year old rancher John Wayne is in desperate need of helpers for a cattle drive, but gold fever has gripped the town and no one is willing to work for him. So he turns to ten young teenagers, none older than fifteen, and hires them for the dangerous drive. Together with black cook Roscoe Lee Browne they set out, facing plenty of trouble and chances to turn boys into men along the way. The film is a far cry from perfect, but it is a good story that is decently told. Wayne’s lead performance is decent, but it’s really the cowboys that should make the film come alive, but which they can’t. It’s a nice swan song to John Wayne Week, but nothing more.
Random Observations:
The Cowboys at the IMDb
The film picks up a lot of speed, momentum and gravitas in the last half hour, but even that is not enough.
The DVD transfer has a horrible image quality.
Film debut of Robert Carradine.
The film was criticized upon its release for sending the message that it is okay to arm children and set them dangerous jobs. During the Vietnam War, this is understandable.
Tags: 1972, A Martinez, Alfred Barker Jr., Allyn Ann McLerie, American Film, book adaptation, Bruce Dern, Charles Tyner, Clay O'Brien, Colleen Dewhurst, Drama, english, Harriet Frank Jr., Irving Ravetch, John Wayne, Lonny Chapman, Mark Rydell, Mike Pyeatt, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Nicolas Beauvy, Norman Howell, Robert Carradine, Roscoe Lee Browne, Sam O'Brien, Sarah Cunningham, Sean Kelly, Slim Pickens, Stephen R. Hudis, Steve Benedict, The Cowboys, Western, William Dale Jennings
Posted in Minute Movie Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies | No Comments »
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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Monday, May 10th, 2010
Review:
Once Upon a Time in the West, three men were waiting for a train to arrive. On that train was a man who with ruthless determination pursuit his goal. Meanwhile, a young wife comes to the home of her new husband, only to find him and his three children from a previous marriage murdered. Both events have the same cause and with mounting tension, director Sergio Leone watches as the story unfolds to the inevitable - and unforgettable - ending. The film moves at a deliberately slow pace, allowing the beautiful cinematography and score to create the atmosphere. From the opening scene of the three men waiting for the train - which last more to ten minutes - to the final shoot-out (which probably lasts even longer, but by that time I was too captivated to check my watch), the film is an elaborately put together master-piece of cinema.
Random Observations:
C’era una volta il West at the IMDb
I had seen the film before, a long time ago, so the final revelation wasn’t new to me, but it still works remarkably well.
Henry Fonda was mostly cast as the villain because nobody would expect it, him always playing the good guy.
Sergio Leone only made this film in order to be able to make Once Upon a Time in America.
The score by Ennio Morricone for this film might be the single greatest film score of all time.
Only one of the spaghetti westerns to be shot partly in the US. All indoor were still shot at Cinecittà in Rome and some outdoor scenes were shot in Spain - meaning that the buggy ride at the beginning of the film went from Spain to Utah…
Tags: 1968, Bernardo Bertolucci, C'era una volta il West, Charles Bronson, Claudia Cardinale, Dario Argento, english, Ennio Morricone, Frank Wolff, Gabriele Ferzetti, Henry Fonda, Italian Film, Jack Elam, Jason Robards, Keenan Wynn, Lionel Stander, Mickey Knox, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Once Upon a Time in America, Once Upon a Time in the West, Paolo Stoppa, Sergio Donati, Sergio Leone, Western, Woody Strode
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Thursday, April 29th, 2010
Review:
On the day of his wedding to Quaker Grace Kelly, city marshal Gary Cooper learns that a murderer he once sent up has been pardoned and is returning on the noon train. The town fathers urge him to leave the place immediately, but he knows that he has to stick around. Over the next 80 minutes, he desperately tries to raise help in defeating the man who has come to kill him. John Wayne once called this “a western for people who don’t like westerns” and that’s somewhat true. It’s depiction of the old West is much closer to Sergio Leone’s work than Wayne’s and Cooper’s useless search for help readily deconstructs the hero myth. The tension builds over the (almost) real time development before it unleashes itself in the final confrontation.
Random Observations:
High Noon at the IMDb
Writer Carl Foreman wrote the script as an allegory for the McCarthy witch-hunts of the HUAC - probably one of the reasons Wayne disliked it so much. The producers later purchased the rights to the story The Tin Star by John Cunningham because Foreman was unsure whether he had read it and subconsciously based the story on it.
This was Foreman’s last Hollywood project before he became blacklisted. Lloyd Bridges (father of Jeff Bridges), who played a dissatisfied deputy, befell a similar fate, but the actor was “only” greylisted.
Despite the modern day Los Angeles skyline clearly visible in the background, the shots of the deserted town have become rightfully iconic.
Interestingly, John Wayne accepted the Best Actor Oscar on Gary Cooper’s behalf, who was absent at the ceremony.
The film’s theme song “High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin’)” was the first non-musical song to win the best original song Oscar. The score of the entire film is also a variation on the theme, which is very unusual, was a first at the time, and is actually annoying, despite the song being completely awesome.
Tags: 1952, American Film, based on previously published material, Carl Foreman, Drama, english, Eve McVeagh, Fred Zinnemann, Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly, Harry Morgan, Harry Shannon, Henry Morgan, High Noon, Ian MacDonald, Jeff Bridges, John W. Cunningham, John Wayne, Katy Jurado, Lee Van Cleef, Lloyd Bridges, Lon Chaney Jr., minute movie review, Morgan Farley, movie review, Movies, Oscar, Otto Kruger, Robert J. Wilke, Sergio Leone, Sheb Wooley, The Tin Star, Thomas Mitchell, Thriller, Western
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Tuesday, April 27th, 2010
Review:
The small town of Appaloosa in the Old West has a problem when evil man Jeremy Irons kills their Marshall. They turn to Ed Harris (who also co-wrote, produced and directed the film) and Viggo Mortensen, gun-men for hire, to enforce the law. This works well, until Harris falls for a woman (Renée Zellweger in an unusually restrained performance that is almost tolerable) - because emotions get you killed. From that point the story meanders a bit, but towards the end it gets back on track, allowing the film to be both a homage to the westerns of old and a more realistic depiction of the times. Strong performances, especially from Mortensen, and a great ending make for a good entry in the genre.
Random Observations:
Appaloosa at the IMDb
The DVD features several cut scenes, including a different opening. While interesting, the one used in the film is much more effective.
The film dispenses with the “fast-draw” gun duels of Hollywood in favour of how those duels really were - only accuracy mattered.
I can’t stress enough how great Viggo Mortensen is in this film. It should also be mentioned, however, how unusual it is for an actor-director to allow a co-star to shine like this. So my hat (Stetson, naturally) off to Ed Harris as well.
There are two sequels to the book the film was based on, but since the film was not commercially successful, a sequel seems unlikely. In any case, the story works better standing alone.
Tags: 2008, Adam Nelson, American Film, Appaloosa, Argos MacCallum, Ariadna Gil, Bob L. Harris, book adaptation, Bounthanh Xaynhachack, Boyd Kestner, Cerris Morgan-Moyer, Corby Griesenbeck, Drama, Ed Harris, english, Erik J. Bockemeier, Gabriel Marantz, James Gammon, James Tarwater, Jeremy Irons, Lance Henriksen, Luce Rains, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Renée Zellweger, Rex Linn, Robert B. Parker, Robert Knott, Timothy Spall, Timothy V. Murphy, Tom Bower, Viggo Mortensen, Western
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Saturday, March 13th, 2010
Review:
When a US senator comes back to the small town that started his political career for the funeral of a friend, the newspapermen are naturally curious. So he relates the story of how he first came to the town as a young lawyer from the East and ran into trouble with a local gunslinger named Liberty Valance while befriending a rancher and meeting his future wife. And the rest of the story is in the title. The film isn’t so much a normal western as a film about the time when the old west was transformed into civilized country. The film, shot in black and white, is a sad yet captivating tale, with some stand-out moments, brought about by the two lead actors, James Stewart and John Wayne, who shine despite playing character thirty years their junior.
Random Observations:
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance at the IMDb
I’ve seen quite a few westerns in the last months and so far this has been one of my favourites.
The bad guy is played by Lee Marvin, who acts every bit the part.
The film sports some drastic plot holes, but the overall story is convincing, the metaphor elegant and the characters strong enough to ignore that.
Tags: 1962, American Film, Andy Devine, based on previously published material, book adaptation, Carleton Young, Denver Pyle, Dorothy M. Johnson, Drama, Edmond O'Brien, english, James Stewart, James Warner Bellah, Jeanette Nolan, John Carradine, John Ford, John Qualen, John Wayne, Joseph Hoover, Ken Murray, Lee Marvin, Lee Van Cleef, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, O.Z. Whitehead, Paul Birch, Robert F. Simon, romance, Strother Martin, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Vera Miles, Western, Willis Bouchey, Willis Goldbeck, Woody Strode
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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
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Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010
Review:
A new commanding officer is sent to Fort Apache, which he sees as a demotion, and subsequently exasperates the other people there by his text-book approach that is not really helpful in dealing with the Apaches. This classic John Ford film spends most of its running time examining life on such a remote outpost of the US military, which is unusual, but after a while becomes quite boring. Apart from that, the story is a thinly disguised take on General Custer’s life with some great scenes and a great lead in Henry Fonda. If only the film wouldn’t drag throughout, it would be really great.
Random Observations:
Fort Apache at the IMDb
First instalment in John Ford unofficial Calvary Trilogy. The other two films will be reviewed by this publication in the near future.
The film is part of a (British) “John Wayne directed by John Ford” boxset, but it’s really a Henry Fonda film.
Considering the film was made in 1948, it is surprisingly realistic in its depiction of who was to blame for the trouble between the Native Americans and conquering Whites.
Feature film debut of John Agar! You have never heard of John Agar? Well, neither have I. But he was married to co-star Shirley Temple at the time, so clearly his star was on the rise.
Tags: 1948, American Film, Anna Lee, based on previously published material, Dick Foran, english, Fort Apache, Frank S. Nugent, George O'Brien, Grant Withers, Guy Kibbee, Hank Worden, Henry Fonda, Irene Rich, Jack Pennick, James Warner Bellah, John Agar, John Ford, John Wayne, Mae Marsh, Mary Gordon, Massacre, Miguel Inclán, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Movita, Pedro Armendáriz, Philip Kieffer, Ray Hyke, Shirley Temple, Victor McLaglen, Ward Bond, Western
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