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Post by Tricia on Jul 2, 2007 7:50:42 GMT -6
Tombstone fits right in there in my opinion. AZ-- I'm a big fan of Tombstone as well and the best thing about the movie is that it follows--to perfection--the way a novel's plot should develop: hero lost, hero orphaned, hero finds the way, hero conquers his problems--well, at least until the sequel! My writing mentor, Spur Award winner, Dusty Richards, turned me on to the movie. I have also liked what I've seen of Deadwood. I know folks used profanity (even GAC in his earlier days on the Great Buffalo Hunt) to the max back in 1876, but the movie's versions of dialogue seemed a bit gratuitous. Trish
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Post by crzhrs on Jul 2, 2007 9:59:55 GMT -6
<Or perhaps, the Zulus, Cheyenne and Sioux simply had the gracious good sense to get out while they could>
Better to run & fight another die . . . more than likely there are many stories passed down among Indigenous People about brave deeds that few outsiders hear about.
Re: Beau Gest:
J. Carroll Nash was the "hyena" and Brian Donlevy played Markoff . . . top-notch adventure movie from the '30s with outstanding cast & production. Donlevy was superb and stole the film from Cooper/Milland.
PS: J. Carroll Nash (excellent character actor) went on to play Phil Sheridan (TDWTBO) AND Sitting Bull in later movies!
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Post by George Mabry on Jul 2, 2007 10:58:28 GMT -6
...and Santa Anna in The Last Command
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Post by harpskiddie on Jul 2, 2007 11:35:05 GMT -6
crzhrs:
In the interests of accuracy, and thanks for the Nash reference, it was Rio Grande in which he played Sheridan. Remember when they were playing "Dixie" just before Tyree took off on Sheridan's horse, and Maureen O'Hara twirled her parasol and looked at John Wayne [whom she thought had ordered the band to play it], and Nash pointed to himself and said: "Sheridan!"].
In TDWTBO, it was, I believe, Moroni Olsen [or Olson] who played "Uncle" Phil Sheridan.
Ben Johnson - my hero!!
Gordie, it could be a fella had a sister.......................................................................
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Post by crzhrs on Jul 2, 2007 12:05:07 GMT -6
Harps Re Nash as Sheridan:
"You are correct Oh Great One!"
PS: It was John Litel who played Sheridan in They Died With . . .
Is Harry Carey Jr. still alive? He played Johnson's side-kick in many a movie.
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Post by harpskiddie on Jul 2, 2007 12:13:34 GMT -6
The last I heard Junior was still alive, but that was a few years ago, now. Google should have the latest, or at least later, info. John Litel - thank you.
Gordie, if a Dallas lawyer can't get a man off a charge of manslaughter.......................................
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Post by elisabeth on Jul 2, 2007 19:30:01 GMT -6
Anyone a fan of 'Lawman'?
It was on TV again here tonight; I hadn't meant to to watch it, but having strayed upon it, couldn't switch off. It's generally derided for Michael Winner's crass direction, rightly enough -- but my goodness, the script is gorgeous. Loads of subtleties and tensions, plus, above all, the dialogue is in almost a new form: as if Shakespeare had written a western. Add to that a magical performance by the incomparable Robert Ryan, and an early showing of future splendour by Robert Duvall, and, and, and ... Basically, a very underrated movie.
But I'm with GAC re best western of all time -- defintely 'The Wild Bunch'. And 'Ride the High Country' second. However, a plea for 'High Noon' well up there, say in third place ...?
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Post by BrokenSword on Jul 2, 2007 20:43:49 GMT -6
I WAS BrokenSword. I may now be BrokenHearted.
I can’t believe that Gordie and Elizabeth didn’t back me up with ‘Shane’ and ‘The Searchers.’
In a top ten list I would place The Wild Bunch, Ride the High Country, High Noon and Tombstone. I would add White Feather in there too, along with Major Dundee, Fort Apache and …I let you fill in the tenth one.
But I have to stick with 'Shane.' Acted to perfection by everyone - even the dog skulking out of the saloon before the final gunfight was great. All characters understated by the cast (except ‘Stonewall’ maybe). Not a single cliche in the script. Only interior scenes shot on a set. The story is clearly told thru the eyes of the boy - Joey. Guns are louder. Fights more desperate. Bad guys are bad guys and good guys are good guys. No confusing gray stuff.
For me, it had the feeling of ‘just right‘ story telling. I even understood the point of view held by the Riker brothers. But, the lesson was clear - cross the line and pay the price.
Of course, its just my opinion. No better than any one else’s.
And yes, Ben Johnson rules.
M
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Post by AZ Ranger on Jul 2, 2007 21:03:16 GMT -6
Tombstone fits right in there in my opinion. AZ-- I'm a big fan of Tombstone as well and the best thing about the movie is that it follows--to perfection--the way a novel's plot should develop: hero lost, hero orphaned, hero finds the way, hero conquers his problems--well, at least until the sequel! My writing mentor, Spur Award winner, Dusty Richards, turned me on to the movie. I have also liked what I've seen of Deadwood. I know folks used profanity (even GAC in his earlier days on the Great Buffalo Hunt) to the max back in 1876, but the movie's versions of dialog seemed a bit gratuitous. Trish Trish your probably right about the dialog. I knew one of extras who came from Camp Verde. He ran kicking mule outfitters. He said his horse made more money than he did in the movie. He was one of the cowboys and rolled off his horse back wards in the movie. Those simple one liners is what I liked. Maybe its just me. Doc Holiday's wink to end the talking and begin the fighting was a classic to me. AZ Ranger
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Post by George Mabry on Jul 2, 2007 21:06:34 GMT -6
My vote for best all time is The Wild Bunch. I also give a thumbs up for The Searchers, Lawman, Tombstone and Ride the High Country. Shane and High Noon are good flicks but not in the same class with the others. Another film that I rank almost as high as The Wild Bunch is The Professionals. Although not a major motion picture, I’ve just about worn out my DVD of Lonesome Dove.
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Post by bubbabod on Jul 2, 2007 21:34:00 GMT -6
Y'all have thrown out some of my favorites, such as The Searchers, but I really loved Open Range and Jedediah Smith. Not everyone likes Kevin Costner, but I thought he and Robert Duval were at their best. And maybe it was the beautiful Canadian scenery. Oh, and don't forget Annette Benning looking so plain yet sexy at the same time.
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Post by Tricia on Jul 2, 2007 22:31:42 GMT -6
Don't get me wrong, I loved Shane, too! It's just that Alan Ladd was sooo durn short and the technocolour was a bit too garish. My late husband was a big fan of Have Gun, Will Travel. Didn't that feature Paladin the Black Knight (in the card deck)?
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Post by wild on Jul 3, 2007 4:04:23 GMT -6
Brokensword Is there a more haunting scene than the young lad chashing after Shane begging him to come back,his plaintive crys echoing along the river valley Shane come backand then the final throw of the dice--- my mother wants you to come back
That young lad never made another film and died in a truck crash.
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Post by BrokenSword on Jul 3, 2007 5:19:59 GMT -6
Hey Wild- I agree with you about the last scene. As a gunfighter, Shane had also crossed a line and the price he paid was never having a chance at what he wanted in life. Brandon De Wilde played the part of Joey. De Wilde actually did go on to several other roles in film and on television before his untimely death. He played John Wayne's somewhat estranged son in 'In Harm's Way' as well as Paul Newman's younger brother in 'Hud'. Here's a great site (if you don't already have it). www.imdb.com/Michael
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Post by George Armstrong Custer on Jul 3, 2007 6:34:55 GMT -6
But I'm with GAC re best western of all time -- defintely 'The Wild Bunch'. And 'Ride the High Country' second. However, a plea for 'High Noon' well up there, say in third place ...? Glad to learn you're a fellow Peckinpah afficionado, Elisabeth! His westerns have some common themes - one being the idea of redemption, usually depicted through the idea that most of us - even the worst of us - have codes that we live by, and that a kind of redemption can be had by standing by those codes come what may. The Wild Bunch achieve such redemption by sticking by gang member Angel, even though this will bring about their own bloody demise. In contrast, the L. Q. Jones and Strother Martin characters from Robert Ryan's band of bounty hunters are beyond redemption, as they are parasites who live by no moral code. I wonder how Peckinpah might have applied these themes to the Custer story had he ever embarked upon such a project.......... Oh - and one other favourite Peckinpah classic I ought to have mentioned, 'Pat Garret and Billy the Kid' with Kristofferson and Coburn. ciao, GAC
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