Western viewings

[trekgeezer]

The Three Godfathers(1948) - Directed by John Ford

John Wayne, Pedro Amanderiz, Harry Carey Jr.(his first film I believe) are robbers on the run from Ward Bond, Ben Johnson, and crew. They run across a wagon in the desert with a dying pregnant woman. They deliver the baby and make the mother a promise to take care of it before she dies.

They are in dire straits (practically no water, and six cans of condensed milk for the baby)and must make it to a town by foot to save the baby.

This is not your usual western. No big shout 'em ups. It is a character based piece which in the end is about redemption which includes lot of biblical references and Christian themes (it is usually shown during the Christmas season).

John Wayne shows some real acting to chops in this one as do his two cohorts. The cinematography is spectacular. It was filmed in Death Valley and your throat will be parched when you watch them cross the dry salt lake.

This is a superb but often overlooked John Ford movie.


Lonely are the Brave(1962) - Directed by David Miller

Kirk Douglas stars as Jack "John W." Burns, a man evidently born in the wrong century: a cowboy who hates fences and borders. He wants nothing more than to be left alone. Much in the vain of Monty Walsh, it is about the disappearance of the old west and a way of life.

He comes to town to help out his friend Paul Bondi (Michael Kane), who is in the county jail for running Mexicans across the border. Jack visits Paul's wife Jerry (a very young Gina Rollins) and hatches a plan to break him out since he will soon be transferred to the big house.

When being arrested for public drunkedness and inciting a fight (with the one armed guy from The Fugitive TV series) doesn't get him thrown in jail (the drunk tank if full) he assaults an officer. His plan fails when Paul refuses to run for the sake of his wife and son.

Jack is off and running, pursued by Sheriff Johnson (Walter Matthau) who seems like he would like to be doing something else. George Kennedy appears as his usual sadistic prison guard/cop character. William Shallert gives a good turn as the ditzy acting radio operator and Bill Bixby makes an appearance as an over exuberant Air Force helicopter pilot. The scenes with Carroll O'Connor as a truck driver may be confusing to those who haven't seen the film, but they make perfect sense long before the end if you watch closely.

Kirk Douglas has said that this was his favorite western.



Post Edited (12-06-04 09:59)

[Scott]

Saw The Three Godfathers(1948). It's a good Western almost wasn't sure if that guy was Wayne or some look a like Trek_Geezer.

Lonely are the Brave, Junior Bonner, Hud, and Monte Walsh are on my list of films to view. Those stories about the end of the Old West.

The only other Westerns on my list to view are:

Texas Adios
Four of the Apococlypse
The Train Robbers

I'm almost done with my Western films. Of course there are about 100 Obscure Italian Westerns that I'd like to look at that will be very hard to get hold of like FACE TO FACE and others.



Post Edited (12-06-04 21:20)

[BoyScoutKevin]

With a town called New Jerusalem, a babe born on Christmas Day, and three [wise] men, not so much a western as a religious allegory posing as a western.

This was not the first version of the story. Earlier versions appearing in 1915, 1916, 1919, 1929, 1936, and followed by a television movie made in 1974. While I have not seen it, and thus cannot make a comparision, the best film version of the story is suppose to be the 1936 version.

[Yaddo 42]

Have you seeen the recent anime film "Tokyo Godfathers"? Doesn't appear to be a direct remake of the story (not credited anyway), but is certainly influenced or inspired by the earlier films.

As to "Lonely Are The Brave", beyond being just Kirk Douglas' favorite western, he has called it his favorite role out of any of his films. Rarely will you see an interview with him where he doesn't work in a mention of the film. High praise for sure considering how many great films and roles he's had.