Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Music: A few Dollars More and Horses.

Errol Flynn - The Warner Brothers Western Collection.


Errol Flynn, is probably best remembered as Robin Hood and his swashbuckling adventure films. Flynn also did a few western films. They mabybe be not as popular as some of his other pictures, but they are still entertaining movies. (I think they mabe my next DVD box set). Warner Brother has put together a nice group of films: Errol Flynn - The Warner Brothers Western Collection.


MONTANA (1950)
Flynn plays Morgan Lane, an Australian who has relocated to the United States during the hey day of the Wild West who is hoping to purchase some land so that he can raise sheep.


ROCKY MOUNTAIN (1950)
Also known as Rocky Mountain Trail, this film, set at the end of the Civil War, finds Flynn, in his last western role, playing Captain Lafe Barstow, a man who has been assigned with the job of securing the western part of the United States for General Robert E. Lee.



SAN ANTONIO (1945)
Flynn plays Clay Hardin, a cattle rancher trying to make a living who come up against a gang of cattle rustlers.



VIRGINIA CITY (1940).
Flynn plays Kerry Bradford, an undercover Union officer who escapes from a Confederate jail and heads to Virginia City trying to prevent a train carrying a massive cargo of gold from getting to Dixie and funding the Confederate war movement.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

The very quotable Tombstone...


Tombstone is my favorite modern western, and second all time. And it is one of the most quote worthy movie of all time. Here are some of my favorite quotes:


Johnny Ringo: [Ringo steps up to Doc] And you must be Doc Holliday.
Doc Holliday: That's the rumor.
Johnny Ringo: You retired too?
Doc Holliday: Not me. I'm in my prime.
Johnny Ringo: Yeah, you look it.
Doc Holliday: And you must be Ringo. Look, darling, Johnny Ringo. The deadliest pistoleer since Wild Bill, they say. What do you think, darling? Should I hate him?
Kate: You don't even know him.
Doc Holliday: Yes, but there's just something about him. Something around the eyes, I don't know, reminds me of... me. No. I'm sure of it, I hate him.

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Ike Clanton: What is that now? Twelve hands in a row? Holliday, son of a bitch, nobody's that lucky.
Doc Holliday: Why Ike, whatever do you mean? Maybe poker's just not your game Ike. I know! Let's have a spelling contest!

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Doc Holliday: I'm your huckleberry...
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Morgan Earp: Look at all the stars. You look up and you think, "God made all this and He remembered to make a little speck like me." It's kind of flattering, really.

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Johnny Tyler: I swear, it's like I'm playin' cards with my brother's kids or somethin'. You nerve-wrackin' sons-a-bitches
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Doc Holliday: It's true, you are a good woman. Then again, you may be the antichrist.

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Wyatt Earp: You skin that smoke wagon and we'll see what happens!
Johnny Tyler: Listen mister, I'm getting awful tired of your...
[Wyatt slaps him]
Wyatt Earp: Are you gonna do something? Or just stand there and bleed?

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Johnny Ringo: [Ringo has taken Holliday up on his offer to 'finish the game'] All right, 'lunger'. Let's do it.
Doc Holliday: Say when.
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Doc Holliday: Why Johnny Tyler! You madcap!
Johnny Tyler: Doc?
Doc Holliday: Where you goin' with that shotgun?

Monday, April 26, 2010

Glenn Ford


Glenn Ford's breakthrough role was in 1946, performing with Rita Hayworth in Gilda. He went on to perform with Rita Hayworth in a total of five films.

Ford had a successful career in the 1950s and into the 1960s and continued into the early 1990s. He is best known for thrillers, dramas and action films including A Stolen Life with Bette Davis, The Secret of Convict Lake with Gene Tierney, The Big Heat, Blackboard Jungle, Framed, Interrupted Melody with Eleanor Parker, Experiment in Terror with Lee Remick, Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, Superman and westerns: The Fastest Gun Alive, 3:10 to Yuma and Cimarron. Ford also performed in a number of popular comedies, such as The Teahouse of the August Moon, Don't Go Near the Water, The Gazebo, Cry for Happy and The Courtship of Eddie's Father.

Fred Silverman head of CBS noticed that many of the featured films being shown at a Glenn Ford film festival were westerns. He suggested doing a western series, Cade's County. Ford played Sheriff Cade for one season (1971–1972).


List of Glenn Ford Westerns:

Border Shootout (1990)
Punch and Jody (1974) (TV)
Santee (1973)
Jarrett (1973) (TV)
"Cade's County" .... Sam Cade (24 episodes, 1971-1972)
Heaven with a Gun (1969)
Smith! (1969)
Day of the Evil Gun (1968)
The Last Challenge (1967)
A Time for Killing (1967)
Rage1966)
The Rounders (1965
The Gazebo (1959)
The Sheepman (1958)
Cowboy (1958)
3:10 to Yuma (1957)
The Fastest Gun Alive (1956)
The Americano (1955)
The Man from the Alamo (1953)
The Secret of Convict Lake (1951)
The Redhead and the Cowboy (1951)
Lust for Gold (1949)
The Loves of Carmen (1948)
The Man from Colorado (1948)
The Desperadoes(1943)
Men Without Souls (1940)
Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence(1939)

The Secret of Convict lake(1951).


The Secret of Convict Lake (1951). Black-and-white western film. Director: Michael Gordon Produced: Frank P. Rosenberg and music by Sol Kaplan. The film was a critical and commercial success for Ford and Tierney.

Unusual Western with a wonderful atmosphere with the black-and-white cinematography of the snowy setting. A group of five escaped convicts led by Glenn Ford and Zachary Scott, travel with the law not far behind, through the mountains during a snow storm. The convicts find a small town populated only with women, who have learned to defend themselves from outsiders.. The women agree to let the convicts stay in town, under armed guard, until the storm is over and then they must leave. The men agree but the trouble begins when they learn that one of the convicts may have left a lot of money in the area. The women guard the men at gun point and wait for the town's men to return. The barn is accidentally set on fire and the men jump in and help put out the fire, which breaks down the barrier if only for a few short moments. Canfield finds Marcia, where she pleads with him not to kill Rudy because he has been so kind to her. Canfield confesses that he did kill Morgan,(the real embezzler who he took the rap for)in self-defense, he did not steal his money or kill him in cold blood, as Rudy had testified. Canfield then wonders if Marcia is marrying Rudy out of gratitude rather than love, and unable to deny their attraction, they kiss. Marcia then asks Canfield not to kill Rudy, for her sake as well as his, but Canfield believes that it is too late.

The film tells a fictional history of the real-life location, Convict Lake.

Two other important female roles are those of Ann Dvorak as Tierney's prospective sister-in-law and Ethel Barrymore as, the matriarch of the settlement.

The finale is wonderful, the posse arriving on the scene just as the townsfolk are holding services over five graves... are they all the fugitives ?

I thought the film was very well-acted. Also I thought a very under-appreciated film, which reminded me of the western classics: THE OX-BOW INCIDENT (1943) and YELLOW SKY (1948).

Friday, April 23, 2010

Dodge City (1939)

Dodge City
Dodge City Photos
 
Another classic film from that golden year in cinema of 1939. This rousing western stars Errol Flynn as ex-soldier, now cattle driver Wade Hatton. Yes, I said Errol Flynn..he of the swashbuckling films like Robin Hood, Captain Blood, and The Sea Hawk. And before you can say it won't work, Flynn is awesome from the get go. He is perfectly at home in a western with a six gun as he would be in Sherwood Forest flinging arrows. The story has him delivering some cattle to the wild and dangerous town of Dodge City. Along the way he also guides a wagon train through the treacherous countryside. That's where he meets Abbie Irving (played by the lovely De Havilland) and her troublesome brother. Well when her drunk brother causes a stampede and shoots at Wade, Wade shoots back and injures the kid. After that unfortunate incident Abbie has no use for wade. Finally when the wagon train arrives in Dodge City, Wade encounters the local bad guy..Jeff Surrett (played to the evil hilt by Bruce Cabot) who has a habit of killing men who he buys cattle off of and keeping the money for himself. Well Wade reluctantly agrees to become town sheriff after he sees a tragic accident and becomes Surrett's worst enemy. Eventually Abbie comes around and starts liking him too. Dodge City is a super western, staged with impressive action scenes including a wild saloon bar fight that leaves the place in shambles. The color is extraordinary and the music score is heavenly. Errol Flynn is perfectly cast as Wade as he shows that he won't take any guff from anyone. Olivia is just amazing. Every time I hear her voice, I fall in love with her. She has the most wonderful accent you will ever hear. Also Ann Sheridan, the Oommph Girl is on hand as a saloon singer who gets to belt out a couple of energetic numbers. Plus the banter between Errol and Olivia only solidifies why they were one of the best on screen couples ever. Dodge City is one of the best westerns ever to come out of Old Hollywood and I highly recommend it.
A-
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Wade Hatton: You know, out here the trail boss has sometimes even got to take the law into his own hands.
Abbie Irving: Oh, yes, pioneering I believe you call it, don't you?
 
Dodge City
Dodge City Photos

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Monty's Top Ten Westerns

Dawn, I take it those are your favorite westerns on the sidebar. Great picks. I decided to add my top ten westerns of all time as well.

1. RIO BRAVO (1959) John Wayne, Dean Martin, Angie Dickinson, Ricky Nelson
2. TOMBSTONE (1993) Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Powers Booth, Sam Elliott, Dana Delaney
3. UNFORGIVEN (1992) Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman, Richard Harris
4. THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES (1976) Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke
5. THE SEARCHERS (1959) John Wayne, Natalie Wood, Ward Bond
6. THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (1960) Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Charles Coburn, Charles Bronson
7. SHANE (1953) Alan Ladd, Jean Arthur, Van Heflin, Brandon de Wilde
8. BUTCH CASSIDY & THE SUNDANCE KID (1969) Paul Newman, Robert Redford
9. DESTRY RIDES AGAIN (1939) Marlene Dietrich, James Stewart
10. DODGE CITY (1939) Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland
Flixster - Share Movies

Wanted: Dead or Alive. From Season 1. With Steve McQueen.


This show is new to me. I thought I would share. Wanted: Dead or Alive, is a Western television show starring Steve McQueen that ran for three seasons from 1958 to 1961.






McQueen's first break would not come in film, but on TV. Elkins contacted Vincent M. Fennelly, producer of the Western series Trackdown, to have McQueen try out for the part of a bounty hunter, Josh Randall, in a pilot for a Trackdown companion series. McQueen performed as the Randall character in an episode of Trackdown, working with Robert Culp, after which McQueen filmed the pilot episode. The pilot was approved for a series titled Wanted: Dead or Alive on CBS in September 1958. In the interviews included in the DVD of "Wanted", Trackdown's star Robert Culp takes credit for bringing McQueen out to Hollywood and for getting him the part in The Bounty Hunter. He also claims to have taught McQueen the "art of the fast-draw", adding that, on the second day of filming, McQueen beat him. Like many of Culp's claims, it is not supported by the evidence. Randall's special holster held a sawed-off 44.40 Winchester rifle nicknamed the "Mare's Leg" instead of the standard six-gun carried by the typical Western character, although the cartridges seen in the gun belt were dummy 45.70, chosen because they "looked tougher". Along with the negative image of the bounty hunter (noted in the three-part DVD special on the background of the series) this added to the anti-hero image along with a mixture of mystery that made this show stand out from the typical TV Western. Ninety-four episodes, filmed at Apacheland Studio from 1958 until early 1961.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Son of Pale Face (1952).


Son of Paleface (1952), is a western comedy film and sequel to The Paleface (1948). Director: Frank Tashlin and written by Tashlin, Joseph Quillan and Robert L. Welch. It was thought to be better than the earlier movie. Cast: Bob Hope, Jane Russell, and Roy Rogers, who sings his song "A Four Legged Friend" to his horse Trigger. Russell plays a masked lady bandit who has been terrorising the town of Sawbuck Pass. Rogers is the undercover agent who is sent to catch her, while Hope travels to the west to collect his father's fortune.

Roy Rogers and Trigger.


Trigger, performed in all of Roy's movies, 88 movies total by Roy's count. Trigger also performed with Roy in all 100 episodes (some sources say 104) of The Roy Rogers Show on television, which aired from 1951 - 1957.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Joel Mc Crea.


Joel McCrea, began his movie career by performing as an extra in a serial starring Ruth Roland. By 1920, McCrea was a movie stunt double, and by the time he attended USC, he was regularly performing at the Pasadena Playhouse. McCrea's big Hollywood break came with a part in the 1929 talkie Jazz Age. He became one of the most popular action stars of the 1930s, making lasting friendships director Cecil B. DeMille and Will Rogers. It was Rogers who taught McCrea to have a strong business sense, as well as a love of ranching. Concentrating on westerns after performing in The Virginian (1946), McCrea became one of Westerns biggest box-office attractions. He extended his western fame to an early-1950s radio series, Tales of the Texas Rangers, and a weekly 1959 TV oater, Wichita Town, in which McCrea costarred with his son Jody.

List of Joel Mc Crea Westerns:

Dead End (1937)
Wells Fargo (1937)
Union Pacific (1939)
Buffalo Bill (1944)
The Great Moment (1944)
The Unseen (1945)
The Virginian (1946)
Ramrod (1947)
Four Faces West (1948)
South of St. Louis (1949)
Colorado Territory (1949)
The Outriders (1950)
Stars in My Crown (1950)
Saddle Tramp (1950)
Cattle Drive (1951)
Rough Shoot (1953)
Lone Hand (1953)
Border River (1954)
Black Horse Canyon (1954)
Stranger on Horseback (1955)
Wichita (1955)
The First Texan (1956), featuring son Jody McCrea
The Oklahoman (1957)
Trooper Hook (1957)
The Tall Stranger (1957)
Cattle Empire (1958)
Fort Massacre (1958)
The Gunfight at Dodge City (1959)
Ride the High Country (1962)
The Young Rounders (1966)
Sioux Nation (1970)
Cry Blood, Apache (1970), starring son Jody McCrea(pictured below).
Mustang Country (1976)

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Colorado Territory(1949)


Colorado Territory (1949). Cast: Joel McCrea, Virginia Mayo and Dorothy Malone. A remake of the 1941 film noir High Sierra. Both films were directed by Raoul Walsh. The story was remade again in 1955 as I Died a Thousand Times with Jack Palance and Shelley Winters.

Outlaw Wes McQueen, escapes from jail and travels to Colorado Territory, where he is planning to meet , Dave Rickard, so they can plan a train robbery.. On the stage, he befriends Fred Winslow and his daughter Julie Ann, who headed for their new ranch. Outlaws kill both of the stage drivers, Wes brings the stage safely into town. Wes's next stop is a ghost town, where Duke Harris and Reno Blake are waiting for him . Wes is concerned about dance hall dancer, Colorado Carson, might cause trouble between the men. When she he warns him about the unreliability of Homer Wallace, he decides to let her stay. Later, he rides into town to visit the Winslows and learns that the land they bought is waterless. Wes's attraction to Julie Ann makes him want to settle down. Dave asks Wes to pull one last job before he quits. On his way back to the hideout, Wes stops again at the Winslows with a new dress for Julie Ann and money to help them to dig a well. Winslow, tries to let Wes down easy when he tells him that Julie Ann, is in love with Randolph. Back at Todos Santos, Wes learns that Colorado presence is causing trouble between the men and asks Colorado to move into his room. She tells him that she he is in love with him, he lets her know that his plans do not include her. Duke and Reno are captured by the sheriff's men. When Wes and Colorado arrive at Dave's with the money, they learn that he has died. Later, Wes finds Pluthner, trying to steal the money and kills him, unfortunately, Wes is also wounded in the fight. After sharing his and Colorado real identity with the Winslows, he asks for their help.. Winslow agrees to help, but Julie Ann, tries to turn him in for the reward. Wes quickly leaves with Colorado.


After Duke and Reno are hanged, they think it would be better if they separate. Wes rides toward Mexico, leaving Colorado at Todos Santos, where She learns the posse plan to surround Wes in the Canyon of the Dead. Will Colorado get there in time to save Wes?


I just recently saw Colorado Territory, for the first time. I think it maybe one of my favorite westerns . Joel McCrea is perfect for the character he plays. the scenery is beautiful. It looks like it was filmed in Canyon de Chelly, one of my favorite places...

Saturday, April 10, 2010

The Man from Laramie (1955)


The Man from Laramie (1955). Director: Anthony Mann. Cast: James Stewart. In their seventh movie. It was adapted from a story of the same title by Thomas T. Flynn first published in The Saturday Evening Post in 1954, and a novel by publisher Ward Lock in 1955.

Will Lockhart, after delivering supplies ends up in trouble with the Waggomans, an influential ranching family, as he continues his search for someone selling rifles to the local Apaches after his brother was killed.. In one of my favorite scenes: Cattle baron Alec Waggomanis comes to get Will out of jail. He confides to Will that he is haunted by visions of a stranger who intends to do him harm and is losing his eyesight and can't count on his son Dave.
 Movie clip: Do you dream much?

Back to work Lockhart, believes he can collect salt for free, but Dave Waggoman accuses him of stealing and destroys every thing he owns. Lockhart returns to town, looking for Dave and ranch foreman Vic. After their fight, he goes to Alec Waggoman for payment for his loss. Alec sides with his son. Vic rides after Dave and catches him trying to sell guns to the Apaches. Vic shoots him and lets Alec believe that Lockhart was the one to shoot his son.. Lockhart takes refuge with rancher, Kate Canady. Alec wants to know for himself, if his son Dave was selling rifles to the Apaches. He is stopped by Vic, who pushes Waggoman from his horse and down a hill. Kate takes in Waggoman and tends to his wounds. Vic is worried because Waggoman is still alive and can identify him. He tries again to kill Alec but is stopped by Lockhart, who goes after Vic.Vic ends up attacked by the Apaches and is killed. Lockhart leaves town, but hints to Barbara Waggoman that some day he may return.

Another wonderful western by a man who gave some of his best performances.

Fun facts:

James Stewart starred in five classic western movies by director Anthony Mann. In all five, he plays a man who is haunted by the past. The films are famous for their use of the landscape to portray the characters' feelings.
Winchester '73 (1950)
Bend of the River (1952)
The Naked Spur (1953)
The Far Country (1954)
The Man from Laramie (1955)

Friday, April 2, 2010

Rawhide 3-3-1961



Rawhide (1959-1966), with Eric Fleming and Clint Eastwood, Sheb Wooley, and Paul Brinegar. Rawhide was the fifth-longest-running television Western, beaten by nine years of The Virginian and Wagon Train, fourteen years of Bonanza, and twenty years of Gunsmoke.

Clint Eastwood got his role in "Rawhide" (1959) while visiting a friend at the CBS lot when a studio exec spotted him because he "looked like a cowboy.

Fleming co-wrote two episodes of "Rawhide" (1959) with Chris Miller: "A Woman's Place" and "Incident of a Night on the Town". He appeared in three episodes of "Bonanza" (1959) following his departure from "Rawhide".

Brinegar made over 100 appearances between 1946 and 1994, appearing in many western films, and played the barman in Clint Eastwood's High Plains Drifter in 1973. He was best known for his long-running role as the cook, "Wishbone," in Rawhide. In 1969, he performed in the Western Charro! starring Elvis Presley.

Rawhide was one of my favorite western TV shows in the 50s and 60s.