Westerns

[MissGoddess]

i'm not sure i'll have time to get it from Netflix, my subscription runs out July 1.

[movieman1957]

I remember you saying you were going to let it go I wasn't sure when. I'm not all that fond of paying the $20 a month but I sure do get my money's worth. The one thing I do is that I watch them pretty quickly when they come. If I have one a week that is a long time for me. The problem is there is just too much I like that I can't get anywhere else. Of course, I could try and get out and have a life but so far it's not that likely.

We don't go to the movies. It must have been more than a year since we went. I am going next Wed to see "The Searchers" but that is rare. So for me it's a trade off. Stay home and spent my movie money on Netflix. We even have an Amazon Prime account but that doesn't have near the collection of old films.

I'm think I'll buy "The Jack Bull." It's around $5 or $6 at Amazon.

[MissGoddess]

Wow, this movie must be good if you want it in your collection. I'll see if it's on YouTube. My next movie which should arrive tomorrow is Rocky Mountain. I missed yesterday's airing on TCM.

I am going to miss it, like you I tended to watch things very quickly and so I really got the most for my $8.99 a month (I had the DVD only plan). Netflix seems to have the best U.S. Mail service in the country, I literally get things in a 24 hour turnaround!

If life ever improves financially, I'll get it back (and Classicflix, which has so many pre-1960 titles that Netflix doesn't carry).

[JackFavell]

Ooh this movie sounds like a winner Chris. I'll have to add it to my queue.

[mrsl]

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Gun for a Coward, starring Fred MacMurray, Jeffrey Hunter, and Janice Rule from 1957 was quite a surprise for me. It is a western with horses, challenges for shoot-outs, quick draws ranchers and all that kind of stuff, but the title holds true. This is another version of how a man is not a man unless he is willing to fight, shoot, and ride like an idiot. A MAN doesn't try to discuss disagreements, or land disputes. A MAN doesn't walk away when some tough guy says he's less than a man. However, a MAN does tell his older brother certain things that pertain to family, and the future, and that is where Jeffrey Hunter goes wrong. Naturally, everything is resolved in the end, not necessarily to my satisfaction, but I'm sure many people will like it.

This is a good one and worth a check out. It just started on Encore so it will be with us all through July I'm sure.

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[movieman1957]

Thanks. Always looking for a new one.

[RedRiver]

I've been meaning to post on the "What Have You Watched Lately" thread. But I think I'll hitch up to this one. I bought a 4 western set at the neighborhood grocery. Ten dollars, Hombre! They're mediocre films, some of them not well known. But that's part of the enjoyment. (It's also the reason they sell four movies for ten dollars!) Is it any surprise that the best of the herd features Mr. Randolph Scott? Did that man ever make a bad movie? ALBUQUERQUE is (A) hard to spell, and (B) a good story about competing businesses in the settling west. Scott is hired by his crooked uncle, but soon has second thoughts. There are some good action scenes, and Lon Chaney, Jr. turns up as a leg breaker the size of a billboard!

WHISPERING SMITH has style and atmosphere, if little story. But a cast that boasts Alan Ladd and Robert Preston can't fail to entertain. The other two films are disappointing. I had hopes for the Don Siegel directed THE DUEL AT SILVER CREEK. An Audie Murphy vehicle, with Stephen McNally's role just as prominent, this is pretty standard "Who Do You Trust" drama. Good guy, bad guy. Matching women. Finally, there's the cavalry vs. Indians tale, WAR ARROW. Jeff Chandler as a righteous and determined officer, John McIntyre very good as the post commander. Feisty Maureen O'Hara brings fire to even the dullest project. But that's not enough to set this story ablaze.

None of these unpretentious adventures are bad. There's something to enjoy in them. But there's a reason they don't turn up at classic movie festivals. They're harmless and forgettable, with Scott's noble effort leading the charge!

[mrsl]

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Hey Red:

Next time your wife goes shopping at Walmart, go along with her and tell her to find you in the Electronics section when she's done. When you start looking at their movies for sale. . . you'll pass out. They have $5.00 movies and several 4 in 1 offers. I have a Howard Keel (whom I love), with Annie Get your Gun, - 7 Brides for 7 Brothers, - Showboat, and - Kiss Me Kate all in one DVD. I also have a Jimmy Stewart Bend of The River, Night Passage, The far Country, and Rare Breed also with Ms. O'Hara & Brian Keith. If you're a John Wayne fan, you can find many of his 60's movies like The Sons of Katie Elder all at $5.00 each. I've been spouting Walmart for movies for months now. Like a fool (my own fault for hesitating), I passed up No Name on the Bullet with Audie Murphy and it hasn't been replaced so I think I lost out on that one, but it is definitely worth the while to take a look some day.

I have My Reputation scheduled to copy on DVR tonight mainly to compare. I recall seeing it several years ago and although I liked it, I didn't like what a wuss she was. I adored my late husband, but after two years of illness, when he went, I mourned for a year then realized there was still a whole world out there, and lots of people to meet. Barbara however, was like a woman rescued from an abuser who had been so closeted, she didn't know how to act, yet her husband had been loving and they had a great life. Most women in that scenario prefer to try to find the same life with someone else, but she was afraid for her kids to meet this guy. At least that is my recollection. After watching it tonight, we'll see what my insights are.
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[movieman1957]

"Fury At Furnace Creek" is an okay western that spends as much time looking like a noir who-done-it as it does being a western. Victor Mature and Colleen Gray head a cast with the unlikely Reginald Gardiner as an Army Captain.

Mature's father is an Army General who dies in the middle of his court martial because he is accused of ordering a wagon train escort away that leads to the slaughter of the train and also the entire population of his fort. He denies it and Mature and brother are out to find out what really happened.

The film reverts to its western nature with a chase and shootout that leaves a few questions.

[JackFavell]

I think it sounds good, Chris, I like the plot line. And I really like Victor Mature. Is this one available for streaming do you know? I'm woefully behind on my movie watching.

[movieman1957]

Through Netflix it's only on the antique DVD.

[JackFavell]

Oh, what are those?

[mrsl]

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These are some films I've had recorded for a while and finally had a chance to watch this weekend.

*** LAWMAN ***

Made in 1971 starring Burt Lancaster, Robert Ryan, and Lee J. Cobb, I thought it was some sort of original story for the T.V. show but of course, I was wrong.

After a gang tears up a town he's in and kills a few people, U.S. Marshall Lancaster follows them home to their own town where they are protected by the townspeople, and the cattle baron town tough Lee J. Cobb. Robert Ryan is the guy chosen by Cobb to be sheriff who, naturally, must do as Cobb orders, but after some thinking and talking to Burt, he ends up riding the fence for most of the movie until the final showdown where he teams up with Burt. The movie is filmed in color and is 1 hour and 30 minutes long. Not bad for a quiet day or long evening at home.

*** MIRACLE AT SAGE CREEk *** -- 2005

Stars David Carradine, Wes Studi, and Irene Bedard. Carradine hates Indians, but at one point 20 years earlier he deeded a small piece of land to Wes, who worked the land and built a nice little homestead for himself and his daughter. Now Carradines daughter and her husband live close by and they are al good friends, each with a young boy to raise. All at once illness hits the family, one of the fathers is injured on the way home from town, and Carradine has the sheriff serve forclosure papers. In this small little movie Indian medicine, tragedy, and prejudice are all covered and handled nicely. It's a little bit schmaltzy, but ends up as a fine, feel good movie. 1 hour and 33 minutes long.

*** CALIFORNIA *** 1946

Ray Milland, Barbara Stanwyck, and Barry Fitzgerald star in another twist on how California fought to become a State and the love story of the two people who led the fight.
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Don't expect great epics from these, or most of the films I write about. I just love cowboy movies, and now and then see one that could extend some pleasure to others who, like me, are kind of homebound. None of them are overly bloody, or scary, just easy going enough to take your mind off of that social security check that seems to be shrinking, or that electric bill that seems to be bloating up. 1 hour and 48 minutes.
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[RedRiver]

LAWMAN is a tight, thoughtful western drama, helped substantially by the presence of great actors. I enjoy movies like CALIFORNIA, though I don't know that one. An entertaining dose of history, probably none of which is true!

[movieman1957]

Lust for Gold is kind of an odd western. Glenn Ford, Ida Lupino and Gig Young star in a film that couldn't be more appropriately titled. It starts 1948 Arizona where a man has come to find a lost gold mine he says belonged to his grandfather. After a bit the film flashes back to 1880s Arizona for the back story.

Ford is a man of Dutch heritage that has stumbled on one who may know where the mine is. He gets there takes the gold (interesting way he did it too) and becomes the target of Ida Lupino. The trouble is she's married. Greed will only get you trouble.

The initial part of the film suffers from overacting and over narration. There really isn't anyone very likable in this film. That is part of its weakness for me that is a bit hard to like. They're all nasty and willing to go at each other. Ford's Dutch accent comes and goes. The very end is a bit hard for me but all is not lost.

The film actually has two climaxes. The historical part of the story and the current story has one. The film makes great use of locations in both segments. There is even some decent if a bit stilted action.

Some familiar faces come by for cameos. A heavily bearded Edgar Buchanan and a barely bearded Arthur Hunnicut come by. Even a quick shot of some kids will ring familiar.

I'd never heard of it. I only came about it as someone at TCM mentioned it. (Wendy?) It's hard to like but the second half helps it.