Paul Colt's Blog, page 23
July 3, 2021
Series Cuts
We close this series with two films we left out. Take a compelling story premise with a strong cast, then add the Tarantino effect and you end up with Django Unchained. It is the story of a freedman turned bounty hunter on a mission to free his wife. Back it up with a cast that includes Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson and others and you’d think you were on your way to a winner. And maybe for some you are. The film grossed $425 million on a $100 million budget. It raked in Oscars and Golden Globes for Best Screenplay (Quentin Tarantino) and Best Supporting Actor.
The film started out as a tribute to Spaghetti Westerns that became steeped in gratuitous violence and political commentary. Creatively Tarantino threw everything but the kitchen sink at the film from savagery to costuming. Tarantino described Django’s wardrobe look as “rock-n-roll”. Really? Sunglasses in a western? A faux fur coat like one worn by Telly Savalas as Kojak. French art, Rhett Butler, Don Johnson’s Miami Vice suit all had costuming influence.
The film opens with killings. Moves on to murders. Fights to the death. A man gets mauled to death by attack dogs – havin’ fun yet? Pass the popcorn. In the first showdown gun fight Django gets nine shots out of a six-shot revolver – I counted them. Somebody died of every shot. Torture, escape, more killing, dynamite the plantation, happily ever after.
The Lone Ranger starred Johnny Depp as Tonto with Armie Hammer as the Masked Man. I like most anything Johnny Depp does, but did we really need a tongue-in-cheek Tonto with a dead crow on his head? Critics didn’t think so. The film earned negative reviews of performances by both leads along with a screenplay laden with mock caricatures of western film action scenes.
The Lone Ranger is an iconic western character that didn’t deserve this treatment. The public must have agreed. The film bombed at the box office, earning $260.5 million on a budget in the range of $375 – 400 million.
With so many good western stories to choose from, not sure we needed either one of these.
Next Week: Return to the Saturday Matinee Serial
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Ride easy,
Paul
The film started out as a tribute to Spaghetti Westerns that became steeped in gratuitous violence and political commentary. Creatively Tarantino threw everything but the kitchen sink at the film from savagery to costuming. Tarantino described Django’s wardrobe look as “rock-n-roll”. Really? Sunglasses in a western? A faux fur coat like one worn by Telly Savalas as Kojak. French art, Rhett Butler, Don Johnson’s Miami Vice suit all had costuming influence.
The film opens with killings. Moves on to murders. Fights to the death. A man gets mauled to death by attack dogs – havin’ fun yet? Pass the popcorn. In the first showdown gun fight Django gets nine shots out of a six-shot revolver – I counted them. Somebody died of every shot. Torture, escape, more killing, dynamite the plantation, happily ever after.
The Lone Ranger starred Johnny Depp as Tonto with Armie Hammer as the Masked Man. I like most anything Johnny Depp does, but did we really need a tongue-in-cheek Tonto with a dead crow on his head? Critics didn’t think so. The film earned negative reviews of performances by both leads along with a screenplay laden with mock caricatures of western film action scenes.
The Lone Ranger is an iconic western character that didn’t deserve this treatment. The public must have agreed. The film bombed at the box office, earning $260.5 million on a budget in the range of $375 – 400 million.
With so many good western stories to choose from, not sure we needed either one of these.
Next Week: Return to the Saturday Matinee Serial
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Ride easy,
Paul
June 26, 2021
Hang 'em High
Hang ‘Em High had a great historical premise in Judge Isaac Parker’s court and the breed of men who did his enforcement work. Men like Bass Reeves and Luke Short, men with real stories. Only Hollywood would see the need to unnecessarily fictionalize it; but that’s what they did. Still the film is vintage Eastwood, spaghetti western without the pasta.
Vigilantes hang Jed Cooper (Eastwood) for unwittingly buying a herd of rustled cattle from the owner’s murderer. Quick action by a passing marshal, cuts Cooper down before he expires. Cooper is taken to Fort Grant (Smith) where Judge Adam Fenton (Parker) acquits him. Fenton then saves Cooper from a vigilante vendetta of his own, recruiting him into his marshal’s service. Cooper accepts and the judge issues warrants for the nine vigilantes.
Cooper locates the first when he notices his saddle on a horse outside a saloon. His attempt to arrest the man ends in gunplay. One dead. He tracks a second member of the gang to a small town and arrests him, turning him over to local sheriff, Ray Calhoun. Calhoun informs him the men on his wanted list are respected members of the community. Still, he agrees to assist him.
Survivors of another rustling and murder identify one of the men Cooper wants along with two teenage accomplices. Cooper arrests them and takes them to Fort Grant. Fenton hangs all three, over Cooper’s objection to hanging the boys. Calhoun arrives in Fort Grant with money to reimburse Cooper for his loss offered by the surviving gang members. Cooper vows to hunt them down anyway. One later turns himself in. Two flee. Three vow to kill Cooper. They ambush him in Fort Grant wounding him. Cooper recovers in the arms of widow Rachel Warren (Inger Stevens- onscreen and off).
Cooper tracks his three assailants to the ranch where they are hiding out. He kills two of them in a gun fight. The third, the ringleader, hangs himself. Throughout the film, Cooper repeatedly tries to resign from the marshal’s service over Fenton’s harsh justice. Each time Fenton talks him out of it. In the end, after one more resignation, Cooper rides off with warrants for the two remaining fugitives.
Next Week: Series Cuts
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Ride easy,
Paul
Vigilantes hang Jed Cooper (Eastwood) for unwittingly buying a herd of rustled cattle from the owner’s murderer. Quick action by a passing marshal, cuts Cooper down before he expires. Cooper is taken to Fort Grant (Smith) where Judge Adam Fenton (Parker) acquits him. Fenton then saves Cooper from a vigilante vendetta of his own, recruiting him into his marshal’s service. Cooper accepts and the judge issues warrants for the nine vigilantes.
Cooper locates the first when he notices his saddle on a horse outside a saloon. His attempt to arrest the man ends in gunplay. One dead. He tracks a second member of the gang to a small town and arrests him, turning him over to local sheriff, Ray Calhoun. Calhoun informs him the men on his wanted list are respected members of the community. Still, he agrees to assist him.
Survivors of another rustling and murder identify one of the men Cooper wants along with two teenage accomplices. Cooper arrests them and takes them to Fort Grant. Fenton hangs all three, over Cooper’s objection to hanging the boys. Calhoun arrives in Fort Grant with money to reimburse Cooper for his loss offered by the surviving gang members. Cooper vows to hunt them down anyway. One later turns himself in. Two flee. Three vow to kill Cooper. They ambush him in Fort Grant wounding him. Cooper recovers in the arms of widow Rachel Warren (Inger Stevens- onscreen and off).
Cooper tracks his three assailants to the ranch where they are hiding out. He kills two of them in a gun fight. The third, the ringleader, hangs himself. Throughout the film, Cooper repeatedly tries to resign from the marshal’s service over Fenton’s harsh justice. Each time Fenton talks him out of it. In the end, after one more resignation, Cooper rides off with warrants for the two remaining fugitives.
Next Week: Series Cuts
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Ride easy,
Paul
June 20, 2021
Hostiles
Retiring army Captain Joseph Blocker (Christian Bale) is ordered to accompany dying Cheyenne Chief Yellow Hawk (Wes Studi) and his family from the New Mexico fort where he is imprisoned to his native land in Montana. Blocker refuses. Yellow Hawk was responsible for the deaths of men under his command for which he holds visceral hatred. Faced with the threat of Court-martial and loss of pension, Blocker is forced to take the assignment.
On departing the fort, Blocker orders Yellow Hawk and his son, Black Hawk, shackled. On the way north they come upon a recently raided settler’s cabin. The husband is dead. They find traumatized wife and mother, Rosalie (Rosamund Pike), grieving over her dead children, she maintains are only sleeping. She joins Blocker’s party for safety.
Blocker and his men beat back a Comanche war party. Yellow Hawk convinces Blocker to unchain him and his son to fight in the next attack. The next morning they find the bodies of two Comanche. Blocker concludes it the work of Yellow Hawk and his son. Blocker arranges for Rosalie to stay at a fort they pass on their way. She decides to stay with Blocker.
Back on the trail, Rosalie, Yellow Hawk’s daughter and Black Hawk’s wife are abducted and raped by fur traders. Blocker and his men guided by Yellow Hawk and his son, track down the traders and kill them, rescuing the women.
Yellow Hawk’s condition worsens. He and Blocker make peace over their past hostilities. Reaching Montana, Yellow Hawk dies. They bury him only to have a white rancher arrive with his three sons, claiming the land for his own, he demands Blocker leave and take the body. Blocker refuses. Only he, Rosalie and Yellow Hawk’s infant grandson survive the gunfight that follows. Rosalie decides to adopt the child and move east. She and Blocker have a tearful farewell on the station platform. As the train pulls out, Blocker steps on.
Hostiles was a box office success with good if not great critical acclaim. Most plaudits went to Bale’s performance. Wes Studi says as much with his eyes as any writer hopes for with a line.
Next Week: Hang ‘em High
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Ride easy,
Paul
On departing the fort, Blocker orders Yellow Hawk and his son, Black Hawk, shackled. On the way north they come upon a recently raided settler’s cabin. The husband is dead. They find traumatized wife and mother, Rosalie (Rosamund Pike), grieving over her dead children, she maintains are only sleeping. She joins Blocker’s party for safety.
Blocker and his men beat back a Comanche war party. Yellow Hawk convinces Blocker to unchain him and his son to fight in the next attack. The next morning they find the bodies of two Comanche. Blocker concludes it the work of Yellow Hawk and his son. Blocker arranges for Rosalie to stay at a fort they pass on their way. She decides to stay with Blocker.
Back on the trail, Rosalie, Yellow Hawk’s daughter and Black Hawk’s wife are abducted and raped by fur traders. Blocker and his men guided by Yellow Hawk and his son, track down the traders and kill them, rescuing the women.
Yellow Hawk’s condition worsens. He and Blocker make peace over their past hostilities. Reaching Montana, Yellow Hawk dies. They bury him only to have a white rancher arrive with his three sons, claiming the land for his own, he demands Blocker leave and take the body. Blocker refuses. Only he, Rosalie and Yellow Hawk’s infant grandson survive the gunfight that follows. Rosalie decides to adopt the child and move east. She and Blocker have a tearful farewell on the station platform. As the train pulls out, Blocker steps on.
Hostiles was a box office success with good if not great critical acclaim. Most plaudits went to Bale’s performance. Wes Studi says as much with his eyes as any writer hopes for with a line.
Next Week: Hang ‘em High
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Ride easy,
Paul
June 12, 2021
Appaloosa
Appaloosa is based on a novel by Robert B. Parker. Ed Harris directed and starred as Virgil Cole opposite Viggo Mortensen as Everett Hitch. Harris also co-wrote the screen play with Robert Knott. So, what makes this one so special for me?
Start with Parker’s novel. Hitch and Cole are, in my opinion, the best western character pair to ride down the genre trail since Gus and Call in Lonesome Dove. That’s a statement in itself. Then there is Parker’s writing. He is one of two authors who most influenced my writing. Parker was a master at dialog. His dialog cemented the relationship between Hitch and Cole that led Harris to make the movie. Here’s an example of a dialog exchange that might pass between the two. “Looks like rain.” “Does.” That’s it. Four words. Plain spoken and so in character, you don’t need tags like ‘so and so said’. Every time I write a line of dialog that nails the character, it reminds me of Parker. I strive for it. If you’ve read one of my books, you may have noticed.
I read every Hitch and Cole book Parker wrote in the series until sadly Robert B. Parker passed away. The series continued with someone ‘writing the brand’. That seldom works for me, though it happens quite often in westerns. Ask anybody named Johnstone. My wife bought me one of the continuation books as a gift, not realizing the author change. I read it and was pleasantly surprised. It worked. The guest author? Robert Knott, co-author of the Appaloosa screen play which took full advantage of Parker’s excellent dialog. Knott carries Parker’s style forward with the brand. Language in the more recent titles has taken on a blue hue Parker never saw the need for; but Hitch and Cole continue to move the stories.
The film co-starred Renee Zellweger as Allie French, Cole’s love interest (and most anyone else she takes a fancy to) and Jeremy Irons as Randall Bragg a villainous rancher terrorizing the New Mexico town of Appaloosa. Hitch and Cole are hired by the townsfolk to clean it up. Which, not surprisingly, they do. Harris was drawn to make the film by Parker’s classic western story and a pair of compelling characters. Works for me.
Next Week: Hostiles
Return to Facebook to comment
Ride easy,
Paul
Start with Parker’s novel. Hitch and Cole are, in my opinion, the best western character pair to ride down the genre trail since Gus and Call in Lonesome Dove. That’s a statement in itself. Then there is Parker’s writing. He is one of two authors who most influenced my writing. Parker was a master at dialog. His dialog cemented the relationship between Hitch and Cole that led Harris to make the movie. Here’s an example of a dialog exchange that might pass between the two. “Looks like rain.” “Does.” That’s it. Four words. Plain spoken and so in character, you don’t need tags like ‘so and so said’. Every time I write a line of dialog that nails the character, it reminds me of Parker. I strive for it. If you’ve read one of my books, you may have noticed.
I read every Hitch and Cole book Parker wrote in the series until sadly Robert B. Parker passed away. The series continued with someone ‘writing the brand’. That seldom works for me, though it happens quite often in westerns. Ask anybody named Johnstone. My wife bought me one of the continuation books as a gift, not realizing the author change. I read it and was pleasantly surprised. It worked. The guest author? Robert Knott, co-author of the Appaloosa screen play which took full advantage of Parker’s excellent dialog. Knott carries Parker’s style forward with the brand. Language in the more recent titles has taken on a blue hue Parker never saw the need for; but Hitch and Cole continue to move the stories.
The film co-starred Renee Zellweger as Allie French, Cole’s love interest (and most anyone else she takes a fancy to) and Jeremy Irons as Randall Bragg a villainous rancher terrorizing the New Mexico town of Appaloosa. Hitch and Cole are hired by the townsfolk to clean it up. Which, not surprisingly, they do. Harris was drawn to make the film by Parker’s classic western story and a pair of compelling characters. Works for me.
Next Week: Hostiles
Return to Facebook to comment
Ride easy,
Paul
June 5, 2021
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Written and directed by Andrew Dominik, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) is adapted from a 1983 novel by Ron Hansen. The film weaves a complex relationship between outlaw legend Jesse James and young Bob Ford. The film offers striking parallels and contrasts in the lives of these principal characters.
Young Bob Ford (Casey Affleck) idolizes Jesse James (Brad Pitt) and envy’s his older brother Charley who is a member of the James gang. Bob hopes to join the gang. In a similar way young Jesse once aspired to join his older brother Frank as a member of Bloody Bill Anderson’s Bushwhacker guerilla band. Both Bob and Jesse are initially rejected. Jesse comes of age and turns to robbing trains. The war of northern aggression may be over; but Yankee debts to the south remain to be settled. A Noble cause to inspire Bob’s Hero worship.
Trouble starts when the bounty on Jesse’s head exceeds the amounts that can be taken robbing trains. Gang members conspire to turn Jesse in and collect the reward. Jesse gets wind of the plot, kills one conspirator, and goes on a hunt for the other. In Jesse’s effort to track down his betrayer he severely beats Bob and Charley Ford’s young cousin. Meanwhile in another sub-plot Bob intervenes in a dispute over a woman. Bob kills one of Jesse’s men and hides the body.
Given the men he has lost, Jesse relents, letting Bob join the gang. Bob is angered over Jesse beating his cousin and tempted by the size of the reward. Vengeance and betrayal overtake hero worship as Bob cuts a deal with the Kansas City Chief of Police and the Governor to kill Jesse James. Jesse asks Bob to help him move to a new home. With Bob in the James' home, he finds opportunity to shoot an unarmed Jesse in the back.
When the governor reneges on the promised reward, Bob and Charley take their assassination act to the stage, reckoning fame will reward them. They soon discover there is fame in legend and infamy in treachery and betrayal. Charley commits suicide. Bob lives a life of remorse until he is murdered.
The film won Oscar’s for cinematography and Best Supporting Actor (Affleck).
Next Week: Appaloosa
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Ride easy,
Paul
Young Bob Ford (Casey Affleck) idolizes Jesse James (Brad Pitt) and envy’s his older brother Charley who is a member of the James gang. Bob hopes to join the gang. In a similar way young Jesse once aspired to join his older brother Frank as a member of Bloody Bill Anderson’s Bushwhacker guerilla band. Both Bob and Jesse are initially rejected. Jesse comes of age and turns to robbing trains. The war of northern aggression may be over; but Yankee debts to the south remain to be settled. A Noble cause to inspire Bob’s Hero worship.
Trouble starts when the bounty on Jesse’s head exceeds the amounts that can be taken robbing trains. Gang members conspire to turn Jesse in and collect the reward. Jesse gets wind of the plot, kills one conspirator, and goes on a hunt for the other. In Jesse’s effort to track down his betrayer he severely beats Bob and Charley Ford’s young cousin. Meanwhile in another sub-plot Bob intervenes in a dispute over a woman. Bob kills one of Jesse’s men and hides the body.
Given the men he has lost, Jesse relents, letting Bob join the gang. Bob is angered over Jesse beating his cousin and tempted by the size of the reward. Vengeance and betrayal overtake hero worship as Bob cuts a deal with the Kansas City Chief of Police and the Governor to kill Jesse James. Jesse asks Bob to help him move to a new home. With Bob in the James' home, he finds opportunity to shoot an unarmed Jesse in the back.
When the governor reneges on the promised reward, Bob and Charley take their assassination act to the stage, reckoning fame will reward them. They soon discover there is fame in legend and infamy in treachery and betrayal. Charley commits suicide. Bob lives a life of remorse until he is murdered.
The film won Oscar’s for cinematography and Best Supporting Actor (Affleck).
Next Week: Appaloosa
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Ride easy,
Paul
May 29, 2021
Open Range
In 1882 open range cattleman Boss Spearman (Robert Duvall) is driving a herd through Montana assisted by cowhands Charley (Kevin Costner), Mose and Button. They stop for supplies near Harmonville, a town run by land baron, Denton Baxter. Baxter despises the practice of open range grazing. Sent to town for supplies, Mose is assaulted and jailed by the town marshal.
When Mose fails to return, Boss and Charlie go to town and retrieve him from jail; but not before being told to take their cattle and clear out. They seek out the local Doctor to have Mose’ injuries treated. There Charlie meets and is instantly attracted to Sue (Annette Bening), who he believes to be the Doctor’s wife.
Baxter men are seen watching the herd. Boss and Charley surprise them in their camp for the night. While they are away from the herd other men raid their camp. Mose is killed and Button is badly injured. Boss and Charley take Button to the doctor, where Charley learns Sue is the doc’s sister. Romance flowers.
Bent on vengeance Boss and Charley face off against Baxter’s men. Charley kills the man responsible for killing Mose and wounding Button. Hopelessly outnumbered in a fierce gun battle, the situation looks grim, until town’s people join the fight to rid themselves of Baxter. When the tide turns, a wounded Baxter takes cover in the jail. Boss shoots his way in and finishes him.
Charley and Boss decide to give up the cattle business and settle in Harmonville. They buy the saloon and Charley gets the girl.
The film hit it big at the box office earning $68.3 million on a $22 million budget. Production wasn’t easy or cheap. Costner spent a million dollars constructing ‘Harmonville’; because none of the existing western town sets suited him. He spent another $40 thousand to build a road to the remote location. The film drew critical acclaim for cinematography and gunfight realism.
Next Week: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
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Ride easy,
Paul
When Mose fails to return, Boss and Charlie go to town and retrieve him from jail; but not before being told to take their cattle and clear out. They seek out the local Doctor to have Mose’ injuries treated. There Charlie meets and is instantly attracted to Sue (Annette Bening), who he believes to be the Doctor’s wife.
Baxter men are seen watching the herd. Boss and Charley surprise them in their camp for the night. While they are away from the herd other men raid their camp. Mose is killed and Button is badly injured. Boss and Charley take Button to the doctor, where Charley learns Sue is the doc’s sister. Romance flowers.
Bent on vengeance Boss and Charley face off against Baxter’s men. Charley kills the man responsible for killing Mose and wounding Button. Hopelessly outnumbered in a fierce gun battle, the situation looks grim, until town’s people join the fight to rid themselves of Baxter. When the tide turns, a wounded Baxter takes cover in the jail. Boss shoots his way in and finishes him.
Charley and Boss decide to give up the cattle business and settle in Harmonville. They buy the saloon and Charley gets the girl.
The film hit it big at the box office earning $68.3 million on a $22 million budget. Production wasn’t easy or cheap. Costner spent a million dollars constructing ‘Harmonville’; because none of the existing western town sets suited him. He spent another $40 thousand to build a road to the remote location. The film drew critical acclaim for cinematography and gunfight realism.
Next Week: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Return to Facebook to comment
Ride easy,
Paul
May 22, 2021
The Horse Whisperer
The film opens to a tragic accident. Two best friend teenage girls out for a winter morning ride on their horses. One horse slips on an icy slope and falls knocking the other down. They slide down the hill onto a roadway where they are struck by a truck. One girl is killed. The other, Grace (Scarlett Johansson) is severely injured, requiring partial amputation of her leg. Her beautiful black horse Pilgrim is traumatized, becoming unmanageable to the point of euthanasia.
Grace’s mother Annie (Kristin Scott Thomas), a strong-minded magazine editor, refuses to see Pilgrim put down, believing her daughter’s recovery from traumatic distress is linked to the horse. She locates Tom Booker (Robert Redford), renowned horse whisperer and trainer to see if he can heal Pilgrim. He agrees on the condition Grace joins in the process. She reluctantly agrees. Mother daughter and horse journey to the Booker ranch in Montana.
Booker asks Grace to describe the accident so he can understand what Pilgrim is thinking. She is forced to relive the horror. Progress begins. Annie is attracted to Tom and he is to her. Both are reluctant. Annie is married. Tom's first wife, a city girl incapable of living ranch life, left him, breaking his heart. The plot thickens when Annie’s husband shows up unexpectedly at the ranch. He tells her he knows her feelings for him aren’t the same as his feeling for her. He wants her to make a choice before she comes home. Tom concludes the healing with Grace once again riding Pilgrim. Annie faces her choice. She is a city girl. Tom watches her drive away with daughter and horse.
Robert Redford directed the film to mixed critical reviews. The story is based on Nicholas Evans’ novel of the same name. Evans based Tom Booker on three actual horse whisperers, one of whom, Buck Brannon, consulted on the film and doubled for Redford. Despite that, the film has some flaws, starting with the premise. A well-trained horse, suffering a trauma, would not go completely rogue. It might, for example, become afraid of trucks or crossing a road; but not the behavior as presented. Scenes in the film, edited for length, cut steps in the training process that fail to show accurate or correct methodology. Hollywood is after all, Hollywood.
Next Week: Open Range
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Ride easy,
Paul
Grace’s mother Annie (Kristin Scott Thomas), a strong-minded magazine editor, refuses to see Pilgrim put down, believing her daughter’s recovery from traumatic distress is linked to the horse. She locates Tom Booker (Robert Redford), renowned horse whisperer and trainer to see if he can heal Pilgrim. He agrees on the condition Grace joins in the process. She reluctantly agrees. Mother daughter and horse journey to the Booker ranch in Montana.
Booker asks Grace to describe the accident so he can understand what Pilgrim is thinking. She is forced to relive the horror. Progress begins. Annie is attracted to Tom and he is to her. Both are reluctant. Annie is married. Tom's first wife, a city girl incapable of living ranch life, left him, breaking his heart. The plot thickens when Annie’s husband shows up unexpectedly at the ranch. He tells her he knows her feelings for him aren’t the same as his feeling for her. He wants her to make a choice before she comes home. Tom concludes the healing with Grace once again riding Pilgrim. Annie faces her choice. She is a city girl. Tom watches her drive away with daughter and horse.
Robert Redford directed the film to mixed critical reviews. The story is based on Nicholas Evans’ novel of the same name. Evans based Tom Booker on three actual horse whisperers, one of whom, Buck Brannon, consulted on the film and doubled for Redford. Despite that, the film has some flaws, starting with the premise. A well-trained horse, suffering a trauma, would not go completely rogue. It might, for example, become afraid of trucks or crossing a road; but not the behavior as presented. Scenes in the film, edited for length, cut steps in the training process that fail to show accurate or correct methodology. Hollywood is after all, Hollywood.
Next Week: Open Range
Return to Facebook to comment
Ride easy,
Paul
May 15, 2021
The Quick and the Dead
A Lady gunslinger (Sharon Stone) shows up in Redemption, a town run by the vicious outlaw John Herod (Gene Hackman). She’s just in time for a winner take all quick draw tournament. The tournament has attracted the badest gathering of gunnies in the west, including gunfighter turned preacher, Cort (Russell Crowe) who is forced to compete by Herod. Herod’s illegitimate son, The Kid (an unknown Leonardo DiCaprio) joins in, hoping to win his father’s approval.
Herod sets the rules. Anybody can challenge anybody. All challenges must be accepted. Everybody must fight once a day until one of the contestants yields or dies.
Not surprisingly The Lady, Herod, Cort and The Kid all best their first-round opponents. Herod goes into the second round facing a professional killer, hired by the townspeople to rid the town of Herod by his own game. Herod kills the town’s best hope and changes the rules. All duels will be to the death.
Between rounds, the town doctor recognizes The Lady. She is the daughter of the town marshal strung up by Herod in taking over the town. By flashback Herod gives her one shot at cutting the rope her father is hanging by. She misses and kills him. Doc pleads the cause she and Cort kill Herod and save the town.
Rounds progress until four remain. The Lady challenges Herod. He has already accepted The Kid’s challenge, leaving her to face Cort. Herod kills The Kid. So much for fatherly approval. Cort shoots The Lady. Cort and Herod face each other at the last. The proceedings are interrupted when Herod’s house blow up. Out of the smoke and debris steps The Lady, her death having been faked. Cort guns down Herod’s gang while The Lady throws her father’s badge at Herod’s feet and kills him.
Shot in Old Tucson, the film opened to mixed reviews and box office bust. In time it gathered greater critical appreciation. Unforgiven must have cured Hackman of his aversion to violence. The studio had reservations over co-producer Stone’s casting the unknown DiCaprio. Stone paid his salary out of her own pocket.
Next Week: The Horse Whisperer
Return to Facebook to comment
Ride easy,
Paul
Herod sets the rules. Anybody can challenge anybody. All challenges must be accepted. Everybody must fight once a day until one of the contestants yields or dies.
Not surprisingly The Lady, Herod, Cort and The Kid all best their first-round opponents. Herod goes into the second round facing a professional killer, hired by the townspeople to rid the town of Herod by his own game. Herod kills the town’s best hope and changes the rules. All duels will be to the death.
Between rounds, the town doctor recognizes The Lady. She is the daughter of the town marshal strung up by Herod in taking over the town. By flashback Herod gives her one shot at cutting the rope her father is hanging by. She misses and kills him. Doc pleads the cause she and Cort kill Herod and save the town.
Rounds progress until four remain. The Lady challenges Herod. He has already accepted The Kid’s challenge, leaving her to face Cort. Herod kills The Kid. So much for fatherly approval. Cort shoots The Lady. Cort and Herod face each other at the last. The proceedings are interrupted when Herod’s house blow up. Out of the smoke and debris steps The Lady, her death having been faked. Cort guns down Herod’s gang while The Lady throws her father’s badge at Herod’s feet and kills him.
Shot in Old Tucson, the film opened to mixed reviews and box office bust. In time it gathered greater critical appreciation. Unforgiven must have cured Hackman of his aversion to violence. The studio had reservations over co-producer Stone’s casting the unknown DiCaprio. Stone paid his salary out of her own pocket.
Next Week: The Horse Whisperer
Return to Facebook to comment
Ride easy,
Paul
May 8, 2021
Tombstone
Rather than replay a story so familiar to western fans, let’s take a look at why Tombstone belongs in the conversation for best western of all time. We know the 1879 feud between the Earp brothers and the outlaw gang known as The Cowboys. It led to the iconic Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, more accurately said ‘near’ the O.K. Corral. We know the ambush that left Virgil Earp crippled and the assassination that killed Morgan, leading to Wyatt Earp’s Vendetta Ride. The film starts with a good story. Next comes the director.
Director George P. Cosmatos is one of the reasons Tombstone ranks with the best westerns of all time. He wanted to portray the history accurately. He wanted to make it authentic. Take costumes for example, you don’t get the dramatic effect of four resolute men walking to a date with destiny without those long black coats. Props and costums were historically appropriate. Scenery shot on location. Even the mustaches were real. The gunfight itself, choreographed, timed and filmed exactly as it happened. The human element, loyalty and friendship between Wyatt and Doc Holiday, was genuine too.
Which brings us to the actors. Previously on these pages we’ve declared Val Kilmer best Doc Holiday ever. His quick-draw was a practiced skill. The buttery, aristocratic southern accent, sold the character. The light sheen of sweat, made sick believable. We put Kurt Russell in the conversation for the best Wyatt ever, too close for me to call with Kevin Costner; but many of you called it for Kurt. It didn’t stop there either. Sam Elliott is totally believable as Virgil Earp. I don’t know I could name one any better. Costner’s film didn’t have a Virgil character. Another ‘in character’ performance somewhat overlooked in my opinion is Dana Delany as Josephine. From what my research tells me about Josephine, Dana Delany nailed her look and demeanor.
Curiously the film received mixed critical reviews. I suspect that had more to do with a lack of appreciation for the historical accuracy of the film than anything else. To that point, True West Magazine, a publication with deep historical roots, rates Tombstone one of the five best westerns ever made. High praise from a knowledgeable source. Kilmer and Russell’s reviews were great. Folks liked it. The film grossed $56.5 million.
Next Week: The Quick and the Dead
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Ride easy,
Paul
Director George P. Cosmatos is one of the reasons Tombstone ranks with the best westerns of all time. He wanted to portray the history accurately. He wanted to make it authentic. Take costumes for example, you don’t get the dramatic effect of four resolute men walking to a date with destiny without those long black coats. Props and costums were historically appropriate. Scenery shot on location. Even the mustaches were real. The gunfight itself, choreographed, timed and filmed exactly as it happened. The human element, loyalty and friendship between Wyatt and Doc Holiday, was genuine too.
Which brings us to the actors. Previously on these pages we’ve declared Val Kilmer best Doc Holiday ever. His quick-draw was a practiced skill. The buttery, aristocratic southern accent, sold the character. The light sheen of sweat, made sick believable. We put Kurt Russell in the conversation for the best Wyatt ever, too close for me to call with Kevin Costner; but many of you called it for Kurt. It didn’t stop there either. Sam Elliott is totally believable as Virgil Earp. I don’t know I could name one any better. Costner’s film didn’t have a Virgil character. Another ‘in character’ performance somewhat overlooked in my opinion is Dana Delany as Josephine. From what my research tells me about Josephine, Dana Delany nailed her look and demeanor.
Curiously the film received mixed critical reviews. I suspect that had more to do with a lack of appreciation for the historical accuracy of the film than anything else. To that point, True West Magazine, a publication with deep historical roots, rates Tombstone one of the five best westerns ever made. High praise from a knowledgeable source. Kilmer and Russell’s reviews were great. Folks liked it. The film grossed $56.5 million.
Next Week: The Quick and the Dead
Return to Facebook to comment
Ride easy,
Paul
May 1, 2021
Unforgiven
Clint Eastwood produced, directed and starred in the lead role as William Munny, retired gunfighter who takes one last job. Set in Big Whiskey Wyoming two cowboys, Davey-Boy and Quick Mike disfigure a prostitute who mocks Quick Mike. Sheriff Little Bill (Gene Hackman) gives the pair a slap on the wrist. Out raged prostitutes offer one-thousand-dollar reward to anyone who kills the pair.
Munny (Eastwood) has retired to farming. He is approached by a young gun, calling himself Schofield Kid to track down the cowboys and collect the reward. With his farm on hard times Munny goes along, recruiting retired gunman and friend Ned Logan (Morgan Freeman) to go along. They arrive in Big Whiskey and go to the saloon. Logan and the Kid meet with the prostitutes while Munny waits in the saloon. He is confronted by Little Bill for carrying a gun. The sheriff beats him brutally and throws him out of the saloon. The three escape.
Munny recovers from his injuries. They catch up with Davey-Boy and kill him. Logan decides he’s had enough of the old life and leaves to return home. Munny and the Kid catch-up with Little Mike. The Kid kills him, admitting he’d never killed anyone before. One of the prostitutes meets Munny and the Kid to pay the reward. She tells them Little Bill captured Logan and tortured him to death. The Kid heads out with his reward. Munny goes hunting for Little Bill.
Munny finds the sheriff in the saloon organizing a posse to go after him. He walks in facing sheriff and posse alone. In the shootout that follows Munny kills Little Bill and most of his deputies. Then calmly returns home.
Unforgiven played to critical acclaim. The film won four Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director (Eastwood) and Best Supporting Actor (Hackman). Unforgiven drew $159 million at the box office worldwide. It is listed in the Library of Congress National Film Registry.
Next Week: Tombstone
Return to Facebook to comment
Ride easy,
Paul
Munny (Eastwood) has retired to farming. He is approached by a young gun, calling himself Schofield Kid to track down the cowboys and collect the reward. With his farm on hard times Munny goes along, recruiting retired gunman and friend Ned Logan (Morgan Freeman) to go along. They arrive in Big Whiskey and go to the saloon. Logan and the Kid meet with the prostitutes while Munny waits in the saloon. He is confronted by Little Bill for carrying a gun. The sheriff beats him brutally and throws him out of the saloon. The three escape.
Munny recovers from his injuries. They catch up with Davey-Boy and kill him. Logan decides he’s had enough of the old life and leaves to return home. Munny and the Kid catch-up with Little Mike. The Kid kills him, admitting he’d never killed anyone before. One of the prostitutes meets Munny and the Kid to pay the reward. She tells them Little Bill captured Logan and tortured him to death. The Kid heads out with his reward. Munny goes hunting for Little Bill.
Munny finds the sheriff in the saloon organizing a posse to go after him. He walks in facing sheriff and posse alone. In the shootout that follows Munny kills Little Bill and most of his deputies. Then calmly returns home.
Unforgiven played to critical acclaim. The film won four Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director (Eastwood) and Best Supporting Actor (Hackman). Unforgiven drew $159 million at the box office worldwide. It is listed in the Library of Congress National Film Registry.
Next Week: Tombstone
Return to Facebook to comment
Ride easy,
Paul
