(Photo by David E. Miller)
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All posts for the month February, 2014
(Photo by David E. Miller)
A different kind of serenade…
In his western novel, Harmonica Sex,
The author confirms that “Eroticus Tex”
Is based on a cowboy
Who said that his sex toy,
A rusty French harp, produced awesome effects
© 2014 David E. Miller
When fat pomologists turn from science to magic…
Said a sprightly applepotamus named Corize
“Has it o’curd to you that apricottage cheese…?”
The drunk winoceros
Spooned up the sorcerous
Concoction–and poof! it cured his drinking disease!
© 2014 David E. Miller
What happens when you wear nothing but a magical girdle in a magazine photo spread…
A young urban princess, Hippolyta,
Met an old country toad (we’ll call it a
Prince in the making)
Whose heart was breaking
‘Cause he’d seen her in Cosmopolita
© 2014 David E. Miller
There’s always someone bigger and fatter…
It’s true, “Hippopotamus” Pete
Puts horseradish sauce on his meat
His last pot o’ mustard
He threw at the bastard
Who swept his fat wife off her feet
© 2014 David E. Miller
(Photo by David E. Miller)
(Photo by David E. Miller)
I simply cannot have every western I’d like to own on my DVD shelves. There are some major classics missing in my collection. But here is what I own, somewhat organized by those who in star in them (not all major actors are listed due to space limitations). Also, I don’t necessarily endorse every film with great enthusiasm, but none are unwatchable, and some are great.
Ride the High Country (1962; Randolph Scott, Joel McCrea)
The Big Country (1958; Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston, Jean Simmons)
The Stalking Moon (1968; Gregory Peck, Eva Marie Saint)
The Searchers (1956; John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles)
Rio Bravo (1958; John Wayne, Dean Martin, Angie Dickinson)
The Sons of Katie Elder (1965; John Wayne, Dean Martin)
El Dorado (1967; John Wayne, Robert Mitchum)
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962; John Wayne, James Stewart)
The Shootist (1976; John Wayne, James Stewart, Lauren Bacall)
Winchester ’73 (1950; James Stewart)
The Naked Spur (1953; James Stewart, Janet Leigh)
The Far Country (1954; James Stewart, Walter Brennan)
The Man from Laramie (1955; James Stewart, Arthur Kennedy)
Shenandoah (1965; James Stewart, Katharine Ross)
Firecreek (1968; James Stewart, Henry Fonda)
Cheyenne Social Club (1970; James Stewart, Henry Fonda)
The Magnificent Seven (1960; Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen)
The Wild Bunch (1969; William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, Robert Ryan)
Tom Horn (1980; Steve McQueen, Linda Evans)
Quigley Down Under (1990; Tom Selleck, Alan Rickman)
Last Stand at Saber River (1997; Tom Selleck, David Carradine)
Crossfire Trail (2001; Tom Selleck, Virginia Madsen)
A Fistful of Dollars (1964; Clint Eastwood)
For a Few Dollars More (1965; Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef)
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966; Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach)
The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976; Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke)
Once Upon a Time in the West (1969; Charles Bronson, Henry Fonda)
Duck, You Sucker (1971; James Coburn, Rod Steiger)
The Quick and the Dead (1995; Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman)
Tombstone (1993); Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer)
Silverado (1985; Kevin Kline, Brian Dennehy, Kevin Costner)
Open Range (2003; Kevin Costner, Robert Duvall, Annette Bening)
Desperado (1995; Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek)
Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003; Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek)
The Mask of Zorro (1998; Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins)
The Legend of Zorro (2005; Antonio Banderas, Catherine Zeta-Jones)
Support Your Local Sheriff (1968; James Garner, Walter Brennan)
Blazing Saddles (1974; Gene Wilder, Slim Pickens)
Rango (2011; voices of Johnny Depp, Ned Beatty, et al.)
Highest on my list of “most wanted” films (shelf space permitting) is:
3:10 to Yuma (2007; Russell Crowe, Christian Bale)
Films I wouldn’t mind having:
Shane (1953; Alan Ladd, Jack Palance)
McCabe & Mrs. Miller (f1971; Warren Beatty, Julie Christie)
Little Big Man (1970; Dustin Hoffman, Faye Dunaway)
The Long Riders (1980; Keach, Carradine, Quaid brothers)
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007; Brad Pitt, Sam Shepard)
Let me know if there are any westerns that are an absolute “must” for my collection!
OPEN RANGE (2003)
As much as I appreciate classic westerns starring John Wayne, James Stewart, Gregory Peck, and Clint Eastwood, and in spite of my opinion that “Once Upon a Time in the West” is the true masterpiece of the genre and is deserving of my highest esteem, the film that I consider my favorite western is Kevin Costner’s “Open Range.” It’s not the only film with memorable characters, a lean and compelling plot, and beautiful western scenery. And it’s not the only one with a good shootout, or with moral considerations that pit conscience against the matter-of-fact and largely unavoidable ruthlessness of the Old West. But it is that rare film that has a heart and soul. and I find it completely satisfying.
A young Kevin Costner costarred in “Silverado,” a film which I have just recently re-watched, and which is given much credit for resuscitating the western genre back in the 1980’s. Although a good film in many respects, it is a bit too self-conscious in its emulation of classic Hollywood westerns. It has a plot, of course, but it rambles so much that one finds it difficult to summarize it afterwards. Unlike “Open Range,” which has an elegant, understated soundtrack that is used parsimoniously, “Silverado” is constantly intruded upon by bombastic music that distracts rather than enhances. And in “Silverado,” Kevin Costner plays little more than a caricature, whereas, in “Open Range,” his role is that of a fleshed out human being.
As with most westerns, “Open Range” makes use of sweeping landscapes. There is no parched desert here, but we do get a fair helping of rolling hills and lazy river valleys set against a background of rugged, snow-laden peaks. Rather than the magnificent blue skies to which we’ve grown accustomed, though, we get dark skies and rain. In fact, the town’s main street is so flooded by the downpour that it becomes a veritable river. It is not incidental, but rather contributes significantly to plot and setting. Speaking of towns, “Open Range” does center much of its action in a typical western town (custom-built for this film, however, and dismantled afterwards) that cowers to a corrupt sheriff. And, true to the film’s title, the main story line does involve the classic western conflict between ranchers and free grazers. But weaved into the film’s plot is a simple, yet utterly believable love story. It’s not an exposition, an afterthought, or a character statement. It’s just as much a part of the film, and just as authentic in its depiction, as the inevitable climactic shootout with guns that must be reloaded, frightened townsfolk that escape to the hills, and dead bodies that must be buried in the aftermath of the bloodshed. Finally, the dialogue in “Open Range” is not polished in the least. Not only are the characters plain spoken, but much of what is said comes across as insipid and vastly uninspired. Some viewers might fault the screenplay. Not me. I find the dialogue refreshingly authentic.
Sometimes one cannot justify, by way of pure analysis, the favor one showers upon a film. Some films just have a quality about them that one finds personally appealing. And it’s not necessarily the masterpiece that wins the most favor. I’ll be watching “Once Upon a Time in the West” again soon. But I had to watch “Open Range” first.
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