SPEILBERG’S ‘LINCOLN’ A GRAND OLD PORTRAIT

Steven Speilberg has directed so many wonderful films over his long and still-thriving career that it is daunting to try and pick the best; but LINCOLN is clearly one of his finest and most completely realized films.  At a time when all too many movies insult the audiences’ intelligence with the simplicity of their stories, LINCOLN compliments the audiences’ intelligence, assuming that they will be able to follow a very complex and compelling political plot.  And it never shies away from the uncomfortable to discuss, but necessary to understand, differences in the many sides of the political battle.  We see the clear division not only between those who were for slavery and those who were against it, but also those who thought all men were created equal, and those who thought that thought all men should have equal rights, but were not equals at all.

 

Not a biography of our 16^th president, LINCOLN is the story of the race to pass the 13^th Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery, why it became a race to ratify before the Confederacy could surrender, and the wonderfully wicked backroom scheming and negotiating that pulled it off.  It’s also the story of a President we already thought we knew, but with many unfamiliar facets to his personality.  He was a man who felt great despair, but who also had a strong sense of humor, and loved to tell jokes.  He was a man who was trapped in a marriage with a woman he respected but did not love, and who he had threatened to put in a madhouse.  He was a man who turned to this same woman to interpret his dreams, in hopes that they might foretell the future.  He was a man who should have sounded like Raymond Massey or Royal Dano, but whose voice was actually several octaves higher.

The performances by a large ensemble cast are uniformly excellent.  Abraham Lincoln is portrayed by Daniel Day-Lewis, and will surely be our image of Lincoln for decades to come.  Sally Field campaigned relentlessly for the part of Mary Todd Lincoln, and it is among the finest performances of her career.  Other standout performances include Jackie Earle Haley as Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens; Tommy Lee Jones as abolitionist Senator Thaddeus Stevens; Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Lincoln’s desperate-to-enlist son; and James Spader as W.N. Bilbo, who uses every trick in the book to try to get Lincoln the votes he needs.

 

The script is Tony Kushner, who wrote ANGELS IN AMERICA, and scripted Speilberg’s previous MUNICH.  It is based in part on the book TEAM OF RIVALS: THE POLITICAL GENIUS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN, by Doris Kearns Goodwin.  The cinematography by Speilberg’s frequent collaborator Janusz Kaminski, is evocative without calling attention to itself.  The production design by Rick Carter, costumes by Joanna Johnston, and make-up and hair by a team of over forty combine to bring the viewer into a Washington, D.C. of the 1860s that seems unquestionable genuine.  I would not recommend LINCOLN for young children – the brutality of war is something they should be spared, and the details of the political fight would be beyond their understanding.  But it is a movie that should be seen by all adults and teenagers – and the latter will learn from it far more about the Civil War, and the workings of government, then they ever will by studying their dumbed-down and politically correct textbooks.  Incidentally, LINCOLN was budgeted at $65,000,000.  ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER, was originally budgeted at $85,000,000 (now they say it’s $69,000,000).  To be fair, I haven't yet seen VAMPIRE HUNTER, but I think I can predict which will have a longer shelf life.   

 

3:10 TO YUMA ADDED TO NATIONAL FILM REGISTRY

 

 

 

The original 1957 version of ‘3:10 TO YUMA’, directed by Delmer Daves, from a story by Elmore Leonard and screenplay by Halsted Welles, is one of twenty-five films selected for inclusion in the National Film Registry, a major honour.  The film stars Van Heflin and Glenn Ford in two of the finest performances of their exceptional careers, with Ford playing very against type as the ruthless but charming outlaw whom farmer Heflin must safely deliver to a train, and the law. Other films so recognized, of particular interest to Western fans, include CHRISTMAS STORY (1983), directed by Bob Clark, from Jean Shepherd’s novel, IN GOD WE TRUST, ALL OTHERS PAY CASH, and scripted by Shep, with Clark and Leigh Brown.  It’s the story of a boy, Peter Billingsley, growing up in Depression Era-Indiana, and his obsession with getting a Red Ryder BB-Gun for Christmas.   The 1914 version of UNCLE TOM’S CABIN, from Harriet Beecher Stowe’s world-changing novel, stars Sam Lucas as the title character, and was the first feature film ever to star a black actor. 

 

 

FRANCO NERO MAY RETURN IN 'DJANGO LIVES'!

 

 

 

The near-frantic anticipation for Quentin Tarantino's DJANGO UNCHAINED has created tremendous interest in Spaghetti Westerns throughout the film industry.  One of the many hopeful results is that Franco Nero, the original Django, who makes an appearance in the Tarantino film, may soon star once again as Django in DJANGO LIVES!  

 

Mike Malloy and Eric Zaldivar, producers of 2011's THE SCARLET WORM, have a letter of interest from Nero, for their plot about an older Django living in Los Angeles in 1915, and working as a technical advisor on Western movies, something several lawmen like Wyatt Earp, and outlaws like Al Jennings, actually did.   

 

I'll be seeing and reviewing SCARLET WORM soon.  I've heard very positive buzz about the film, whose cast includes Spaghetti Western stalwarts like Dan Van Husen, Brett Halsey, and Mike Forest, and was stunned when Malloy told me they made the movie for $7500!  I'll have more details soon!

 

 

TCM FANATIC - WESTERN NOW ONLINE!

And speaking of TCM (okay, nobody was), have I mentioned that the segment I was interviewed for is now viewable here?






 

THE AUTRY NATIONAL CENTER

Built by cowboy actor, singer, baseball and TV entrepreneur Gene Autry, and designed by the Disney Imagineering team, the Autry is a world-class museum housing a fascinating collection of items related to the fact, fiction, film, history and art of the American West. In addition to their permanent galleries (to which new items are frequently added), they have temporary shows. The Autry has many special programs every week -- sometimes several in a day. To check their daily calendar, CLICK HERE. And they always have gold panning for kids every weekend. For directions, hours, admission prices, and all other information, CLICK HERE.



HOLLYWOOD HERITAGE MUSEUM

Across the street from the Hollywood Bowl, this building, once the headquarters of Lasky-Famous Players (later Paramount Pictures) was the original DeMille Barn, where Cecil B. DeMille made the first Hollywoodwestern, The Squaw Man. They have a permanent display of movie props, documents and other items related to early, especially silent, film production. They also have occasional special programs. 2100 Highland Ave., L.A. CA 323-874-2276. Thursday – Sunday 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. $5 for adults, $3 for senior, $1 for children.



WELLSFARGO HISTORY MUSEUM

This small but entertaining museum gives a detailed history of Wells Fargo when the name suggested stage-coaches rather than ATMS. There’s a historically accurate reproduction of an agent’s office, an original Concord Coach, and other historical displays. Open Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Admission is free. 213-253-7166. 333 S. Grand Street, L.A. CA.


WESTERN ALL OVER THE DIAL


INSP’s SADDLE-UP SATURDAY features a block of rarely-seen classics THE VIRGINIAN and HIGH CHAPARRAL, along with BONANZA and THE BIG VALLEY. On weekdays they’re showing LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, BIG VALLEY, HIGH CHAPARRAL and DR. QUINN, MEDICINE WOMAN.


ME-TV’s Saturday line-up includes BRANDED, THE REBEL and THE GUNS OF WILL SONNETT. On weekdays it’s DANIEL BOONE, GUNSMOKE, BONANZA, BIG VALLEY, WILD WILD WEST, and THE RIFLEMAN.


RFD-TV, the channel whose president bought Trigger and Bullet at auction, have a special love for Roy Rogers. They show an episode of The Roy Rogers Show on Sunday mornings, a Roy Rogers movie on Tuesday mornings, and repeat them during the week.


WHT-TV has a weekday afternoon line-up that’s perfect for kids, featuring LASSIE, THE ROY ROGERS SHOW and THE LONE RANGER.


TV-LAND angered viewers by dropping GUNSMOKE, but now it’s back every weekday, along with BONANZA.


Well, it's 12:36 a.m., and officially Christmas Eve as I type this. I've got a ton of good stuff stockpiled for the next several Round-ups!  In addition to my previously mentioned interviews with HIGH CHAPARRAL star Henry Darrow, and writer/actor/director Tom Jane, this week I interviewed George Schenck.  Not only is George a writer and Executive Producer on NCIS,  he started out writing Westerns, and has wonderful stories about writing movies for Clint Walker, Lee Van Cleef, Warren Oates, and scripting the first episode of THE WILD WILD WEST!  Stay tuned.  

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, and Santa brings you everything you want the most, like that Red Ryder BB Gun (Don't shoot your eye out!). 

Happy Trails,

 

Henry

 

All Original Contents Copyright December 2012 by Henry C. Parke  - All Rights Reserved

 

STALLED ‘HELL ON WHEELS’ ROLLING AGAIN FOR SEASON THREE!

STALLED ‘HELL ON WHEELS’ ROLLING AGAIN FOR SEASON THREE!

 

As reported here on November 18^th, AMC’s commitment to a third season of HELL was put on hold when newly signed show-runner John Shiban bowed out.  Previously, the contracts of series creators/writers/producers Joe and Tony Gayton had not been renewed.

 

Happily, AMC has just announced that there will be more HELL, this time overseen by exec producer and showrunner John Wirth, who has previously performed similar duties on PICKET FENCES, FALLEN SKIES, TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES, and several other series.  Most heartening of all, back in 1993 he was a writer and producer on THE ADVENTURES OF BRISCO COUNTY JR. 

 

No, it's not from HELL, it's from BRISCO COUNTY, JR. 

 

You can hear the collective sigh of relief from the various producers.  Jeremy Gold, Endemol Studio’s exec producer on HELL, said "We are delighted that John Wirth will be joining us on this remarkable journey. John is a proven showrunner with a terrific voice and a deep passion for our show."  Entertainment One Television’s Michael Rosenberg concurs.  "We're delighted to continue our relationship with AMC, Endemol and Nomadic Pictures.  John Wirth is an incredible talent who will drive our roaring series and build on the strength and success of the HELL ON WHEELS brand." Season three’s ten episodes are scheduled to premiere in the third quarter of 2013.

FROM SUNDANCE TO THE WEB TO MARYLAND, 4 NEW WESTERNS IN THE WORKS!

‘SWEETWATER’ AT SUNDANCE

This New Mexico-lensed Western from Kickstart Productions is heading for the Sundance Film Festival in January.  Set in post Civil War New Mexico, it’s the story of the collision between a renegade lawman, a religious fanatic and a once-soiled dove. 

 

 

Ed Harris in APPALOOSA

Toplining as Sheriff Jackson is Ed Harris, who did a terrific job adapting Robert B. Parker’s APPALOOSA, as well as directing and starring, and who, back in 1996, starred in Ted Turner’s version of Zane Grey’s RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE.  Playing Sara is MAD MEN’S beautiful January Jones, who also starred in Tommy Lee Jones’ THE THREE BURIALS OF MELQUIADES ESTRADA.  Reverend Armstrong is portrayed by Jason Isaacs, who played Lucius Malfoy in the HARRY POTTER films.  Eduardo Noriega, who plays Miguel Ramirez, starred in last year’s BLACKTHORN, playing opposite Sam Shepard’s Butch Cassidy.  He will soon be seen with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the modern-day Western THE LAST STAND.  Chad Brummett, who plays Sid, was Kane in 3:10 TO YUMA, and will be seen next year in THE LONE RANGER.

 

Eduardo Noriega in BLACKTHORN

Co-directors Logan Miller and Noah Miller previously collaborated on TOUCHING HOME, which also starred Ed Harris. 

‘SIX GUN SAVIOR’ – FROM WEBISODE TO FEATURE

When I spoke to Western actor Martin Kove at a NATIONAL DAY OF THE COWBOY event back in August, I asked him what his next Western would be.  “I’m doing an internet series called SIX GUN SAVIOR, a supernatural western.”  That internet series has since been promoted to feature status, and as the accompanying stills attest, they’ve been filming at Melody Ranch.

 

 

Jyll King touches up Martin Kove's make-up

while he studies the script

 

 

Eric Roberts?  The Devil it is!

The plot concerns gunman Lane McCrea (Kaleo Griffith), who has become the Devil’s bounty hunter since selling his soul to save his wounded brother’s life.  In trying to get free of his obligations, Lane is helped by The Mentor (Martin Kove), and must face up to The Devil (Eric Roberts). 

 

Don't trust that smile!

 

 

Katherine McEwan

‘DAY OF THE GUN’ SECOND MARYLAND WESTERN

A tip from actor Dan Searles turned me on to DAY OF THE GUN, a Western shot in Maryland by Wayne Shipley.  It turns out that writer/director Shipley started One-Eyed Horse Production back in 2007, to make his first Maryland-lensed (but not set) Western, ONE-EYED HORSE, so this is his second New England oater.  Although I haven’t got a synopsis, the accompanying six-minute trailer will give you a good taste of a very professional-looking production.  And they certainly take their weapons and their history seriously – there’s even an S.A.S.S. (Single Action Shooting Society) Special Edition of ONE-EYED HORSE available.  You can learn more at their site, HERE.

 

‘JANE GOT A GUN’, AND SHE’S GOT MORE CAST MEMBERS

 

Natalie Portman in COLD MOUNTAIN

Back in May we reported that Natalie Portman, who previously starred in the Western COLD MOUNTAIN (2003), was set to star in another Western, JANE GOT A GUN.  It’s about a woman whose bandit spouse comes home shot to pieces and nearly dead. When his former associates come to finish him off, Jane turns to an ex-beau to save them.  Michael Fassbender, of BAND OF BROTHERS, INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, and JONAH HEX fame, will play her former lover.  Now just added, Joel Edgerton, who played Owen Lars in the later STAR WARS films, and will soon be seen in ZERO DARK THIRTY and as Tom Buchanan in THE GREAT GATSBY, will play the leader of the gang out to kill Jane’s husband. 

The role of the husband is not yet cast, but according to IMBDPro, the top two contenders are Chris Pine, soon to be seen as Capt. Kirk in the next STAR TREK movie, and Joel Kinnaman, currently filming the ROBOCOP reboot, playing the title character. 

 

JANE is an original screenplay by first-timer Brian Duffield, and was a highly touted ‘Black List’ script. (Note: this ‘Black List’ has nothing to do with politics. It is a list of highly respected scripts that haven’t been sold. Stupid name, considering the ‘Black List’ connotation, isn’t it?) It is to be directed by Lynne Ramsay, helmer of WE’VE GOT TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN.


 

 

TCM FANATIC - WESTERN NOW ONLINE!

And speaking of TCM (okay, nobody was), have I mentioned that the segment I was interviewed for is now viewable here?






 

THE AUTRY NATIONAL CENTER

Built by cowboy actor, singer, baseball and TV entrepreneur Gene Autry, and designed by the Disney Imagineering team, the Autry is a world-class museum housing a fascinating collection of items related to the fact, fiction, film, history and art of the American West. In addition to their permanent galleries (to which new items are frequently added), they have temporary shows. The Autry has many special programs every week -- sometimes several in a day. To check their daily calendar, CLICK HERE. And they always have gold panning for kids every weekend. For directions, hours, admission prices, and all other information, CLICK HERE.



HOLLYWOOD HERITAGE MUSEUM

Across the street from the Hollywood Bowl, this building, once the headquarters of Lasky-Famous Players (later Paramount Pictures) was the original DeMille Barn, where Cecil B. DeMille made the first Hollywoodwestern, The Squaw Man. They have a permanent display of movie props, documents and other items related to early, especially silent, film production. They also have occasional special programs. 2100 Highland Ave., L.A. CA 323-874-2276. Thursday – Sunday 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. $5 for adults, $3 for senior, $1 for children.



WELLSFARGO HISTORY MUSEUM

This small but entertaining museum gives a detailed history of Wells Fargo when the name suggested stage-coaches rather than ATMS. There’s a historically accurate reproduction of an agent’s office, an original Concord Coach, and other historical displays. Open Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Admission is free. 213-253-7166. 333 S. Grand Street, L.A. CA.


WESTERN ALL OVER THE DIAL


INSP’s SADDLE-UP SATURDAY features a block of rarely-seen classics THE VIRGINIAN and HIGH CHAPARRAL, along with BONANZA and THE BIG VALLEY. On weekdays they’re showing LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, BIG VALLEY, HIGH CHAPARRAL and DR. QUINN, MEDICINE WOMAN.


ME-TV’s Saturday line-up includes BRANDED, THE REBEL and THE GUNS OF WILL SONNETT. On weekdays it’s DANIEL BOONE, GUNSMOKE, BONANZA, BIG VALLEY, WILD WILD WEST, and THE RIFLEMAN.


RFD-TV, the channel whose president bought Trigger and Bullet at auction, have a special love for Roy Rogers. They show an episode of The Roy Rogers Show on Sunday mornings, a Roy Rogers movie on Tuesday mornings, and repeat them during the week.


WHT-TV has a weekday afternoon line-up that’s perfect for kids, featuring LASSIE, THE ROY ROGERS SHOW and THE LONE RANGER.


TV-LAND angered viewers by dropping GUNSMOKE, but now it’s back every weekday, along with BONANZA.


That's a wrap for this week!  I hope to have me Henry Darrow interview ready for next week, and coming soon I'll have an interview with actor/director To Jane about his soon-to-lens Western A MAGNIFICENT DEATH FROM A SHATTERED HAND!  I may even have my review of LINCOLN if I ever get to see it!

Happy Trails,

 

Henry

 

All Original Contents Copyright December 2012 by Henry C. Parke  - All Rights Reserved

 

LUKE PERRY'S THIRD ‘GOODNIGHT FOR JUSTICE’

 

 

The third entry in star and creator Luke Perry’s Hallmark Movie Channel Western franchise, GOODNIGHT FOR JUSTICE will premiere on Saturday, January 26^th.  Luke Perry continues as circuit judge John Goodnight, and in GOODNIGHT FOR JUSTICE: QUEEN OF HEARTS a stagecoach hold-up brings Goodnight face-to-face with beautiful woman-on-the-run Lucy Thoreau, played by Katherine Isabelle of ENDGAME.  Best of all, the man who stands in her way is Rick Schroder, Newt from LONESOME DOVE, and it’s about time we had him back in the saddle again!  More details as the date gets closer.

 

INVEST IN ‘ANDRE DE TOTH – THE DIRECTOR’S DIRECTOR’

 

Filmmaker Patrick Francis first met legendary director Andre de Toth at a party at Leonard Maltin’s, and they hit off immediately.  The normally reticent director opened up to Francis, and their many long conversations led to the documentary which Francis is fund-raising to finish. 

 

 

Known to the general public for his Vincent Price 3D starrer HOUSE OF WAX, Hungary-born de Toth worked in England for the Korda’s before coming to America.  He excelled in films noir, and smart, tough and unflinching Westerns like DAY OF THE OUTLAW, RIDING SHOTGUN, INDIAN FIRE, and RAMROD, reteaming his wife, Veronica Lake, with her SULLIVAN’S TRAVELS co-star Joel McCrea.  De Toth directed a string of Randolph Scott pictures, and directed episodes of some of the best Western TV series: ZANE GREY THEATRE, MAVERICK, BRONCO, and Sam Peckinpah’s THE WESTERNER. 

 

This documentary is not just a ‘potential’ movie – it exists.  The purpose of the Indiegogo campaign is to raise completion money, to pay for post-production fees, the rights to use film-clips, and other nuts-and-bolts needs.  I’ll be talking more to Patrick Francis about Andre de Toth in the Round-up very soon.  But at the moment, there are just nine days left to this fund-raiser.  If you’d like to learn more, and hopefully contribute, please go here: http://www.indiegogo.com/Andre-deToth

 

 

CHRISTMAS BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

 

Personally, I can’t think of a better Christmas or Hanukkah gift than a good book, and I’ve got four great ones to recommend.  Though I’ll be doing detailed reviews of each soon, I wanted to get the word out early for those of you who haven’t finished your holiday shopping (and those like me that haven’t started our shopping!). 

 

COL. WILLIAM SELIG -- THE MAN WHO INVENTED HOLLYWOOD, is a fascinating biography of one of the most important men in the history of film.  All the more remarkable, although his contributions equal those of D.W. Griffith, and surpass those of DeMille, until Andrew Erish wrote this fine biography, Selig’s work was virtually unknown even among the top tier of film historians.  In addition to being a highly entertaining read, SELIG is an essential addition to the library of any serious film buff.   I’ll be featuring my interview with Andy Erish in the Round-up shortly.

 

ARIZONA’S LITTLE HOLLYWOOD – SEDONA AND NORTHERN ARIZONA’S FORGOTTEN FILM HISTORY 1923 -1973, by Joe McNeill, is a lively and informative telling of the busy history of Western movie production in one of the most beautiful spots on Earth.  Joe covers it all in remarkable detail, from the silent days of Rex the Wonder Horse, and early Zane Grey stories, through THE OUTLAW, ANGEL AND THE BADMAN, LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN,  the original 3:10 TO YUMA and THE ROUNDERS, even unearthing details of a Nazi-propaganda Western! 

 

HENRY DARROW – LIGHTNING IN THE BOTTLE by Jan Pippins and Henry Darrow, is the delightful biography of the actor we all discovered as Manolito Montoya on THE HIGH CHAPARRAL.  While I always loved the series (happily playing now on INSP), and particularly the character of Manolito, I had no idea of the character’s and the actor’s importance to the Hispanic community, being, with costar Linda Cristal, the first Latino actors to star as Latino characters in a TV series.  Darrow went on to be the first Latino to play ZORRO as well, a character he portrayed in three separate productions.  This book is not only the life and career story of a highly talented actor, it is also an in-depth study of HIGH CHAPARRAL, and any fan of the series will enjoy it.  Just this week I interviewed Mr. Darrow, who was not only charming and informative, but kept me laughing practically from ‘Hello’ on.  I’ll be running the interview asap.

 

GUNSMOKE – AN AMERICAN INSTITUTION by Ben Costello is an in-depth look at twenty years and 600 episodes of one of the absolutely finest TV series of any genre, and why it’s still popular and relevant half a century after it transitioned from radio to TV.  A big, beautiful coffee-table book, generously illustrated, painstakingly researched; it draws on the memories of dozens of actors, directors and writers.  It features a capsule description of every episode, and in-depth interviews with cast members Dennis Weaver, Buck Taylor and Burt Reynolds.

 

 

‘WILD HORSE, WILD RIDE’ ON DVD FOR CHRISTMAS

 

 

 

This beautiful, inspiring documentary is about folks who take part in a competition whose purpose is to raise money to rescue wild horses on government land.  100 people each take on a completely wild mustang, and have 100 days to train it for a competition.  (If you haven’t read my review, see it HERE)

It’s now available on DVD – the flyer above has the details.

 

NO "THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES"! 

 

If you're as big a fan of the late Bob Hope as I am, you may have been planning to go to his Toluca Lake home today or Sunday for his garage sale, where, it was said, tons of Christmas decorations and stuff were going on sale to the public for cheap.  I'll save you a trip: although they announced an opening time of 9:00 a.m., they started letting people in at 7:00.  There is NOTHING left!  My daughter, who got there before 8:30, described the scene as post-apocalyptic, with crowds surging from one empty table to the next in near panic.  There are two-hour lines of ‘Sooners’ waiting to pay for everything.  Too bad.  Just did a search, and the only Bob Hope movies on schedule are on TCM.  A week from tomorrow it’s THE IRON PETTICOAT, co-starring him with Kate Hepburn, and said to be one of his worst.  The following Tuesday there’s the delightful SEVEN LITTLE FOYS.  In the meantime, I’m gonna dig out my VHS copy of PALEFACE.

 

TCM FANATIC - WESTERN NOW ONLINE!

And speaking of TCM (okay, nobody was), have I mentioned that the segment I was interviewed for is now viewable here?






 

THE AUTRY NATIONAL CENTER

Built by cowboy actor, singer, baseball and TV entrepreneur Gene Autry, and designed by the Disney Imagineering team, the Autry is a world-class museum housing a fascinating collection of items related to the fact, fiction, film, history and art of the American West. In addition to their permanent galleries (to which new items are frequently added), they have temporary shows. The Autry has many special programs every week -- sometimes several in a day. To check their daily calendar, CLICK HERE. And they always have gold panning for kids every weekend. For directions, hours, admission prices, and all other information, CLICK HERE.



HOLLYWOOD HERITAGE MUSEUM

Across the street from the Hollywood Bowl, this building, once the headquarters of Lasky-Famous Players (later Paramount Pictures) was the original DeMille Barn, where Cecil B. DeMille made the first Hollywoodwestern, The Squaw Man. They have a permanent display of movie props, documents and other items related to early, especially silent, film production. They also have occasional special programs. 2100 Highland Ave., L.A. CA 323-874-2276. Thursday – Sunday 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. $5 for adults, $3 for senior, $1 for children.



WELLSFARGO HISTORY MUSEUM

This small but entertaining museum gives a detailed history of Wells Fargo when the name suggested stage-coaches rather than ATMS. There’s a historically accurate reproduction of an agent’s office, an original Concord Coach, and other historical displays. Open Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Admission is free. 213-253-7166. 333 S. Grand Street, L.A. CA.


WESTERN ALL OVER THE DIAL


INSP’s SADDLE-UP SATURDAY features a block of rarely-seen classics THE VIRGINIAN and HIGH CHAPARRAL, along with BONANZA and THE BIG VALLEY. On weekdays they’re showing LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, BIG VALLEY, HIGH CHAPARRAL and DR. QUINN, MEDICINE WOMAN.


ME-TV’s Saturday line-up includes BRANDED, THE REBEL and THE GUNS OF WILL SONNETT. On weekdays it’s DANIEL BOONE, GUNSMOKE, BONANZA, BIG VALLEY, WILD WILD WEST, and THE RIFLEMAN.


RFD-TV, the channel whose president bought Trigger and Bullet at auction, have a special love for Roy Rogers. They show an episode of The Roy Rogers Show on Sunday mornings, a Roy Rogers movie on Tuesday mornings, and repeat them during the week.


WHT-TV has a weekday afternoon line-up that’s perfect for kids, featuring LASSIE, THE ROY ROGERS SHOW and THE LONE RANGER.


TV-LAND angered viewers by dropping GUNSMOKE, but now it’s back every weekday, along with BONANZA.


That’ll do it for this week.  Coming soon in the Round-up I’ll have word of a new Western starring APPALOOSA’S Ed Harris, another Western that started as a web series but is going to be a feature, my interview with Henry Darrow, and some Spaghetti Western suggestions to put you in a DJANGO UNCHAINED frame of mind!

 

Happy Trails,

 

Henry

 

All Original Contents Copyright December 2012 by Henry C. Parke  - All Rights Reserved

 

BORGNINE SHINES IN FINAL ROLE, ‘VICENTE FERNANDEZ’

Ernest Borgnine died this summer at the age of 95.  Few of us make it to that age, and few of those who do have the physical and mental stamina to work to the end like Borgnine did.  He’d continued to act – he made his last Western, NO CHANCE IN HELL, in 2008, and even voiced a continuing character in SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS.  He’d written his autobiography, ERNIE, and over the last few years of his life he’d travelled the country making appearances and discussing his book, his career and his life. 

 

At a jam-packed screening of his Oscar-Winner MARTY at the North Hollywood Library, he reminisced about MARTY, MCHALE’S NAVY, FROM HERE TO ETERNITY, and his unforgettable Westerns like THE WILD BUNCH and VERA CRUZ.  When I spoke to him at the Hollywood Show in Burbank, about a year before his death, I asked him when he was going to make another Western.  He laughed, “I'm doing one right now! It's called THE MAN WHO SHOOK THE HAND OF VICENTE FERNANDEZ. It's a Western, but it takes place in a nursing home.”

 

Barry Corbin turning on the charm

 

Now the public will have the chance to see Ernest Borgnine in his last film, which opens at the Laemmle Theaters in North Hollywood this Friday.  One cannot help but approach such a movie with trepidation.  Fans of Laurel and Hardy will never forget how awful Stan Laurel looked, post-stroke, in UTOPIA.  It’s painful to recall the indignity of the great Basil Rathbone ending his career in HILLBILLYS IN A HAUNTED HOUSE.  Spencer Tracy fared much better with GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER, although studio execs so feared that he would die before the film was finished that he wasn’t paid a dime of his salary until his last scene was in the can. 

 

Happily, there are no such regrets attached to VICENTE FERNANDEZ, nor is Ernest Borgnine reduced to a cameo: it’s his film from start to finish.  He plays Rex Page, who excelled as radio DJ ‘Ricochet Rex’, but is consumed with bitterness at never having made it as a movie actor.  He’s obsessed with A GOOD MAN KILLED BAD, a Western he didn’t get to star in, and he watches his disintegrating VHS tape of the movie every day, repeating the monologues, running the dialogue with his indulgent ten-year-old granddaughter Clementine (Audrey B. Scott).  Although he shows no interest in Clem’s soccer prowess, he’s much closer to her than to her mother and his daughter Denise (Dale Dickey), or his wife of 47 years, Irma (June Squibb).

 

Renaldo Pacheco, June Squibb, Arturo del Puerto, Audrey P. Scott,

Carla Ortiz, Dale Dickey, Ashley Holliday, Ernie

 

A stroke sends Rex to the hospital, then to a nursing home to recover, and to regain the ability to walk.   The nursing home’s staff is entirely Latino, and Rex does not endear himself to them with his ‘wetback’ comments.  But one nurse is grateful to him immediately: beautiful Solena (Carla Ortiz) is being pawed by Dr. Dominguez (Tony Plana) until Rex, coming out of anesthesia, tells him to leave her alone.  When he is recognized as ‘Ricochet Rex’, the staff warms to him.  When he reveals in passing that he once shook hands with ‘The Frank Sinatra of Mexico, Vicente Fernandez’, Rex becomes their hero.  And they need a hero, because the nursing home is run by a patient whose family owns the place and others like it, and he and Dr. Dominguez work together to terrorize the employees and residents.  That patient, Walker, is played with bravura menace by the wonderful Barry Corbin, who was so impressive as the sympathetic judge in REDEMPTION: FOR ROBBING THE DEAD (read my review HERE ).  There are many parallels between the nursing-home folks and the scared town-folk in A GOOD MAN KILLED BAD, and it’s oddly delightful to watch Walker and his two henchmen zipping around on their Rascal Scooters intimidating everyone.  There’s an especially memorable scene where they ride circles around male nurse Alejandro (Arturo del Puerto), Walker menacing him with the bull’s horns mounted on his Rascal, and knocking him off his bike.

 

Rex’s popularity and power at the nursing home grows out of his ability to defeat Walker at the card-game Rat Screw (a variation on War), and as Rex becomes more of a hero to the staff, he has less and less time for his own family.  Much of the story turns on whether, come 4^th of July, he’ll attend his granddaughter’s soccer match of the Vicente Ferandez concert.   

 

Rex's daughter delivers the last existing copy of

A GOOD MAN KILLED BAD

 

Very unusual for today, this modest budget film is handsomely lensed in actual 35mm Fuji Film by Eric Leach, a camera operator and second unit cinematographer on many big pictures.  Written and directed by Elias Petridis, VICENTE FERNANDEZ is a hard film to classify.  While officially called a comedy, much of the film’s tone is more serious than that suggests, dealing with over-medicating and undernourishing patients, and kicking them out on a whim.  One of the funniest elements is the title sequence, which parodies Sergio Leone’s title sequences, accompanied by a song reminiscent of Ennio Morricone’s ‘English-as-a-second-language’ themes like LONESOME BILLY and A GRINGO LIKE ME. 

 

D.P. Eric Leach; writer/director Elia Petridis

 

The film is uneven in its successes, sometimes introducing very interesting notions, and not following through on them.  Rex’s agent, Burt, is forever calling up with pipe-dream plans for Rex’s career, eventually getting him an important audition.  But does he actually believe Rex can ‘make it’, or is he just stringing him along?  You never find out, and even though Emmy and Tony-winning MAD MEN star Robert Morse is prominently billed, you never see him: he’s only a voice on the phone.

 

Also, the actor who beat Rex out for the lead role in A GOOD MAN KILLED BAD, incredibly, ends up in the next hospital bed, but is woefully under-utilized.  The tiny budget is occasionally evident – crowd scenes are sparsely populated, and what is ‘the big game’ first seems to be a girl practicing kicks by herself, with one adult watching.

 

The biggest strengths are in the performances.  Borgnine dominates the film as a man who has long thought his life was worthless, because he hasn’t achieved his loftiest goals.  Corbin gives Borgnine the heightened level of meanness he needs to play off of.  And as the, granddaughter Audrey B. Scott is surprisingly believable, even when delivering dialogue that seems unnatural.  And hardcore Western nerds take note: the man who introduces Rex to Vicente, thus inducing the handshake of the title, is Peter Sherayko, Texas Jack Vermillion from TOMBSTONE.

 

 

We’ll all miss Ernie, but it’s very nice that he could go out on his strong, film-carrying performance in THE MAN WHO SHOOK THE HAND OF VICENTE FERNANDEZ. 

 

 

TCM FANATIC - WESTERN NOW ONLINE!

And speaking of TCM (okay, nobody was), have I mentioned that the segment I was interviewed for is now viewable here?






 

THE AUTRY NATIONAL CENTER

Built by cowboy actor, singer, baseball and TV entrepreneur Gene Autry, and designed by the Disney Imagineering team, the Autry is a world-class museum housing a fascinating collection of items related to the fact, fiction, film, history and art of the American West. In addition to their permanent galleries (to which new items are frequently added), they have temporary shows. The Autry has many special programs every week -- sometimes several in a day. To check their daily calendar, CLICK HERE. And they always have gold panning for kids every weekend. For directions, hours, admission prices, and all other information, CLICK HERE.



HOLLYWOOD HERITAGE MUSEUM

Across the street from the Hollywood Bowl, this building, once the headquarters of Lasky-Famous Players (later Paramount Pictures) was the original DeMille Barn, where Cecil B. DeMille made the first Hollywoodwestern, The Squaw Man. They have a permanent display of movie props, documents and other items related to early, especially silent, film production. They also have occasional special programs. 2100 Highland Ave., L.A. CA 323-874-2276. Thursday – Sunday 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. $5 for adults, $3 for senior, $1 for children.



WELLSFARGO HISTORY MUSEUM

This small but entertaining museum gives a detailed history of Wells Fargo when the name suggested stage-coaches rather than ATMS. There’s a historically accurate reproduction of an agent’s office, an original Concord Coach, and other historical displays. Open Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Admission is free. 213-253-7166. 333 S. Grand Street, L.A. CA.


WESTERN ALL OVER THE DIAL


INSP’s SADDLE-UP SATURDAY features a block of rarely-seen classics THE VIRGINIAN and HIGH CHAPARRAL, along with BONANZA and THE BIG VALLEY. On weekdays they’re showing LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, BIG VALLEY, HIGH CHAPARRAL and DR. QUINN, MEDICINE WOMAN.


ME-TV’s Saturday line-up includes BRANDED, THE REBEL and THE GUNS OF WILL SONNETT. On weekdays it’s DANIEL BOONE, GUNSMOKE, BONANZA, BIG VALLEY, WILD WILD WEST, and THE RIFLEMAN.


RFD-TV, the channel whose president bought Trigger and Bullet at auction, have a special love for Roy Rogers. They show an episode of The Roy Rogers Show on Sunday mornings, a Roy Rogers movie on Tuesday mornings, and repeat them during the week.


WHT-TV has a weekday afternoon line-up that’s perfect for kids, featuring LASSIE, THE ROY ROGERS SHOW and THE LONE RANGER.


TV-LAND angered viewers by dropping GUNSMOKE, but now it’s back every weekday, along with BONANZA.

Just the one lead story for tonight’s Round-up – I have to finish some script revisions, and prepare questions for an interview for next week’s Round-up. Have a great week!

Happy Trails,

Henry

All Original Contents Copyright December 2012 by Henry C. Parke – All Rights Reserved