PETER MARSHALL VS. THE DUKE!

I recently had the pleasure of visiting the home of comedian and game show host Peter Marshall, in conjunction with a documentary that I’m working on. He and his wife have a beautiful home, which he built with his profits from the years he was teamed with Tommy Noonan as Noonan and Marshall, before he became a household name hosting THE HOLLYWOOD SQUARES. Peter gave us a fascinating and hilarious interview about comedian and SQUARES regular George Gobel.

As we were leaving, I had to ask Peter about a framed letter from the great John Wayne. It’s a little unusual because it appeared to be…well, a threatening letter. It came about because of a question to a contestant on THE HOLLYWOOD SQUARES. Peter had asked, “According to Rona Barrett (the gossip columnist), what do John Wayne’s children call him? And the answer was ‘sir.’ And he took umbrage to that.”

On stationery dated April 14th, 1975, John Wayne wrote:

Dear Mr. Marshall:

I take a dim view of your assumptions concerning my life and my family. My children are the dearest things in my life, and I speak to them with nothing but affection; and I God damned well resent your saying that I make them call me Sir, and I suggest that you correct it on your show or don’t ever pass me on the street.

I am available. I have an office with two secretaries. It is mighty easy to check the verity of your trivia. Please don’t misunderstand me. I mean this.

Sincerely,

John Wayne

“So I wrote him a letter, and I apologized, and said I didn’t write the question – I was the host. But it’s one of my favorite things I own.”


COWBOYS & ALIENS IS (OR ARE) ALMOST HERE!

On July 29th, the much-anticipated feature-film version of the comic book will reach the screen everywhere! Directed by Jon Favreau of IRON MAN I & II fame, the film toplines Daniel Craig, Olivia Wilde and Harrison Ford, with a strong supporting cast of familiar Western faces like Sam Rockwell, Paul Dano, Keith Carradine, Adam Beach and Buck Taylor. Interestingly, while the original poster featured only Craig, the current poster features Craig and Ford side-by-side, recognition that, in Favreau’s words, “Harrison Ford is our generation’s John Wayne,” and a definite selling point for a western, with or without aliens. To see the TRAILER, click HERE. To see a FEATURETTE featuring Favreau, producers Stephen Spielberg and Ron Howard, and the writers, click HERE.

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2436734233/


http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1167694873/

‘COVERED WAGON’ AT ACADEMY JULY 11TH

In L.A., the best entertainment deal of the summer has long been the film series at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. This year it’s SUMMER OF SILENTS, featuring nine silent features that have won the Photoplay Magazine Medal of Honor, an award that predates the Oscars.

On Monday, July 11th James Cruze’s 1923 epic of the Oregon Trail, THE COVERED WAGON, starring J. Warren Kerrigan, Lois Wilson and Alan Hale, will screen in 35mm, and tickets are still available for $5 a piece. Live musical accompaniment will be by Bill Ryan and the Cactus County Cowboys. Also screened will be the few reels that survive from ABRAHAM LINCOLN (1924). It’s directed by Phil Rosen, who started as a cameraman for Edison in 1912, and is best known for his Charlie Chan movies. The screenplay is by Oscar-winner (for THE BIG HOUSE and THE CHAMP) Frances Marion. An actress who was a child when she appeared in the film will be present to discuss it!

To buy tickets, go to HERE or visit the box office 9 to 5 on weekdays at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA 90211.
http://www.oscars.org/events-exhibitions/venues-ticketing/index.html

BLAZING SADDLES AT BAY THEATRE

Mel Brooks’ riotous western comedy BLAZING SADDLES (1974), starring Gene Wilder, Cleavon Little, Madeline Kahn and Slim Pickens, plays today, Sunday July 3rd and Wednesday July 6th. The theatre is at 340 Main Street in Seal Beach, CA 90740. Call 562-431-9988 for details.

COURSE ON LOCATION FILMING IN L.A. TAUGHT BY KARIE BIBLE

Karie Bible, co-author of Location Filming In Los Angeles – see my review HERE, and one of the most knowledgeable people about Hollywood history who you could ever hope to meet, will teach a five-part course on Thursday nights, 7/7/2011 to 8/4/2011, from 7:30 to 9:30 pm at Vidiot’s Annex at 302 Pico Blvd. Santa Monica, CA. The price is $129.95, but click HERE to learn how to cut that down by seventy bucks!

http://henryswesternroundup.blogspot.com/2011/02/hammer-to-meet-django-out-west.html
http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=hoqdcsbab&v=00190LnairEytjv8CvtOmv-fa3rVW3CpLLCO3Ofe3P6RfH0iYkhmKOVricOflyZwnNEecMfiF-VLfld1DErK0vjtqwSZxeZ3bht6D59TB1YrrZ2EpL9gYHYHw%3D%3D

TCM’S SALUTE TO SINGING COWBOYS CONTINUES!

Every Friday in July Turner Classic Movies will be saluting the singing cowboy in the movies. The first Friday featured Roy Rogers. This coming Friday, July 8th, that star of the night is Gene Autry, who’ll be seen in OLD CORRAL, HOME ON THE PRAIRIE, BACK IN THE SADDLE, TEXANS NEVER CRY and WAGON TEAM. Also on the 8th – I don’t know at what time yet – TCM will run the short documentary I was interviewed for, about folks who are nuts for Westerns. On July 15th the night is split between Tex Ritter and Jimmy Wakely, July 22nd it’s Dick Foran and Monte Hale, and on July 29th we’ll hear from Rex Allen, Herbert Jeffrey and Ken Maynard.

ROBERT MITCHUM WESTERN FEST AT THE BILLY WILDER

Weekends in July will be packed with double-bills of that sleepy-eyed cowpoke Robert Mitchum, presented at the Billy Wilder Theatre in the Westwood Hammer Museum. It all starts Friday, July 8th at 7:30 PM with PURSUED (1947), directed by Raoul Walsh from a Niven Busch screenplay, and BLOOD ON THE MOON (1948), directed by Robert Wise from a Lillian Hayward script. Saturday July 9th it’s Nicholas Ray’s THE LUSTY MEN scripted by They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? novelist Horace McCoy. On Sunday July 10th, at 11:00 a.m., it’s THE RED PONY (1949) scripted by John Steinbeck from his own stories, and directed by Lewis Milestone. This one’s not just family-friendly, it’s free! All the screenings listed are in 35MM, and later in the month will be THE SUNDOWNERS, TRACK OF THE CAT, RIVER OF NO RETURN, THE WONDERFUL COUNTRY, WEST OF THE PECOS, RACHEL AND THE STRANGER, and EL DORADO. To learn more go HERE.

SWEDISH GUM CARDS

The pictures above are from Swedish gum cards. Their actual size is 1 ¾” by 2 ¾”, about the same as cigarette insert cards. They were very popular with kids in Europe when they started appearing around 1950, and were issued well into the 1970s. It’s hard to gather much definite history on them because they were issued and reissued over the years in many countries – Holland, Belgium and France among others. Mostly they were found singly in gum or candy, but sometimes they were sold in whole sheets. Western themes were very popular, and here is a selection of popular sidekicks.

THE AUTRY NATIONAL CENTER

Built by cowboy actor, singer, baseball and TV entrepeneur 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 permenant 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 Hollywood western, 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.

WELLS FARGO 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.


FREE WESTERNS ON YOUR COMPUTER AT HULU

A staggering number of western TV episodes and movies are available, entirely free, for viewing on your computer at HULU. You do have to sit through the commercials, but that seems like a small price to pay. The series available -- often several entire seasons to choose from -- include THE RIFLEMAN, THE CISCO KID, THE LONE RANGER, BAT MASTERSON, THE BIG VALLEY, ALIAS SMITH AND JONES, and one I missed from 2003 called PEACEMAKERS starring Tom Berenger. Because they are linked up with the TV LAND website, you can also see BONANZA and GUNSMOKE episodes, but only the ones that are running on the network that week.

The features include a dozen Zane Grey adaptations, and many or most of the others are public domain features. To visit HULU on their western page, CLICK HERE.

TV LAND - BONANZA and GUNSMOKE

Every weekday, TV LAND airs a three-hour block of BONANZA episodes from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. They run a GUNSMOKE Monday through Thursday at 10:00 a.m., and on Friday they show two, from 6:00 to 8:00 a.m.. They're not currently running either series on weekends, but that could change at any time.

NEED YOUR BLACK & WHITE TV FIX?

Check out your cable system for WHT, which stands for World Harvest Television. It's a religious network that runs a lot of good western programming. Your times may vary, depending on where you live, but weekdays in Los Angeles they run DANIEL BOONE at 1:00 p.m., and two episodes of THE RIFLEMAN from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.. On Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. it's THE RIFLEMAN again, followed at 2:30 by BAT MASTERSON. And unlike many stations in the re-run business, they run the shows in the original airing order. There's an afternoon movie on weekdays at noon, often a western, and they show western films on the weekend, but the schedule is sporadic.

Also, AMC has started showing two episodes of THE RIFLEMAN on Saturday mornings.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Have a wonderful day, fly your flag, blow some things up if you get the chance, and don’t forget the folks who’re in uniform, letting us stay independent! I work with OPERATION GRATITUDE when I get a chance (not nearly often enough),and there are other fine organizations that help our military, and others that help our vets.
http://www.opgratitude.com/

Happy Trails!

Henry

All Contents Copyright by Henry C. Parke - All Rights Reserved

SPEILBERG TAKES 'COWBOYS AND ALIENS' TO WESTERN SCHOOL

(Updated Tuesday 8/10/2010 -- see Screenings)

COWBOYS AND ALIENS co-screenwriter Robert Orci, speaking at the San Diego Comic Con, says the producer insisted he, co-writer Alex Kurtzman, and director Jon Favreau study the Western movie form before diving into it. “He literally showed us a brand new print of THE SEARCHERS, and he commented throughout the whole thing. We had…Steven Speilberg...take us to Western school. That was the first one we saw. And then he…gave us a list, and we saw a couple of movies after that every weekend. And we just saw SHANE, THE PROFESSIONALS, THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE, HIGH NOON… but THE SEARCHERS was the first one, and that’s the one that really stuck in our minds. It’s a dark film, but very emotional. That moment when John Wayne picks up that girl (Natalie Wood), you know…it gets you.” To see more of the interview, courtesy of io9, CLICK HERE.

Among those who showed up unannounced at a panel discussing the film was Harrison Ford – in handcuffs! The word at Comic-Con about COWBOYS AND ALIENS is very positive. The clips that were shown were said to look great. The film, starring Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde and Sam Rockwell is set to open on July 29th, 2011. To see a nearly 8 minute clip of the panel discussion at Comic Con, CLICK HERE. (warning, just as a clip from the film is being introduced, the footage ends.)

(Photos - Daniel Craig in COWBOYS AND ALIENS, Jack Mather, Radio's CISCO KID)

AUTRY EXPANSION ANNOUNCED

The Autry National Center of the American West announced this week that they have purchased a building in Burbank, which they will be calling the Autry Research Center. The 100,000 square foot building on Victory Boulevard will, “…provide the space and state-of-the-art museum-quality conditions to properly care for our collections and libraries, paving the way for us to modernize and increase our galleries within the existing walls of the building in Griffith Park.”

Many of the collections currently housed but not displayed at the Autry, and many collections now stored at the Southwest Museum, will be relocated to the Autry Research Center, which will make it possible to expand the Griffith Park Museum’s displays without expanding the building. For several years, the Autry has been stymied in their plans to expand the museum by people who object to their taking over more park land. Similarly, their work at the Southwest Museum has been made difficult by local ‘activists’ in that area.

REVIEW – CISCO KID ON RADIO

Like most Californians (and most city-dwellers, for that matter) I spend an inordinate amount of time behind the wheel, but going nowhere. One of the truly enjoyable activities one can safely indulge in at such a time is listening to ‘OTR,’ or old time radio. One of the very enjoyable Western programs is The Cisco Kid, and Radio Archives is currently offering a set of twenty half-hour shows on ten CDs.

“O. Henry’s Robin Hood of the old west,” who we know and love, has very little resemblance to the character described in O. Henry’s original story, THE CABALLERO’S WAY. Originally he was an American outlaw who blithely killed Mexicans, and was a clever but thoroughly bad guy. He became a lovable Mexican bandito when portrayed by Warner Baxter in IN OLD CALIFORNIA (1928), for which he won an Oscar. (Actor, later turned director, Raoul Walsh was originally cast in the part, but was replaced when he lost an eye in a car accident.) Baxter played the role twice more, then Cesar Romero took over for six films, the last in 1941. In 1946 the character moved from 20th Century Fox to Monogram, and Duncan Renaldo played him three times, with a mustache, then Gilbert Roland played him six times. Then in 1948 the character moved again, this time to United Artists, where Duncan Renaldo played him for five more outings, without a mustache, but with Leo Carrillo as Pancho. They would co-star in 156 TV episodes as well, shows which were of much greater long-term value than most contemporary shows, because they were produced in color. It’s said that Renaldo sometimes got impatient with Carrillo’s scene stealing, but he also admired that Carrillo was still riding and fighting and shooting at the age of 75!

Starting in 1947 and continuing for nearly a decade, The Cisco Kid radio shows were recorded at New York’s WOR Studios, starring Jack Mather as Cisco, and Harry Lang as Pancho. A mix of action, adventure and humor, the half-hour shows are very much like the TV episodes in tone and style. But the opening narrations give a little historical perspective, and the action can be a little darker than the TV version: Cisco and Pancho still shoot to disarm, but the bad guys can and do kill people.

About 600 radio episodes were produced over the years. The remarkable thing about this collection of shows is the stunning quality of the sound. Most OTR shows were aired live, and not professionally recorded – the majority of existing radio-show recordings come from amateur collectors. As a result, many shows don’t exist in any form, and many that do are in terrible shape, and painful to listen to. The Ciscos sound incredibly crisp and clear – and for good reason: according to Radio Archives, a veritable treasure-trove of 16” vinyl transcription disks – many never played, were discovered in Des Moines, Iowa. The more OTR you’ve heard, the more you’ll appreciate the outstanding audio quality of these shows. And if OTR is new to you, it’s a great introduction.

As an added temptation, when Harry Lang became ill, that great Loony Tunes voice Mel Blanc took over as Pancho’s cousin Profiro, who is, incredibly, not as bright as Pancho. The collection, which sells for $29.98, is available at their website, HERE. Incidentally, next week I’ll tell you a little more about the Cisco Kid movie saga, and hope someone out there can solve a Duncan Renaldo mystery!

SCREENINGS

ANNE JEFFREYS IN PERSON AT THE AERO

On Wednesday night, August 11th, at 7:30 p.m., The Aero Theatre at 1328 Montana Avenue in Santa Monica, will show a double bill of Anne Jeffrey movies, and she will be discussing the films between the screenings.

First up is TRAIL STREET (1947) co-starring Randolph Scott as Bat Masterson, trying to clean up Liberal, Kansas (after which it became Conservative, Kansas). Also featured are Robert Ryan and Gabby Hayes, directed by Ray Enright, script by Norman Houston and Gene Lewis.

Next up, RIFFRAFF (1947), isn’t a western, but it’s a delightful, fast-paced caper about attempts to take over a Panama oil field, and stars Anne Jeffreys with Pat O’Brien.

SAM FULLER’S ‘FORTY GUNS’ AT L.A.C.M.A.

Friday, August 13th, at 7:30 p.m. Sam wrote, directed and produced this thrilling western, which stars Barbara Stanwyck, Barry Sullivan, Dean Jagger, John Ericson and Gene Barry. Can Sullivan, the Marshall, tame Stanwyck the Land Baroness? Let him try!

ROY ROGERS IN 'UNDER WESTERN STARS' AT THE AUTRY

On Saturday, August 14th, from 1:30 to 3:30, The Autry will present the movie that made Leonard Slye (Roy Rogers) a star: UNDER WESTERN STARS (1938). Just think -- if Republic hadn't been having disputes with Gene Autry -- whom this picture was originally written for -- we might never have had The King Of The Cowboys! Jeffrey Richardson, Associate Curator of Film and Popular Culture, will discuss the film's production and the museum's recent acquisition of key artifacts relating to Roy Rogers. A variety of Rogers's artifacts, including his one-of-a-kind plastic Rose Parade saddle, will be on display throughout the museum. The 35mm print is from the UCLA Archive, and admission cost of $9 includes admission to the museum.

THREE FREE WESTERNS SATURDAY AT SPUDIC’S!

On Saturday, August 14th, Eric Spudic’s Movie Empire will be hosting a free western triple bill! At 6:30 p.m., they’ll begin with FOUR OF THE APOCALYPSE (1975), directed by Lucio Fulci from a Bret Harte story, and starring Fabio Testi, Michael J. Pollard, Tomas Milian and Lynne Frederick. At 8:00 p.m. it’s VALDEZ IS COMING (1971) Edwin Sherin directing from the Elmore Leonard story, and starring Burt Lancaster, Susan Clark, Jon Cypher and Richard Jordan. THE THIRD MOVIE WILL BE SELECTED FROM SEVERAL OPTIONS BY YOU, THE ATTENDEES! Spudic’s Movie Empire is located at 5910 Van Nuys Blvd., Van Nuys, CA 91401. They sell all DVDs for $5 and all VHS tapes for $2, and are open from noon to 8 p.m., seven days a week.

WILLIAM S. HART DOUBLE-BILL UNDER THE STARS!

On Saturday, August 14th, Friends of Hart Park will present HELL'S HINGES and THE TAKING OF LUKE MCVANE, at Wm. S. Hart Park - Hart Hall, at 24151 Newhall Avenue, in the city of Newhall. Additionally, there will be a WESTERN SILENT AUCTION, at 6 p.m. EVENING TOURS and patio seating, 7 p.m. BBQ DINNER FROM RATTLER'S. Tickets are $50 a piece, with reserved tables of ten for $500. You can find out more, and order tickets by calling 661-254-4584, or clicking HERE. They say this event sells out, so if you want to go, reserve now!

SILENTS UNDER THE STARS AT PARAMOUNT RANCH

On Sunday, August 15th, BEGGARS OF LIFE (1928) Directed by William Wellman, starring Louise Brooks and Richard Arlen, will be screened at the historic Paramount Ranch. It's not a Western -- it's the story of a girl who runs away from her abusive father to ride the rails as a hobo, passing as a man. And it's a rare chance to visit a historic Western location. In fact, there's a historic tour at 5:45pm, followed by the movie at 7:30. Tickets are $6.00 for adults, $5.00 for members of Hollywood Heritage. Children under twelve are $3.00, under three free.

Picnicing is encouraged -- there are clean restrooms and free parking, but it gets dark, so bring a flashlight!

Directions:

The Paramount Ranch
Take the Ventura Freeway (101 north) to KANAN ROAD offramp. At light make a left turn onto Kanan Road going south. Cross the freeway to Agoura Road. Cross Agoura Road and shortly make a left turn onto CORNELL ROAD. (watch carefully, it is a small sign and small road) Follow Cornell Road about a couple of miles to the PARAMOUNT RANCH driveway, marked with large signs. Make a right turn into the driveway and down into the ranch. Look for signs as to where to park. The signs will say "Silents Under the Stars- Parking."
Official Website

SIGNINGS

EARLY WARNER BROTHERS HISTORY AT LARRY EDMUNDS

On Thursday, August 12th, at 7 p.m., Hollywood historians par excellence, co-authors Marc Wanamaker and E. J. Stephens, will be signing their latest book, EARLY WARNER BROTHERS HISTORY. The great movie bookstore is located at 6644 Hollywood Boulevard, L.A., CA 90028. (323) 463-3273. And you can visit info@larryedmunds.com to learn more.

I'll be back in a couple of hours with that Cisco Kid radio-show review. And I've been fortunate enough to meet and interview some very interesting people. In the coming weeks I'll be running interviews with Earl Holliman and Morgan Woodward, and several more western favorites!

Hasta manana,

Henry

All contents Copyright August 8th, 2010, by Henry C. Parke. All Rights Reserved.

MUSICAL CHAIRS AT THE BARKLEY RANCH!

As the theatrical version of TV's THE BIG VALLEY gets set to roll camera on July 19 in Baton Rouge, they keep switching the chairs (see photo of Barkleys waiting anxiously for music to begin again). This time, Susan Sarandon is out as Victoria Barkley, and Jessica Lange is in. The EMMY winning actress, for GRAY GARDENS, will be taking on the role made famous by Barbara Stanwyck in the long-running series. Listed in the cast are Bruce Dern and Richard Dreyfus, who both guested on the original series, Jason Alan Smith in Peter Breck's role as fiery Nick Barkley, and Lee Majors, not as Heath, but as his illegitimate father, Tom Barkley.

Conspicuously absent from current listings is Ryan Phillipe, who had been announced as Jarrod, the Richard Long role. Billy Bob Thornton had also been rumored for an unannounced role, but his name has stopped popping up.

KEITH CARRADINE JOINS THE ALIENS

Or maybe the cowboys. Keith, of the great Carradine acting dynasty, has had many western roles, frequently portraying real people: he was Jim Younger in LONG RIDERS (1980), Buffalo Bill Cody in WILD BILL (1995), starred on Broadway as WILL ROGERS, and was Wild Bill Hickock in the first five episodes of DEADWOOD. (And for the record, the biggest mistake the producers of DEADWOOD ever made was to kill off their most interesting character so soon!) Now he joins Danile Craig, Sam Rockwell, Olivia Wilde, Harrison Ford and Heavy D in COWBOYS AND ALIENS, for Director Jon Favreau. Incidentally, Favreau will be working with his same cimenatographer and editor from IRON MAN 2, Matthew Libatique and Dan Lebental, respectively.

BEST THING ON TV ALL WEEK! JOHNW WAYNE AND INDIANS FACE OFF!

Turner Classic Television continues with their NATIVE AMERICAN IMAGES ON FILM series on Tuesday and Thursday, and Wednesday, smack in the middle, is John Wayne's Birthday! TMC will be showing a whole passel of Duke B-westerns, capped by STAGECOACH. Next I'll be reviewing a fascinating documentary, REEL INJUNS, examining Hollywood's portrayal of Indians from an Indin's point of view, and a look at several Indian-made films, including SMOKE SIGNALS (1998), which plays on TMC on Tuesday. Here's the whole line-up:

Tuesday, May 25th

5:00 p.m. THE SQUAW MAN (1914) The one that started it all -- DeMille this film, purported to be the first western made in Hollywood.

6:30 p.m. LAKOTA WOMAN: RETURN TO WOUNDED KNEE (1994)

8:30 p.m. SMOKE SIGNALS (1998) When his best freind's father dies, an Indian funds their trip to deal with his remains. Starrin Adam Beach.

10:15 p.m. NATURALLY NATIVE (1999) Three Native American sisters decide to try and sell a line of cosmetics.

Wednesday, May 26th

12:15 a.m. RAMONA (1910) D.W.Griffith directs Mary Pickford in this two-reel version of the classic tale.

12:45 a.m. LAST OF THE MOHICANS (1920) Rarely seen silent version of James Fenimore Cooper's tale, starring Wallace Beery, and directed by Maurice Tourneur and Clarence Brown.

THE JOHN WAYNES

3:00 a.m. HAUNTED GOLD (1932)

4:00 a.m. RIDE HIM, COWBOY (1932)

5:00 a.m. THE BIG STAMPEDE (1932)

7:15 a.m. SAGEBRUSH TRAIL (1934)

8:15 a.m. SOMEWHERE IN SONORA (1933)

11:00 a.m. THE MAN FROM MONTEREY (1933)

12:00 p.m. THE TELEGRAPH TRAIL(1933)

1:00 p.m. RANDY RIDES ALONE (1934)

2:00 p.m. THE STAR PACKER (1934)

3:00 p.m. STAGECOACH (1939)

MORE NATIVE AMERICAN IMAGES ON THURSDAY MAY 27TH

5:00 p.m. NANOOK OF THE NORTH (1922)Ground-breaking Robert Flaherty documentary.

6:15 p.m. THE EXILES (1961)Three young Indians feel isolated when they leave the reservation for the big city.

8:00 p.m. INCIDENT AT OGLALA (1992) A trial follows a deadly shootout between federal agents and Native Americans, directed by Michael Apted.

10:00 p.m. BROKEN RAINBOWS (1985) The government relocation of 10,000 Navajo sheds light on continuing mistreatment of Native Americans. Stars Martin Sheen, Buffy Sainte-Marie and Burgess Meredith, directed by Victoria Mudd.

11:15 p.m. THE SILENT ENEMY (1930) The story of the Ojibway Indians before Columbus, starring Cheekah, Chief Akawanush, Chief Yellow Robe.

Friday, May 28th

12:45 a.m. RETURN OF A MAN CALLED HORSE (1976) starring Richard Harris, Gale Sondergaard, directed by Irvin Kershner.

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 Hollywood western, 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.

WELLS FARGO 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 MOVIES ON TV
Note:AMC=American Movie Classics, EXT= Showtime Extreme, FMC=Fox Movie Channel, TCM=Turner Classic Movies. All times given are Pacific Standard Time.

TV LAND - BONANZA and GUNSMOKE

Every weekday, TV LAND airs a three-hour block of BONANZA episodes from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. They run a GUNSMOKE Monday through Thursday at 10:00 a.m., and on Friday they show two, from 6:00 to 8:00 a.m.. They're not currently running either series on weekends, but that could change at any time.

NEED YOUR BLACK & WHITE TV FIX?

Check out your cable system for WHT, which stands for World Harvest Television. It's a religious network that runs a lot of good western programming. Your times may vary, depending on where you live, but weekdays in Los Angeles they run THE LONE RANGER at 1:30 p.m., and two episodes of THE RIFLEMAN from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.. On Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. it's THE RIFLEMAN again, followed at 2:30 by BAT MASTERSON. And unlike many stations in the re-run business, they run the shows in the original airing order. There's an afternoon movie on weekdays at noon, often a western, and they show western films on the weekend, but the schedule is sporadic.

Happy Trails!

Henry

All contents copyright May 2010 by Henry C. Parke -- All Rights Reserved

HEATH'S REVENGE! Lee Majors to Play Tom Barkley In 'Big Valley' Feature!

UPDATED THURSDAY 4/15/2010 -- ON FRIDAY SEE 'BUTCH CASSIDY', 'TELL THEM WILLIE BOY IS HERE', KATHERINE ROSS IN PERSON.

ON SATURDAY SEE 'TOMBSTONE', POWERS BOOTHE IN PERSON -- DETAILS BELOW.

ON SUNDAY SEE 'THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE WEIRD' AT USC - DETAILS BELOW

UPDATED WEDNESDAY 4/14/2010 -- SEE AUTRY AND 'VARIETY' ITEMS BELOW

Lee Majors, who became a major TV heartthrob playing the bastard son on The Big Valley from 1965 to 1969 will now play his own (character's) father in the movie which should go to camera this summer. As mentioned here before, the matriarchal role of Victoria Barkley, played by four-time Oscar nominee Barbara Stanwyck, will be taken on by Academy Award winner Susan Sarandon. Also in the cast, not as family members, are Richard Dreyfus and Bruce Dern, and, according to rumor, Billy Bob Thornton. The eldest son, Jarrod, originally Richard Long, will be portrayed by Ryan Phillipe, of Crash (2004) and Flags of Our Fathers (2006). Jason Alan Smith will portray the hot-headed brother Nick, who was Peter Breck in the series. No one has yet been cast as Audra (Linda Evans), nor is there any word as to whether either Evans or Breck might appear in the film, along with Majors. The film is being produced by Kate Edelman Johnson, whose father, Louis Edelman, was one of the original show's creators. It's being written and directed by Daniel Adams.

HARRISON FORD JOINS 'COWBOYS AND ALIENS' CAST

Director Jon Favreau has confirmed, on Twitter, that Harrison Ford has joined the cast of the sci-fi western comic-book feature. The Indiana Jones star who gained fame in a battered fedora last wore a Stetson in The Frisco Kid (1979), (see above, right)with Gene Wilder, although he also appeared in episodes of THE VIRGINIAN and GUNSMOKE.

GRANGER, TEXAS RESIDENTS SHOWING THEIR 'TRUE GRIT'

This rural crossroads, population 1,400, has been selected to represent Fort Smith, Arkansas, where much of the action in the Charles Portis story takes place. Wooden walkways are being built over concrete sidewalks, and dirt is being poured over the town's locally famous brick street-paving. According to location manager Robbie Friedmann, "We chose Granger because it's appearance...matched the reference photos we have of Ft. Smith. Also, Granger has a lot of empty lots between brick buildings. There are a couple of buildings, a vacant lot, then more buildings. We are constructing wood buildings on these lots from rough sawn lumber, which is what Fort Smith looked like."

Local men with facial hair, and women with long, uncolored hair, are picking up work as extras, and all the construction has been helpful to the local economy. Mayor Scott Murrah says, "Business has picked up. They've purchased as much material in town as they could. They gave us an economic boost for sales taxes and such. And they've hired a lot of local labor." To read the entire news story, by Harper Scott Clark for the Temple Daily Telegraph, click here.

DVD REVIEWS - NEW TO HOME VIDEO FROM DORADO FILMS

'GATLING GUN' (1968) and 'NOW THEY CALL HIM SACRAMENTO'(1972)

In GATLING GUN, in the midst of the Civil War, a prototype for the weapon is stolen, its inventor is kidnapped, and both are held for ransom, each offered to a different side. Robert Woods is U.S. Army Captain Chris Tanner, sent to recover them before the Confederacy can get their hands on either one. Although important higher-ups are in the shadows, it is John Ireland as the swarthy and evil Tapas whom Tanner must deal with. Directed by Edmondo Amati, GATLING GUN is a major step above the average spaghetti western -- the plotting is clever, the women are beautiful, the photography is striking, the tech credits are strong, and so is the action. In addition to all the fighting and shooting, poor Robert Woods has TWO dragging scenes that are at times hard to watch, and gives a solid performance as the troubled hero. If you didn't read Woods' interview in the blog last month, you can by clicking here. Ireland, normally a suave sophisticate, plays very much against type as a feared and despised 'half-breed' whom even whores think themselves too good for -- it's a performance that compares well to Eli Wallach's as Tuco, without being imitative of it. The condition of the movie image is pristine, and show in the original aspect ratio. More unexpectedly, this version contains three or four sequences not seen in the original English-language release. As a result, since these scene were never dubbed, you'll occasionally find yourself hearing not English but Italian, and reading subtitles. I know it sounds jarring, but it's really not. Also included are nearly a dozen coming attractions for other westerns -- no surprise since Dorado Films has about 65 European westerns in their archives.

Back in the 1920s, Charlie Chaplin's 'Little Tramp' was such an international sensation that he was shamelessly imitated, to provide more two-reelers than Charlie could possibly supply. To this day, people stumble upon old Billy West comedies and think they've found a 'Lost Chaplin.' In the days of the spaghetti western, the 'Trinity' comedies, starring Terrence Hill and Bud Spenser, were so popular that their style was imitated, but I didn't know that anyone ever tried to counterfeit a Trinity film until I saw NOW THEY CALL HIM SACRAMENTO. Michael Forest, an American with many stateside and European credits, only resembles Terence Hill in height. But with the meticulously copied costume and an unconquerable cheerfulness, he makes a convincing and likable Trinity. And Terrence Hill has no right to complain -- he got his big break because Franco Nero wouldn't do another DJANGO picture, and the producers slipped Hill in as a carbon copy. Fred Harrison, in the Bud Spenser role, is not fat enough to fool you, but his attitude and mannerisms -- and shtick -- can often make you forget that he is not Spenser. The plot centers around the robbery of a train carrying money for farmers to pay off the banker, and the possibility that the banker and the robbers are in cahoots -- until our boys rob the robbers. It's frequently amusing, and some of the best business, early on involves the crazy interplay between Forest and his horse. The film includes the surprisingly elaborate burning of a western town. Both films are available from Dorado Films, which can be reached here.

FRIDAY, APRIL 16TH AT THE AERO - SANTA MONICA 7:30 P.M.

DOUBLE FEATURE - BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID, TELL THEM WILLIE BOY IS HERE,
KATHERINE ROSS ATTENDING!

BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID
Dir. George Roy Hill
1969, 20th Century Fox, 110 min.

"Think ya used enough dynamite there, Butch?" drawls blue-eyed, laid-back train robber Robert Redford to his equally charming partner-in-crime Paul Newman. Hill’s hilarious and wildly romantic look at the infamous Hole in the Wall gang is brilliantly scripted by William Goldman. Co-starring a lovely Katharine Ross (winner of the BAFTA Award for Best Actress) as the woman who joins Butch and Sundance on their adventure.

TELL THEM WILLIE BOY IS HERE
1969, Universal, 98 min.

Blacklisted filmmaker Abraham Polonsky returned to the director's chair for the first time in 21 years for this tale of a Native American man (Robert Blake) on the run from the law after he kills his lover's father in self-defense. Robert Redford is the sheriff leading the posse, and Katharine Ross plays Willie Boy's girlfriend Lola.

**IN PERSON: Discussion in between films with actress Katharine Ross.

SATURDAY, APRIL 17TH AT 7:30 P.M.

DOUBLE FEATURE - THE EMERALD FOREST & TOMBSTONE, POWERS BOOTHE ATTENDING!

THE EMERALD FOREST
Dir. John Boorman
1985, Embassy Pictures, 114 min.

When the young son of engineer Bill Markham (Powers Boothe) is kidnapped into the wilds of the rainforest by an aboriginal tribe, Markham dedicates the next 10 years of his life to finding the boy. As in DELIVERANCE, director John Boorman proves his expert eye for the simultaneous awe and horror of nature untamed.

TOMBSTONE
Dir. George P. Cosmatos
1993, Buena Vista Pictures, 130 min.

Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Sam Elliott, Bill Paxton and Powers Boothe all pack a wallop in this star-laced revisionist Western. Lawman Wyatt Earp (Russell) is under the mistaken impression that retirement in Tombstone, Arizona, will mean a rest from his successful but exhausting career of chasing and eliminating outlaws. Instead, the town is plagued by an array of nasty villains, and Earp must get back into full-throttle butt-whoopin' mode one last time.

**IN PERSON: Discussion between films with actor Powers Boothe. Prior to the screening, we’ll present a Powers Boothe clip show from the soon-to-be-released MACGRUBER (based on the "Saturday Night Live" sketch) provided by Universal Pictures.

(Yes, I know THE EMERALD FOREST isn't a western, but it's with TOMBSTONE, which is, and Powers Booth is there.)

SUNDAY, APRIL 18TH -- U.S.C. - OUTSIDE THE BOX (OFFICE) SERIES PRESENTS

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE WEIRD. It's a South Korean 'western' set in Manchuria in the 1930s, and the trailer looks great. CHECK OUT THE TRAILER HERE. As to where it's showing, I don't quite get it -- it's at USC, but I usually don't go that far downtown unless I'm packing. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS -- maybe you can figure it out.

EVENTS AT THE AUTRY THIS WEEKEND

OPENING FRIDAY APRIL 16TH: HOME LANDS - HOW WOMEN MADE THE WEST
THROUGH AUGUST 22ND

SATURDAY APRIL 17TH 9:30 A.M. 11:00 A.M.
Cowboys of the Silver Screen Stamp Ceremony
rsvp: 818.752.7770

On April 17, the United States Postal Service will release the "Cowboys of the Silver Screen" commemorative set featuring Gene Autry, William S. Hart, Tom Mix, and Roy Rogers. An official unveiling will take place at the Autry National Center, where the USPS will be hand-canceling the stamps with the official First Day of Sale postmark.

SATURDAY APRIL 17TH from 2:00 pm to 4:00 p.m. in the Autry Store
KNOTTS PRESERVED: FROM BOYSENBERRY TO THEME PARK, THE HISTORY OF KNOTT'S BERRY FARM

Christopher Merritt and J. Eric Lynxwiler discuss their latest book,which represents 20 years of research on the designs and history of the varied attractions at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California. With over 200 photos, rarely seen conceptual art, and interviews with the original designers and the Knott family, Knott’s Preserved gives an overview of the farm from its earliest years to present day.

VARIETY PROFILE OF WESTERN PRODUCER ARTHUR GARDNER

CLICK HERE to read Brian Lowry's Wednesday column about Arthur Gardner who, with partners Arthur Laven and Jules Levy, produced THE RIFLEMAN and THE BIG VALLEY. He'll turn 100 this June!

CHRIS HOPKINS PAINTINGS

It sounds a little weird sending people to a cemetery to see art, but the Forest Lawn Museum at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park - Glendale, is featuring a show of paintings by Chris Hopkins honoring the Northwest Coast Native Culture. The pictures on the invitation I received are strikingly handsome. The exhibit continues through April 25th -- the museum is closed on Mondays. The address is 1712South Glendale Avenue, Glendale, CA 91205. For more information, visit the website here.

LOS ENCINOS STATE HISTORIC PARK

Sunday 4/12 Living History. From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. you can step back in time! The living history program features a working blacksmith shop, 19th Century children's games, traditional music, tours of the historic structures, and strolling folks in period costume -- great fun for kids and adults, and you can feed the ducks! They do this program on the third Sunday of every month. Los Encinos is located at 16756 Moorpark St., Encino, CA 91436-1068. (818)784-4849. For more information, click here.

LEE VAN CLEEF DOUBLE-BILL!

Sunday and Monday, April 18th and 19th, The New Beverly Cinema at 7165 West Beverly Boulevard in L.A. will be showing a pair of Mr. Bad's pasta-western treats: Death Rides A Horse (1967) and Sabata (1969). Horse co-stars John Phillip Law, and features a wonderful Ennio Morricone score. Sabata is produced by Sergio Leonce's producer, Alberto Grimaldi, and features production design and costumes by Carlo Simi. Tickets are $7. For showtimes, call 323-938-4038 or visit their website here.

SWEETGRASS AT LANDMARK THEATERS

Here is the official blurb about a new documentary. "SWEETGRASS is an unsentimental elegy to the American West. The documentary follows the last modern-day cowboys to lead their flocks of sheep up into Montana's breathtaking and often dangerous Absaroka-Beartooth mountains for summer pasture. The astonishingly beautiful yet unsparing film reveals a world in which nature and culture, animals and humans, vulnerability and violence are all intimately meshed. Manohla Dargis of The New York Times calls the film 'a really intimate, beautifully shot examination of the connection between man and beast,' while Ronnie Scheib of Variety considers it 'a one-of-a-kind experience...at once epic-scale and earthbound.'" Okay, none of those Brokeback Mountain (2005) cheap-shots -- I'm sure these poor shepherds have heard 'em all. Sweetgrass is playing at the Varsity Theatre in Seattle, and the Lagoon Theatre in Minneapolis.

SILENT WESTERNS IN AT THE DRYDEN IN ROCHESTER, NEW YORK!

Silent Cinema -- Broncho Billy and Beyond: Early Westerns
Tuesday, April 13, 8 p.m.

This program of short films from the pioneering days of cinema puts the spotlight on a genre that’s been with us almost as long as the medium: the Western. We begin with the legendary and influential THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY (Edwin S. Porter, US 1903, 12 min.); Western icon Gilbert M. "Broncho Billy" Anderson stars in WHY BRONCHO BILLY LEFT BEAR COUNTY (Gilbert Anderson, US 1913, 9 min.); early Western auteur Romaine Fielding wrote, directed, and stars in THE RATTLESNAKE (Romaine Fielding, US 1913, 29 min.); and a stagecoach chase filmed by a moving camera is the highlight of THE STRUGGLE (Thomas Ince, US 1913, 29 min.). Live piano by Philip C. Carli. For more information, click here.

WESTERN MOVIES ON TV
Note:AMC=American Movie Classics, EXT= Showtime Extreme, FMC=Fox Movie Channel, TCM=Turner Classic Movies. All times given are Pacific Standard Time.

TV LAND - BONANZA and GUNSMOKE

Every weekday, TV LAND airs a three-hour block of BONANZA episodes from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. They run a GUNSMOKE Monday through Thursday at 10:00 a.m., and on Friday they show two, from 6:00 to 8:00 a.m.. They're not currently running either series on weekends, but that could change at any time.


NEED YOUR BLACK & WHITE TV FIX?

Check out your cable system for WHT, which stands for World Harvest Television. It's a religious network that runs a lot of good western programming. Your times may vary, depending on where you live, but weekdays in Los Angeles they run THE LONE RANGER at 1:30 p.m., and two episodes of THE RIFLEMAN from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.. On Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. it's THE RIFLEMAN again, followed at 2:30 by BAT MASTERSON. And unlike many stations in the re-run business, they run the shows in the original airing order. There's an afternoon movie on weekdays at noon, often a western, and they show western films on the weekend, but the schedule is sporadic.

Monday, April 12th

TCM 4:45 a.m. GO WEST, YOUNG LADY (1941) A sheriff's girl friend tries to discover the identity of a masked bandit chief. Penny Singleton, Glenn Ford, Ann Miller. Directed by Frank Strayer from a script by Karen DeWolf. This was supposed to be Penny's chance to play someone other than BLONDIE, but I'm told that it plays rather like Blondie Out West Without Dagwood -- not that that's a bad thing!

Tuesday, April 13th

TCM 4:30 a.m. AMBUSH (1949) Robert Taylor searches for a white woman held captive by Apaches. With John Hodiak and Arlene Dahl, directed by Sam Wood. The screenplay by Marguerite Roberts is based on a story by the great Luke Short.

TCM 9:15 a.m. DEVIL'S DOORWAY (1950) An Indian Civil War hero returns home to fight for his people. Starring Robert Taylor, Louis Calhern, Paula Raymond, directed by the great Anthony Mann from Guy Trosper's screenplay.

Wednesday, April 14th

AMC 6:00 a.m. BLAZING SADDLES (1974)Mel Brooks directed and co-wrote, with Norman Steinberg, this delightfully broad western comedy about a town getting it's first black sheriff, Cleavon Little, helped only by Gene Wilder as the Waco Kid. With Slim Pickens and Madeline Kahn, and featuring a rousing theme sung by Frankie Laine.

Thursday, April 15th

FMC 9:00 a.m. TREASURE OF THE GOLDEN CONDOR (1953) The remake of 'Son of Fury' concerns a young man (Cornel Wilde) cheated out of his inheritance by his uncle (George Macready) who travels to the Mayan hills of Guatamala seeking a hidden treasure. Based on the Edison Marshall novel, written and directed by the excellent Delmer Daves.

Friday, April 15th

FMC 5:00 a.m. THE PROUD ONES (1956) Marshal Robert Ryan must protect his town when a Texas herd arrives with murderous Jeffrey Hunter. Directed by Robert D. Webb, also starring Virginia Mayo, Walter Brennan, Robert Middleton. Verne Athanas's novel was adapted by Edmund North and Joseph Petraca.

Saturday, April 17th

AMC 6:30 a.m. DANCES WITH WOLVES (1990) Actor Kevin Costner's directorial debut won him an Oscar, and there were seven more: best picture; Dean Semler for cinematography; Neil Travis for editing; John Barry for his score; Michael Blake for his adapted screenplay; and Russell Williams II, Jeffrey Perkins, Bill W. Benton and Gregory H. Watkins for sound. Starring Costner as an army officer who befriends the Lakota Souix. With Mary McDonnel.

AMC 10:30 a.m. SILVERADO (1985) Larry Kasdan directs from a script he wrote with his brother Mark. Lots of good stuff in it, but at 133 minutes, it's at least a half hour too long. Starring Kevin Kline, Scott Glenn and Kevin Costner.

TCM 11:00 a.m. THE YEARLING (1946) Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings's novel comes vividly to life in this story of a boy (Claude Jarman) whose pet deer threatens the family farm. With Gregory Peck and Jane Wyman as his parents, directed by Clarence Brown from Paul Osborne's screenplay.

AMC 1:30 p.m. THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD (2009) Disappointing telling of the tale, with Brad Pitt as Jesse, and Casey Affleck dribbling and hyperventilating as Ford: he's so nuts from the start that he has nowhere to go, and Pitt comes off as a moron for trusting him. Beautiful photography by Roger Deakins, but not worth 160 minutes out of your life. Sam Fuller did so much better with I SHOT JESSE JAMES (1949) in 81 minutes, with Reed Hadley as Jesse and John Ireland as Ford. Written and directed by Andrew Dominik from Ron Hansen's novel.

TCM 9:00 p.m. ROSEANNA MCCOY (1943) The famous Hatfield-McCoy feud gets the Romeo and Juliet treatment. Starring Farley Granger, Joan Evans, Charles Bickford, Raymond Massey and Richard Basehart. Directed by Irving Reis, with uncredited assistance by Nicholas Ray. From the novel by Alberta Hannum, scripted by one of the greatest of creepy writers, John 'Evening Primrose' Collier.

AMC 11:00 p.m. DANCES WITH WOLVES (1990) Actor Kevin Costner's directorial debut won him an Oscar, and there were seven more: best picture; Dean Semler for cinematography; Neil Travis for editing; John Barry for his score; Michael Blake for his adapted screenplay; and Russell Williams II, Jeffrey Perkins, Bill W. Benton and Gregory H. Watkins for sound. Starring Costner as an army officer who befriends the Lakota Souix. With Mary McDonnel.

Sunday, April 18th

FMC 3:00 a.m. THE MARK OF ZORRO (1940) A delight! Rouben Mamoulian directs John Taintor Foote's adaptation of the Johnston McCulley story. Ty Power, Basil Rathbone, Linda Darnell et al have great fun, and the audience has even more.

AMC 4:00 a.m. SILVERADO (1985) Larry Kasdan directs from a script he wrote with his brother Mark. Lots of good stuff in it, but at 133 minutes, it's at least a half hour too long. Starring Kevin Kline, Scott Glenn and Kevin Costner.

AMC 7:00 a.m. JEREMIAH JOHNSON (1972) Sydney Pollack directs Robert Redford in the story of a real mountain man, culled from several different writers: Vardis Fisher, Raymond W. Thorp and Robert Bunker. The screenplay is by John Milius and Edward Anholt, and is co-stars Will Geer. Probably Redford's best western role (yes, I know SUNDANCE KID is good, too), and it was a wise move to eliminate his character's nickname: Liver-Eating Johnson.

AMC 9:30 a.m. THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD (2009) Disappointing telling of the tale, with Brad Pitt as Jesse, and Casey Affleck dribbling and hyperventilating as Ford: he's so nuts from the start that he has nowhere to go, and Pitt comes off as a moron for trusting him. Beautiful photography by Roger Deakins, but not worth 160 minutes out of your life. Sam Fuller did so much better with I SHOT JESSE JAMES (1949) in 81 minutes, with Reed Hadley as Jesse and John Ireland as Ford. Written and directed by Andrew Dominik from Ron Hansen's novel.

AMC 11:30 p.m. JEREMIAH JOHNSON (1972) Sydney Pollack directs Robert Redford in the story of a real mountain man, culled from several different writers: Vardis Fisher, Raymond W. Thorp and Robert Bunker. The screenplay is by John Milius and Edward Anholt, and is co-stars Will Geer. Probably Redford's best western role (yes, I know SUNDANCE KID is good, too), and it was a wise move to eliminate his character's nickname: Liver-Eating Johnson.

That's all until next week!

Adios!

Henry

All contents copyright April 2010 by Henry C. Parke