HF Westerns

[Pollaco]

We've seen some actors who were superb in their roles. Can you think of any who were just the opposite? As in they just did not look the part. The first to come to mind is John Wayne as Davy Crockett.

 

[carptrash]

I believe lots of old movies, many now considered classic, were propaganda of one sort or another.

John

I got in an argument with the person I watch old movies with when I claimed most of the WWII ones we saw were propaganda films of some sort or another. She was too tied up in the idea that propaganda was a nasty word, rather than just a descriptive one, to accept that.

 

[carptrash]

We've seen some actors who were superb in their roles. Can you think of any who were just the opposite? As in they just did not look the part.

Early in their careers both Rock Hudson & Chuck Heston played Indians. Those roles have not, for me, stood the test of time.

 

[MAJOR DUNDEE]

I've always loved "The Alamo" , they showed it many times on french TV, I first saw it in 79 when John Wayne died, and the film is still a christmas afternoon favorite on TV here.
The problem with "The Alamo" is it's lenght/duration and montage , the official movie must be about 3 hours and 30 minutes, the common version they usually show is only 2 hours and 40 minutes , this explains some strange facts that happens during the film (the disaparition of the preacher for example), the shortened version even amputate some scene of the main battle.

"Major Dundee", who's also a great action Western, with two great characters, is also hardly impacted by it's disastrous final assembly.

 

[MAJOR DUNDEE]

Early in their careers both Rock Hudson & Chuck Heston played Indians. Those roles have not, for me, stood the test of time.

I see R.Hudson as indian chief "Young Bull" in Winchester 73...not sure for Charlton Heston.

 

[MAJOR DUNDEE]

I see R.Hudson as indian chief "Young Bull" in Winchester 73...not sure for Charlton Heston.

May be "The savage" 1952, but he plays a white youth, raised by injuns.

 

[Kurtlg]

Early in their careers both Rock Hudson & Chuck Heston played Indians. Those roles have not, for me, stood the test of time.

Sadly they were concerned with star power instead of authenticity . The actor who played Scar in the Searchers was German.

 

[dlofting]

I think Chuck Connors did the same thing in the Rifleman.

He also fired from the hip, holding the trigger down with one hand and pumping the lever with the other. I owned a 30-30 lever action at the time so was amazed he could do that given its kick. Must have had arm and shoulder muscles like a medieval English archer.

 

[A. Roy]

I have read that the Indian actors in Cheyenne Autumn were not Cheyenne but Navajo. The movie became popular among Navajos, because the actors were speaking their own language, telling ribald jokes and making assertions about the size of the US officer's private parts.
ARB

 

[MAJOR DUNDEE]

Sadly they were concerned with star power instead of authenticity . The actor who played Scar in the Searchers was German.

Henry Brandon...he was great also in "Vera Cruz", as a french captain of lancers.

 

[Kurtlg]

Looks like True Grit 2010 is now free on youtube.

 

[Pollaco]

Sadly they were concerned with star power instead of authenticity . The actor who played Scar in the Searchers was German.

White actors playing Indians? How about both Ted Cassidy (Hachita) and Julie Newmar (Hesh-ke) as Indians in Mackenna's Gold?

 

[Kurtlg]

White actors playing Indians? How about both Ted Cassidy (Hachita) and Julie Newmar (Hesh-ke) as Indians in Mackenna's Gold?

Possibly the record may be with Frank de Cova who , besides F Troop , played Indians in about 18 TV roles and at least 8 movies. He was Italian American.

 

[Pollaco]

How about 6'5" Sterling Hayden as Jim Bowie in "The Last Command"?

 

[TallTallMan]

I think Chuck Connors did the same thing in the Rifleman.

Yeah. The intro.

 

[TallTallMan]

Sadly they were concerned with star power instead of authenticity . The actor who played Scar in the Searchers was German.

Yeah, I hate it. He also was in Ford's other Indian films thereafter.

The worst fake anything was a woman in El Dorado that was supposed to be Hispanic, but was obviously a square-jawed Caucasian. It's occasionally racially insensitive, at least by today's standards, but kudos to Ford for having 90% Navajos.

 

[TallTallMan]

Only a few days and a ton of good stuff! I'm glad you all are enjoying the thread!

 

[archieclement]

@PeteHale I don't know about Marvel movies of the last ten years but I believe lots of old movies, many now considered classic, were propaganda of one sort or another.

John

Wouldn't the same be true of most modern movies?

 

[archieclement]

White actors playing Indians? How about both Ted Cassidy (Hachita) and Julie Newmar (Hesh-ke) as Indians in Mackenna's Gold?

Hmmmm.....honestly don't see a big issue as it's entertainment.

 

[damYankee]

Eastwoods Beguiled? That was a different type of roll for Clint.