HF Westerns

[TallTallMan]

Westerns were the King of Prime Time back in "the day." We watch Grit network and Inspiration Network and enjoy many of the old classics.
IMO, there are two distinct eras of western movies, Pre Shane and Post Shane.
Pre Shane, Stagecoach (bad boy saves fallen angel, or did she save him?) followed by the Huston Wayne Trilogy, Fort Apache, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon and Rio Grande, which presented the clean cut hero, battle tested and honorable.
Shane presented the lone wolf, fast gun with a questionable background, who takes on the evil cattle baron, (much along the story line of the Magnificent Seven.)
Even Huston got in on the questionable hero with Wayne's character in The Searchers.
Eastwood was once asked about his inspiration for his Man with No Name and he instantly said, Shane, and he said Pale Rider was just a remake of and a tribute to Shane. The ending makes that crystal clear.
After the successes of the Eastwood/Leone partnership everyone jumped on the bandwagon, copying cinematography style, lighting, the use of facial close ups etc.

I think you mean "Ford Wayne Trilogy". Am a big Huston fan too!

Pale Rider is 1000% better than Shane. The Westerns Eastwood directed are a lot more realistic in look and style and the way they act and talk. Pale Rider and Unforgiven are the closest to reality 1880s movies ever.

 

[A. Roy]

I've long wanted to read the novel. I've seen about 400+ Westerns but have only read Shane.

The novel is very good and pretty well parallel to the story you get in the movie. I believe that the final shootout turns out differently.
ARB

 

[TallTallMan]

The novel is very good and pretty well parallel to the story you get in the movie. I believe that the final shootout turns out differently.
ARB

Without saying it for others), I heard how it ended in a doc. Very odd. The ending of the movie is accused of being too Hollywood, but I think its a better ending. I don't mind the sad endings of Unforgiven or The Gunfighter (a 1950 movie I adore; an unexciting, psychological adult Western).

What's funny is that the main character Jimmy Ringo is so fast you never see it, Blazing Saddles-style.

 

[Kurtlg]

Without saying it for others), I heard how it ended in a doc. Very odd. The ending of the movie is accused of being too Hollywood, but I think its a better ending. I don't mind the sad endings of Unforgiven or The Gunfighter (a 1950 movie I adore; an unexciting, psychological adult Western).

What's funny is that the main character Jimmy Ringo is so fast you never see it, Blazing Saddles-style.

View attachment 494180

The Gunfighter is a great movie

 

[damYankee]

The novel is very good and pretty well parallel to the story you get in the movie. I believe that the final shootout turns out differently.
ARB

Yeap, Ford/ Wayne...I will make the appropriate corrections.

 

[carptrash]

I didn't notice "The Big Country" (a truly great cast) or another fine Peck western, The Bravados, where the bad guys, Lee Van Cleef, Stephen Boyd, Albert Salmi, and Henry Silva definitely carry their load.

 

[Booklady]

I had read the book before the movie and thought the story seemed tailor-made for the Duke. I believe I read at the time that he actually already had cancer when he made this movie, which made the story particularly touching.
ARB

I have read True Grit a couple of times (first as a teenager, after seeing the original film; second time a year or two ago after seeing the [excellent] remake; I think I might be the only person in the world who liked Matt Damon's performance, and Hailee Steinfeld was just outstanding). I'm going to have to get The Shootist (book) now that I've read your post. I like the movie a lot, but despite seeing it many times I never really "get" the ending. Maybe reading the book will help.

 

[SJU]

I have read True Grit a couple of times (first as a teenager, after seeing the original film; second time a year or two ago after seeing the [excellent] remake; I think I might be the only person in the world who liked Matt Damon's performance, and Hailee Steinfeld was just outstanding). I'm going to have to get The Shootist (book) now that I've read your post. I like the movie a lot, but despite seeing it many times I never really "get" the ending. Maybe reading the book will help.

I liked Matt Damon also. Hailee Steinfeld blew me away. I couldn't believe someone so young was so good.

 

[TallTallMan]

I have read True Grit a couple of times (first as a teenager, after seeing the original film; second time a year or two ago after seeing the [excellent] remake; I think I might be the only person in the world who liked Matt Damon's performance, and Hailee Steinfeld was just outstanding). I'm going to have to get The Shootist (book) now that I've read your post. I like the movie a lot, but despite seeing it many times I never really "get" the ending. Maybe reading the book will help.

I liked Matt Damon also. Hailee Steinfeld blew me away. I couldn't believe someone so young was so good.

I thought Damon was just okay. Hailee nailed Mattie.

 

[Pollaco]

Gregory Peck made some excellent movies , many of them westerns . About the only one I didn't much care for was "The Yearling" which was kind of a western. That little deer would have wound up on the dinner table real quick.

 

[Kurtlg]

I have read True Grit a couple of times (first as a teenager, after seeing the original film; second time a year or two ago after seeing the [excellent] remake; I think I might be the only person in the world who liked Matt Damon's performance, and Hailee Steinfeld was just outstanding). I'm going to have to get The Shootist (book) now that I've read your post. I like the movie a lot, but despite seeing it many times I never really "get" the ending. Maybe reading the book will help.

I think Matt Damon was fine . He was much better than Glen Campbell in the original . Steinfeld was great. The performance of Mattie in the original made me cringe.

 

[donna]

Gregory Peck was a greet actor. I too liked The Bravados. Also must mention old movie Duel In The Sun.

 

[damYankee]

Gunsmoke should get some mention if not for the TV series itself, but because it was the launch pad for the new breed of actors, writers/directors that would go on to make some of the classic TV shows as well as movies, Sam Peckinpah directed 12 episodes, Burt Reynolds, Denver Pyle, Jack Elam, Royal Dano, Strother Martin, Slim Pickens, Harry Morgan, James Drury, Bruce Dern, Jon Voight, Wanye Rogers, Lee Van Cleef, Jodie Foster, Gerald McRaney, Lorretta Swit, Dan Blocker, Parnell Roberts and many more got their start in TV on Gunsmoke

 

[Pollaco]

Didn't Sam Peckinpah direct a few episodes of the "Rifleman"?

 

[damYankee]

You be the judge, Pale Rider;

Last scene in Shane;

 

[Pollaco]

Gregory Peck was a greet actor. I too liked The Bravados. Also must mention old movie Duel In The Sun.

"Shoot Out" with that little girl Decky showed a differant warmer side of Peck and not just a cold-hearted gunslinger.

 

[Pollaco]

I was watching True Grit one night and the set happened to be on close caption. I always thought Rooster told those guys to Fling them guns in the creek. He actually said "Wing them guns in the crik."

 

[TallTallMan]

Didn't Sam Peckinpah direct a few episodes of the "Rifleman"?

The Marshal, The Boarding House, the Money Gun and The Babysitter. I never liked that show, but I love Gunsmoke.

 

[TallTallMan]

You be the judge, Pale Rider;

Last scene in Shane;

Pale Rider.

 

[Kurtlg]

The Marshal, The Boarding House, the Money Gun and The Babysitter. I never liked that show, but I love Gunsmoke.

I thought the late Johnny Crawford did great job as the rifleman's son , but not my favorite western.