Right after I claim my prize for the Longest Title inBlog history!
I’ll get to posting !
Eagles / Hotel California
OK!!! back a ways I posted Essential Swashbuckling : Candle Slashing.
(I’m sure you remember *Coff*)
We now move to another SwashbucklingEssential :
The Clinch !!!
I’m not sure you’ve noticed (pay attention!), but in most any Classic Cinematic Climactic Sword Fight
the combatants at some point come together in what we call The Clinch ! (Indeed!)
The Clinch: a Definition:
When two fighters grapple or come together at close quarters.
Whereby, in film, the combatants often exchange pithy taunts, insults or threats!
In The Mark of Zorro (1940 ) we see Zorro (Tyrone Power)
and antagonist Capt. Esteban Pasquale (Basil Rathbone) engage in 2 Clinches:
Clinch #One
(In a Gentleman’s Duel the opponents often start off in a courteous exchange):
But shortly things will likely degrade to Insults, Taunts, Threats, Spitting, Biting, Pinching, Kicking, etc …
Shameful .. but often effective. Always entertaining.
Comment excerpt from the film makers: “The Legend of Ben Hall’ was a 100% indie film. We made the film for less than $1million. Most people working on it were first timers, busting their ass to get a break in the film industry. A film like this would normally cost upwards of $5m. Film funding bodies turned us away. Investors told us to get lost. We had to use crowdfunding just to get a leg up. My cast and crew worked for weeks on end on deferred pay – or no pay – battling the cold, the rain and fighting endlessly against a system that just wanted to ignore and squash us, and still continues to do so. We made this film outside of the Hollywood and Australian film industry establishment. Both told us we could never achieve it, yet we did … “
BRAVO!!!
A job very well done.
The Legend of Ben Hall Trivia
Via Internet Movie Database (IMDB)
Director Matthew Holmes spent seven years researching Ben Hall‘s history to ensure the screenplay,
characters and plot were as historically accurate as possible.
Actors Jack Martin (Ben Hall) and Jamie Coffa (John Gilbert) bear striking
physical resemblances to the historical characters they portray.
Ben Hall carries a Tranter revolver. The Tranter revolver was an English ‘cap and ball’ revolver
invented around 1856 by William Tranter.
Tranter revolvers were regarded as reliable and functional, and were extensively used by Confederate forces during the American Civil War.
‘Brave’ Ben Hall is one of Australia’s most infamous Bushrangers but like many others
such as ‘Mad Dog’ Daniel Morgan and ‘Gentleman Bushranger’ Martin Cash
he is often overlooked as the most popular and well known one is of course Ned Kelly.
It’s very safe to say that the Bushrangers hold exactly the same legendary stature to Australians
as Billy the Kid and Jesse James do to Americans.
Whiskey in the Jar / Krisenka Finley A nice country interpretation.
These are the last of guns I’m going to profile from The Legend of Ben Hall.
There are others, but this particular firearm called the
Tranter Revolving Rifle
This seems to be a very rare gun. In fact, it was hard to find any images of it.
Because is uses a cylinder it looks like a pistol with long barrel and a stock.
Almost a buntline.
In the film we see John Gilbert (Jamie Coffa) mainly using it and, indeed,
when Gilbert was killed it’s said he had one on him.
It’s also claimed that this weapon – or a version of it – was used in the American Civil War.
though I don’t recall ever seeing depicted in any Civil War films?
Callisher and Terry .53 caliber breech loading Percussion Carbine
53 calibre??! Goodness. Look at the bore on that thing!
That’s it for the guns. It’s interesting to me. Hope you enjoyed it
I’ve been going to Sedona, Arizona on and off since the 70’s. Love that place. Back then although Sedonaand it’s Waterholeweren’t really a secret, things weren’t overly crowded either. That changed. Some major magazine (was it Look?) published an article on America’s great waterholes. Next thing you know the place was packed. Now it’s called Slide Rock State Park. And you have to pay to get in. Like many National Parks in the US and Canada the whole area has become a Tourist Trap. Frankly, many Parks are being ruined by too many visitors. Hell, Yellowstone has had traffic jams for years. Banff National Park in Canada will soon be forced to limit access. Just too many people. And if you want to camp in most any major Park up here you have to book WAY ahead. Sometimes a year ahead. It’s a crisis situation. Some Parks I visited you can’t even take a photo without 10 people in it. Or more. ???
So I’ve been dismayed for many years on how badly Sedona is being impacted. Jeep Tours, ATV rentals, mountain bikers, motocross cycles – a lot of different things. The place is being destroyed. When I hiked up to Cathedral Rock back in the 70’s I felt like I was in a remote area. Not now.
Most of the following photos are from a visit in 2013 (?). Here’s what it looked like that day. We snuck in – it woulda costs 20 bucks otherwise.
Here’s where we snuck in. I hear they have guards of Wardens there, but we never saw any. ??
You could see people trooping in with coolers and waterwings … and stuff.
When it’s hot that water is sweet.
You can see how gorgeous it is there, so I can’t really blame folks.
It was HOT so I sat in the shade for a bit. Look how young and wonderful I was.
That’s Rose on that little bridge.
The famous Water Slide.
We didn’t have any swim gear so we did a bit of wading …
… and cooled our feet.
BOY ! Did that feel good !!
You bet !
But if you don’t want the crowds you can still hike into spots up creek that are more secluded.
Or you can always take a dip back the hotel. It’s nice … but NOT the same.
And one time … long ago … back in the early 70’s … on a warm summer evening I swam at
famous Oak Creek Crossing beneath Cathedral Rock.
What a magic moment that was!
Whisky in the Jar / The Brothers Four Many versions of the great folk song.
This one is good.
Guns
Westerns have guns. Lotsa guns.
In fact, along with horses, it’s questionable whether it’s really a Western
if it doesn’t have guns in it. Or even worth watching.
Yet I don’t often profile Guns in the Westerns anymore. I stopped.
Not for Political, Social or Spiritual reasons. But because most Westerns use the same guns.
Over and over.
It just became redundant. Ben Hall, however, has a few new (old) Guns that I’ve never seen before.
Let’s check ’em out.
Firstly, you might be wondering why Ben and his friends are bristling with a rather large number of firearms.
There was a good reason.
This was the Cap and Ball era. Pre-cartridge.
Re-loading was a timely exercise – very impractical during a fight.
Solution: carry lots of guns.
I’ll cover Cap and Ball loading and Bullet Making in my next post.
Below: One of Ben’s revolvers: 1856 Tranter .38 caliber, double trigger, five shot, percussion revolver. A revolver of this make was found with Ben Hall at the Billabong where he was killed.
Here’s it’s Cap and Ball Gun Kit.
1856 Tranter .38 caliber, double trigger, five shot, percussion revolver gun kit. Unlikely Ben toted a kit around – but he definitely had all these tools.
May I now confess that I am no gun expert?
I cannot identify everything in this kit.
Though I was in the Calgary Highlanders Militia
and did a lot of shooting when I was kid, I don’t even own a gun now – of any kind.
And haven’t shot one in a long – except in computer games (Where I’m an expert).
Those of you out there who can ID the items in the kit please step forward.
There’s no reward, but I’ll be grateful.
Proper cleaning and maintenance of your guns was essential.
Otherwise jamming, misfires, fouling and other evils could occur.
So we’re half way through the Rockies – which we can’t see because of the smoke. – in Yoho National Park – near Kicking Horse Pass (that’s just South of Greenhorn Gulch – just kidding)- on our way to Vernon – and Rose gets a notion to make a little side trip to see the Natural Bridge …
Though I had passed by it a hundred times, I’d never bothered to check it out.
The name Yoho comes from the CreeNative word for awe and wonder.
Here’s the Natural Bridge:
From this vantage point it looks like it would be pretty easy to get across there, Right?
Wrong!
It’s entirely different once you get out on the bridge.
The threat of falling in being killed here is real.
I wonder how many may have fallen in here over the years?
Not many I guess – or they wouldn’t let them do it.
That being said, I only saw one person – a young man – go across while I was here.
Two adventurers venture forth.
Ladies first …
This would be a great place to Propose wouldn’t it?
But they just took some pics.
And they never crossed that Bridge.
I venture out …
Trying to figure out my new camera …
What you can’t see from over there …
I try a short video …
I didn’t go across either. I’m ashamed to admit that I was scared.
But I didn’t feel it was worth the risk.
I saw only one person go across – a young man.
Good for him.
Why you wouldn’t want to fall in that water …
A Tale of 3 Hikers
Circa: early ’80’s
Myself, my buddy Pete, and a friend of his, go hiking into the backcountry.
Destination: Lake of the Hanging Glaciers.
We encounter a strong and rapid Glacier stream.
We have to cross.
Image from net – similar to what we experienced.
A makeshift bridge of 3 narrow logs spans the 15 feet gap.
It looks precarious.
I decide I’ll wade across – holding on to the bridge for support.
A bad idea.
A very bad idea.
The water’s only about 2 feet deep, but is so rapid and powerful
that when it hits you it rides up on you much higher.
I get about 5 feet out …
… then it hits me.
Like a ton of icebergs.
I have NEVER EVER experienced COLD like this before!!!
You can’t imagine it until you do yourself.
It hits my central nervous system.
It’s almost like instantly going into shock.
I can’t breathe …
I start to hyperventilate.
I realize that I will shortly be completely paralyzed.
But I’m still close enough – and strong enough – to Get the Hell back to the bank.
I do. I recover.
I decide to use the bridge instead.
Good idea.
I heave my pack across the stream.
Essentially I crawl across the rickety log bridge.
I takes about 5 minutes.
I make it.
BUT …
When I turn around I see Pete is in the water!!! He’s trying to wade across too!!!
Weren’t these idiots watching what I had just gone through!!??
I start yelling like hell:
“PETE STOP! STOP! GO BACK!! YOU WON’T MAKE IT!!!”
“IT’S TOO COLD!!!”
He won’t listen.
“I’m going to be OK”, he yells.
And he keeps going.
Incredibly, he actually makes it about half way across!!?
THEN … it hits him …
I see him seizing up …
He’s starting to hyperventilate …
He’s paralyzed …
He’s done.
Soon he’ll lose his grip on the bridge …
and be swept downstream.
He’s going to die …
EIther from drowning or hypothermia.
OR both.
I have to do something!!!
I look at his buddy on the other side …
It’s evident to me that he’s not going to do a thing.
I get a back a short distance …
Then I run and leap into the creek …
… and grab Pete.
I know, however that in a few short seconds I’m going
to be just like him.
“I’VE GOT YOU PETE!” I yell.
“WE’VE GOT TO GET OUTTA HERE!”
“ON THE COUNT OF THREE WE’RE GOING FOR BANK!”
“ONE .. TWO .. THREE!!!”
The bridge breaks.
(I don’t think Pete was able to let go of it.)
We’re floating down stream …
Do you believe GOD and Miracles?
I do.
Because the next thing I know we’re both at the bank!
How we got there I have no idea.
The bank is high, but there’s some willow type branches hanging over the edge.
“GRAB THESE BRANCHES.” I yell.
We do.
I grab Pete the rump.
“ONE, TWO, THREE …”
I throw him up on the bank.
(It’s amazing what you can do when death is calling)
Then I get myself up before I’m frozen.
We lay there for ten minutes.
Soaked and exhausted.
But alive.
The audience will always forgive you for being wrong and exciting, but never for being right and dull. – Burt Reynolds
At his height Burt Reynolds’ Star Power and sex appeal took him to the top Box Office Star in the film industry.
His popularity and charisma were unchallenged and some of his movies still hold a massive Cult following.
Among them were several Westerns though I consider none to be Western Classics.
Nearly 50 episodes between 1962 and 1965.Doc, Festus, Kitty, Burt and Matt.
Gunsmoke was definitely and unchallenged TV Western Classic.
Bet none of them suspected Burt would be the Number 1 Box Office Movie Star in a few short years.
Blow that horn Burt. Tell ’em you’re coming.
Burt goes Injun’ His first Western film.
Spaghetti. Top Billed.
Spaghetti can be tasty. Some can be Classic.
This is not one of them. MFW Rating: Worth watching as a curiosity.
Angie and Burt
MFW Rating: 50/50
Another curiosity – you can still buy this on Amazon.
It feels like an uncompleted project. MFW Rating: Not a clue.
The Bimbo and Beefcake formula. The 60’s had a lot of these.
Likewise the movie is famous for Welsh taking a shower.
Burt is Billed 3rd playing a character called Yaqui Joe.
(Guess they couldn’t find John Saxon)
MFW Rating: I watched it. Once.
Burt does Clint. Sorta.
It’s 1973. Spaghetti is still hot. Sarah Miles co-Stars.
Burt’s Star is high now – and rising – he had just made Deliverance.
and he’s starting to look like the Bandit.
Good Support Cast: Lee J. Cobb, Jack Warden and George Hamilton.
Possibly Burt’s best Western.
But there will be no sequel. MFW Rating: Not bad.
Leap ahead to 1996 – The Cherokee Kid – TV Western Comedy
Burt is 60.
His Star has fallen. But he still has chops.
But Billed 6th !!?? Really??
Hell of a Cast though: James Coburn,Gregory Hines … MFW Rating: Not bad at all.
Cathedral Rock at Sedona Arizona in the background
2002 Mini Series I missed out on.
I going to look this up. Looks like a quality production.
Supposed adaptation for the famous Range War.
MFWRating: Unknown
Burt’s last ride. He was 67. MFW Rating: Worthy
Thanks Burt … it was a good ride.
AWARDS
Academy Awards, USA 1998 Nominee
Oscar Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Boogie Nights (1997)
Golden Globes, USA 1998 Winner
Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Boogie Nights (1997) 1993 Nominee
Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical
Evening Shade (1990) 1992 Winner
Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical
Evening Shade (1990) 1991Nominee
Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical
Evening Shade (1990) 1980 Nominee
Golden Globe Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
Starting Over (1979) 1975 Nominee
Golden Globe Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
The Longest Yard (1974) 1971 Nominee
Golden Globe Best TV Actor – Drama
Dan August (1970)
Primetime Emmy Awards 1992 Nominee
Primetime Emmy Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Evening Shade (1990)
For playing: “Wood Newton”.1991Winner
Primetime Emmy Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Evening Shade (1990)
For playing “Wood Newton”.
BAFTA Awards 1998 Nominee
BAFTA Film Award Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Boogie Nights (1997)
20/20 Awards 2018 Nominee
Felix Best Supporting Actor
Boogie Nights (1997)
American Movie Awards 1980 Winner
Marquee Favorite Film Star – Male
Awards Circuit Community Awards 1997 Nominee
ACCA Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Boogie Nights (1997)
Boston Society of Film Critics Awards 1997 Nominee
BSFC Award Best Supporting Actor
Boogie Nights (1997)
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards 1998 Winner
CFCA AwardBest Supporting Actor
Boogie Nights (1997)
Crystal Reel Awards 2002 Winner
Lifetime Achievement AwardDallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards 1998 Winner
DFWFCA Award Best Supporting Actor
Boogie Nights (1997)
Daytime Emmy Awards 1990 Nominee
Daytime Emmy Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show
Win, Lose or Draw (1987) 1989 Nominee
Daytime Emmy Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show
Win, Lose or Draw (1987) 1988 Nominee
Daytime EmmyOutstanding Game/Audience Participation Show
Win, Lose or Draw (1987)
Florida Film Critics Circle Awards 1998 Winner
FFCC AwardBest Ensemble Cast
Boogie Nights (1997)
Golden Boot Awards 1990 Winner
Golden BootKey West Film Festival 2016 Winner
Golden Key Career Achievement
Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards 1998 Winner
Sierra Award Best Supporting Actor
Boogie Nights (1997)
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards 1997 Winner
LAFCA Award Best Supporting Actor
Boogie Nights (1997)
National Society of Film Critics Awards, USA 1998 Winner
NSFC AwardBest Supporting Actor
Boogie Nights (1997)
New York Film Critics Circle Awards 1997 Winner
NYFCC AwardBest Supporting Actor
Boogie Nights (1997)
Online Film & Television Association 1998 Winner
OFTA Film Award Best Supporting Actor
Boogie Nights (1997)
Online Film Critics Society Awards 1998 Winner
OFCS Award Best Supporting Actor
Boogie Nights (1997)
Wikipedia:
“Bob Flick, John Paine, Mike Kirkland, and Dick Foley met at the University of Washington, where they were members of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity in 1956 (hence the “Brothers” appellation). Their first professional performances were the result of a prank played on them in 1958 by a rival fraternity, who had arranged for someone to call them, pretend to be from Seattle’s Colony Club, and invite them to come down to audition for a gig. Even though they were not expected at the club, they were allowed to sing a few songs, and were subsequently hired. Flick recalls them being paid “mostly in beer.”
Stunning Soundtrack by Ronnie Minder. Haunting and powerful.
There’s lots of posters for The Legend of Ben Hall. But I discovered that some are made by fans.
If so, they’re damn good. I’m certain there’s no intention at deception. They just liked the movie.
I’ve created more than a few images myself for other Westerns that are circulating around the net.
I hope people like and enjoy them. Just for fun.
The third of the Preview Trailer of The Legend of Ben Hall:
Reviews
‘6 out of 10’? I don’t agree. But I’m often not in agreement with Critics.
I wouldn’t say that The Legend of Ben Hall is a Western Classic. But it’s a damn good Western and a well made Movie.
And I’ll watch it again. As I said, I think the average Western Fan would appreciate it.
Internet Movie Database (IMDB) is probably the foremost Movie site on the Net. And it has a lot of good features.
One thing it doesn’t have though (that Rotten Tomatoes does) is an Audience Score.
Which I think is definitely important.
Below you can see why:
The Audience liked The Legend of Ben Hall. “79%“.
That’s a 30% difference with the Critics!!!
Myself I rate it 8 out of 10. 80% The Audience and I agree!
So there.
I’ve been trying to get hold of this movie for months.
Back in May I did a post called “6 New Westerns” and did a small preview of each. The Legend of Ben Hall was not new however – it had come out in 2016, but I hadn’t heard of it before.
My gut feeling was that this was a pretty good Western and Western fans would probably like it.
I found it to be a quality production all the way around.
Wikipedia says: “Bushrangers were originally escaped convicts in the early years of the British settlement of Australia who had the survival skills necessary to use the Australianbush as a refuge to hide from the authorities. By the 1820s, the term “bushranger” had evolved to refer to those who abandoned social rights and privileges to take up “robbery under arms” as a way of life, using the bush as their base. Most were simply criminals and thieves.”
In the American Western we’d call these guys Outlaws.
BUT an Outlaw seems to be something different in the eyes of Australians.
Their distinction seems to be that you wouldn’t be referred to as an Outlaw until you had murdered someone.
Then, if caught, you would be hung. Prior to that it seems you could commit
almost any kind of skullduggery and would be jailed/imprisoned instead.
Though I’m sure the prisons of those days might have been worse than death.
The Legend of Ben Hall does not sugar coat Bushrangers. Ben Hall is not portrayed as a Hero.
And, at times, this is not a comfortable movie to watch.
A series of misfortunes forced him into the life of crime.
And according to this film it was a life of deep regret.
Despite being a Bushranger, Ben Hall definitely had certain lines he would never cross. Killing a man of one of these. And it’s believed that he never did.
A hell of story.
I couldn’t guess what the life expectancy of your average Bushranger might be.
But it was not likely very high.
You might say that Vernon BC has recently become a ‘Vacation Hotspot’.
It’s literally burning up out there. 560 forest fires currently burning in BC. And Vernon right in the middle of them.
Over the years we’ve have been very lucky with the weather and such on our Holidays.
But this was going to be different.
We knew about the fire situation before we left. There was already a lot of smoke in Calgary.
We thought we’d give it a chance anyway.
Heading through the mountains
Below: Castle Mountain as it usually looks: (Photo from Net)
Below: Castle Mountain as it looks through the smoke:
Imagine coming all the way from Europe or some other country to see the Rockies.
And you can’t see them!
Then it started to rain!!Pretty soon it was almost as dark as night. Everybody turned their headlights on.
On the other side of the Rockies (BC) we finally broke out.
Nine years after The Mark of Zorro, TyronePower was still wielding a Sword.
But he hadn’t entirely chased the Fox.
Hard to believe the Foxreference isn’t intentional, but it isn’t. Wikipedia says: “Prince of Foxes is a 1947 historical novel by (American) Samuel Shellabarger,”
Not Tryrone’s best work, but still worth a watch.
Welles doesn’t ‘chew the scenery’, he kind of steamrolls it.
Amazing.
A few months back Rose set us up for a Week’s Holiday in Vernon, British Columbia.
Normally about a 6 1/2 hour drive from Calgary.
But nothing is ‘Normal’ these days. (You may have noticed).
In the past 2 months, forest fires have started raging in the ‘Interior’ (and all over the world)
We are allowed to go there though one Highway has been closed.
We figure we’ll get through. But not fast.
Not that we’re in a hurry.
This is the deal: our lodgings and everything were already paid for.
Non-fundable. We forfeit all that money if we don’t go.
We are going to go.
The Good News is …
I have a new camera.
Rose bought it for me.
Here it is.
Sony DSCHX80/B High Zoom Point & Shoot Camera
Cost: about 400 bucks
(Sorry Marilyn! I should have consulted you)
But it was a present so …
It’s much superior to my other Sony camera in at at least 3 big ways:
It has double the resolution – which was direly affecting my image quality.
It has a 30 times Zooooooom !!! Which will allow me to take pics I couldn’t before.
It has a View Finder which will allow me to take pics that aren’t crooked or blurry.
And better composed.
I won’t kid myself that I’m going to be a Pro Photographer.
But this will help a lot.
South of Tofino on Vancouver Island is a town called Ucluelet which means “people of the safe harbour” in the indigenous Nootka language.
It might have been safe for the Natives, but many a Whiteman and ships perished on that coast over the centuries.
Near Ucluelet is the Wild Pacific Trail – where Rose decided to go for a hike.
Suggested: A windbreaker, a walking stick, some water, and snacks.
And a camera.
This rugged Pacific escarpment has another name and reputation.
Many a sailor and ship were lost on this wind lashed coast.
Every year Rose toils tirelessly, endlessly in her garden.
Weeding, planting, digging, watering … Often working after dark, she labours. A Labour of Love.
I am the beneficiary.
“At night a candle’s brighter than the sun.”
– Sting
The Mark of Zorro (1940)
Candle Slashing 102
My detective work to discover origins of Candle Slashing in Zorro
and other depictions of the stunt will likely fail.
There are simply far too many movies that may have reprised the stunt between 1920 and today.
I can’t look through them all.
But it’s fun – and interesting to me.
Maybe The Mark of Zorro (1940)? was indeed the first instance of the stunt?
I can’t say.
I didn’t detect any Candle Slashing in Douglas Fairbanks Sr’s,The Mark of Zorro (1920).
Though he does momentarily grab a candlestick in the fight scene with Noah Beery Sr. (below)
But no candle slashing occurs. Over the years most of the re-enactments of the stunt have become spoofs.
But I still recognize them as paying tribute and homage to Zorro and his origins.
Below: 15 years after The Mark of Zorro (1940), Basil Rathbone reprises the famous stunt
in the wonderful The Court Jester (1955) Starring the amazing Danny Kaye!
Awesome stuff!
(You can watch the whole fight on YouTube)
Later (1974) I found this instance of Candle Slashing in the TV movie The Mark Of Zorro, Starring Frank Langella fighting villain Ricardo Montalban,
(Pardon my Spanish)
In(1975)Alain Delon Starred in Zorro and slashed several candles against Villain Stanley Baker.
Nicely done – anyway you slice it.
But …
… there’s more than one way to snuff a Candle!
If a sword is not at hand, simply grab your bullwhip.
Candle Lashing 101
Candle Lashing appears to have started with Douglas Fairbanks Sr. in Don Q Son of Zorro (1925)
I found this scene:
So says Don Q (Fairbanks):
*CRACK* he whips the candle flame out!
Fairbanks seemed to be talented in many ways.
Handling a bullwhip would have been one.
Fairbanks didn’t invent Zorro, but he sure put him in gear.
Duncan Regehr of Zorro TV Series (1990) tries his hand at Candle Whipping:
Candle Lashing/Whipping carried over to modern The Mask of Zorro (1998).
Anthony Hopkins handles the chores.
“Never regret anything you have done with a sincere affection;
nothing is lost that is born of the heart.”
– Basil Rathbone
The Mark of Zorro (1940)
ZORRO FOR CHRISTMAS 1940 – PLUS A COLOR CARTOON!
The Fight!
We finally come to the wonderful climatic sword fight scene between Zorro(Tyrone Power)
and Capt. Esteban Pasquale (Basil Rathbone).
After 78 years this is still regarded among the great sword fight/Swashbuckling scenes in filmdom.
It is.
Basil Rathbone
Rathbone is often said to be the greatest of all the swashbuckling fencers/swordsmen Actors in Film.
He displayed his skills in several movies: Captain Blood(1935); Romeo and Juliet(1936; The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938); and The Court Jester (1955)
And as is evident in the video below, he how proud he was of his prowess.
Rathbone studied stage fencing as part of his training at the famous Old Vic Theatre. The study of Fencing and Swordsmanship is part of a Shakespearean Actors training.
He was also tutored under Swordmaster and famed Fight Choreographer Fred Cavens.
Rathbone did his most of his own stunts and required no stand-in or double for his swordwork.
What is NOT well known, however, is that Tyrone Power was also very good.
Said Rathbone of Power’s swordsmanship skills: “Power was the most agile man with a sword I’ve ever faced before a camera. Tyrone could have fenced Errol Flynn into a cocked hat.”
Fred Caven’s son Albert Cavens did double-in for Power some shots. He was likely better for sure,
but I figure Tyrone coulda handled it himself.
It’s interesting that that Errol Flynn is so highly regarded as a fencer/sword fighter in Swashbuckling films because Rathbone
who dueled with in Captain Blood and The Adventures of Robin Hood says otherwise:
“I enjoyed swordsmanship more than anything because it was beautiful. I thought it was a wonderful exercise, a great sport. But I would not put it under the category of sport; I would put it under the category of the arts. I think it’s tremendously skillful and very beautiful… The only actor I actually fought with on the screen was Flynn, and that’s the only time I was really scared. I wasn’t scared because he was careless,
but because he didn’t know how to protect himself.” “I could have killed Errol Flynn any time I wanted to.”
Upcoming:
Tyrone Power Westerns continued …
The Mark of Zorro (1940) The Fight / Part 2 …
On most any Saturday, in 1954, myself and my 3 older brothers, would each be given a Quarter (25 cents!) and off we’d go to the Saturday Matinee at the local Movie Theatre (in Mission, British Columbia). A Quarter would get us in plus buy a bag of popcorn and a pop! Amazing!
In those days kids could walk around freely, with no fear. We never locked our doors. Never had to. Churches were open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
That was a different time. Not so long ago.
I was 6 years old
Then we’d breathlessly watch our Heroes of the day!
14 years earlier, in 1940 – Tyrone Power had Starred in The Mark of Zorro.
I don’t recall seeing this movie until TCM showed it recently.
I loved it.
Tyrone Power – The Mark of Zorro (1940)
Obviously there is a Colorized version of The Mark of Zorro (1940).
Haven’t seen that one yet.
Basil Rathbone – The Mark of Zorro 1940
Linda Darnell was ‘Sweet 17’ when she Starred in The Mark of Zorro.
On the Screen, Gale Sondergaard was billed 4th.
Reviews
Ratings were pretty high – for both Critics and the Public.
I had a very nice chat with Paul. I took a pic, but it came out lousy. The lighting, my camera and photo skills were not up the job.
So I’m taken the liberty of borrowing images from the net of some of Paul’s work that he exhibited there.
Thank You Paul.
Zorro’s Rapier from the Mask of Zorro
A Swiss Sabre
That’s it for the guns. It’s interesting to me.
But nothing is ‘Normal’ these days. (You may have noticed).
Cost: about 400 bucks
Upcoming:
