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Kris Krisofferson Western Filmography Part 2 … 2024

Help me make it through the night / Kris Kristofferson / 1970

On top of his incredible Hall of Fame Music career
Kris appeared in about 16 Westerns.
For most Entertainers that would be a Career in itself.

Kris’ Westerns started of with a literal bang …
Sam Pekinpah‘s Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973)
And unquestionable Western Classic.

Peckinpah had a ‘stable’ of Actors that he employed over and over.
Thus Kris got a bit part in
Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974)

This led to an even bigger bang:
Michael Cimino‘s extremely controversial
Heaven’s Gate (1980)
that bankrupted United Artists.
Yet some think this too may eventually be considered a Classic?

Then came a Remake of the Western Classic Stagecoach (1986).

The Highwaymen rode again in
The Last Days of Frank and Jesse James
(1986)

The Tracker (1988)
“He thought his days of violence had ended.
But the battle between good and evil is never over.”
Amen.

Miracle in the Wilderness (1994)

Sodbusters (1994)

Coming … 
Part 3 

Featured

Kris Krisofferson Western Filmography … 2024

Originally posted by me in 2016.

The Highwaymen / Live Forever

Pistol Bar

Kris Kristofferson 3

Pistol Bar

Kris Kristofferson Western Filmography / Part 1

Kris’s Kristofferson’s Western film career started off with a definite Bang!! TWO HUGE BANGS to be exact. He first Starred in Sam Peckinpah’s Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973). Peckinpah was already a controversial figure – and the story surrounding the making and dismemberment of Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid is legendary stuff – Sam eventually walking away from the project – the movie undergoing several edits –
resulting in 3 different versions.

Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid Sam Peckinpah

Kris’s second Western – Heaven’s Gate (1980) may be the most controversial movie project in Film History – bankrupting United Artist Film Studio – due to the outrageous behavior of Director Michael Cimino – equally as controversial as Peckinpah.

Heaven's Gate Michael Cimino

The parallel between Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid and Heaven’s Gate is amazing: Two controversial renegade Director’s – possible both genius’s – who made two controversial Western movies – which were both dismembered by their respective Studios – ending up in multiple versions of each – but which were ultimately manifested into what many people consider as Westerns Classics. The verdict is still out on Heaven’s Gate
but Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid is in solid.
And Kris was in both of them. Amazing stuff.

Pistol Bar

In 1986 Kris made two Westerns: A remake of Stagecoach and The Last Days of Frank and Jesse James. Stagecoach Starred Kris, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and Waylon Jennings. The Last Days of Frank and Jesse James Starred Kris and Johnny Cash. Willie had a bit part in that one too.

Kris Kristofferson

Yep … these guys eventually formed the Country Music Supergroup
The Highwaymen.

The Highwaymen

Pistol Bar

Kris appeared in at least 16 Westerns …
Part 2 coming …

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Interlude: It’s the Flagon with the Dragon Silly …

The Court Jester - Wikipedia

Watch Rathbone – he can barely contain himself!

Glynis Johns, Angela Lansbury, Basil Rathbone …

Amazing stuff !

And Danny Kaye … Genius.

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Kris Kristofferson Cowboy … Part 1

Closer to the Bone / Kris kristofferson / September 28, 2009


Seems like every week somebody I grew up with dies.
But I didn’t know that Kris kristofferson
had died on September 24 of this year, until just now.

I just don’t watch the News like I used to.

Kris Kristofferson | Texas Cultural Trust

This should not have been a shock to us though because Kris himself had advised us fairly recently that he didn’t think he’d be around much longer.
He was 88 and in poor health.

Kris Kristofferson - Turner Classic Movies

There had been recent false claims that he had already passed.

So I had to double check to see if this was true.
Sadly it was.


Kris, of course, was a brilliant Songwriter and many of his songs are regarded as Country Music Classics.

That we be a great enough legacy for anybody, but Kris also made more than a couple of notable Western Movies.

One of those is in my Top Ten Favorite Western Movies of all time:
Sam Peckinpah’s Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid / 1973

Kris proved that he that indefinable thing that you can’t buy or create:
Star Power.

Kris with Bob Dylan on set of Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid

Next:
Kris Kristofferson Western Movie Filmography

Featured

My Top Ten Westerns Stars: The Lone Ranger / Clayton Moore

My Top Ten Westerns Stars
No. 5
The Lone Ranger / Clayton Moore

This wasn’t a tough choice.
Truthfully, the Lone Ranger / Moore should have been my
First Choice as a Western Star.
Because The Lone Ranger/Moore achieved dimensions of
Western Stardom that will never be equaled.

‘Perfect Casting’?

Some people seem to be born for a certain role.
Though others had played the Lone Ranger before Moore,
there was never an Actor who identified and personified the role as genuinely and completely as Moore did to the Lone Ranger.
Moore WAS the Lone Ranger.
A role he authenticall carried until the day he died.

There’s a ton of things about the Lone Ranger that make him
unique as a Western Hero.
Too many to list here.
My admiration surely started with
The Lone Ranger Radio Show when I was a kid.
From 1933 to 1956 The Lone Ranger rode the radio waves
in one of the most successful radio programs in history,
producing over 3,000 broadcasts.
WOW!
Top that amigo!

“Who was that masked man?”

Why it was
Clayton Moore!

The Lone Ranger Poster

The Lone Ranger Creed 1

Silver“It was a hell of a ride Kemosabe”
– Tonto

“Couldn’t have done it without you Tonto.”
– The Lone Ranger

HI YO Silver ! Away!

 

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Glacier Quest and the Great Divide

Heading for The Great Divide


I couldn’t guess how many times I’ve crossed
The Great Divide between Alberta and British Columbia.
In most instances I was heading for the
Pacific Coast and Vancouver Island.
I timed that drive once and found that if i drove
pretty well non-stop I could get from
Calgary, Alberta to Port Alberni on Vancouver Island
in about 16 hours.
My only rest was the Ferry Ride over to the Island.
But I was younger then. Don’t know if I could do that now?
On the way though (if it wasn’t nighttime)
I’d had lots of great scenery.


Glacier

A Shard of your former immense glory.
Sitting high on a rocky crag.
Awaiting the inevitable.

You once moved Moutains …
made Mountains … then Ruled them.
Children of Ice.
Stand now in testament.

Yes, there’s still Glaciers. Remnants.
But not for long.
In the age of ‘climate change’.
Their decline, and death, is even faster.

Moving On …

Road construction, especially in British Columbia,
has cost Billions of dollars.
Imagine what it took to cut through that small mountain below?

So that I could drive here:

Amazing …

Featured

Western Quiz …

Brother Richard sent me a link to this
Western Quiz:

https://play.howstuffworks.com/quiz/there-are-hundreds-of-classic-westerns-well-be-impressed-if-you-can-guess-20

I’ve never claimed to be a Western Expert. Just a Fan.
I did get 39 out of 40 (he bragged),
though I was guessing at 3 of ’em.
But I don’t think this quiz would challenge many
real Western Fans.

The one that did stump me was the 1941 Classic
“They Died With Their Boots On”.
I confess I don’t think I’ve ever seen it?
Shows what kind of expert I am.

But it was still fun.

Pardner.

 

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Birthday Trip … Castle Mountain …

A Minor Ballad / Gordon Lightfoot / 1967


“It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.”
– Sir Edmund Hillary


Castle Mountain

Showing the ‘saddle back’ behind it
and the high meadows where many hikers venture.

Majestic, Powerful, Inspiring.

We head for Revelstoke, BC, Halcyon Hot Springs.
Then to Nakusp, BC and Nakusp Hot Springs.

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Birthday Trip … Day 1

We’re back.
We were only gone 6 days, but it still took me a couple of days to recover. (LOL!)
Remember when Holidays used to be relaxing adventures?
But I’m 76 now … so hardly anything is relaxing.
Sadly, at times it’s just nice to get back to your own bed.
Not that this trip wasn’t enjoyable. It was wonderful! (Thanks Rose.)
We saw and experienced a lot of great things.
It’s just that travelling is not what it used to be when you get older.
Look a this for instance:

I recall a time when all I needed was a duffle bag and my thumb.
Crazy enough though, I think we used most of this stuff.
Even crazier, we often find we forgot something?

Heading Out

Thems the ROCKIES in the distance.
No snow on them. (Yet)
And you might think that after driving through them
about a thousand times, it would be boring.
You’d be wrong.

But …
Uh Oh! Some kind of road construction … ?

Ah … they’re building another Wildlife Bridge over the highway.

They’ve built a lot of them over the years.
So they must work?

Moving along …

There used to have signs telling what Mountain we were lookin’ at.
Don’t know why they stopped that?

Over the years I’ve taken a lot of pics of Cascade Mountain.

Why not?

You will often see people who have hiked up to the bottom of the Falls.
But not today.

Next: Castle Mountain …

More coming …

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Small Miracles …

The Rose – sung by Bette Midler – written by Amanda McBroom


I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.
– Audrey Hepburn


I think that most Miracles are small and flow right past us.
Like tests.
To see if we’re paying attention.
They are like Gifts and Rewards for feats
we didn’t even know we were achieving.


When we left on our little holiday, Rose’s Sunflowers were green.

I really never thought they were going to open. It was so late in Summer.

But when we returned they had suddenly exploded.


I could hardly believe it.

The bees were happy.

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Heading for the BC Interior …

Rose and I are heading into the BC interior for a few days.
It’s our Birthday present to ourselves … both Virgos …
(whatever that means?)
Going to jump in some Hotsprings and look at the Stars.
Nakusp Hotspings is one of our destinations.
Just hoping for decent weather –
though I’ve never been a person who could get defeated by weather.
See you soon.

Featured

Elvis … Love Letters

“Love me tender, Love me sweet,
Elvis has stinky feet.”
kid’s rhyme 1956 / author unknown


I was an 8-year-old schoolkid in Homewood, Illinois
when Elvis recorded “Love Me Tender in 1956.
Elvis was 21.

I was not a fan.
I was just a kid.

Elvis Presley 1956 | Poszterek, Művészeti nyomatok, Falfestmények

And although Elvis made some good music over the years that I liked,
all those movies soured me against him.
Guess they weren’t made for me.

Elvis Presley julisteet ja tulosteet tekijältä Cerezo Classica - Printler

Then …
in 1966 he recorded this song:

“Love Letters”.

Love Letters is a Popular Music Classic that was written in 1945
with lyrics by Edward Heyman and music by Victor Young.
It has been recorded by nearly 400 Artists including,
Nat Cole, Peggy Lee. Jack Jones, Patti Page, Sammy Davis, Tony Bennett,
and on and on …
just about everybody.

And I know there several superb interpretations.

But Elvis’ version really nailed me.

It was then that I realized just how GOOD this guy really was.

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That’s What Friends are For – Paul Williams / Jack Jones

Everyone needs to be loved.
– Paul Williams

That’s What Friends are For – 1974
Written by Paul Williams
– Sung by Jack Jones

A beautiful song,
and a truly inspired interpretation
by Jack Jones.

That’s What Friends are For


Not to be confused it with that other song by the same name,
That’s What Friends are For was initally sung by B.J. Thomas in 1972.
There are other interpretations, but none come close to
Jack Jones inspired version.

Paul Williams - IMDb
Paul Williams

Wikipedia:
Paul Hamilton Williams, Jr.
(born September 19, 1940) is an American composer, singer-songwriter, and actor.
He is perhaps best known for popular songs performed by a number of acts in the 1970s including Three Dog Night’s rendition of “An Old Fashioned Love Song”, Helen Reddy’s “You and Me Against the World”, David Bowie’s “Fill Your Heart”, and the Carpenters’ “We’ve Only Just Begun” and “Rainy Days and Mondays”, as well as his contributions to films, such as writing the lyrics to the #1 chart-topping “Evergreen”, the love theme from A Star Is Born, starring Barbra Streisand, for which he won a Grammy for Song of the Year and an Academy Award for Best Original Song; and “Rainbow Connection” from The Muppet Movie. He also wrote the lyrics to the opening theme for The Love Boat, with music previously
composed by Charles Fox, which was originally sung by Jack Jones,
and later, by Dionne Warwick.

He has also had a variety of high-profile acting roles such as Little Enos Burdette in the 1977 action-comedy Smokey and the Bandit, and as the villainous Swan in Brian De Palma’s Phantom of the Paradise (which Williams also co-scored, receiving an Oscar nomination in the process), as well as television, theater, and voice-over work for animation.

Paul Williams and Barbra Steisand
Paul with the Legendary Barbra Steisand
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Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám …

Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám
A translation?/interpretation
by Edward FitzGerald (1859).

I have only memorized this first quatrain of Fitzgerald’s wonderful translation/interpretation of Khayyám’s epic and sublime poem.

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A vast amount of the World’s Greatest Literture
lies uncreated in the English Language.
In fact, a unfathonable amount of such great literature was created before the English language (as we know it) even existed.
And in dialects now lost to us.

Edward Fitzgerald Portrait
Edward FitzGerald

Therefore, unless we can speak every language and dialect ever created we can’t access a massive amount of Art/Literature.
Even then, it would be possible to encompass only a small amount of it.
However, there have been valiant attempts to bring such works
into our own Language and Culture.
– even as this meets the problems of interpretation.

Omar Khayyám

Below: just 3 of FitzGerald several attempts
to interpret just the first quatrain:

Awake! for Morning in the Bowl of Night
Has flung the Stone that puts the Stars to Flight:
And Lo! the Hunter of the East has caught
The Sultán’s Turret in a Noose of Light.
FitzGerald, Stanza I, 1st ed.


“Wake ! For the Sun behind yon Eastern height
Has chased the Session of the Stars from Night ;
And, to the field of Heav’n ascending, strikes
The Sultan’s Turret with a Shaft of Light.
FitzGerald, Stanza I, 2nd ed


WAKE! For the Sun, who scatter’d into flight
The Stars before him from the Field of Night,
Drives Night along with them from Heav’n, and strikes
The Sultan’s Turret with a Shaft of Light.
FitzGerald, Stanza I, 5th ed


FitzGerald probably worked, reworked, refined, and re-edited
Khayyám sublime epic poem until the day he died.
And then was still unlikely content.
Even as we sense what was likely
‘a labour of love’on his part


 

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Part 2: “Live Long and Prosper” / A Visit to Vulcan

“He’s not really dead, as long as we remember him.”
– Dr. McCoy, (Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan, 1982)

Spock doing the Vulcan Salute/Greeting

Though I once knocked my sister out with the ‘Vulcan neck pinch
(that’s my story and I’m sticking to it),
I never considered myself a Trekkie –(Star Trek Super Fan),
cuz I could never do the Vulcan Salute/Greeting.
(I’m also lousy at Mind Melding).

Below are most of the places I’ve lived in Southern Alberta:
Except Vulcan.

So I’ve always considered myself to be an Albertan.
And I know Big Town and Small Town, Alberta.
Which brings us to Vulcan, Alberta which under ordinary circumstances
would be considered to be your typical small Alberta Prairie Farm town.
BUT nothing ever seems to have been ‘Typical’ about Vulcan.
Firstly, it’s unusual name:
Vulcan was named by a surveyor for the Canadian Pacific Railway back in 1915 for the Roman god of fire—all of the streets throughout the town were originally named for gods and goddesses …
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/vulcan#:~:text=Vulcan%20was%20named%20by%20a,who%20mostly%20work%20in%20farming.
Also …
Wikipedia
says:
Vulcan once had nine grain elevators, more than any other location west of Winnipeg, Manitoba, making it the largest grain
shipping point at that time.”

I remember locomotives like this below.

There are 57,200 farms in Alberta.

Next: Part 3 …

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“Live Long and Prosper” / A Visit to Vulcan, Alberta / Part 1

Space … the final frontier / Leonard Nimoy / Spock

A while back Don Osterag was talking about
Leonard Nimoy (Spock) and Star Trek.
https://donostertag.wordpress.com/2015/02/27/qa-with-nimoy-in-iowa/comment-page-1/#respond

This interested me because Nimoy had visited the small Alberta town of Vulcan in 2010 in response to an invitation from locals who had proclaimed Vulcan as the “Official Star Trek Capital of Canada” – 
Vulcan being Spock‘s home planet in the Star Trek TV show.

Being the good sport that he was, Leonard came up.
To say that this was a BIG DEAL for Vulcan (population about 2000)
would be an understatement.

Nimoy demonstrated his generous and affable nature.

Leonard Nimoy mourned by Vulcan, Alta., residents | CBC News

In all this, Rose and determined to visit Vulcan
this summer and enjoy our time there.
So we did …

Next:
Vulcan Visit / Part 2

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Pay attention …

Lately we’ve been getting very direct warning about how tenuous our survival and existence is – and how dependent we are upon many resources outside of our personal control.
First, our whole communtications systems in this area
went down for 24 hours.
The only thing we had was Radio.
No phone, no TV, no computer, no WiFi …
– no way to find out what was going on.
The next thing was a major City water pipe broke –
forcing water consumption restrictions for a month.
Then we had an electrical storms that knocked out
electricity in some areas.
Now, yesterday, the town of Jasper was devastated
by a forest fires that swept into Jasper National Park.

Active wildfires across Canada on July 26, 2024. (Map Credit: Canadian Interagency Forest Fires Centre INC.)
Active wildfires across Canada on July 26, 2024

Still on the grid ?
– dependent upon resources outside of your control?

Think about it.

How much food do you have around?

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Forest Fires in Alberta … Canada

I went out on our front steps yesterday evening and took these pics:

Forest fires in Alberta.
We don’t worry too much about them out here on the Prairie –
and wouldn’t even know they were happening –
if it wasn’t for the smoke.

HOWEVER, most of Canada is FOREST.
Check any map.
So this is a big problem.
AND NOW in the age of Climate Change
it’s amplified. Considerably.

Almost like living on another planet.

Feel the heat.

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Pardon my absence Pardner …

I haven’t been posting much lately.
Sorry about that.
I’m just too much of a perfectionist
to just throw something up on the board.
BUT …

Here’s stuff I’m working on:

“To B or not to B”

Why B Westerns don’t have to be B.

Greatest Western Movie Songs

My next
Top 10 Favorite Western Star of all time …

and other stuff …

Hang in there.

(I’m trying)

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Carburn Park and around town … Part 1

It’s Rose’s Garden.
Gardening is a Rose’s passion – so I don’t interfere.
I only ask her to plant Poppys and Nasturtiums.
Poppys is easy – they pop up by themselves.
Nasturtiums are Annuals though and you gotta plant ’em.

Below:
some of Rose’s Poppys in bright sunlight.

Mini Libraries are another thing we like.

We put books in and take ‘me out.
I look for Louis L’Amour Westerns and the Classics like
The Three Musketeers and Gulliver’s Travels
especially if they are illustrated.

Carburn Park

Rose and I go out somewhere pretty well every day.
Just to get some exercise.
Carburn Park is one of our favorite places to go here in Calgary.

It’s big – has nice pathways, flowers, wildlife,
and lots of water.

Gooslings Ahoy!

A small flotilla …

… time for a break …

The Bow River is running high right now.
It’s still ‘run off’ in the nearby Rocky Mountains.

Alberta Roses … our Provincial Flower.

A nice day for a short hike.

Next …
The Ol’ Water Hole !

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Repost: Monte Walsh (1970) … edited

“Nobody gets to be a cowboy forever.”
– Jack Palance

Monte Walsh … a real maverick

MFW: Monte Walsh seemed to get decent promotion – lots of excellent posters –  and boasts a stellar cast …
yet somehow seemed to slip under the fence?
But I believe this is one Western that will age well and eventually earn it’s rightful place at the bar.

I’d say this is a Western Classic.

MFW: “100%” from critcs and “57%” from viewers ??
That’s a pretty large canyon.
But I liked it.

“When we get through… you’re gonna want to take a nap, sit on the porch and wait for the mares to come callin’.”

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The Lone Ranger’s Creed …

The Lone Ranger Opening and Closing Theme 1949 – 1957


The Lone Ranger Creed


The enduring popularity of the Lone Ranger is a very interesting phenomenon which must mystify a lot of todays young people who never grew up with it – and probably consider the whole thing to be
somewhat Camp in character.

Yet there are still several (many?) Lone Ranger websites on the internet – well over 60 years after the masked man rode across our radios and our black and white TV screens.
That tesifys that something is special.

But what? Why?

What was it about this guy – and what he stood for – that grabbed so many people … and still does?

Surely it is embodied in The Lone Ranger Creed.
A Creed that today seems more relevant now than ever.

THE LONE RANGER’S CREED

“I believe…

That to have a friend, a man must be one.

That all men are created equal and that everyone has within himself the power to make this a better world.

That God put the firewood there
but that every man must gather and light it himself.

In being prepared physically, mentally, and morally to fight when necessary for that which is right.

That a man should make the most of what equipment he has.

That ‘This government, of the people, by the people and for the people’ shall live always.

That men should live by the rule of what is best for the greatest number.

That sooner or later … somewhere … somehow …
we must settle with the world and make payment for what we have taken.

That all things change but truth, and that truth alone, lives on forever.

In my Creator, my country, my fellow man.”


The Lone Ranger: “Only you, Tonto, know I’m alive. To the world, I’ll be buried here beside my brother and my friends… forever.”

Tonto: “You are alone now. Last man. You are lone ranger.”

The Lone Ranger: “Yes, Tonto, I am… the Lone Ranger.”

The Lone Ranger pistol bar

Clayton Moore - The Lone Ranger

“Once I got the Lone Ranger role, I didn’t want any other.”

~ Clayton Moore

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Glenn Ford .. that’s a wrap

As I said, Glenn Ford made 26 Westerns. Ive been trying to catch up.
BUT he was making Westerns before I was born!
Therefore I cannot profess expertise. Only what I like.
I can say that his Westerns definitely display
his unquestioned Star Power. He could carry the ball –
and was a Box Office Star for at least 40 years – in any film genre.
FYI: Several of his Westerns are available to watch for Free
on YouTube and other Internet Locations.
And most are of watchable quality.

I just watched The Violent Men (1955) on YouTube
The Violent Men (1955) - IMDb

I have to think that a lot of Western Fans
would consider The Violent Men to be a Western Classic.
It is a good Western with a stuning Cast:
Glenn Ford, Edgar G. Robinson, Barbara Stanwyck, Brian Keith,
Richard Jaeckel, Jack Kelly …
With great Writing and dialogue.


I then rewatched The Man from Colorado
also on YouTube.

… and I have to confess it’s still tough to watch Ford play a Badguy.
But he did it again in 3:10 to Yuma.


A few other Favorites:

Thanks Glenn!

Moving on.

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Glenn Ford update …

Been working on my last post for Western Favorite Glenn Ford.

I want to do a good job and it’s not coming together swiftly.
I’m not all that swift myself right now,
but we’ll be right along.

Hope you’re all having a great Spring.

 

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My Health Issues …

I’m Posting this because maybe it will be useful information for somebody?
I’ve been getting sick a lot recently. Never happened before. I’ve had great health most of my life. But now I seem to be getting sick quite often. Even worse, I don’t heal up like I used to before. A bug I caught recently lasted 6 weeks! In the past I normally would have gotten such a thing within a week. My conclusion that my Diabetes 2 has seriously impacted my immune system. I didn’t know this could happen. I will have be aware of this going forward. This is my new reality/normal. To say this in influencing me in a lot of ways is an understatement. That’s life I guess. Things can change and we have to adapt. Or else. This is mainly why I haven’t been Posting much lately. Thank You for hanging with me.

Onward …

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We’re back …

We’ve been back for a few days, but I got sick again right away.
It’s a Cold? I guess? ….  but who knows these days?
The Cruise was great – tarnished a bit by our inexperience at such things.
Yet ever interesting.

That ship is … Large.

I’ll get back at things right away …
… He said.

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Glenn Ford Iconic Images …

Inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in 1978.

In 1942 he joined the American Marines for 3 1/2 years then transferred to the navy as a captain , a rank he held for the rest of his life.

Awarded the French Legion of Honor Medal (Legion d’Honneur), and appointed to the rank of Knight of the Legion of Honor in 1992, by the French Government for service in World War II. Created to honor extraordinary contributions to the Republic of France, the Legion of Honor is France’s highest distinction.

“William Holden and I weren’t just good friends.
He was my very best friend. I feel his loss very much still.” 

In 1967 Naval Reserve Officer Lt. Cmdr. Ford (then aged 51) volunteered to serve for three months as a liaison officer attached to a Marine unit, with the Marine rank of full colonel, in Vietnam, and on several occasions endured enemy shelling.In 1967 Naval Reserve Officer Lt. Cmdr. Ford (then aged 51) volunteered to serve for three months as a liaison officer attached to a Marine unit, with the Marine rank of full colonel, in Vietnam, and on several occasions endured enemy shelling.

Went on a jungle mission with a Special Forces team
during the Vietnam War.

Credited with being one of the fastest “guns” in Hollywood westerns; able to draw and fire in 0.4 seconds, he was faster than James Arness
(Matt Dillon of Gunsmoke (1955)) and John Wayne.

Ford and Van Heflin … ‘3:10 to Yuma’

He had intended to portray Hondo Lane in Hondo (1953), but backed out when John Farrow was chosen to direct. Ford and Farrow did not got along while making Plunder of the Sun (1953), causing Ford to lose interest in the role. The role was subsequently portrayed by John Wayne.

His few attempts at playing villains were not generally well-received.
Critic David Thomson complained “3:10 to Yuma” suffered because of Ford’s “inability to be nasty”.

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3:10 to Yuma / Western Classic / Delmer Daves / Glenn Ford

 

“What are you squeezin’ that watch for?
Squeezin’ that watch ain’t gonna stop time.”

– Glenn Ford as Ben Wade / 3:10 to Yuma

DELMER DAVES

Quiet on the set! Master at Work …

One critic has noted the likely influences of German Expressionist film makers in 3:10 to Yuma. Such insight is beyond my ken – so it’s much appreciated. Other, closer to home influences, are more obvious, as from Fred Zinnemann’s High Noon and John Ford’s Classics  Stagecoach,
My Darling Clementine … others.

No color? No Computer Generated Effects?

No problem.

All the unique virtues of Black and Film making are in evidence. Plus more:

high angle … low angle … wide angle … echo shots … close ups … lighting … shot framing … scene composition … dramatic use of Light/Dark/Shadow … Direction …

Nearly every shot in 310 to Yuma is crafted … seamlessly and unpretentiously integrated.

Daves knew it all – used it all …

3:10 to Yuma: Western Classic.

That’s a wrap.

MFW 310 TO YUMA train____________________________________________

310 to Yuma Direction310 to Yuma Direction 2310 to Yuma Direction 3____________________________________________

310 to Yuma - Ford
“How duz a guy get a drink around here?
Featured

Going away for about 10 days …

Rose has signed us up for another Cruise.
This time it’s a 10-day Caribbean Cruise.
On this big ship:

Princess Enchanted Princess Cruise Reviews (2023 UPDATED): Ratings of Princess Enchanted Princess
The Enchanted Princess

WOW!
Leaving Monday.
Flying to Fort Lauderdale (5 hours from Calgary).
Jumping on Ship.
Will hit Anigua, Martinique, St. Lucia, Dominica,
St. Thomas, and Grand Turk.

I’m still a rookie at this Cruising thing so I don’t know what to expect?
Hoping the seas are glassy and sunsets beautiful!


I’m 75 now, so my travelling days may soon be over.
But I’m sure I’ll suffer through it all somehow.
*KOFF*

See you later …

Featured

Who Wuz that Western Movie Star? … Quiz … one last Hint.

I thank everybody for their kind feedback on my annoying QUIZ!
But I did really figure somebody woulda got him right away?
There was indeed some educated guesses to be sure.

OK then … LOL! … this is my last hint:
*Drum roll*
(or at least smoke signals)

He’s not in this pic:

But he IS in this pic

That rumpled hat never gave him away eh?

Featured

Who Wuz that Western Movie Star? … Quiz Part 2

The American West in Film | The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The QUIZ:
Though I thought my previous hints would have given him away …
I’ve recieved a request for an additional hint about
Who wuz that mysterious Western Movie Star?

Actors in Westerns (1960s) Quiz - By MD_Law

Additional Hints:
– Was a prominent Film Actor for over 50 years.


– One of the biggest box-office draws of the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s.

Five of his films have been selected for the National Film Registry 
by the Library of Congress as being
culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant.

Actors in Westerns (1950s) Quiz - By MD_Law

-inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Explore the Best Westerns Art | DeviantArt

I hope these hints will be sufficient?

Featured

2 of My Top Ten Favorite Western Stars … Quiz …

Still workin’ on a couple of
My Top Ten Favorite Westerns Stars.

One of them might surprise ya?

Western #1 By Douglas Lentz, 48% OFF

So I’ll start a bit of a Quiz:

Movie Cowboys | Western movies, Tv westerns, Movie stars

First Clue:
This Star made over 25 Westerns!
Spanning about 40 years!

BIG CLUE:
Seemed to wear the same kind of rumpled cowboy hat in a lot of ’em.

???

OK … No Cheatin!

Western By Douglas Lentz, 55% OFF | acrolandtimbers.com

OK, OK, go ahead and cheat.
Likely won’t help none anyway.

Next Clue coming … (if necessary)

Featured

Folk Music of the 60’s / Musical Interlude …

There’s still a few of us who remember the Folk Era of the 60’s.
It was big and a lot of great music came out of there.
One of my favorite groups of that time was The Brothers Four.
Four guys who could really sing.
This is a favorite of mine:

Hope you like …

Featured

James Stewart Cowboy / Riding on …

“The great thing about the movies … is you’re giving people little … tiny pieces of time … that they never forget.”
– James Stewart


So ends my tribute to James Stewart / Western Hero
one of my Top Ten Favorite Western Stars.
I could go on and on about him because …
James made about 18 Westerns.
Several are considered Western Classics.

You decide:

1939
1950
1950
1952
1953
1954
1955
1957
1961
1962
1962
1964
1965
1966
1968
1968
1970
1976

TWO RODE TOGETHER, James Stewart, 1961' Photo | AllPosters.com | Old western movies, Western film, Western movies

“I’d like people to remember me as someone who was good at his job
and seemed to mean what he said.”
James Stewart

Done Jimmy.

Featured

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance / Oddity No. 2: BILLING Mysteries … Part 2 … The Posters

Movie Posters in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
also seem to be different than what I would have expected.

On every poster James Stewart’s name is Billed above John Wayne’s.
You would at least expect them to be side by side? No?
Even then, Stewart’s name appears first.
And though some might argue that they appear equal in
size, color and text, Stewart’s name is still before Wayne’s.
Again, I wouldn’t expect to see this unless
it was approved by Wayne himself.

It’s possible there’s something going on here
that I don’t know about … ? Contractual agreement?
*shrug?* But there it is.

I wonder though that if The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
came out today the Poster might look like this instead:

But … you know what? Though Jimmy was unquestionably worthy
I wonder if he could have cared at all?

In any case: “This is the West, sir.
When the legend becomes fact print the legend.”

Featured

Dune 2 / March 1 …

Dune: Part Two had its world premiere at the Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City on February 6, 2024 and is set to be released internationally on February 28, 2024 and in the United States on March 1, 2024,
by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Dune: Part Two' Movie Posters and Images

Get Up Close and Personal With Stunning 'Dune: Part Two' Character Posters

Get Up Close and Personal With Stunning 'Dune: Part Two' Character Posters

Denis Villeneuve / Dune 3 Script Almost Finished …
https://variety.com/2023/film/news/denis-villeneuve-dune-3-script-almost-finished-1235829382/

Featured

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance / Oddity No. 2: The BILLING Mystery … Part 1 …

In Movies, Billing is a big deal.
Billing refers to Order, Place, Size, and Color of your name
as it appears on The Marquee, Posters, Advertising, Film Trailer,
and on Screen, etc. – if at all.
In The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
I noticed some interesting Billing anomalies.

Between 1949–1957 and 1959–1974
John Wayne
was in the Top Ten Money Making Stars 25 times!!!

That’s a record number.
This includes 1962 when The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance was made.
So you’d expect that Wayne would be Top Billed on everything, right?
Wrong.
But for some reason (unknown to me), he wasn’t.
Let’s start with the Official Trailer Preview.

James Stewart is Billed first!?
Wayne is Billed Second!:

Both Bills are the same size and configuration …
BUT Wayne’s Bill is still an obvious Second.

I doubt this could have occurred without Wayne’s approval.
Wayne had great respect and friendship with Stewart.
This was later reflected again when Stewart was handpicked by Wayne
for a nice role in Wayne’s final Film: The Shootist (1976).


And it’s notable that both Stars were Billed
ahead of the actual Movie Title Banner itself:


This reflects Stewart’s and Wayne’s Star Power of course –
They were the Draw.

However …
… on the actual Film Screen … things are different:
Wayne is Billed first – as we would have expected.

Stewart is second …

… and both are still Billed before the Film Banner:

Another interesting Billing oddity of that Lee Marvin isn’t Billed at all !!
in most any of the Movie’s advertising –
even though he plays the Title character, Liberty Valance.

Lee had not yet emerged as a Top Star.

That was soon to change.

Next:
We’re going to check the
Billing on the Movie’s Posters.