There’s never a Shepherd around when you need one.
Christmas Favorites 6 : Sleigh Ride
12 DecGiddy up, Giddy up, Let’s go !
Just look at that snow!
Dedicated to Marilyn and Garry over at Serendipity blog.
https://teepee12.com/
Marilyn is a big Roy and Dale fan and this version
of Sleigh Ride is special. It has a bonus song: Jingle Bells
plus Roy does some yodelling! Alright!
Ella! Very nice!
Bing
Jack knows how to do it
This is sweet :
Okay, I’m getting the spirit now !
They Shall Not Grow Old
12 DecThey Shall Not Grow Old
In Theaters December 17 & 27 Only
It’s a Long Way to Tipperary / Pack up Your Troubles in Your old Kit Bag
Credit to GP Cox who brought this my attention.
Pacific Paratrooper / https://pacificparatrooper.wordpress.com/
Fragments From France
by Captain Bruce Bairnsfather
Christmas Favorites 5 : Blue Christmas
11 DecBlue Christmas
Many people believe Blue Chrismas was first done by Elvis, but it was written by Billy Hayes and Jay W. Johnson and first recorded in 1948 by the great Country Crooner Doye O’Dell. (who nobody remembers anymore). There have been many renditions since including Elvis‘.
Somebody forgot to check his gun at the door.
Brenda Lee is another artist who did many great versions of Christmas Carols.
Her phrasing was always brilliant.
This ain’t bad at all …
Shocking how well this works:
Okay, Okay here’s Elvis:
Yeah … short and sweet.
Christmas Favorites 4 : O Little Town of Bethlehem
10 DecChristmas in Coutts
When I was a kid the annual School Christmas Pageant was a staple of Canadian culture. Thus it was in the small town of Coutts in 1958 (?) on the Alberta / Montana border. I was in Grade 4.
Some poor teacher had been assigned to teach all us kids to sing some Christmas Carols. I can imagine that was no easy task.
Yet, over all years I only recall two Christmas Pageants that I was in. The other was in Michichi, Alberta, a very small farm township on the Prairie.
In Coutts, I played a shepherd in our re-enactment of the Nativity. I wore an old purple robe that passed as shepherd getup. Luckily there was no sheep involved so my duties were light.
My pal Bryce Tolley sang O Little Town of Bethlehem. He had a great voice.
All was well.
O Little Town of Bethlehem
The text was written by Phillips Brooks (1835–1893), an Episcopal priest, then rector of Church of the Holy Trinity, Philadelphia and later of Trinity Church, Boston. He was inspired by visiting the village of Bethlehem in the Sanjak of Jerusalem in 1865. Three years later, he wrote the poem for his church, and his organist Lewis Redner (1831-1908) added the music.
If there’s anything Barbra can’t sing beautifully I haven’t found it.
Pat Boone does a nice version. Yeah, he could sing pretty good.
A softer reverence …
Many great versions …
I give you just three.
Christmas Favorites 4 _________ Little Drummer Boy
7 DecLove has no Theology.
By playing all these Christmas Carols, I’m sure some people think I’m promoting Christianity.
I’m not. I’m not Christian. I just love a lot of the Christmas music.
It’s beautiful, uplifting and Joyous.
I hope you feel the same way
The Little Drummer Boy
Wikipedia says: “The Little Drummer Boy” (originally known as “Carol of the Drum“) is a popular Christmas song written by the American classical music composer and teacher Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941. First recorded in 1951 by the Trapp Family Singers, the song was further popularized by a 1958 recording by the Harry Simeone Chorale; the Simeone version was re-released successfully for several years and the song has been recorded many times since.
Christmas Favorites 3 _________ O Holy Night
5 DecIt almost requires a Heavenly Choir to return this piece of music
to the place it comes from.
A Divine Masterpiece.
Attempted my many. Achieved by a few.
I offer a few notable interpretations.
Ahhh … there are a few others,
but I have to stop somewhere …
Christmas Favorites … 2
4 DecI Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
A couple of years ago I discovered this version of
‘I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day’.
It is not new song/poem, but an inspired update.
And although it’s author Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
never wrote it as a Christmas Carol, it’s become
a favorite of many people.
There have been a several Lyric changes/versions over the years.
Some History
Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Heard_the_Bells_on_Christmas_Day says:
“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” is a Christmas carol based on the 1863 poem “Christmas Bells” by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The song tells of the narrator’s despair, upon hearing Christmas bells, that “hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men”. The carol concludes with the bells carrying renewed hope for peace among men.”
It’s said that two personal tragedies inspired the poem: his wife being badly burnt in a fire, and his son going to fight in the American Civil War, where he was badly wounded.
“Longfellow first wrote the poem on Christmas Day in 1863. “Christmas Bells” was first published in February 1865, in Our Young Folks, a juvenile magazine …” “References to the Civil War are prevalent in some of the verses that are not commonly sung”.
In “1872 the poem is known to have been set to music.” by English organist, John Baptiste Calkin.
The poem as evolved through several different versions over the years and in In 1956, Bing Crosby released as a single that reached No. 55 in the Music Vendor survey.
Then Burl Ives put out a version in 50’s? 60’s?
Harry does a great job (1958):
and on and on … with versions by
Frank Sinatra, Sarah McLachlan, The Carpenters … and more.
Sadly, I must agree, that there will never be Peace on Earth.
But I do believe we can find it in ourselves.
Christmas Favorites … 1
3 DecI like Christmas and I love Christmas Carols.
Christmas – like most things – is what you make it.
But this wonderful music already exists.
So I play it.
My lady Rose turned me on to this wonderful version of
my favorite Christmas Carol, Silent Night.
If you haven’t heard it already, I hope you enjoy.
Day Trip to Elbow Falls … Part 2
29 Nov
Fish? Leaf? ?
Look what I found!
This will look great in our garden!
FINALLY !!! CALGARY STAMPEDERS WIN GREY CUP !!!
26 Nov106th GREY CUP GAME
A lot of red on that Cup. Most of it blood.
Do I detect a lion in there?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
After 2 years of devastating losses to teams that didn’t deserve to be on the same field …
AT LAST !!!
Day Trip to Elbow Falls … Part 1
25 NovGod’s careless beauty is thrown o’er the moments
Like the golden coins of my fancy.
– Coins of Gold / Paul Twitchell
On the way … the Rockies ahead
The whole Elbow River basin had been devastated by flood in 2013
which had ravaged the area destroying Park facilities and terrain.
A rugged escarpment.
The Elbow Falls itself is not running high at this time of year.
During Spring runoff it has twice the water flow and very spectacular.
On a beautiful Summer day this is a favoured spot for Lovers to Propose,
for Picnicking, Wedding shots, Hikers, and young folks who
dare to jump into the pool.
continued …
What’s going on with WordPress ???
14 NovYou must have noticed I’ve been doing a lot of editing … and re-Posting on my Posts recently.
This is because some strange things are going with my Blog.
The first thing that started to go wrong was that any time I posted a clip from You Tube it often didn’t appear on the the Post. It was fine in the Preview, but screwed somehow up in the Posting. And each I tried to fix it, it wouldn’t fix. But I couldn’t tell that until I Posted. Very aggravating.
The other thing was line spacing. It sometimes added extra spacing or none at all. It didn’t look very good. And I care about how my Posts look.
These a couple of other ongoing issues have required me to keep Editing and Posting until things come out correctly.
Of course, I also sometimes make mistakes – typos and such – which I am inclined to correct. But not the extent that I’ve been having to do lately.
I don’t know if the video issue a You Tube fault or a WordPress fault??? I just know it never happened before.
I hope it clears up by itself because it’s a mystery down here.
Soooo … just so you know. Sorry.
the white album …
14 NovBirthday
In the early 60’s two scruffy kids from Liverpool named John Lennon and Paul McCartney
formed a skiffle group/band and started banging out some tunes.
formed a skiffle group/band and started banging out some tunes.
Though they surely had some dreams, I highly doubt they had any idea they would soon be at the vanguard of a
Renaissance Era that literally exploded into an immense wave of change
that swept around the planet and forever changed things.
Renaissance Era that literally exploded into an immense wave of change
that swept around the planet and forever changed things.
So … on November 22, 1968 the Beatles released the White Album. This is it’s 50th Anniversary.
It followed Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Magical Mystery Tour
and is possibly their most perplexing album.
There must have been tremendous pressure on these guys to continuously produce something
that measured up to – or surpassed – their previous work.
And we all waited very impatiently for whatever they were going to do next.
It followed Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Magical Mystery Tour
and is possibly their most perplexing album.
There must have been tremendous pressure on these guys to continuously produce something
that measured up to – or surpassed – their previous work.
And we all waited very impatiently for whatever they were going to do next.
Yet I didn’t buy The White Album. I was probably broke at the time.
I was saving every nickel to go to Art College.
I was saving every nickel to go to Art College.
Anyway … I really was perplexed by the White Album. As many were. It was large … and so different.
It wasn’t what anybody expected. Not that there wasn’t a lot of good music on there.
There was. But some was forgettable too.
I still don’t own it today, but I can get any tune from it that I want for free via YouTube.
Sometimes my guitar gently weeps … but I’m still doing pretty good.
while my guitar gently weeps
Remembering …
8 Nov
Highland Laddie / The Regimental Pipes And Drums Of The Calgary Highlanders
1944
Writing on Stone Provincial Park … A Photo Essay … Part 2
5 Nov[/audio]
from heaven to earth / nicholas gunn
What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night.
It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime.
It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.– Blackfoot proverb
Take a Tour …
Amazing what God can do with a pile of rocks …
and a few pounds of clay.
Can you see the deer crossing the river on the left?
Just beautiful ….
I Put a Spell on You …
30 OctThe are many good versions of I Put a Spell on You,
but just as some Actors seem to be born to play a certain role,
some Singers seem to born for a certain song.
This is Bonnie Tyler’s song.
Other Favorites …
I coulda put about 10 more here …
Have a fun Halloween folks …
The TV we’re waiting for …
24 OctThese are the shows Rose and I watch together.
We’ve been very patient.
Writing on Stone Provincial Park … A Photo Essay … Part 1
23 Oct
As One / Denean
My post on Sedona got me thinking about a similar place in Alberta that the Natives also regarded as a Sacred site.
Writing on Stone Provincial Park is located on Alberta / Montana border.
Writing on Stone is regarded as a Sacred area by the Natives.
Besides the Petroglyphs, this is also a wonderful place for Camping, hiking, swimming and there’s lots of wildlife.
My Favorite Westerns Photo
Net Image
The Milk River
The water is shallow, slow, and warm – with a nice beach.
The purple hills in the background are The Sweetgrass Hills in Montana.
The Petroglyphs
The amount of Petroglyphs/Writing is extensive. They are now protected and accessible only by Tour.
Net Photo
Net Photo
Net Photo
Net Photo – Blood? Real or simulated? Can’t say.
You might say the most impressive of the Petroglyphs is
The Battle Scene
Protected by fence. Previously many of the Petroglyphs had been defaced with graffiti.
Click on the image to read the plaque.
Above: an inaccurate mock up I made of the images. Otherwise they are very faint and hard to see.
Some people might think that Canadian History is not as interesting and exciting as American History.
That’s not true. We’ve just never developed a Film Industry that took advantage of it.
UPDATE: Tyrone Power: Zorro: Swashbuckling Essentials: The Clinch! Part 1 …
16 OctRight after I claim my prize for the Longest Title in Blog 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 Swashbuckling Essential :
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.
Clinch #Two
Let’s watch that Classic Sword Fight again:
Keeping Score?:
3 Candle Slashes
2 Clinches
8 Threats
6 Taunts
5 Insults
Conclusion:
One dead badguy
Zorro’s Rapier from the Mask of Zorro
(Sweet)
A Swiss Sabre
(Lethal)
“En Garde!”
Next:
The Clinch: Part 2
The Legend of Ben Hall … The End
9 OctFilmmaking is not all glory
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.
Farewell Ben
Just in time for Thanksgiving
The Guns of Ben Hall – Part 3
9 Oct
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
Sedona water hole …
2 Oct
Sedona Spirit / Keith O’Sullivan
I’ve been going to Sedona, Arizona on and off since the 70’s. Love that place. Back then although Sedona and it’s Waterhole weren’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. ??
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.
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!
October 2 … 2018
2 Oct
Home from the Forest / Gordon Lightfoot
We’re not ready for this …
Goodness! …
is not really what I said.
What’s that noise?
Rose! I can’t shovel the snow … there’s a Magpie on my snow shovel.
The Guns of Ben Hall – Part 2
24 Sep
Whiskey in the Jar / The Seekers
The legendary Aussie Folk Group does the Honors.
Cap and Ball Revolvers
Ben (Jack Martin) with his .38 calibre Tranter revolver and a .36 calibre Colt Navy.
Don’t know how Ben acquired this. It likely wasn’t borrowed.
Let’s make some Bullets
Ingredients:
Lead; bullet moulds; fire.
Method:
Melt the lead.
Pour it into the mould.
Extract the bullet.
The lads are using Buckshot as a source of lead.
They seem to have two different moulds:
One for Round Shot and another for conventional Bullets.
Casting Roundball
Loading Cap and Ball
Ingredients:
Gunpowder; wadding; bullets; percussion caps.
Wadding is optional.
Method:
If it takes 30 seconds to load one chamber
then 5 chambers would take about 2:50.
An unacceptable amount of time in a gunfight.
Unloading Cap and Ball
Fire the gun.
Next:
The Guns of Ben Hall – Part 3
The Guns of Ben Hall – Part 1
19 Sep
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.
Another of Ben’s revolvers:
Most of the gun images are from:
Ben Hall Gallery
https://www.benhallaustralianbushranger.com/p/placesmaps.html
Next:
Ben’s Hall’s Guns – Part 2
Coen Brothers Western TV Show for Netflix
17 Sep
Leftover Biscuits
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Coen Brothers Western TV Show for Netflix
Yep you read that right.
Stories Live Forever
People Don’t
See what a mean about Reviews!
That’s a LARGE gulf between 60 and 90!
Use your gut.
I’m thinking this would definitely be fun to watch.
Liam Neeson – Billed 4rth?? Smaller Part?
The Backcountry. Let’s keep it that way.
The Coen Brothers – not your average DIrector / Writers
Roadsters at the Mall …
15 SepSpotted these 2 old roadsters at the nearby Coop.
The kind of figurehead you guard.
1928
Falllllll 2018 …
15 SepFall in Alberta / September 13
Hmmmm …
… maybe we won’t barbeque today.
Keep going boys ! It might get worse !
I’m sure things will return to normal soon.
I just can’t remember what that was?
Yoho Natural Bridge
13 Sep
Long River / Gordon Lightfoot
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 Cree Native 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.
Don’t go in that damn water.
Net Photo – Lake of the Hanging Glaciers
Burt Reynolds, Cowboy …
8 Sep
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.
MFW Rating: 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)
Musical Interlude …
3 Sep
Do you believe in providence?
4 Brothers
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.”
I’ll drink to that.
If we’re keeping score: Post 1005
For love.
The Legend of Ben Hall / Part 3
30 Aug
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.
Awards
Next:
The Legend of Ben Hall / Part 4
Coffee at Wickaninnish …
28 Aug
Light of the Seven
Like a dream that happened long ago.
Just visiting. We can’t afford this.
Leave the bottle …
A joy to share.
The Legend of Ben Hall / Part 2
26 Aug
The irony of Ben Hall is that he seems to have been a decent chap. Not a thug.
Through misfortune he became a Bushranger.
Jack Martin was perfectly cast for the role of Ben Hall.
Next:
The Legend of Ben Hall / Part 3
The Legend of Ben Hall / Part 1
25 Aug
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 Australian bush 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.
Next:
The Legend of Ben Hall / Part 2
Fire! Vernon Holiday
20 Aug
Timeless Love / Burton Cummings
Forest Fires
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.
Maybe things were going to be OK after all?
We’ll see …
