Henry Hathaway Director of Westerns / The Last Round-Up / 1934

16 Oct


The Last Round-Up / Vivian Blaine / Songwriter Billy Hill / 1933

Songwriter Billy Hill (1899 – 1940) wrote several Western Classic’s including  “Old Pine Tree“,”Wagon Wheels“, and “Empty Saddles“.

The Last Round-Up / 1934

Zane Grey’s “The Border Legion” must be a helluva story because it was adapted to film 5 times – in 1918, 1924, 1930, and in 1940. The The Last Round-Up (1934) was also based on the novel.

IMDB says: “One of over 700 Paramount Productions, filmed between 1929 and 1949, which were sold to MCA/Universal in 1958 for television distribution, and have been owned and controlled by Universal ever since. However, because of legal complications, this particular title was not included in the original television package and may not have ever been televised.

“A nitrate print of this film survives in the UCLA Film and Television Archives, and is not listed for preservation.”

MFW: They might want to rethink that. We all know that some old movies have been ‘Lost’, but to deliberately decide not to preserve/save these old movies is unacceptable. Once they gone, they are gone for good. Some come to be valued much more as time goes by.

Only one Poster.
No Trailers – No clips.
Very few images of any kind.
But plenty of Lobby Cards.

Reviews

“6.5” out of 10 from IMBD? … not bad.

AllMovie is not so generous … “1.5” out of 5

Co-Star Barbara Fritchie was Billed as Barbara Adams. She made 6 movies between 1934 and 1935. The Last Round-Up was her first. There is very little other Bio information.

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So long Tom …

15 Oct

The Traveling Wilburys 

George Harrison – lead vocals (1st, 4th, and 7th choruses), slide guitar, backing vocals
Tom Petty – lead vocals (verses), bass guitar
Jeff Lynne – lead vocals (2nd, 5th, and 6th choruses), electric rhythm guitar
Roy Orbison – lead vocals (3rd chorus), electric rhythm guitar
Bob Dylan – acoustic guitar, backing vocals
Jim Keltner – drums, backing vocals (in video)

Well it’s all right, riding around in the breeze
Well it’s all right, if you live the life you please
Well it’s all right, doing the best you can
Well it’s all right, as long as you lend a hand
You can sit around and wait for the phone to ring (end of the line)
Waiting for someone to tell you everything (end of the line)
Sit around and wonder what tomorrow will bring (end of the line)
Maybe a diamond ring
Well it’s all right, even if they say you’re wrong
Well it’s all right, sometimes you gotta be strong
Well it’s all right, as long as you got somewhere to lay
Well it’s all right, everyday is judgment day
Maybe somewhere down the road aways (end of the line)
You’ll think of me, wonder where I am these days (end of the line)
Maybe somewhere down the road when somebody plays (end of the line)
Purple haze
Well it’s all right, even when push comes to shove
Well it’s all right, if you got someone to love
Well it’s all right, everything’ll work out fine
Well it’s all right, we’re going to the end of the line
Don’t have to be ashamed of the car I drive (end of the line)
I’m just glad to be here, happy to be alive (end of the line)
It don’t matter if you’re by my side (end of the line)
I’m satisfied
Well it’s all right, even if you’re old and grey
Well it’s all right, you still got something to say
Well it’s all right, remember to live and let live
Well it’s all right, the best you can do is forgive
Well it’s all right, riding around in the breeze
Well it’s all right, if you live the life you please
Well it’s all right, even if the sun don’t shine
Well it’s all right, we’re going to the end of the line

Songwriters: Bob Dylan / George Harrison / Jeff Lynne /
Roy K Orbison / Tom Petty

 

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Winter’s Warning …

2 Oct

They said it was going to snow. This didn’t surprise us – or scare us – much. It’s common to have at least one snow in October. Winter’s Warning I call it. Then things go back to Fall – and often stay that way up until the end of November – or even later.

But … in keeping with modern weather trends … we didn’t just get snow. We got a blizzard. On the worst possible day – a Monday work day. There’s going to be a ton of accidents and misery. Because no matter how regular such an event might be here, people just never seem to be ready for it.

Have a look:

Better get out my snow shovel …

But along side all the other horrific events in this world lately,
I won’t trade you.

Bluenose … a photo essay … Part 6

2 Oct


the dophins / it’s a beautiful day

Going Home

Time to drop sail

Nine hours on the Bluenose It was perfect Captain. Thanks.

Moving on to new adventures

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Henry Hathaway Director of Westerns / To the Last Man / Part 4

27 Sep


Oh! Susanna/ Burl Ives

To the Last Man / 1933

Randolph and Shirley … continued

Ya, I know that Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm isn’t a Western.
And NO, I’m not starting a new blog called My Favorite Farmers.
Nothing against farmers, but I just found this connection between Shirley and Randolph to be interesting.
Still do.
They made one more movie together in 1939.
It was a Western.

Susannah of the Mounties 

A Shirley Temple movie all the way.
Randolph is not even on the banner.

Flaming Arrows! Cracking Rifles!

But peace can come at at price 

 Wikipedia says:
“As an act of good will, Temple swore in all members of the Blackfoot tribe as members of the Shirley Temple Police Force while Temple was made an honorary member of the Blackfoot tribe and given the name Bright Shining Star.”

(Guess I got that one right)

Shirley was now 11-years-old.
Still a cute kid, but …

Oh Susannah …
Don’t you cry for me … 

Becoming a young lady … 

… a confident young lady.

Next … To the Last Man
Part 5 Esther Ralston

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Henry Hathaway Director of Westerns / To the Last Man / Part 3

20 Sep


It’s a Beautiful Day

To the Last Man / 1933

Randolph and Shirley 

“Then the traveler in the dark
Thanks you for your tiny spark,
How could he see where to go,
If you did not twinkle so?”

Not cute at all. *cough*

When I was a kid I hated Shirley Temple. On Saturday mornings I had to share TV time with my little sister – who always seemed to be watching a Shirley Temple movie. I just knew that Roy, Randolph, Rory, Cisco, and Hopalong (or some other Western Star) was on the other channel. It was infuriating watching that little cherub dancing around when decent cowboys were galloping into the sunset! Many years later I came to appreciate Shirley as the very special person and talent that she was. Today when I look back on it all, I really have to marvel that she was the Top Box Office Star for four consecutive years: 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938! Partly because I figured only women and girls were watching her movies!? It sure wasn’t me – or any guy that I knew. Could women and girls really have comprised that huge an audience?? Especially during the Great Depression? I still haven’t figured it out. It’s safe to say however, that Shirley – her incredible personality and talent – was a very important person during those very difficult and troubled days. She seemed a person born for the moment.

So … 5-year-old Shirley had an uncredited bit role in To the Last Man which Starred Randolph Scott. You can see on the poster below that she got no Billing in the movie.That would soon change. More than just a dimple and some curls.

I think Randy and Shirley got along just fine. 

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm 

Flash ahead 5 years … to 1938. To Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. Shirley is 10-years-old. Her Star has started to fade, but she still commands the Bill – as the Banner and Poster show. Randolph is second on the Bill now. Quite a turn around.

No CGI necessary 
But they still got along just fine

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

BY JANE TAYLOR
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.

When the blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.

Then the traveler in the dark
Thanks you for your tiny spark,
How could he see where to go,
If you did not twinkle so?

In the dark blue sky you keep,
Often through my curtains peep
For you never shut your eye,
Till the sun is in the sky.

As your bright and tiny spark
Lights the traveler in the dark,
Though I know not what you are,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.

Next … To the Last Man
Part 4

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Invasion of the Yellow Jacket Wasps …

18 Sep

See this guy? Some of you will know him well. He’s called a Yellow Jacket Wasp. And sadly, he has been a problem these last 2 years around here. Seems like anytime you have a hot dry Summer you get a lot of these guys. ?? Last year they built a nest under our back step. I tried to co-exist with them, but after a while it just didn’t work. They were getting into the house. We couldn’t barbecue or sit out back either – they would land on our food – or us. Their sting is pretty bad. I once got stung by one and I could still feel it 2 years later.

Finally, I decided I had to do something about them. I tried to block the hole to their nest – hoping they would re-locate. Didn’t work. Then I sprayed Wasp Killer into the hole when they were asleep. That didn’t work either.

Finally, a friend told me about this stuff.

Rescue Yellow Jacket Killer

It’s made by an outfit named Rescue and called Yellow Jacket Killer. I didn’t really want to kill them – or anything … but …

Fill the bag half way with water and hang it up, he said. “There’s something in there that attracts them.” DON’T hang it near your door, barbecue or picnic table though, he advised.

I was skeptical …

But then … I was amazed. They were swarming around it instantly. It started killing them … and killing them. They couldn’t wait go in there and die. I felt like Mickey with the magic broom sticks … like it was out of control … it was Yellow Jacket BootHill … in my backyard. The guys under the steps disappeared pretty quickly. But others kept coming. The neighbor accused me of Yellow Jacket genocide …

It’s slowed down a bit now, but hasn’t stopped. You see that black mass in the bag? That’s dead Yellow Jackets. Hundreds of them.

I pray that Yellow Jackets don’t hold some essential place in the balance of nature? But why else would they exist?

If they’d just built there nest some place else …

I’m open to any solutions that might get rid of them without killing any. ??

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Henry Hathaway Director of Westerns / To the Last Man / Part 2

16 Sep


the circle / byrds 

To the Last Man / 1933

Now … where was I? Oh yeah, To the Last Man Casting. I’ll get back to Shirley in a minute because she’s worthy of a lot more space.

Meanwhile:

Our Hero, 35 year-old Randolph was a pretty terrible Actor in 1933 – very wooden. But became very good later on and is indisputably one of the greatest Western Movie Actors of all time –  Starring in over 50 Westerns.

Esther Ralston plays a pretty hard bitten gal in the movie (guess that’s how Grey wrote it). But she’s not short on looks.

Noah Beery is a back shooting badguy – again – with his hillbilly partner John Carradine.

Colorized Lobby Cards.

Some bad karma chases our hero all the way back to his youth.

Jack LaRue plays a lecherous thug.

Fuzzy Knight supplies some comic relief.

A Review or Two

Original book cover

Illustrations by Frank Spradling

Next … Part 4
To the Last Man

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So long Facebook …

15 Sep

I’ve had my issues with Facebook over the years. Frankly, my main issue is that I’ve never felt safe on there. Now I recently learned that your Facebook account can be cloned. People can create another site that appears to be yours – without your knowledge or permission – and use it for whatever purposes they wish – and people will think it is you.

Since Facebook apparently can’t stop this, I’m getting out. I suppose it’s not Facebook’s fault – the Net is rife with crooks – and perhaps the chances of such a thing occurring are slim – but, for me, this is unacceptable.

Too bad.

 

Henry Hathaway Director of Westerns / To the Last Man / Part 1

11 Sep


only time

To the Last Man / 1933

“The Law of Vengeance is the Law of the Land!”

“A Lawless Breed in a Lawless Land!”

“A Fight to the Finish … which could only lead to … Death!”

You might think that these old Westerns are pretty formula – same Director, same Cast, etc. But when you dig a bit deeper you’ll find something special about each one. And To the Last Man has a couple of surprises. 

To the Last Man / 1933

It’s 1933 – the Great Depression – the Dirty Thirties – and Henry Hathaway has just completed To the Last Man – the last of 5 Westerns that he Directed in 1933 – 4 of which Starred young Randolph Scott.

One special feature of all of these movies was that they were created from books written by legendary Western writer, Zane Grey. This assured us a good yarn, with strong characters and dialogue – unlike many of the pulp Westerns of the era.

This sometimes made for some unusual story telling. For instance, Scott (the Star of To the Last Man) doesn’t make his appearance in the movie until about the 23:00 minute mark! – and the movie is only 1:08 minutes long. Very few films would hold back the appearance of it’s Star for that long!

The Cast

Yes these movies often used a cast of Stock players (Scott, Noah Beery, Buster Crabbe, Harry Carey, Raymond Hatton, Fuzzy Knight …)
BUT … let’s look at bit closer at the Casting list for To the Last Man: 

Notice anything special? Any names that jump out at you?
If you say John Carradine I’ll definitely give you point.
BUT that’s not the name I’m talking about.
Waaaaay down on the list among  the Uncredited Cast names …

See her?

Holy Doodle!
It’s Shirley Temple!

Yes, this was one of Shirley’s very first movies!
5-year-old Shirley is not a Star yet (obviously) and despite a line or two of dialogue
she gets no Credit.

I’m pretty sure that nobody at that time had any clue that in about 2 years Shirley would become one for the Biggest Movie Stars in Hollywood History
and the Movie Box-Office Champion for the consecutive years 1935-36-37-38.

Twinkle Twinkle … 

Next … Part 2
To the Last Man

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Bluenose … a photo essay … Part 5

1 Sep


The Old Captain / Brillig

From bow to stern …
Yesteryear

One more turn at the wheel.

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Frank McCarthy / Western Artist Part 2

29 Aug


Long Hard Ride / Marshall Tucker Band / 1976

After a while Frank was encouraged to go purely to Western Fine Art Painting. He did – and turned out a huge amount of quality work. I’m posting just a few of his images here.

Frank McCarthy

Western Paintings

Amazing! You can see the brilliance of his work. 

A great Western Artist.  

 

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Frank McCarthy / Western Artist Part 1

29 Aug


Heard it in a Love Song / Marshall Tucker Band

Just to get something up on my board I thought I’d post some images of Western Art. Of course, it turned into a mammoth project. But a good one.

There is a lot of great Western Artwork around – and many excellent Western Artists. In fact, if I was to dedicate this blog to Western Art alone, I would have enough material to exhibit on a daily basis for a very looong time.

Among the many exceptional Western Artists was a guy named Frank McCarthy.

Frank McCarthy

Biography

Born in New York City, he studied under George Bridgman and Reginald Marsh at the Art Students League of New York then attended the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn.

Types of works

McCarthy began his art career as a commercial illustrator, opening his own studio in 1948. He did illustrations for most of the paperback book publishers, magazines, including Colliers, Argosy, and True, movie companies, and advertisements.

Among McCarthy’s film poster work were The Ten Commandments, The Great Escape, The Train, The Glory Guys, The Dirty Dozen, Dark of the Sun, Day of Anger, Once Upon a Time in the West, and in conjunction with Robert McGinnis Thunderball, You Only Live Twice and On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

McCarthy left the commercial art world in 1968 in order to concentrate on Western paintings. In 1975 he was invited to join the Cowboy Artists of America. His 1972 painting “The Last Crossing” was used by The Marshall Tucker Band in 1976 for the cover of their fifth studio album, Long Hard Ride. He was inducted into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame in 1997.

Death

McCarthy died of lung cancer in 2002 at his home of 30 years in Sedona, Arizona.

Frank McCarthy Western Movie Posters



“All glory is fleeting.”

 What could be more Western that Cowboys fighting dinosaurs?

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musical interlude …

28 Aug

…. while i work on a couple of things.

Bluenose … a photo essay … Part 4

21 Aug


fishermans blues / the waterboys

Bluenose / Part 4

Legendary Bluenose Skipper: Captain Angus Walters
with the Fisherman’s Cup

After lunch … 

Weigh anchor! 

Heading for open water … 

A fair wind rising!

Make sail!

Haul away boys!

Way hay and up she rises!

Mainsail.

Under way!Before the wind … 


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Jerry Lewis … Cowpoke

21 Aug

“I am probably the most selfish man you will ever meet in your life. No one gets the satisfaction or the joy that I get out of seeing kids realize there is hope.”

Jerry Lewis made one Western.
It was called Pardners – with his Soul brother, Dean Martin. 
Somewhere they’re having a good chuckle right now.
Jerry Lewis 
1926 – 2017
Laaaaaaaaaadyyyyyyyy !!!!

It’s been a hell of a slice Jerry. 

Thanks.

Bluenose … Part 3

11 Aug


Bluenose / The Original Houghton Weavers

Bluenose / Part 3

Time to swab the decks.

A mop in both hands!

Hosing ‘er down.

I might have done more talking than swabbing.

Polishing the bell is an special assignment. 

And a joyful one.

Those portholes were tarnished!

Repairing a turnbuckle.

Learning some knots.

Charting course.

Modern navigation.

On course – Mahone Bay

A turn at the helm!
A dream come true!

Steady as she goes.

Bringing her in.

Mahone Bay.

Ready anchor!

Sploosh!

Time for lunch.

Coming Up!: Set Sails!!

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Email problems …

11 Aug

I havent been able to access my email since I have been on this trip. Therefore I am not able to check updates from other blogs. Sorry. But I will be back home in a couple of days and I will get up to date asap. Thank you.

BLUENOSE 2 … Part 2

8 Aug

ggggg
We Rise Again / Raylene Rankin

Bluenose / Part 2

Casting Off!

Rose working the lines!

Like a pro!

Heading out.

A promise of wind. 
Could we ask for a more beautiful day?

Clearing the Point. 
Lunenburg behind.

An expert tells us the story of the Bluenose.

Coffee time … but don’t ring that bell. 

Heading for Mahone Bay. 
Hoping for some wind after lunch. 

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BLUENOSE 2 … Part 1

5 Aug

On Saturday, Rose and I head for Niagara Falls, Ontario. My Summer Holidays. We’ll be gone 9 days so I don’t know if I’ll be able to post anything during that time. I’ll try.
I was born in Ontario, but I’ve never been back there since I was 2 years old. This is going to be interesting.


Fare Thee Well Love / The Rankin Family

Lunenburg, Nova Scotia / July 28, 2016

Last year however, my Summer Holiday was extra special – a gift from Rose – a sail on the Bluenose 2 Schooner – the only item on my bucket list. And this was to be the first sail of what they called Crew for the Day – where they take just a few folks as guest crew for the day. It cost 500 bucks, but it was worth every dime.

Building up to it though, had 2 fears : the weather – would it be windy, rainy? … foggy … or what? And sea sickness. I hadn’t been out on the ocean for a long time and if there was going to large swells, well … how would I handle it? I didn’t know …


We were up at dawn and headed down to the dock …

Clear sky … no wind.

Rendezvous at Bluenose Store … first to arrive.

Muster. There’s about 12 of us.
Captain Phil Watson fills us in.

Peek inside … lots of Bluenoses.

They give us a Bluenose windbreaker and a t-shirt.
We head down to the dock. 

Permission to board. 

Ready to go … 

Crew introduction.

That gal looks heavy, but she was a hell of a Seaman/Woman.

Everybody was great.

Head below to sign in. 

A bit more orientation … 

… that’s port side. No smirking. 

Waiting to cast off … 

 

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Sam Shepard … Cowboy

1 Aug

“When you hit a wall – of your own imagined limitations – just kick it in.” 
― Sam Shepard

Sam Shepard

Samuel Shepard Rogers IV is an American playwright, actor, and television and film director. He is the author of several books of short stories, essays, and memoirs, and received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1979 for his play Buried Child. Shepard was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of pilot Chuck Yeager in The Right Stuff (1983). Shepard received the PEN/Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater Award as a master American dramatist in 2009.

Awards:

Won Obie Award for Best Distinguished Play(s): 1966 Chicago, Icarus’s Mother, Red Cross; 1967 La Turista; 1968 Forensic and the Navigator, Melodrama Play; 1973 The Tooth of Crime
1975 Won Obie Award for Best Playwriting: Action
1977 Won Obie Award for Best New American Play: Curse of the Starving Class
1979 Won Obie Award for Best Playwriting: Buried Child
1979 Pulitzer Prize for Drama: Buried Child
1980 Won Obie Award for Sustained Achievement
1984 Won Obie Award for Best New American Play: Fool for Love
1984 Won Obie Award for Best Direction: Fool for Love
1984 Nominated Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor: The Right Stuff
1985 Nominated BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay: Paris, Texas
1986 Won Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play: A Lie of the Mind
1986 Won New York Drama Critics’ Circle for Best Play: A Lie of the Mind
1986 Won Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Play: A Lie of the Mind
1992 Won American Academy of Arts and Letters – Gold Medal for Drama
1994 Inducted American Theatre Hall of Fame
1996 NominatedTony Award for Best Play: Buried Child
1997 Nominated Lone Star Film & Television Award for Best TV Supporting Actor: Hallmark Hall of Fame: “Lily Dale”
1999 Nominated Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: Dash and Lilly
1999 Nominated Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Miniseries or TV Film: Dash and Lilly
2000 Nominated Tony Award for Best Play: True West
2001 Nominated Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Acting Ensemble: Black Hawk Down
2008 Nominated SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor – TV Movie or Miniseries: Ruffian

Born Samuel Shepard Rogers IV in Fort Sheridan, Illinois, he worked on a ranch as a teenager. His father, Samuel Shepard Rogers, Jr., was a teacher and farmer who served in the United States Army Air Forces as a bomber pilot during World War II; Shepard has characterized him as “a drinking man, a dedicated alcoholic”. His mother, Jane Elaine (née Schook), was a teacher and a native of Chicago, Illinois. Shepard was forced to support his mother and brother when his father’s farm lapsed into insolvency. After graduating from Duarte High School in 1961, he briefly studied agriculture at Mt. San Antonio College, where he became enamored with the oeuvre of Samuel Beckett, jazz, and abstract expressionism. Shepard soon dropped out to join a touring repertory group, the Bishop’s Company.

After securing a position as a busboy at The Village Gate … after winning six Obie Awards between 1966-1968, Shepard emerged as a viable screenwriter … drummed sporadically from 1967 through 1971 with psychedelic folk band The Holy Modal Rounders … (1968).

Shepard’s early science fiction play The Unseen Hand (1969) would influence Richard O’Brien’s stage musical The Rocky Horror Show. Cowboy Mouth—a collaboration with then-mistress Patti Smith—was staged for one night at The American Place Theater in April 1971, providing early exposure for the future punk rock singer; seeking to distance himself from Smith and his substance abuse, Shepard relocated with his wife and son to London in the early 1970’s. Returning to America in 1975, he moved to the 20-acre Flying Y Ranch in Mill Valley, California and served for a semester as Regents’ Professor of Drama at the University of California, Davis.

Shepard accompanied Bob Dylan on the Rolling Thunder Revue of 1975 as the ostensible screenwriter of the surrealist Renaldo and Clara (1978) … His diary of the tour (Rolling Thunder Logbook) was published by Penguin Books in 1978. A decade later, Dylan and Shepard co-wrote the 11-minute “Brownsville Girl“, included on Dylan’s Knocked Out Loaded (1986) album and later compilations.

In 1975, he was named playwright-in-residence at the Magic Theatre, where many of his notable works (including his Family Trilogy: Buried Child [1978], Curse of the Starving Class [1978], and True West [1980]) received their premier productions. Some critics expand this grouping to a quintet which includes Fool for Love (1983) and A Lie of the Mind (1985).

Shepard began his acting career in earnest when he was cast as the handsome land baron in Terrence Malick’s Days of Heaven (1978), opposite Richard Gere and Brooke Adams. This led to other important films and roles, most notably his portrayal of Chuck Yeager in The Right Stuff (1983), earning him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. By 1986, one of his plays, Fool for Love, was being made into a film directed by Robert Altman; his play A Lie of the Mind was Off-Broadway with an all-star cast including Harvey Keitel and Geraldine Page; he was living with Jessica Lange; and he was working steadily as a film actor—all of which put him on the cover of Newsweek magazine.

Throughout the years, Shepard has done a considerable amount of teaching on writing plays and other aspects of theatre. His classes and seminars have occurred at various theatre workshops, festivals, and universities.

Shepard was elected to The American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1986. He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1986.

In 2000, Shepard decided to repay a debt of gratitude to the Magic Theatre by staging his play The Late Henry Moss as a benefit in San Francisco. The cast included Nick Nolte, Sean Penn, Woody Harrelson, and Cheech Marin. The limited, three-month run was sold out.

In 2001, Shepard had a notable role of General William F. Garrison in the box office hit and cult classic movie Black Hawk Down. Although he was cast in a supporting role, it reinvigorated interest in Shepard among the public and critics alike.

He performed Spalding Gray‘s final monologue Life Interrupted for its audio release through Macmillan Audio in 2006.

In 2007, Shepard contributed banjo to Patti Smith’s cover of Nirvana’s song “Smells Like Teen Spirit” on her album Twelve.

Although many artists have had an influence on Shepard’s work, one of the most significant has been actor-director Joseph Chaikin, a veteran of the Living Theatre and founder of a group called the Open Theatre. The two have often worked together on various projects, and Shepard acknowledges that Chaikin has been a valuable mentor.

… publication of the collection Day out of Days: Stories. The book includes “short stories, poems and narrative sketches … that developed from dozens of leather-bound notebooks [Shepard] has carried with him over the years.”

See you Sam

 

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Hombre (1967) Page updated …

27 Jul

Hombre (1967)

Favorites Page updated …

Hombre: Hey, I got a question for you.
Boone: What’s that?
Hombre: How are you going to get down that hill?

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One Eyed Jacks added to Favorites Pages …

26 Jul

One Eyed Jacks (1961)

Photo manipulation by My Favorite Westerns.com

Henry Hathaway Director of Westerns / Man of the Forest / 1933

25 Jul


home from the forest / lightfoot

Man of the Forest / 1933

I got stuck a bit on this one for. My impression was that this film was more popular than most films in it’s time. I wanted to verify that, but there’s not a lot of history on many of these early Westerns. So my investigation dragged on, but … it has some pretty nice posters and images.

Scott looks a bit like and early Errol Flynn.
Fortunately he later turfed the ‘stache’.

No Trailers available.
However Man of the Forest is classified Public Domain.
http://publicdomainmovies.net/movie/man-of-the-forest

This is one of 20 Zane Grey stories, filmed by Paramount in the 1930s, which they sold to Favorite Films for re-release, circa 1949-1950. The failure of Paramount, the original copyright holder, to renew the film’s copyright resulted in it falling into public domain, meaning that virtually anyone could duplicate and sell a VHS/DVD copy of the film. Therefore, many of the versions of this film available on the market are either severely (and usually badly) edited and/or of extremely poor quality, having been duped from second- or third-generation (or more) copies of the film. (From Internet Movie Database IMDB)

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Star Trek Discovery … ?

18 Jul

The brilliant trailers have us salivating for this next incarnation of
Star Trek …
but continuous setbacks have now slotted it for Fall 2017 …

Then there’s questions about it accessibility when if finally arrives. 

Just have to wait and see.

Grrrrrrrr rrr r r r r r …

“Im getting damn ornery.”

 

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Calgary Stampede Champions 2017

17 Jul

https://myfavoritewesterns.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/smoking-gun-lianna-rose-alt-country-singer-songwriter.mp3
Smoking Gun / Lianna Rose 


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Wild Bunch Page added …

13 Jul

After years of procrastinating, I’ve finally gotten around to adding my
Wild Bunch page …

“’bout damn time!”

I still have some stuff to add to it, but it’s huge already.

Hope you like it.

Tombstone Rashomon …

4 Jul

Some folks around Tombstone got restless.

O.K. CORRAL
HAS MANY STORIES

The Fab Four

Alex Cox and DOG Holiday

A cast of thousands.

Tombstone Rashomon to be filmed at Old Tucson Studios.

Epic.

Like I said: must be a hoot.

 

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Independence Day / 2017

4 Jul


Battle Hymn of the Republic

Honoring our American Friends on
Independence Day

A special nod to GP Cox over at Pacific Paratrooper
https://pacificparatrooper.wordpress.com/

A Day To Celebrate Canada 150 Birthday

4 Jul

A Canadian friend celebrating Canada’s 150th Birthday. Hurrah !

The Orange & Brown Photography blog

                                                    A Day To Celebrate Canada 150 Birthday

                                                              Canada Sesquicentennial !!!

                                                            A Morning at Confederation Park

As a Photographer on Canada Day I Began my Canada Day with a Pancake breakfast down at Calgary Confederation Park to see the unavailing of the 1967 Time Capsule. Before the Time Capsule was opened by the Mayor. There was a free Pancake breakfast by stampede caravan. I took this picture of the 1967  time Capsule with my Canon 70 D.

Capsule Canon 70D ISO 100

The Time Capsule was open by mayor Nenshi at 11 Am on a beautiful hot sunny July 1’st . Inside the Capsule was a sent of coins, newspaper from the opening of Confederation park and program of the official opening of the park. They will put in…

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Hickok … 2017

3 Jul


The Gunfighter

Tagline:
“YOU KNOW THE MYTH … NOW MEET THE LEGEND”

Every year a number of B quality Westerns come out. People just love to make Westerns it seems (which is good) – even if they know they aren’t go set the town on fire. It must be a hoot?
And it always helps if you can round up a couple of Stars that will light up the screen a bit.
Hickok – somehow – was able to do that.

Yep, he’s the older brother of actors Chris and Liam Hemsworth.

I can’t tell how large Kris or Bruce’s roles are. Sometimes they
can just be cameos in these things? Have to wait and see.

I’ve gotten real good at capturing muzzle flash from screen caps.

 James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok

 

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Season Seven …

3 Jul


A Game of Thrones / 2017

July 16, 2017

Ready when you are … 

Henry Hathaway / Sunset Pass / Kathleen Burke …

3 Jul


Remember

Sunset Pass / 1933

Kathleen B. Burke (September 5, 1913 — April 9, 1980) was an American movie actress of the 1930’s, and former model.
Kathleen was a dental assistant in Chicago, before winning a talent contest sponsored by Paramount Pictures to play Lota the “Panther Woman” in Island of Lost Souls (1932 – You gotta pay your dues.), the first screen version of H.G. Wells’s novel The Island of Dr. Moreau. The contest allegedly had 60,000 applicants from around the country.
This led to more than a film career of 22 moves over six years, usually as the leading lady along side of Randolph Scott (Sunset Pass and Rocky Mountain Mystery), Gary Cooper, Cary Grant, Buster Crabbe, Charles Laughton, Spencer Tracy, W.C. Fields, George and Gracie Allen, Ronald Coleman,  Rosalind Russell …
Her final film role was in 1938, whereupon she retired from screen acting at the age of 25 !!!

Sunset Pass 1933Island of Lost Souls (1932)

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Canada … 150 Years

2 Jul

I know there’s plenty of good places to live on this planet … 
but this is pretty good. 

 

Buchart Gardens / Spring 2017

29 Jun


Ian Tamblyn

Buchart Gardens is big

No Drones. No Smoking. Dogs OK.

Spring Blossoms …
Spring Tulips.

 

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Henry Hathaway / Sunset Pass / Harry Carey …

23 Jun


sons of the pioneers

Sunset Pass / 1933

I got this notion that I would give some of the Support Cast in Sunset Pass a nod. That would be Harry Carey, Kathleen Burke, and Noah Beery Sr. (I’ll do a whole thing on Randolph Scott at a later date. That will be a huge project.)

In my usual Western ignorance I didn’t realize that Harry Carey had been a Living Legend in early Westerns and had a massive film legacy. Soooo …

Wikipedia: Harry Carey (January 16, 1878 – September 21, 1947) was an American actor and one of silent film’s earliest superstars. He is credited on Internet Movie Database (IMDB) with 267 acting credits. One of his best known performances is as the President of the Senate in the drama film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He was the father of Harry Carey Jr., who was also a prominent actor. Throughout the 1920s Carey was a Western Superstar who occasionally assumed screenwriting, producing and directing assignments.

In the 1948 John Ford film, 3 Godfathers, Carey is remembered at the beginning of the film and dubbed “Bright Star of the early western sky…”