Author: jcalberta

Howdy! I love Westerns. ... and the intent of MyFavoriteWesterns.com is to celebrate Western Movies/Film - old and new. This site will eventually show my top 30 favorite Westerns - or more. I will have original graphic work with regular updates. All this - and more ... Yee Haw ... !! - jcablerta / Moderator / Administrator

keep the change Bob …

Slowly putting in my content for Pekinpah’s Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid. I have a ton, but have still been slowed down by this persistent flu – which I’ve had for  2 weeks now. It’s a killer.

The story behind the making of Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid in very interesting. Pekinpah’s ongoing fight with studio over content and costs. Reminds me of John Huston’s battle with the studio during his making of Unforgiven (starring Burt Lancaster and Audrey Hepburn). Both of these films still turned out to be Classics despite all the infighting and interference. To production people, movies are about money – that’s all. But to Pekinpah and Huston movies are about Art. Can you imagine somebody telling these guys how to make a movie? Incredible.

Making a movie is a tough task – involves hundreds of people. When you think of all the things that go wrong, it’s a wonder that anything gets turned out at all.

But it does – and we are the benefactors.

Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid … history

Official Poster

I was laid low by a nasty flu for over a week. I’m not over it yet, but I think I’ll feel well enough to do some work here.

Mainly, I’ve continued research on Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid. It’s worth noting that Pekinpah’s version of ‘the kid’ saga does pretty well follow the actual historical chain of events.  So those who often criticize many western movies for historical inaccuracy should take note. There are some liberties taken, such as Kristopherson’s age (32) compared to ‘the kid (20).

I’ve included a link to the Wiki which details the events. But with or without any such inaccuracies this would have been a fine piece of Western film making.

OK Corral … continuing

Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster

3 or 4 pages to go on Gunfight at the OK Corral.  One page series of short profiles of the actors who have played Wyatt Earp in film over the years.  I’ve added photos of each actor – which wasn’t that easy to do. Two or three were hard to find – especially photos of the actor in that particular role. I can tell you that it sometimes takes hours – even days – searching around the net for material. It’s enjoyable – but does take time.

Added a page on the Guns used in the movie, which are usually (not always) the authentic weapons that were used in real life – if it’s not a fictional movie. Here we encounter the unusual circumstance of a weapon called the Buntline (Special) which Wyatt Earp supposedly used. In truth, there is no known record of such a gun. And the weapons that were used at the famous Gunfight are well known. It seems people wish to believe in this and it was likely perpetuated by a TV show. ?

more to come …

Happy Viewing !

Update at the ‘OK Corral’ …

Continuing to add pages to Gunfight at the OK Corral profile …

Thing is … I keep finding new stuff … and changing things.  So I’m editing and adding new material as a go along.

Combined with my inexperience at Blogging, it’s taking quite a bit of work and I’m only able to add 2 or 3 sections a day.

BUT … it’s a labour of love … and I’m enjoying it. And I never want to get into a space where I’m just throwing things on there just to get it done.

So … I should have Gunfight at the OK Corral pretty well finished in about 3 days … I’m guessing.

Then it’s on to the next movie which I think will be Pekinpah’s ‘Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid’.

In any case these profiles are never finished. I rarely ever look at them when I don’t see something that needs fixing – or improving. Not to mention the fact that I keep finding new material. So if you check back here you will continually find that these profiles are changing, expanding and growing. 


Moving along …

A man’s got to have a code …

“A man’s got to have a code, a creed to live by.” – John Wayne

I’ve started to place the first of My Favorite Westerns:’ Gunfight at OK Corral’ made in 1957 and starring Burt Lancaster as Wyatt Earp and Kirk Douglas as Doc Holliday. It will take me a few days to complete this page and I will be adding things consistently.

Gunfight at the OK Corral is not my number one Favorite Western. I don’t have a number one Favorite – I have about 20 favorites that I lump all together – in one vacuous mass of Western Joy.

I love ’em all.

I toss in a few personal insights along with factual information and trivia on the separate pages. Hopefully this will spur interest and enjoyment for readers. But it will be enough if I am just able to re-kindle your enjoyment and appreciation of these wonderful movies.

Yeee Hah … !

Howdy Pawdna !!

 

 

 

 

Dear Western Movie Fans,

 

WELCOME !

This blog is a celebration of Western Movies.

It’s aim is to inspire viewers to watch these great movies – or RE-watch them with fresh eyes and appreciaton.

Join me !

and Happy Viewing.

 

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