My Favorite Westerns

Category: Deliverance

  • Burt Reynolds, Cowboy …

    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)

6 responses to “Burt Reynolds, Cowboy …”

  1. timesmightidont Avatar
    timesmightidont

    I agree with what you say about his Westerns. Always a good actor to watch though.

    1. jcalberta Avatar
      jcalberta

      Cat Dancing, Cherokee, Johnson County, and Hard Ground are pretty good. They never show them on TV though. A couple are available on YouTube. Thanks for dropping in.

  2. Marilyn Armstrong Avatar
    Marilyn Armstrong

    I always liked him. I found him funny and brave and sometimes, beautiful. Our crowd is thinning.

    1. jcalberta Avatar
      jcalberta

      Indeed. Seems like someone we grew up with is passing every week. Guess I better get out there and get a few things done.

  3. jcalberta Avatar
    jcalberta

    Yes he well liked. Hard not to like him. He was the bandit. A bit crazy. I think people related with him (LoL!) – on an off the screen. He wasn’t an overnight sensation like some folks think though. He paid his dues in a trade where you get thrown away very quickly if you aren’t generating money.The entertainment industry can be a ruthless playground. On his passing he had a mere 5 million (it’s said). That’s a lot for you and me, but not for guy that generated a ton of cash for film barons. And still is. Maybe Loni got it all???

  4. GP Cox Avatar
    GP Cox

    Burt was always one of my favorites, a special person. He was filming one of his movies down here in FL when I happened to drive down a side street where his semi trucks were parked. The murals painted on the sides belong in museums!!

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