Category: The Flame and the Arrow

  • Ten Favorite Westerns Stars: Burt Lancaster continued …

    Big Iron / 2020
    Colter Wall
    written by Marty Robbins

    “You sit in your tepee and dream and then you go to wherever the dream may take you. It might come true. You wait for real life to catch up.”
    Burt Lancaster

    IMDB (Internet Movie Database) says that
    Burt Lancaster made 16 Westerns.
    That’s wrong.
    Desert Fury (1947) ain’t no Western.
    Just because a movie is made in Sedona AZ
    or somebody is wearing a Cowboy hat
    doesn’t make it a Western.

    So … let’s say about 15
    Burt Lancaster Westerns.

    Did you know that?!
    (I didn’t.)
    But I regard 5 of them to be 
    Western Classics.

    Here’s my list:

    The Gunfight at the OK Corral / 1957
    Definitely one of the most
    influential Westerns of all time

    Vera Cruz / 1954
    Lancaster and Cooper
    Wa do ya want?

    The Professionals / 1966
    One of the Top Ten Westerns every made.

    The Unforgiven / 1960
    One of the most controversial Westerns ever made.
    And some said that Hepburn doesn’t look very native.
    But it’s Hepburn – so all is Forgiven.

    The Rainmaker / 1956
    Some say this isn’t a Western.
    But it’s got Hepburn. 
    So let it rain.

    Honorable Mention:

    The Kentuckian / 1955

    Moving along …

  • My Top Ten Favorite Westerns Stars 1: Burt Lancaster

    Heroes / Angu / 1964

    “I walked out of class one day and I never went back.”
    -Burt Lancaster


    In no special order:
    My First Western Star is
    Burton Stephen Lancaster
    But he’d definitely be near the top.

    Born in New York, New York, U.S,A.
    November 2, 1913 – October 20, 1994

    As a kid in the 1930s New York, Burt learned to Act
    in local theatre productions in also studied Circus Arts –
    eventually becoming a Circus Acrobat and Trapeze Artist.
    He seemed ‘custom made’ to be a Action Film Star.
    But it also helps to have a ton of Charisma/Star Power.

    Burt’s first Action Film:
    The Flame and the Arrow / 1950

    Yes … well … not an auspicious beginning to be sure …
    (Burt’s swordfighting skills need a bit of work too.)

    But his second Action Film
    The Crimson Pirate / 1952
    opened the flood gates to Stardom.

    Heave Ho and up she rises!

    Question?
    Can you identify this kind of ship for me
    that was used in The Crimson Pirate ?

    Frigate?

    Coming …
    Burt’s Westerns

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