A Celebration of Western Movies… Pardner!
The 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 …
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.
The water is shallow, slow, and warm – with a nice beach.
The purple hills in the background are The Sweetgrass Hills in Montana.
The amount of Petroglyphs/Writing is extensive. They are now protected and accessible only by Tour.
You might say the most impressive of the Petroglyphs is
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.
Right 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 :
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!)
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:
(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.
3 Candle Slashes
2 Clinches
8 Threats
6 Taunts
5 Insults
One dead badguy
Zorro’s Rapier from the Mask of Zorro
(Sweet)
A Swiss Sabre
(Lethal)
Next:
The Clinch: Part 2
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 … “
A job very well done.
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.
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
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?
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 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.
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!
Home from the Forest / Gordon Lightfoot
We’re not ready for this …
Whiskey in the Jar / The Seekers
The legendary Aussie Folk Group does the Honors.
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.
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 BallIngredients:
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.
Whisky in the Jar / The Brothers Four
Many versions of the great folk song.
This one is good.
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
Leftover Biscuits
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.
Spotted these 2 old roadsters at the nearby Coop.
The kind of figurehead you guard.
1928
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?
the rose
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 …
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
AWARDSAcademy 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)
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:
‘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.
Next:
