The second film adaptation of the 1968 novel of the same name written by Charles Portis.  A 14 year old girl hires a mean and drunk bounty hunter to track down her father’s murderer.

I really feel pretty much the same about this film and the 1969 version.  Neither are anything special.  Hailee Steinfeld’s performance was quite incredible given that she is just fourteen.  To be honest though, and this is not the opinion of the majority, but I liked Kim Darby’s version of the character better.  This film is much darker in tone and lighting than its predecessor and I liked it just a shade more.  I also thought it was a little more realistic and gritty, both of which I am a big fan of.  The Ned Pepper scenes seem to parallel the original so much they were almost identical.  This could be the result of the original novel, but none of the other scenes were so closely mimicked.  I did not care for the ending at all as it completely removed me from the movie and what the heck was it trying to say?  True Grit has a solid storyline and this is a slight improvement from 1969, but it still isn’t very interesting.

“One would be just as unpleasant as the other.”

6/10

Average Rating: 7/10 (2 ratings)

Santee (1973)

Jody Deakes (Michael Burns) joins his outlaw father after his mothers death. Jody’s father is running from Santee (Glen Ford) a bounty hunter. Santee kills Jody’s father and Jody follows him hoping to take revenge. Santee takes him to his ranch and the two of them form a bond.  Jay Silverheels (Tonto) plays John Crow a ranch hand.

Glen Ford was made for this role, unfortunately the script doesn’t hold up. It’s got all the parts, but the film falls flat.

“They’ll get a preacher, and a prayer, and a pine box”

Feel like a Glen Ford western, watch the Rounders or 3:10 to Yuma—-4/10

Kevin Costner directs and stars in Dances with Wolves.  It won the Academy Award for Best Picture.  It is an epic about a lieutenant from the Civil War and his induction into a Sioux tribe.

This movie was a positive experience.  It reminded me of Braveheart.  Director is the star in a somewhat controversial but undoubtedly epic piece of film.  The emotion and feel were certainly present.  My only knock is several awkward and contrived scenes.  The ending did not seem totally realistic as he is going into the hands of the settlers to face his certain death and the tribe will probably be killed as well unless the army gets the psychic message that he has indeed left camp.  All that silliness aside, I very much enjoyed the movie.  It was a very good story done with purpose and effort.  The soundtrack was very good and moving.  I appreciated growing with the characters.  In my opinion, a very rewarding epic.

“I was just thinking that of all the trails in this life there is one that matters most. It is the trail of a true human being. I think you are on this trail and it is good to see.”

8/10

True Grit stars John Wayne and is adapted from a novel of the same name.  It is the story of Mattie Ross who privately hires Rooster Cogburn, a U.S. Marshall, to track and capture Tom Chaney, the man who murdered her father in cold blood.

I watched this movie a million times as a kid.  Oftentimes, when you revisit something you loved in your childhood, it just doesn’t float your boat as a kid.  My three year old brother in costume as Rooster, complete with maple syrup jug as a whiskey canteen, an eye patch, and a rocking horse as Beau, ran around our house yelling “fill yer hands you son of a bitch!”  It was pretty hilarious.  This movie was much more average than expected.  In both a good and a bad way.  Part of me wanted to have watched a real hidden gem, and the other part was worried it would be terrible.  It was neither.  It has all the western elements of gunfights, drunkards, and crooks.  It had a good soundtrack.  The girl was a very strong willed character which isn’t often the case.  She was more of a tomboy in distress and not so much a damsel.  The movie was pretty bland other than that.  Overall very average.

“I call that bold talk for a one-eyed fat man.”
“Fill your hands you son of a bitch!”

6/10

Jonah Hex (2010)

Jonah Hex (Josh Brolin) fights for the Confederacy till his commanding officer, Quentin Turnbull (John Malkovich) orders him to burn down a hospital. Hex refuses and kills his best friend and Turnbull’s son Jeb. Turnbull tracks down Hex, ties him up, brands him and forces him to watch his family burn to death. Native Americans then find Hex and revive him with their mystical powers. Hex wants Turnbull dead, but apparently Turnbull dies in a fire, so Hex  turns to bounty hunting.—-This is the first 15 minutes of the movie.

Know the film is based on a comic-book, I’ve read the comic and it’s story lines were better. Why they destroy a good plot line for special effects is beyond me. Was really looking forward to seeing this movie and was disappointed by the treatment they gave the Hex comic.

“I’m gonna hand Turnbull your balls in a snuffbox!”

Brolin is Hex–but the story is ridicules–pass it up—–03/10

Alvarez Kelly (1966)

Cattleman Alvarez Kelly (William Holden) is contracted to deliver a herd of Mexican cattle to the Union Army in Virginia. At the end of the cattle drive, Kelly is kidnapped by Confederate Colonel Tom Rossiter (Richard Widmark). The Confederacy wants the cattle to feed its soldiers in Richmond. They want Kelly to help them steal the herd and drive it to Richmond. Star Trek’s Harry Mudd has a small part as Captain Fergusson(Roger C. Carmel) a blockade runner.

Holden and Widmark are both older men in this movie, both play cynical men. One that cares only about the South and one that cares only for himself. With all the talent, you would expect a great movie, it’s not. It’s not terrible, but it’s not up to the standards of the people making the film. Passed their prime or did they just get lazy on this one?

“God deliver me from dedicated men.”

06/10——Great actors playing in an OK film.

Along the Great Divide (1951)

Marshal Merrick (Kirk Douglas) saves a murder suspect, Tim ‘Pop’ Keith(Walter Brennan) from a lynching by rancher Ned Roden (Morris Ankrum), whose son Ed was killed. Add Pop’s daughter (Virginia Mayo) to the mix as the Marshal tries to get Pop to town for a trial.

Along the Great Divide was Kirk Douglas’ first western. Douglas and Brennan both do great jobs with what’s been given them to work with. The story is weak, predictable and full of holes, what a waste for such a great group of talent.

“A man with no heart makes a bad enemy.”

06/10—-Better than average western, but just.

The Glory Guys (1965)

The movie is fictionalized Western based on Custer’s last stand. It covers the enlistment, training, and deployment of a group of raw recruits. Captain Demas Harrod (Tom Tryon) and Sgt. James Gregory (Slim Pickens) work hard to whip a group of recruits —including Pvt. Anthony Dugan (James Caan) and Pvt. Martin Hale (Michael Anderson Jr.)– into fighting shape. There is even a love triangle between scout Sol Rogers (Harve Presnell), Lou Woddard (Senta Berger) and Captain Harrod.

Glory Guys was another one of those movies that I loved as a kid, but watching it now I find it to fall a little flat. Laven must have gained some skill from the Army in creating patriotic feelings. There are several scenes that really pull at that string.

“Your G Company, 3th Cavalry United States Army, so by God look like it!”

06/10—-There are a couple classic scenes– If you like westerns, it’s a must see

Al Jennings of Oklahoma (1951)

Al Jennings(Dan Duryea) a lawyer leaves Kansas for the Oklahoma Territory after getting into a fight. In Oklahoma he kills his brother’s killer and then becomes a notorious leader of bank, train and stagecoach robbing gang. He tries to go straight and marry his true love Margo St. Claire(Gale Storm), but his past finds him and sends him out on one last job.

Al Jennings is a good bad guy–the script tries have him come across as a honest yet flawed man. The movie even tries to make you root for Al to get off after he is finally brought to justice.  It doesn’t work, making it a western without a soul.

“There’s an old saying about juries – the longer they’re out, the better your chances.”

02/10—-B Western–in this case the B stands for bad.

]]> http://damncool.com/2010/01/04/al-jennings-of-oklahoma-1951/feed/ 0 http://damncool.com/2009/12/30/a-ticket-to-tomahawk-1950/ http://damncool.com/2009/12/30/a-ticket-to-tomahawk-1950/#comments Wed, 30 Dec 2009 22:07:45 +0000 Mr Arn http://damncool.com/?p=656 Richard Sale was a writer that had a book made into a movie, he then switched to screenplays and directed about 10 films including “A Ticket to Tomahawk”.

Stage coach owner wants to prevent a train from getting to Tomahawk on time. Kit Dodge Jr. (Anne Baxter) is leading the group trying to get the train in on time, with it’s passanger Johnny Behind-the-Deuces (Dan Dailey). Marilyn Monroe has a bit part in the movie, she plays a showgirl (no lines).

It’s a colorful upbeat movie, but a little too much corn (think it’s a comedy) for me.

“Maybe you wouldn’t be so loose footed if I gave you a permanent limp!”

04/10 Below average western/comedy?-If you like lighthearted and silly, it’s for you.