Stanton, thank you for your thoughts on the Wayne Westerns…much appreciated, as always.
I keep reading the same about ‘The Alamo’. Personally I love it. I had/have the Road Show version on Laserdisc.
I can understand what you are saying about the long speeches etc, but I love it. I am not a massive Wayne fan, but the fact that the project that mean’t so much to him was butchered, is heart-breaking.
I think JW (despite his views on Communism etc) had his heart in the right place…perhaps mis-guided, but hey-ho.
My eternal regret is that the studio that was in charge of ‘The Alamo’ negative somehow fucked up the Roadshow version (released on laserdisc in the early 90’s), and that that version is now lost…?
Am I right?
A 201 min version was released on the Koch Blu, but only as extra and in SD. Maybe taken from that Laserdisc.
So it’s not lost, but does not have the picture quality it deserves.
I like John Wayne, always did.
He was not the greatest actor alive, but was usually very good in the type of roles he did in most of his westerns. And sometimes he went beyond his limitations, then he was able to be really great.
Since Ford and Hawks have become meanwhile adored gods of directing, there are few actors who appeared in more cinema classics.
I saw it, as a kid at the cinema with mum and dad/ I vaguely remember that it was sad…so very, very sad. But, for all the sadness, it was a film that was worth remembering. And, of course, I have.
I think it was one of those movie experiences that helped shape my life, because I never forgot it.
This is btw a remake of The Walking Hills (1949), which is John Sturges’ first western and with Randolph Scott in the lead. Good start for Sturges. 7/10
I enjoyed it for what it was. Maybe even a 7/10. I wish the powers that be would create more lower budget westerns like this. Revive the genre and go crazy for 5 years.
I’ve just watched the 1969 Mexican western ‘Super Colt 38’ starring Jeffrey Hunter and Pedro Armendáriz Jr. It’s clearly a rip from an old VHS, in Spanish, with passable fan created English subtitles. It was released around the time of Hunter’s death.
It’s a typical low-budget Mexican effort in the more traditional Hollywood style which means that although it was released in 1969 it looks like something from the late 50’s/early 60’s.
However, it was entertaining enough and passed 1.5 hours harmlessly.
I’m on a bit of a classic American western binge lately and really enjoyed The Last Sunset. Don’t usually lean towards heavy romance based flicks but I was ok with this one.
It had a bit of a Mexican vibe to it (and according to IMDb filmed entirely in Mexico) and I really enjoyed the dynamic between the main characters, especially Dorothy Malone’s character who the entire story revolved around really.
Also, the more I watch of Kirk Douglas, the more I realise just how incredible of a presence he was.
Tremendous film and I thought Douglas was brilliant as Doc Holliday, as was Burt as Earp. One of my favourite duos, for sure.
I do think the runtime was 10-15 minutes too long, it became a little slow and uneventful around the halfway stage for a short time, but I think the overall build up to the final shootout was incredible and maybe the best I’ve seen in a classic western.
