the desperados (1969) - henry levin

If you want to check out a classic old western, make sure you give 'The Desperados' a miss, as it's crap. The Gault family and their followers maraud and pillage, until one of the sons, (David - played by Vince Edwards), turns his back on it, and tries to lead a normal life, until (of course) his past catches up with him. So far, so stereotypical, but there's nothing in the film to excite or stimulate (and Lord knows l need both). Jack Palance gives a stupidly over the top performance as Pastor Gault (the father and leader), but apart from that comedy aspect, forget it (and Vince Edwards has no screen presence at all). What a farce. If you want to check out a decent Jack Palance performance, 'Shane' is the place to look, where he plays the hired gunslinger Jack Wilson. A proper, menacing and cocky role.

toodle pip

destry rides again (1939) - george marshall

Take back what l said below about them not making films like 'Sheriff of Fractured Jaw' anymore, as 'Destry Rides Again' is pretty much the same (OK, l know it's an earlier film).
James Stewart (as Tom Destry jr) arrives in town to become the new sheriff, only with a twist - he's against using or carrying a gun. The baddies make fun of him until they realise he can draw fast, and the bad girl (Marlene Dietrich), falls for him (once again, pretty quickly).
Not predictable at all, but, as before, good to pass the time chilling out with.

toodle pip

sheriff of fractured jaw (1958) - raoul walsh

A 'Classic' in very large inverted commas, 'The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw' features Kenneth More as the upper class Englishman who travels to the Wild West to sell some of his family's shops guns. Due to a mix up, he becomes sheriff, everyone thinks he is a fast draw and a cool customer, and the local bad girl (Jayne Mansfield) falls for him (and him for her). I can't see what makes her attractive to him, but each to their own.
It's a knockabout farce with lots of stereotypes and ridiculous situations, but pleasant enough for chilling out.
They don't make 'em like this anymore, that's for sure.


toodle pip

jonah hex (2010) - jimmy hayward

Although Jonah Hex has been panned by the critics, l rather enjoyed it. Based (loosely) on the DC comic books, the FPO was complaining that the story wasn't clear at the beginning (which it wan't), but it was gradually explained as the movie went along. A disfigured bounty hunter, Jonah (Josh Brolin) and his prostitute sweetheart (Megan Fox) try to foil his evil arch enemy Quentin Turnbull  (John Malkovich) from ruining the USA centenary celebrations.  There's more than that, as Jonah re-animates and talks to the dead, does loads of killing while looking cool,  and also makes himself a friend in a raggedy old dog.  The make up on Brolin was excellent, and the musical soundtrack was pretty spot on.  Pure escapism, but better than most comic book adaptations l have seen (Hello Captain America, l'm talking about you).

toodle pip

distant drums (1951) - raoul walsh

A 'classic' from 1951, l saw 'Distant Drums' for the first time the other day, and l have to say, l thought it was crap.  Gary Cooper is the army captain who flees some Seminole Indians through the Everglades, while an (obviously younger) woman falls for his no nonsense charms.  A major complaint is that the colour changed half way through, so the army uniforms changed from blue to green (unless l had a stroke or something).  The fort of Castillo de San Marcos looked impressive,  the snake Cooper threatened the Indian with looked rubbish,  but the film also featured the first use of the 'Wilhelm Scream', as a soldier got dragged down by a gator, so it wasn't a complete waste of time, (even if it was still a huge waste).

toodle pip

the ox bw incident (1943) - william a wellman

The Ox Bow Incident stars Henry Fonda and Harry Morgan (as Gil Carter and Art Croft) and sees then getting dragged along to assist in some rough justice and a lynching by an angry mob from Bridger's Wells, where they had been drinking. The three men about to be lynched plead there innocence, but have a hard time convincing the mob.
It's about justice, racism, giving a man a fair trial, family expectations, bravado, the power of a mob, and who will stand against then and do the right thing, especially if it means putting themselves in danger.
It doesn't end well.
It was good to see Harry Morgan in a different role, as l was used to seeing him in M*A*S*H from when l were but a nipper, and l love watching Henry Fonda when he plays cowboys (he has such expressive and solemn eyes).
Another classic.

toodle pip

scalping in the wild west

I've said it before, and l'll say it again. Times were hard in the old days, especially in The Wild West. Not only were there the everyday struggles of trying to make a living, and just surviving generally, there was also the risk of being injured or killed by outlaws or Indians. Add to that, even if you survived an Indian attack, they would probably have scalped you, thinking you were dead.
This happened to the two unfortunate chappies above.
The top person is William Thompson, who was scalped by the Cheyenne in 1867, and that is his hair in the trophy case.
The fellow below is Robert McGee in about 1861, who was scalped by the Sioux when he was a child.
I bet it was mighty painful, and rather them than me.
As stated before, times were hard.

toodle pip

more wounded knee pictures

After the earlier post about The Wounded Knee Massacre, here are some more photographs from then.
I've said it before, and l'll say it again - they had it hard in them days.

toodle pip

shane (1953) - george stevens

Alan Ladd stars as Shane, the mysterious stranger who is trying to give up his gunfighting past.  He befriends a family and tries to settle down, but (of course), the family and Shane are hassled by the baddies (including an impressive Jack Palance). Shane is worshipped by the families young boy, and avoids any confrontation with the bad guys, until he eventually cracks, goes into town, and sorts them all out (naturally).
A classic.

toodle pip

the battle of wounded knee (1890) and the busby babes

White Lance, Joseph Horn Cloud, and Dewey Beard (Iron Tail) all survived (and are brothers)

Whenever l think about the wild west and the various battles with the Indians, l always imagine then fighting when it is warm. Obviously this is not correct, as the photographs above, taken after The Battle / Massacre at Wounded Knee in 1890 can testify. They had it hard in those days, especially the Indians, who were kicked off their land, and then put into reservations. I know they were no angels, but wouldn't you defend your land against a foreign invader, exploiter, and double crossing land grabber?
There was a mix up with some ghost dancing at Wounded Knee, and the U.S 7th Cavalry massacred a load of mainly unarmed Lakota. It is also thought that amongst the injuries the cavarly suffered, a lot was by 'friendly fire'.
There's a great book called 'Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee' (by Dee Brown) that deals with all of this stuff, and it is highly recommended if you have even the slightest interest in what atrocities occurred.
Another thing is...Dewey Beard (AKA Iron Tail) lived until 1955. I will say that again - 1955. When The Busby Babes were starting to rule, and not long before l was born.
Even though l am an old git, that is just staggering.

toodle pip

chisum (1970) - andrew mclagen

Chisum is based on the Lincoln County Wars, so features Lawrence Murphy, Billy The Kid, Pat Garrett and Chisum (JOHN Chisum) himself (played by John Wayne). There are disputes over land, lawlessness, and trying to do the right thing by the law, when the law itself is corrupt. Another classic western!

The amazing thing for me, is how it was not so long ago when the USA was so lawless. The picture at the top is of George Coe, who was involved in the fighting, lost a finger at the Blazers Mill gunfight, and was (obviously) still alive just before the Second World War, as this photograph was taken in 1934.

As l said - amazing.

toodle pip