Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by Gee LP (A) on May 14, 2004 at 20:51:00

In Reply to: "Stagecoach" last night on cable posted by Victor Khomenko on May 13, 2004 at 05:46:19:

Was it the original black and white 1939 version of "Stagecoach" you saw? Directed by John Ford with John Wayne as the star? The film has been remade at least twice....both times badly. Orson Welles said he ran it 40 times to learn how to direct a film. I don't really believe he did that but it is a sweet quote anyway.

I agree with Mishmashmusic and the others that you should see Peckinpah's "The Wild Bunch." I also think "Ride the High Country" is a beautiful film. Robert Altman also did an almost anti-Western with a great deal to say about our times, "McCabe and Mrs. Miller." The last 30 or so minutes are just brilliant.

The traditional Western with the hero killing the villian at the end and riding off has never been all that interesting to me (my one big exception to this is "Shane"). Much more interesting were the TV series like the first season of "The Rifleman" (parts of which are available on video), created by Peckinpah, and "Wanted Dead or Alive" with Steve McQueen.

Oh, don't forget "The Searchers" (1956) with John Wayne as a racist looking for a friend's daughter who has been kidnapped by Indians. Jean-Luc Godard said that politically he despised Wayne, but the climax of the film left him in tears. Not the best Western, but interesting as a statement of Uhmeriken masculinity. Scorcese also uses it as a source.

Perhaps one day, Victor, you will understand why the townspeople in "Blazing Saddles" say the name of Randolph Scott with such reverance!