tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post2886677263096714140..comments2024-03-28T02:15:06.910-07:00Comments on Tossing It Out: My Favorite WesternsArlee Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-35328023461988049372011-08-15T11:45:32.332-07:002011-08-15T11:45:32.332-07:00Nicole -- All the Pretty Horses is based on a book...Nicole -- <i>All the Pretty Horses</i> is based on a book that is part of Cormac McCarthy's Border Trilogy. The books have the elements of Westerns but transported into a more modern day. It's an incredible series of books.<br /><br />Alta -- I really must see <i>Once Upon a Time....</i>.<br /><br />Marcus --I like elements of realism and history in Westerns almost as much as I like surrealism and crazy fantasy in the same genre.<br /><br />Willow-- I do like the more subdued approach to Westerns like <i>The Assassination...</i>. Action is fun, but lyrical storytelling with good acting wins me over as well.<br /><br />LeeArlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-60368756613130736292011-08-15T11:34:21.024-07:002011-08-15T11:34:21.024-07:00I am not a fan of the westerns 'per se'. B...I am not a fan of the westerns 'per se'. But I did watch quite a lot of them on TV while growing up a little more than a decade ago before the massive invasion of the internet. <br /><br />Great list! So glad you've mentioned <i>7 Faces of Dr. Lao</i>! It is sadly neglected in my opinion. Too bad the star, Tony Randall, himself didn't think much of it. I feel it's a movie I can watch again and again. <br /><br />I am a fan of the entire <i>Back to the Future</i> trilogy. <i>McKenna's Gold</i> and <i>The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly</i> I watched a long time ago and don't remember much about. May need to re-watch those.<br /><br />Loved <i>The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford</i> mainly because of Casey Affleck's subdued acting. I still can't forget the final frame!wutheringwillowhttp://apaperbacklife.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-35215706012145457952011-08-13T07:05:49.806-07:002011-08-13T07:05:49.806-07:00This is an interesting list. I might consider &quo...This is an interesting list. I might consider "Once Upon A Time In The West", another by Sergio Leone, to be one of the best ever. It is slow for a western, but it's also pure cinema. Only few movies are this visual. It's fantastic on a big screen.<br /><br />I would definitely add "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" with Jimmy Stewart and John Wayne. Lee Marvin plays one of the most despicable villains ever. This movie has so many important big themes that I don't know where to start. Democracy, equality, education, the law versus brute force, legend and fact, etc.<br /><br />It's like the story of how democracy and the right of law evolves in any country, anywhere. Complex, but also entertaining and real.Marcushttp://writing.wordit.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-43596206277005210352011-08-11T09:38:11.820-07:002011-08-11T09:38:11.820-07:00Here I am, waving my hand wildly. I must, must add...Here I am, waving my hand wildly. I must, must add two: The Westerner and Once Upon a Times in the West.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-2189960139964626072011-08-10T23:13:10.744-07:002011-08-10T23:13:10.744-07:00While I am unfamiliar with most of the Westerns on...While I am unfamiliar with most of the Westerns on your list, that Brad Pitt (2007) movie stands out because next to Back to the Future, it was among the most talked about titles when it was released.<br /><br />I do not like Westerns but one of your favorites..."All the Pretty Horses" is something that I may rend on DVD or something to watch because I won't pass up a chance to watch almost any movie starring Matt Damon and also because before reading your post, I had no idea that "All the Pretty Horses" was based off of a book and also did not know that the author is also connected to "No Country for Old Men," which is a movie that I LOVED,LOVED, LOVED watching!<br /><br />I am not in a position to really make a determination on whether your choices are peculiar or not, given the fact that I don't watch a lot of Westerns. <br /><br />I will be watching one soon now, though, lol. Or maybe two...."Tombstone" appears to be good as well.<br /><br /><a href="http://madlabonline.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">The Madlab Post</a>Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08965945636486620938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-88167771213408550352011-08-10T20:03:32.093-07:002011-08-10T20:03:32.093-07:00Mama -- I highly recommend the Jesse James film.
...Mama -- I highly recommend the Jesse James film.<br /><br />Shannon -- I'm not always in a Western mood either, but I enjoy them when I do watch them. I like the idea of Western mash-ups so I'll be a natural for <i>Cowboys and Aliens</i>.<br /><br />LeeArlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-32470881441890925272011-08-09T23:54:53.250-07:002011-08-09T23:54:53.250-07:00I grew up with parents who were Eastwood fans and ...I grew up with parents who were Eastwood fans and a mom who adored John Wayne, so I saw quite a few Westerns in my youth. I still enjoy them, though I have to be in the mood for them, but the Westerns they've been making the last few years have been a positive trend. I'm really excited about Cowboys and Aliens, but haven't seen it yet. I did see Harrison Ford will be playing Wyatt Earp (I think) in a Western starting to film soon. I also liked 310 to Yuma and Young Guns (I imagine that was a film mostly liked by young ladies...). I'm not sure I've seen all the Westerns on your list, but I'll have to look them up. I'm betting some will be familiar once I start them up, though.Shannon Lawrencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00934641808195675935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-64043144814332041572011-08-09T18:13:57.337-07:002011-08-09T18:13:57.337-07:00I'm going to check out The Assassination of Je...I'm going to check out The Assassination of Jesse James. I haven't seen that, and it sounds excellent.Maude Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03669688074743095866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-48279783644943315092011-08-09T16:55:25.756-07:002011-08-09T16:55:25.756-07:00Teresa - I had a feeling you were a Western fan. I...Teresa - I had a feeling you were a Western fan. I could definitely add ten more.<br /><br />Tom -- My wife and I watched the most recent version of <i>True Grit</i> last night and really enjoyed it.<br /><br />Carol -- <i>True Grit</i> is gritty but it's a girl empowerment movie too. My wife loved it.<br /><br />Geoff -- That's the way it struck me too. I thought I would have a difficult time thinking of fifteen favorites and instead had a hard time keeping it down to fifteen. All the world loves Westerns.<br /><br />SB -- I've never heard of this <i>Last of the Dogmen</i>. Now I guess I need to look it up.<br /><br />Lisa -- The music played such a major role in <i>Good, Bad, and the Ugly</i> that I felt I had to mention it.<br /><br />Ann -- I'll be by to check the new post. I wondered what had happened when I saw you hadn't posted in over a week.<br /><br />Angie -- I don't recall ever seeing <i>The Cowboys</i>. I guess I should check it out.<br /><br />LeeArlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-11466186356219212342011-08-09T15:56:20.410-07:002011-08-09T15:56:20.410-07:00I was raised on Westerns. My dad is a bona fide h...I was raised on Westerns. My dad is a bona fide horse riding, cow roping, spur wearing cowboy. You've got some good one here. One of my favorites (and it is a John Wayne) is The Cowboys. I loved it as a kid and love it even more as an adult.Angie Paxtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16858564760009040975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-19211643246370170512011-08-09T14:08:57.523-07:002011-08-09T14:08:57.523-07:00Lone Star was awesome. Loved All the Pretty Horses...Lone Star was awesome. Loved All the Pretty Horses. Oklahoma was delightful; saw this when I was a teenager long, long ago. I wasn't into westerns then, so I didn't see any John Wayne until much later in my life. I've watched a few of his best.<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by to see what I've been doing. Finally, today, I put up a new post.<br /><a href="http://anncarbinebest.com/" rel="nofollow"><i>Ann Best, Author of In the Mirror, A Memoir of Shattered Secrets</i></a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-23764765011923647462011-08-09T13:56:51.253-07:002011-08-09T13:56:51.253-07:00You have quite a list there. Now I want to see som...You have quite a list there. Now I want to see some westerns. I think I've seen most on your list. There's nothing peculiar about your list at all. I think you've got some great selections & so many classics. I especially like the mention of Ennio Morricone's music. & that remark about the machine gun in the Wild Bunch made me laugh.notesfromnadirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09904500676081267972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-7087955592351167692011-08-09T13:12:11.117-07:002011-08-09T13:12:11.117-07:00North to Alaska is good.
Last of the Dogmen is a...North to Alaska is good. <br />Last of the Dogmen is a great modern western.SBJoneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10457239074744509487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-322624997331413132011-08-09T13:10:26.619-07:002011-08-09T13:10:26.619-07:00Now I'm amazed. I never realised how many west...Now I'm amazed. I never realised how many westerns I have watched over the years. I've seen almost all of those you have listed, and I'm not even American. Wow. <br />Very interesting post and the way you set it out is really cool too, easy on the eyes. <br />God bless you Lee, Geoff.Geoff Maritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15182608110318394094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-89248198893257933372011-08-09T13:08:52.255-07:002011-08-09T13:08:52.255-07:00I'm not a huge western fan. My grandfather lov...I'm not a huge western fan. My grandfather loved them. I did like True Grit, though.Carol Kilgorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15168273312704732896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-33221173725915243512011-08-09T12:04:20.172-07:002011-08-09T12:04:20.172-07:00Nice choices. Lonesome Dove is my all time favorit...Nice choices. Lonesome Dove is my all time favorite. I also liked the new True Grit that came out recently.Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17679642225332541173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-16803652864984367022011-08-09T11:33:48.135-07:002011-08-09T11:33:48.135-07:00I do love westerns with all my heart. (Is that too...I do love westerns with all my heart. (Is that too much?) I was raised watching them which may have something to do with it. <br /><br />I like your choices and could add about ten more.T. Powell Coltrinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02160774009926623671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-12961799211048019732011-08-09T10:36:58.546-07:002011-08-09T10:36:58.546-07:00Melissa -- I strongly considered Dances with Wolve...Melissa -- I strongly considered <i>Dances with Wolves</i> but it's been so long since I've seen it that I wasn't sure. I've had the DVD for many years but have yet to watch it--it's such a long movie.<br /><br />Beth -- When I was a kid cartoons were not so much seen on Saturday mornings, but Westerns were the standard fare. I used to especially like "The Roy Rogers Show" and "Sky King", which was essentially a Western with an airplane.<br /><br />San -- <i>Blazing Saddles</i> is a hoot. Glad to have you as a guest on Wednesday 8/10/11.<br /><br />Rhonda -- There are Western themed stories for every taste.<br /><br />Samantha -- You're missing some great films. Check them out!<br /><br />LeeArlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-44843567884070578512011-08-09T09:20:57.585-07:002011-08-09T09:20:57.585-07:00Hmm. I know Oklahoma and I can sing it too. But as...Hmm. I know Oklahoma and I can sing it too. But as for the others? My bad.Samantha Véranthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07446488761214047647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-65523796083901750492011-08-09T07:06:10.457-07:002011-08-09T07:06:10.457-07:00When I read your intro I was thinking that I don&#...When I read your intro I was thinking that I don't really like westerns, but when I looked at your list, there were three movies I did enjoy - so maybe I am more eclectic than I thought.Rhonda @Laugh Quoteshttp://www.laugh-quotes.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-53549485662286026462011-08-09T04:36:01.278-07:002011-08-09T04:36:01.278-07:00I'm not a big "Westerns" fan but did...I'm not a big "Westerns" fan but did enjoy your list, Lee. Blazing Saddles was on last night and that movie always makes me chuckle. Dare say THAT was needed!!! Can't wait for tomorrow (for MANY reasons) and thanks again for being so darn awesome :)Sanhttp://www.informedsharing.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-61740450643138998392011-08-08T23:18:06.607-07:002011-08-08T23:18:06.607-07:00I grew up on western movies and still enjoy them t...I grew up on western movies and still enjoy them to this day. I usually enjoy a good Saturday morning western movie before the day starts with a cup of coffee. When I was younger it was cartoons. <br />Some of your westerns were surprises to me but I think you got the most important one on. My dad would be proud I would have it on my list. The good the bad and the ugly.<br />This does look like fun. <br />BlessingsBethe77https://www.blogger.com/profile/07908965956063875893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-39956435564421182092011-08-08T21:41:48.650-07:002011-08-08T21:41:48.650-07:00Interesting list. My fave Westerns include The Man...Interesting list. My fave Westerns include The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Unforgiven, The Sons of Katie Elder, McClintock!, Dances With Wolves, Fort Apache, She Wore A Yellow Ribbon, Little Big Man and a kind of modern twist, Last of the Dog Men.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04443736284850057306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-31996495783811213702011-08-08T21:39:08.884-07:002011-08-08T21:39:08.884-07:00Theresa -- You might want to check a few out. They...Theresa -- You might want to check a few out. They're not always shoot 'em up horse operas. There are a whole variety of Western themed films.<br /><br />Stephan McC-- Happy Birthday!<br />Huge fan of Traffic--one of my favorite groups. I'll have to check out the CD.<br />I had forgotten that you had also included <i>Dr Lao</i> on your list, but a circus film that takes place in the West and included juggling is something I couldn't resist. In fact, I had consider including this film on my novels to moves entries from last week, but not clearly recalling the book I left it off although I recall liking the book very much--it was much stranger than the film. <br />I started to mention that Julie Newmar was in <i>McKenna's Gold</i>, but I had honestly forgotten the nude swimming scene. Maybe that's why I've watched that film so many times.<br />Let me know what you think of the Jesse James film.<br />Thanks for the inspiration for this post, though I can see that Westerns do not elicit as many comments as some posts do.<br /><br />LeeArlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-82282491996926082392011-08-08T20:12:10.365-07:002011-08-08T20:12:10.365-07:00BROTHER ARLEE BOID ~
I’m late getting to this, it ...BROTHER ARLEE BOID ~<br />I’m late getting to this, it being my birthday and all that Jazz, but there was no way I could have been held back until the 9th.<br /><br />First, I must tell you, as I type this comment I am listening to my new 2-disc set of TRAFFIC tunes, which my dear friend The Flyin’ Aardvark sent me for my birthday, knowing that I wanted it a great deal. ‘Traffic’ has nuttin’ to do with Western movies, but I know you too are a fan of their music, as I have been since the era of the LP. This set collects a lot of the songs I most loved from the Traffic LPs I sold to used record stores when I converted to CDs in the late ‘80s.<br /><br />OK, on to your list . . .<br /><br />A lot of your choices are more recent movies, none of which I’ve seen, and which I might not like much (e.g., Shanghai Noon). But I’m glad you left off “High Noon”, which is “HIGHLY” overrated. And I could almost kiss you for leaving off Clint’s abomination, “Unforgiven”. <br /><br />You have many excellent choices here: Treasure Of Sierra Madre, for example. Bogart had a very limited range as an actor, but he damn sure was in a great many genuine classics, “Treasure…” being just one of them. <br /><br />And anyone who mentions “The 7 Faces Of Dr. Lao” automatically scores a high grade on their report card from me, since it’s such a little known movie that deserves a bigger following.<br /><br />I’ve never seen “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford”, but based solely on your remarks, I’m going to add it to my NetFlix queue tonight and bump it way up toward the top.<br /><br />I’m afraid I didn’t have a lot of kind words for “The Misfits” in my Western Movie Guide. And it’s funny that, as much as I totally love the Western genre, the third installment of the “Back To The Future” trilogy was my least favorite, even though I did like it. (Bear in mind that my favorite installment of that GREAT series was Part 2, and I have yet to meet one other person who also feels that Part 2 was the best piece in that trilogy.)<br /><br />“The Searchers” wouldn’t be my top John Wayne Western, but it’s quite good and deserves its “Classic” reputation.<br /><br />“McKenna’s Gold”. Ha!-Ha! Du-uuu-ude! The one thing about that movie that’s noteworthy, you didn’t even note!: Julie Newmar’s underwater topless scene! (If you weren’t married with children, I’d be spreading the word that you must be… uh… uhm… “a good dancer” or “a hairdresser”. ;o) [I jest.] <br /><br />“Tombstone” is pretty far removed from the historical facts concerning the Earps in Tombstone, Airheadzona, but it truly is entertaining moviemaking; and Val Kilmer’s performance as “The Doc” is one of Hollywood’s all-time best! A fine addition to your list!<br /><br />“THE WILD BUNCH”… Well, in 4 words: “The Very Best Western.” I could have forgiven you <i>ANYTHING</i>, (including the “Unforgiven”) by your inclusion of this film on the list. <br /><br />As you know, I do not like Clint Eastwood in any way, shape, or form. But he HAS made a few good Westerns, and “The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly” is one of them. But, for me, it’s entirely Eli Wallach who makes that movie so watchable. <br /><br />Overall, Brother – based on those I’ve seen – I think you have a very admirable list here. Good stuffs, Boidman. And THANKS for putting this together; I enjoyed reading and commenting on it!<br /><br />~ D-FensDogg<br />‘Loyal American Underground’Stephen T. McCarthyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00249125637725791567noreply@blogger.com