John Wayne, Lest We Forget

[movieman1957]

I think I accidentally opened my Father's Day gift. Among the deliveries from Amazon I thought was a DVD I spoke to The Bride about but when I opened the box there set Duke's "Island In The Sky."

It was on my wish list but is scheduled for TCM in July. Now I don't have to record it but I do have to explain why I opened a box that didn't have my name on it.

Oh, well.

[knitwit45]

yeah yeah, sure sure.....accidentally????? uh huh....it ain't flying in Kansas, buddy, better come up with a good one!!!!!

[JackFavell]

Oh Lordy! You are in trouble now.

[movieman1957]

She said "Yeah, sure." And then told me I had three more gifts coming. I won't open anything else.

She loves me. Go figure.

[movieman1957]

Went to the cinema to see "The Searchers." I was pleasantly surprised how many people were there. I'd guess at least 60. Some friends came and for one this was his first time to see the film.

It looked really nice. I was a little disappointed in the sound but overall it was grand to see it. Seeing those locations on the big screen really made it seem larger and more imposing. Everyone laughed in the right places. Everyone seemed involved. Even heard some folks asking questions about it as it went.

Two little mistakes I picked up this time was when they uncover the Indian buried under the rock he takes a rather deep breath. (That may not be news to most.) The other was after Marty takes off with Laurie's horse "Sweet Face" he is seen riding another horse for a while only to end up back on "Sweet Face."

It was good to be reminded of just how good Wayne was in this film. I'm so glad I finally got to see it on the big screen.

[MissGoddess]

I'm so happy you had a good time, Chris! How did Carolann like it?

[movieman1957]

She didn't go. She has to get up very early and felt that would keep her out to late. I went with several friends. Two of whom were rather young but are big Wayne fans.

[JackFavell]

How was it for the one who had never seen it before?

If I went I'd have to bring kleenex and a bucket of makeup because I start blubbing at the opening shot.

[movieman1957]

He really enjoyed it. He knew most of the actors.

Some things I paid closer attention to since I was seeing it this way. The moments between Martha and Ethan, the breakfast when Capt. Clayton (Bond) and the gang show up. All the motion that goes on behind is not wasted. They are moving for the sake of moving. Then when Bond comes back in alone into that room and sees Martha pull Ethan's coat is a stark contrast to the action the moments before.

The landscapes, the bright scenes look brighter and the dark scenes darker, especially those shot from in the house out to the bright sunshine. And you certainly pick up more details on a larger screen that are just a by product of the conditions during filming.

My buddy wants to go see "North By Northwest" in the next few weeks playing at the same place.

[Sue Sue Applegate]

Glad you finally got to see it on the big screen. I was lucky enough to see it at Lynn and Jon's on their beautiful big screen on Blue Ray. What a treat! I will never forget the clairity and the colors. A treat.

And it's so much fun when you can go with friends, or take pals and introduced them to a classic film never before experienced.

[movieman1957]

I want to go to Lynn's house.

[JackFavell]

I always find something new in this movie, but I imagine it would be like seeing it for the first time on a big screen. Something about the perspective and the clarity, the clear distinction between foreground and background makes you notice things, maybe sometimes feel things that you wouldn't on a small screen, no matter how big. It can take my breath away sometimes.

[RedRiver]

One of my favorite movie experiences was seeing THE SEARCHERS and SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON in a Chicago theatre. I had seen both films on TV. But this was something else! I'm a big fan of video; thankful for the technology. But the more we gain, the more we give up. There aren't many screenings of these classics anymore.

[JackFavell]

Movies aren't as special anymore when you can watch them on a dvd. or whatever the next big technology is.

[Lzcutter]

I want to go to Lynn's house.

Chris,

You guys are always welcome to come watch classic movies at our house!

I am so glad you got the opportunity to see The Searchers on the big screen. One of the things that always amazes me when I watch the film, especially on the big screen, is how in the world did critics back in the day miss the whole connection between Ethan and Martha at the beginning of the film? According to film historians, it wasn't until the 1960s when critics like Andrew Sarris and Pauline Kael came along that the whole backstory of their love for one another was finally noticed.

I know that Ford doesn't always give backstory away in talky exposition but he had been doing it subtly since he emerged as a first-rate director over twenty years before The Searchers hit the screen.