Week of the Duke

Discussion of programming on TCM.
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mrsl
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Joined: April 14th, 2007, 5:20 pm
Location: Chicago SW suburbs

Week of the Duke

Post by mrsl »

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I'm loving this week with John Wayne. Although I have the DVD of all the early 1930's movies, it was still fun to watch them earlier this week. That crazy music they play during traveling scenes makes me laugh every time. It is catchy though because I find myself humming it later. Boy those were really baaaaddd movies, but good training ground I guess. It's where JW formulated his unique walk, talk, and levels of emotions, be it anger, happy, love, or funny. In some ways those early films are like early Gene Autry except Gene's were a bit more professionally filmed and directed, as well as his leading ladies who were generally Ann Rutherford, and Ann Davis with an occasional Ann Sheridan thrown in (I guess the person in charge of casting liked the name Ann). As for the Duke however, who would ever believe that stiff, uncomfortable guy would work up to being America's favorite cowboy wo was able to seem like he wasn't acting at all.

I missed a lot of the 40's due to doctor visits and a bit of shopping, but I did catch Reunion in France with Joan Crawford which I saw a while ago but only in bits and pieces. This time I saw the whole thing and was able to finally catch up on what was actually going on. Never being a big Crawford fan, I would have preferred someone else in the part. After all she was supposed to be a French woman, so why not someone like Ingrid Bergman who had an accent at least, and was more likely to have two men fall in love with her.

Well, late tonight is Reap the Wild Wind, one of my favorites where JW is not a cowboy but with two more of my faves - Ray Milland, and Paulette Goddard, the only problem with this one is JW dies in the end. Another I like a lot is Shepherd of the Hills, also recording tonight, so some time over the weekend, I'll have a couple of the Dukes movies to relax with.

How have the rest of you enjoyed or disliked this week? Have you had any favorites playing?
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Anne


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Rita Hayworth
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Joined: February 6th, 2011, 4:01 pm

Re: Week of the Duke

Post by Rita Hayworth »

TOP TEN JOHN WAYNE MOVIES THAT I TRULY LOVED
IN ORDER FROM 1 to 10 - The Searchers is Number 1 and Stagecoach is Number 10

The Searchers (1956)
stars as Ethan Edwards

Red River (1948)
stars as Thomas Dunson

Rio Grande (1950) aka John Ford and Merian C. Cooper's Rio Grande
stars as Lt. Col. Kirby York (Commanding Officer, Fort Stark)

The Longest Day (1962)
stars as Lt. Col. Benjamin Vandervoort

True Grit (1969)
stars as Rooster Cogburn

The Alamo (1960)
stars as Col. Davy Crockett

The Horse Soldiers (1959)
stars as Col. John Marlowe

The Wings of Eagles (1957)
stars as Frank W. 'Spig' Wead

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)
stars as Tom Doniphon

Stagecoach (1939)
stars as The Ringo Kid

LOVED THESE MOVIES FOR NO APPARENT REASONS - ALL GOOD MOVIES OF JOHN WAYNE

The Shootist (1976)
stars as John Bernard Books

Rooster Cogburn (1975) aka Rooster Cogburn... and the Lady
stars as Reuben 'Rooster' Cogburn

Brannigan (1975) aka Joe Battle
stars as Lt. Jim Brannigan

Cahill U.S. Marshal (1973)
stars as U.S. Marshal J.D. Cahill

Rio Lobo (1970) aka San Timoteo
stars as Col. Cord McNally

Chisum (1970)
stars as John Simpson Chisum

The Undefeated (1969)
stars as Col. John Henry Thomas

The Green Berets (1968)
stars as Col. Mike Kirby

Hellfighters (1968)
stars as Chance Buckman

The War Wagon (1967)
stars as Taw Jackson

El Dorado (1966)
stars as Cole Thornton

Cast a Giant Shadow (1966)
stars as Gen. Mike Randolph

The Sons of Katie Elder (1965)
stars as John Elder

In Harm's Way (1965)
stars as Capt./RAdm. Rockwell Torrey

Circus World (1964) aka Samuel Bronston's Circus World
stars as Matt Masters

Donovan's Reef (1963)
stars as Michael Patrick 'Guns' Donovan

McLintock! (1963)
stars as George Washington McLintock

Hatari! (1962)
stars as Sean Mercer

How the West Was Won (1962)
stars as Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman

Rio Bravo (1959)
stars as Sheriff John T. Chance

Jet Pilot (1957)
stars as Col. Jim Shannon

The Quiet Man (1952)
stars as Sean Thornton

Big Jim McLain (1952) aka Jim McLain
stars as James 'Jim' McLain

Flying Leathernecks (1951)
stars as Maj. Daniel Xavier 'Dan' Kirby

Operation Pacific (1951)
stars as Lt Cmdr. Duke E. Gifford, XO, Thunderfish

The Fighting Kentuckian (1949) aka A Strange Caravan
stars as John Breen

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949)
stars as Capt. of Cavalry Nathan Cutting Brittles

Sands of Iwo Jima (1949)
stars as Sgt. John M. Stryker

Fort Apache (1948) aka War Party
stars as Capt. Kirby York

Angel and the Badman (1947) aka The Angel and the Outlaw
stars as Quirt Evans

Flame of Barbary Coast (1945) aka Flame of the Barbary Coast
stars as Duke Fergus

They Were Expendable (1945)
stars as Lt. (j.g.) 'Rusty' Ryan

Back to Bataan (1945) aka The Invisible Army
stars as Col. Joseph Madden

The Fighting Seabees (1944) aka Donovan's Army
stars as Wedge Donovan

In Old Oklahoma (1943) aka War of the Wildcats
stars as Daniel F. 'Dan' Somers

Flying Tigers (1942)
stars as Capt. Jim Gordon

A Man Betrayed (1941) aka Wheel of Fortune
stars as Lynn Hollister

Lady from Louisiana (1941) aka Lady from New Orleans
stars as John Reynolds

Dark Command (1940)
stars as Bob 'Shortcut' Seton

Allegheny Uprising (1939) aka The First Rebel
stars as James 'Jim' Smith

FIVE WORST JOHN WAYNE MOVIES - THAT I'VE SEEN AND VOWED NEVER, EVER SEE THESE AGAIN - IN ORDER

Avoid the one in the BOLD

The Barbarian and the Geisha (1958)
stars as Townsend Harris
:mrgreen:

Seven Sinners (1940) aka Cafe of the Seven Sinners
stars as Lt. Dan Brent

Lady for a Night (1942)
stars as Jackson 'Jack' Morgan

Dakota (1945)
stars as John Devlin

Pittsburgh (1942)
stars as Charles 'Pittsburgh' Markham/Charles Ellis
RedRiver
Posts: 4200
Joined: July 28th, 2011, 9:42 am

Re: Week of the Duke

Post by RedRiver »

Well, late tonight is Reap the Wild Wind, one of my favorites where JW is not a cowboy

Love the squid!
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mrsl
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Joined: April 14th, 2007, 5:20 pm
Location: Chicago SW suburbs

Re: Week of the Duke

Post by mrsl »

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I just watched Big Jim McLain. Another one that I've only seen in bits an pieces until today and was pleasantly surprised at JW's calibre of acting in this one. He was totally relaxed as he is in his westerns. I have noticed that when he is out of his western garb he is a little stiffer and a bit unsure of himself and his dialog. In this one, he has some really great lines he says to Nancy Olson, they're crisp and witty and she responds with the same sort of freshness.

Watching Shepherd of the Hills this morning, I admired Harry Carey's easy-going style. It seems like Paul Fix (sheriff on the Rifleman), and a lot of other great side-kick parts, also gleamed a lot from Harry Sr. in his style. I don't think I would have liked working with/for John Ford because he obviously had his favorites who were allowed to do their own thing in most cases even though he did make it a habit to take each of them down a peg or two now and then, but all the others in the cast seemed to have to toe the line. At least that's the impression I get since none of Fords movies have secondary roles that seem so relaxed and comfortable.
Anne


***********************************************************************
* * * * * * * * What is past is prologue. * * * * * * * *

]***********************************************************************
RedRiver
Posts: 4200
Joined: July 28th, 2011, 9:42 am

Re: Week of the Duke

Post by RedRiver »

SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS is a good movie, and a somewhat different scenario for Wayne. It's gentle; even spiritual. I like it. It reminds me a little of TRAIL OF THE LONSEOME PINE. In fact, both films were by Henry Hathaway.
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