Did anyone watch?
Posted: June 14th, 2008, 7:49 pm
Did anyone watch two of my all time favorite westerns last night? I'm referring to The Way West and Westward the Women.
The Way West: I loved Robert O's line about at 50, 51,and 53 the three main stars felt they were too old to play romantic leads. In My Humble Opinion, all three (although I'm not crazy about Kirk), were all in better shape, looked more like the romantic types, and exuded male charisma a whole lot better than many of the frou-frous in their 30's now holding forth with romantic leads. Sally Field was a hum-dinger as a would-be bar girl except for the attention of the funky looking farmer boy who wanted to marry her. It was a good example of how justice had to be dealt on the open prairie with no official law around, albeit a little harshly in some cases. The plot was interesting, the scenery gorgeous, and although not the deepest character studies you might want, it's an enjoyable little movie which can be watched by the whole family, or a date night. Chris did a great review of it a couple of months ago in his thread on his recently watched movies.
Westward the Women: The first time I watched this I was totally enthralled with it. When I saw the short about how they camped out for 3 weeks or months to learn all that stuff, I thought 'Wow, how can a director get a cast to do that?' Then I heard about William Wellman. I would have preferred a different male lead, because Robert Taylor, to me, is not my idea of a cowboy. I know he made a lot of them, but he just doesn't come across as tough enough to me.
I love the way the women take charge through every hardship the trip lays on them, and adore Hope Emerson as Patience. I always wondered why I never saw Lonnie Lonergan again because she really stood out in this movie. If she did do other movies, she must have looked different. Also, this is really the only offering I've ever seen of Denise Darcel, so I have no comments on her. Does anyone know why Julie Bishop got special mention? Was she someone special on Broadway? Anyone else like these two movies?
Anne
The Way West: I loved Robert O's line about at 50, 51,and 53 the three main stars felt they were too old to play romantic leads. In My Humble Opinion, all three (although I'm not crazy about Kirk), were all in better shape, looked more like the romantic types, and exuded male charisma a whole lot better than many of the frou-frous in their 30's now holding forth with romantic leads. Sally Field was a hum-dinger as a would-be bar girl except for the attention of the funky looking farmer boy who wanted to marry her. It was a good example of how justice had to be dealt on the open prairie with no official law around, albeit a little harshly in some cases. The plot was interesting, the scenery gorgeous, and although not the deepest character studies you might want, it's an enjoyable little movie which can be watched by the whole family, or a date night. Chris did a great review of it a couple of months ago in his thread on his recently watched movies.
Westward the Women: The first time I watched this I was totally enthralled with it. When I saw the short about how they camped out for 3 weeks or months to learn all that stuff, I thought 'Wow, how can a director get a cast to do that?' Then I heard about William Wellman. I would have preferred a different male lead, because Robert Taylor, to me, is not my idea of a cowboy. I know he made a lot of them, but he just doesn't come across as tough enough to me.
I love the way the women take charge through every hardship the trip lays on them, and adore Hope Emerson as Patience. I always wondered why I never saw Lonnie Lonergan again because she really stood out in this movie. If she did do other movies, she must have looked different. Also, this is really the only offering I've ever seen of Denise Darcel, so I have no comments on her. Does anyone know why Julie Bishop got special mention? Was she someone special on Broadway? Anyone else like these two movies?
Anne