Indecision is a virus that can run through an army and destroy it's will to win. Or even to survive.

A few days ago I watched In Harms Way. It stars John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, Henry Fonda, Patricia Neal, Burgess Meredith,George Kennedy, Good old Bruce Cabot and many other famous faces. I think it has to be my 5th favorite of the all star war films after Dirty Dozen, Great Escape, Longest Day and Bridge Two Far. Many of the stars listed above were only in the film for 10 or 15 minutes.  Meredith, Neal, Wayne and Douglas are the main cast members. Kirk plays basically the same role as he did in Gunfight at OK Corral a drunk who abuses women. With all these great stars, Otto Peminger as director Hugh S. Fowler who edited such classics as Planet of the Apes, Gentlemen prefer Blondes and Patton. George Tomasini who edited Vertigo,Rear Window, North by Northwest, the Birds,Psycho and many other Hicthcock films. Lyle R. Wheeler the production designer for Gone with the Wind and All about Eve. Loyal Griggs on Cinematography who is known for Shane, Ten Commandments and White Christmas, Sound editor Charles Grenzbach who did Platoon, The Godfather and Wall Street. Lawrence W. Butler who did special effects for Casablanca, The Caine Mutiny and To be or not to be. Saul Bass who made the titles to Goodfellas, North by Northwest and the Big Country. and of course Jerry Goldsmith. It also has a great sea battle.
 

"I'm gonna take perticular joy in seeing you hang"

Last week I watched the western action/adventure film The  Comancheros which stars John Wayne his son Patrick, Stuart Whitman and some well known western faces like Lee Marvin, Bruce Cabot and Jack Elam. The great director Michael Curtiz known for The Adventures of Robin Hood and Casablanca. I like this film mostly because of it's cast. I also noticed it was like a James Bond film set in the west with an under cover base and the death of a fellow partner also the big shoot out at the end were the good guys attack the hidden base like in You only live twice, Diamond's are forever to name a few. Over all it was vary entertaining. Bernstein's score also adds a lot to the film.

You got a choice, Dishwasher. Either you get out of town, or tonight you be out on that street alone. You be there, and don't make us come and get you.

On my birthday I had some family over for pizza and we watched John Fords classic The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. It has a who's who's of stars including John Wayne, James Stewart, Lee Marvin, Vera Miles, Edmond O' Brien, John Carradine, Andy Devine,Woody Strode also Lee Van Cleef and Strother Martin 3 to 5 years before they became big in the movie industry. This has to be my third favorite role of Marvin after The Dirty Dozen and The Big Red One. I just love when he says dude. Stewart and Wayne are great as always.

Oh, all right. But you watch me, boy! I'm the hardcase you're up against out here, not them childish savages! And if you don't hear my first holler, you better read my mind 'cause I don't aim to raise no two hollers on any subject at hand!

Last week I watched John Ford's classic the Searchers on the big screen. It stars John Wayne and also Ward Bond. It was great seeing it again because I have only seen it a few times and that was many years ago. It was highly entertaining and had good action. I enjoyed Ward Bond. Bond give a good and strong performance in every western he's in. This has to be one of my top westerns and my favorite John Ford western.

You're not as smart as your brother, Joe. He sees Stumpy here sittin' around the corner locked in with you... and if that isn't plain enough, I'll tell you why. If any trouble starts around this jail, before anybody can get to you you're gonna get accidentally shot.

                         Last week I  went to the  Riverview and saw Rio Bravo on the big screen. It was the first in the John Wayne and Clint Eastwood western series which also includes the Shootist, The Outlaw Josey Wales,True Grit, The Seachers and Unforgiven.  This film has a great cast including Dean Martin, Ward Bond, Walter Brennan, Ricky Nelson and Angie Dickinson in her first role.  This has to be in my top ten favorite westerns. Brennan is awesome. I give him 5 stars.

O Lord, without consulting with Thee, we have sent thy way some souls whose evil ways passeth all understanding. We ask Thee humbly to receive them... whether you want them or not! Amen.

Over my break I watched the film How the West was Won. It is like the Longest Day and Bridge to Far in terms of cast. The cast includes Walter Brennan, John Wayne, Karl Malden, James Stewart, George Peppard, Eli wallich, Debbie Renyolds, Carroll Baker, Greorgy Peck and Lee J Cobb to name a few. The film also has Lee Van Cleef in an uncredited role. The film is narrated by Spencer Tracy.   It revolves around one families journey to the west and the struggles they faced over the years.



The film was shot by different directors. The great John Ford shot the Civil war scene. Another great western director Henry Hathaway shot the  River, Plains and Outlaw scene. George Marshall shot the Railroad scene.The film was nominated 8 times at the Oscars in 1963 winning only 3. One for best writing for story and screenplay, best editing and best sound. The great score by Alfred Newman and Ken Darby was going to win for best original score but there was a mix up and the Oscar went to John Addison for Tom Jones. The mistake has never been fixed to this day. I have no complaints except that they killed off Karl Malden and Walter Brennan which was mean.  It was also a little slow at times. Overall it was good. 

And I am *not* intoxicated... yet!

 "McLintock!" is a low point in John Wanye's career. McLintock is one of the few comedies that is not funny. I don't think anyone in their right mind would want to watch 127 minutes of John Wanye and Maureen O'Hara yelling at each other. When he's not yelling he's drinking. At least it has good old Bruce Cabot which is the only thing it has going for it. The mud fight is the best scene in the whole movie. But as far as John Wanye fights and movie fights in general this one is really bad. Stay far far away from this one.

With joyous memories, we leave the mystical city of Da Nang! What gay adventure lies ahead? Brother, this trip is gonna make LSD feel like aspirin!

As part of Vietnam week I watched the 1968 film The Green Berets starring John Wanye his son Patrick Wayne,Bruce Cabot,Jim Hutton and George Takei(Sulu). They are all on a mission in South Vietnam to  kidnap a North Vietnamese General and to build and control a camp that is trying to be taken by the VC.  One of the things that was good about this film was the great cast. The film also  is one of many to feature the Wanye/Cabot partnership. Those two are always good together.

The things that were bad about this film were the fact that they were having a fire while it was raining. Also the fake VC dummies looked really bad when they were hit by the napalm.  I am also getting sick of John Wanye's jokes,after awhile they become not funny. Another thing I did not like was that they killed off Sulu. It's not one of my favorite war films but it's  ok.

Next is Kubrick's Classic Full Metal Jacket.

A drunk kid and a crazy old man.

War Wagon has to be one of my favorite westerns with John Wanye and Kirk Douglas as they steal gold from Good old Bruce Cabot the head of Pierce mining co . Bruce Cabot is the only actor to have battled James Bond,The Duke and King Kong. Cabot and Wanye were also good friends so Cabot starred in most of Wanye's westerns from The Comancheros to McLintock to Chisum and also Big Jake.  It also has a great score by Dimitri Tiomkin. Hear is the original trailer.