John Wayne

He always reminded me of my favorite uncle Howard, tall, manly, good-looking, far right-wing politically, with a voice that rose up from way down deep. I don’t care for all Wayne’s pictures, but the ones I like, I love.

I go to the movies two or three times a month, and even the ones I enjoy would seldom get me to watch a second time, but if I’m surfing the remote, and any one of those listed below appears, I stop, sit, and immerse myself in it.

Stagecoach, directed by John Ford and shot in Monument Valley. Wayne in his first ‘adult’ western starring with a wonderful Claire Trevor, and with John Carradine—in what I thought was an Oscar-worthy performance, Andy Devine, and Thomas Mitchell. Only because of chronology, this is the Wayne movie first on my list. He was so young, so handsome—and the American Indians were actually played by American Indians.

Red River, with Montgomery Clift, Joanne Dru, Harry Carey, Sr. and Jr., Walter Brennan, John Ireland, and Noah Beery, Jr. it comes next on my list. I watched that one again only a few days ago.

The Three Godfathers, with Harry Carey, Jr. Pedro Armendarez, Ward Bond, Mildred Natwick, directed by John Ford. Short on action, long on the human condition, it was not a big hit, but it’s one I love.

The Quiet Man, Maureen O’Hara, Ward Bond, Barry Fitzgerald, Victor McLeglan, and Mildred Natwick. John Ford again directing. Still one of the greatest romance movies of all time.
Prolonged result without inducing any side effect is the sale of sildenafil tablets main ingredient present in Kamagra that treats ED.Kamagra helps in the reactivation of the cell telomeres. It viagra sales canada is a sildenafil citrate medicine especially designed for males with moderate and severe erectile problems. levitra price appalachianmagazine.com The problem of ED spoils the moments in life. Tip: Every time you feel anger starting to raise their ugly head, viagra australia no prescription stop time and a trip to the doctors.
The Cowboys, the great Colleen Dewhurst in a scene with Roscoe Lee Browne that is still bliss to watch. Two great actors at the top of their skills, dueling like gladiators. Bruce Dern, A. Martinez. Directed by Mark Rydell.

Tonight, I was channel surfing and found The Shootist right at the beginning. Directed by Don Siegel, it was the Duke’s last movie. He had beat cancer once before, but it had returned. In the movie, he played an aging gunman dying of cancer. I personally think it was his finest performance. Ron Howard in a role that gave him a chance to show he had adult skills as an actor. James Stewart, Richard Boone, Hugh O’Brian, Harry Morgan, Scatman Crothers, Sheree North, and, in what I think is the greatest performance of her career, Lauren Bacall.

Only the set design was nominated (deservedly—the saloon alone deserved an Oscar) but watching that movie for the hundredth time, I wondered, how can it be that every actor I named did not get a nomination—not to mention the costumes?

I was only a little girl when my daddy talked about the great character actors. He didn’t take me to the movies to see the stars, but if Peter Lorre, Ward Bond or Harry Carey Sr. was in a movie, he wouldn’t miss it.

If you’ve never seen the movies I mentioned, and as you’re flipping through the channels, treat yourself to some of the finest films ever made. I certainly will.

Share:

More Posts

Voices in my head

How is this going to end?

People often ask me where I get the ideas for my books. For me, it’s usually sparked by something in my life or the life

My Dog is a Liar

MY DOG IS A LIAR

Most moms remember well when they were trying to toilet train their toddlers. The child in question discovered early on that the best way to

UNFORGETTABLE

I have a half-dozen moments in my memory that are enormous– unforgettable. They’re the kind that come as a surprise and make you remember exactly

Lena

I only met my mother-in-law one time. From family descriptions, I knew she was once beautiful but in her sixties, she looked pretty much like

Archives