 The Alamo 1960   N/R, 161 min.
Genre: Western / Action / Drama / Adventure
Director: John Wayne
Cast: John Wayne, Richard Widmark, Frankie Avalon, Richard Boone, Laurence Harvey, Chill Wills, Patrick Wayne, Linda Cristal, Ken Curtis, Denver Pyle, Joan O'Brien, Joseph Calleia, Carlos Arruza, Veda Ann Borg, John Dierkes
John Wayne directed and starred (as Davy Crockett) in this major production about the famous battle of Texas' independence in 1836 against an attack by the Mexican army at a small fort near San Antonio. Great musical score by Dimitri Tiomkin, and the final attack is a real spectacle. Several Oscar nominations were received with one winner: Best Sound. Nominations included Best Picture and Supporting Actor (Chill Wills). 1 User Review
| User Review |
| | Mt. Everest of western epics | crocketteer 02/22/2008 | Mighty and glorious in the old style of vast Hollywood epics, directed by the Paul Bunyan of the genre himself, John "Duke" Wayne.
After being schooled by master directors Walsh, Wellman, Hathaway, De Mille, Von Sternberg, Hawks and Ford - the actor put his self on the line, by producing and directing, as well as heading the cast - to release the immortal story of the doomed patriots, awaiting reinforcements that never came, as they battled the Army of Mexico and meglomaniacal dictator Santa Anna.
Though padded out with unneccesary subplots and occasional historical inaccuracies - it rises to the levels of greatness with a heartfelt soundtrack, sumptous cinematography, and vivid battle action that ranks among the best, in historic recreations. Later versions of the story - lack the folkloric essence of Manifest Destiny, that Wayne infused in his version. Mocked upon its release, it has been justly rewarded with continuous sales in the VHS / DVD market worldwide, and is now getting the respect it deserves.
Recent remake of story is morose and lacking in spirit and vigor. Though Wayne's panoramic release was never made for tiny TV screens, it is getting it's due - when seen on a large plasma screen - and eventually will be given the DVD release it deserves. Ghost riders of the West salute you, John Wayne. |
|
|  | |
Conagher 1991 PG, 94 min.
Genre: Western
Director: Reynaldo Villalobos
Cast: Sam Elliott, Katharine Ross, Barry Corbin, Billy Green Bush, Ken Curtis, Dub Taylor, Paul Koslo, Gavan O'Herlihy, James Parks, Pepe Serna, Daniel Quinn, Buck Taylor
Evie (Katharine Ross), alone and raising two children, runs a stagecoach station, and cowhand Conn (Sam Elliott) works hard–including keeping rustlers in check. Their paths cross in this tribute to the old West. This made-for-TV film is based on a Louis L'Amour novel.
| | |
The Horse Soldiers 1959  N/R, 118 min.
Genre: Western
Director: John Ford
Cast: John Wayne, William Holden, Constance Towers, Althea Gibson, Strother Martin, Hoot Gibson, Anna Lee, Russell Simpson, Carleton Young, Ken Curtis, Judson Pratt, Willis Bouchey, Bing Russell, O.Z. Whitehead, Hank Worden
This story is based on a true event during the Civil War; a Union cavalry unit, led by Col. Marlowe (John Wayne), invaded the Confederacy in an attempt to weaken it into early submission. John Ford/John Wayne do their usual good job of entertaining. 1 User Review
| User Review |
| | liked the movie | dirtyways 08/14/2009 | | IT WAS BASED ON TRUE EVENTS SO THAT MAKES IT ONE YOU SHOULD WATCH +JOHN WAYNE,WILLIAM HOLDEN |
|
| | |
 The Killer Shrews 1959  N/R, 69 min.
Genre: Horror / Thriller
Director: Ray Kellogg
Cast: James Best, Ingrid Goude, Baruch Lumet, Ken Curtis, Gordon McLendon, Judge Henry Dupree, Alfredo DeSoto
On a remote island, a mad scientist (Gordon McLendon) creates a potion that turns tiny shrews into bigger, hungry creatures. They get loose during a hurricane and, after devouring the animal inhabitants of the island, go after humans. Cheap budget, and it shows–ridiculous but somewhat fun.
| | |
 Mister Roberts 1955  N/R, 123 min.
Genre: Comedy / Drama
Director: John Ford, Mervyn LeRoy
Cast: Henry Fonda, Jack Lemmon, James Cagney, William Powell, Betsy Palmer, Ward Bond, Nick Adams, Philip Carey, Harry Carey Jr., Ken Curtis, Perry Lopez, Robert Roark, Patrick Wayne, Frank Aletter, Buck Kartalian
Life on a military supply ship is VERY dull when compared to combat duty. Lt. Douglas Roberts (Henry Fonda) sends in a series of requests for transfer, and they are always denied by the captain (James Cagney). Ensign Pulver (Jack Lemmon) is Robert's friend and shipmate who steals the show as a bungling young Naval officer. Lemmon received an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, and a nomination was received for Best Picture.
| | |
Once Upon a Texas Train 1988  PG, 96 min.
Genre: Western
aka: Texas Guns
Director: Burt Kennedy
Cast: Willie Nelson, Richard Widmark, Angie Dickinson, Shaun Cassidy, Chuck Connors, Ken Curtis, Royal Dano, Jack Elam, Gene Evans, Kevin McCarthy, Dub Taylor, Stuart Whitman
Fresh out of prison, John Henry Lee (Willy Nelson) gathers his old-timers' gang for one last heist–a repeat of the train robbery that landed him in jail. Texas Ranger Oren Hayes (Richard Widmark)–who caught John the last time–and his old-timer sidekicks follow in hot pursuit, but so is a tough gang of young outlaws.
| | |
The Quiet Man 1952 N/R, 129 min.
Genre: Drama / Comedy / Romance
Director: John Ford
Cast: John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Barry Fitzgerald, Ward Bond, Victor McLaglen, Mildred Natwick, Francis Ford, Arthur Shields, Mae Marsh, Eileen Crowe, Sean McClory, Jack MacGowran, Ken Curtis, Harry Tenbrook, James Lilburn
American ex-boxer Sean Thornton (John Wayne) returns to his mother's village in Ireland. Once there, he falls in love with Mary Kate (Maureen O'Hara) and must win her over from her family. John Ford won his fourth Best Director Academy Award for this film. An Oscar was also received for Best Cinematography along with five other nominations, including Best Picture and Supporting Actor (Victor McLaglen).
| | |
 Robin Hood 1973 G, 83 min.
Genre: Animation / Family / Adventure / Romance
Director: Wolfgang Reitherman
Cast: Brian Bedford, Roger Miller, Monica Evans, Phil Harris, Andy Devine, Carole Shelley, Peter Ustinov, Terry-Thomas, Pat Buttram, George Lindsey, Ken Curtis, Billy Whitaker, J. Pat O'Malley, John Fiedler, Candy Candido
In this Disney animated version of the classic tale, animals take on all of the roles. For example, Robin Hood (voice of Brian Bedford) is a fox, Allan-A-Dale (voice of Roger Miller) is a rooster, and Maid Marian (voice of Monica Evans) is also a fox. The storyline fits with the legend of Robin Hood and his gang who steals from the rich and gives to the poor because Prince John (voice of Peter Ustinov) is overtaxing them for his own personal gains.
| | |
 The Searchers 1956 N/R, 119 min.
Genre: Western / Drama / Adventure
Director: John Ford
Cast: John Wayne, Natalie Wood, Jeffrey Hunter, Ward Bond, Vera Miles, John Qualen, Harry Carey Jr., Patrick Wayne, Henry Brandon, Antonio Moreno, Lana Wood, Olive Carey, Hank Worden, Pippa Scott, Ken Curtis
Indians have captured nine-year-old Debbie (Lana Wood). During a five-year search, an embittered cowboy (John Wayne) and his partner (Jeffrey Hunter) search for Debbie (now played by Natalie Wood). One of the great Westerns and another John Ford treasure. 1 User Review
| User Review |
| | Among the most complex Ford westerns, if not the best | 1fatts 03/14/2007 | Anyone who knows American movies knows this one. I don't think it is more quintessentially "American" than the Ford Cavalry Trilogy, but there is an edge to it which sets it apart. There is an emptiness in John Wayne's Ethan Edwards that marks him and separates him so fundamentally from everything around him that we are limited in our sympathy for him and find it only appropriate that he both begins and ends the film as the outsider and perhaps the outcast.
The movie is not without flaws. Structurally, we never see what it is that changes Ethan's intention to kill Debbie and, therefore, while we are willing to accept it emotionally, it doesn't really work in terms of the plot setup.
More seriously, the whole film sets us up for a confrontation between Edwards and Scar, and, in the end, we don't get that confrontation. That is a significant weakness.
But it is a great western. Monument Valley has rarely been used to better effect. Ford's stock company all acquit themselves well, and we have a chance to appreciate John Wayne in a more complex role than we usually get to see him. |
|
| | |
Two Rode Together 1961  N/R, 108 min.
Genre: Western
Director: John Ford
Cast: James Stewart, Richard Widmark, Shirley Jones, Linda Cristal, Andy Devine, Harry Carey Jr., John McIntire, Paul Birch, Willis Bouchey, Henry Brandon, Olive Carey, Ken Curtis
Army Lieutenant Jim Gary (Richard Widmark) and U.S. Marshal Guthrie McCabe (James Stewart) join forces to rescue White settlers who, years before, had been captured by Comanche Indians.
| | |
The Wings of Eagles 1957 N/R, 111 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: John Ford
Cast: John Wayne, Dan Dailey, Maureen O'Hara, Ward Bond, Ken Curtis, Edmund Lowe, Kenneth Tobey, James Todd, Sig Ruman, Barry Kelley, Henry O'Neill, Willis Bouchey, Dorothy Jordan, Charles Trowbridge, Mae Marsh
This is the film biography of U.S. Navy aviator Frank W. "Spig" Wead (John Wayne) who became a writer. His marriage flounders after their baby's death, and Spig is crippled after a fall. However, World War II becomes the pivotal force in his life when he must choose between duty and the emotional needs of his wife (Maureen O'Hara).
| | |
The Young Land 1959  N/R, 92 min.
Genre: Western
Director: Ted Tetzlaff
Cast: Patrick Wayne, Yvonne Craig, Dennis Hopper, Dan O'Herlihy, Ken Curtis, Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez
In 19th-century California, Hatfield Carnes (Dennis Hopper) is on trial for the murder of a Mexican. The film highlights racial tensions that existed at that time, but is, overall, a weak effort.
| | |
| 1. The Alamo (1960)
2. Conagher (1991)
3. The Horse Soldiers (1959)
4. The Killer Shrews (1959)
5. Mister Roberts (1955)
6. Once Upon a Texas Train (1988)
aka: Texas Guns
7. The Quiet Man (1952)
8. Robin Hood (1973)
9. The Searchers (1956)
10. Two Rode Together (1961)
11. The Wings of Eagles (1957)
12. The Young Land (1959)
In The News
|
