The basic premise of this movie is quite simple: a young man with no particular talent but a quick draw (Chad Everett) wants to feel important by out drawing the fastest draw around -- an experienced marshall played by Glenn Ford. As the movie progresses, a bond of mutual affection develops between the young gunfighter and the old marshall. The marshall tries every way he can to avoid the inevitable gunfight which he know he will win. This movie is essentially about relationships and the differences between youth and maturity rather than just another gunfight. It's one of my top ten westerns.
Reviews
22 Reviews
The Brotherhood of the Bell
(1970 TV Movie)
Above average TV movie.
26 May 1999
The Brotherhood of the Bell is an elite fraternity whose members effectively control much of the government and non-government power in the U.S. Glenn Ford's character is a disillusioned member of the Brotherhood who attempts to expose it following the suicide of a friend whom it has victimized. Ford's attempts to expose the Brotherhood bring its power to bear on him, resulting in the destruction of his reputation, his job, and even his marriage. So convincing was this movie that I was left with the impression that much of the real power in this country could indeed be held by an elite oligarchy of rich and powerful people without the awareness of the general populace. See this one if you can.
A Song to Remember
(1945)
Well done, albeit "Hollywoodized," biography of Chopin
11 March 1999
I love this movie. I realize that many of the facts of Chopin's life have been altered in order to make an appealing story which fits into a normal-length movie. Despite this, this movie has much to commend it, starting with the fact that it is filled with some of the best music Chopin -- or anyone, for that matter -- ever wrote (played, I believe, by Jose Iturbi). Also, unlike one reviewer, I find it well cast, and well acted as well -- in the style of the time in which it was made. In my view this movie is characteristic of both the strong points and flaws of Hollywood's golden age.
A Christmas Carol
(1984 TV Movie)
The best version yet of this classic story.
7 December 1998
I can't imagine a finer cinematic version of A Christmas Carol than this one. George C. Scott gives a superb performance as Scrooge, convincingly conveying his gradual transformation from a hard-hearted miser to a man who eventually comes to embody the spirit of Christmas. Scott's performance, in my opinion surpasses even the widely-praised performance by Alistair Sim. Everything else about this film is also excellent: the supporting cast, the scenery, and even the musical score. This is one of the very few movies to which I have given a rating of 10.
Trenchcoat
(1983)
An entertaining, tongue-in-cheek romantic thriller.
2 December 1998
I can't understand why this movie has such a low User Rating. I enjoyed it thoroughly the first time I saw it and have seen it again several times with no loss of pleasure. Perhaps some viewers failed to realize that this is not a serious thriller but a tongue-in-cheek romantic comedy in disguise. Taken on these terms it's a lot of fun.
The Great Race
(1965)
A wonderful screwball comedy
2 December 1998
There are many great comedic moments in this movie; however two stand out for me: possibly the wildest bar room brawl ever and THE best pie and pastry fight ever filmed. Add a great cast and an enchanting Henry Mancini score featuring the beautiful "Sweetheart Tree" and the result is a true classic.
Charade
(1963)
A winner with ever changing plot and characters
2 December 1998
Cary Grant and Audrie Hepburn together! What more could one ask for? The interplay between these legendary stars is superb and would be quite enough to make this movie worth seeing. But, as icing on the cake, there's also plenty of intrigue and suspense plus a fine cast and music by Henry Mancini. This one definitely is a winner.
The Mouse That Roared
(1959)
May be Peter Sellers' best performance.
2 December 1998
In this hilarious film Peter Sellers plays three roles (one a duchess) and plays them superbly. I suppose one has to have a taste for understated British humor to fully appreciate this film, but I'm not British and I love it. If you like Peter Sellers -- or just good comedy -- please give this delightful film a try.
No Highway in the Sky
(1951)
A good movie that is often overlooked
2 December 1998
No Highway in the Sky -- along with Dial Northside 777 -- is an under-appreciated Jimmy Stewart movie. Neither of these films is great, but both are very good. If you like Jimmy Stewart -- or even if you just like good movies -- try to see these two. Both are excellent examples of the golden age of movies when there were so many good movies made that some, unfortunately, have been somewhat overlooked.
Call Northside 777
(1948)
A good, under-appreciated Jimmy Stewart movie
2 December 1998
Call Northside 777 -- along with No Highway in the Sky -- is an under-appreciated Jimmy Stewart movie. Neither of these films is great, but both are very good. If you like Jimmy Stewart -- or even if you just like good movies -- try to see these two. Both are excellent examples of the golden age of movies when there were so many good movies made that some, unfortunately, have been somewhat overlooked.
Miracle on 34th Street
(1947)
The original, and still the best
2 December 1998
Although there have been several remakes of this delightful story, this version is by far the best. Edmund Gwenn's superb performance as Kris Kringle won him a well-justified Academy Award, and the rest of the cast are also quite good -- including the young Natalie Wood as the little girl who learns to believe in wondrous things, such as Santa Claus. This movie is both a holiday treat and a genuine classic.
The Uninvited
(1944)
Good who-done-it with ghosts.
2 December 1998
This is a good who-done-it about an old murder, with the added thrill of a doubly haunted house. The acting is good, Gail Russell (Stella) is beautiful, and Ray Milland is suavely appealing. The attractive musical score by Victor Young features his beautiful hit melody "Stella by Starlight."
No Name on the Bullet
(1959)
Possibly Audie Murphy's Best Western
30 November 1998
No Name on the Bullet is possibly Audie Murphy's best western. Only Destry is on a par with it. These two films demonstrate clearly that Murphy could give a creditable performance on the rare occasions when he was given a good script, cast, and director to work with. In this film Murphy plays John Gant, an apparently easy going man who, in fact, is a hired killer with a deadly reputation. When he comes to town many apparently-respectable citizens with concealed guilt become panicked, each thinking that he is the one whom Gant is in town to kill. If you think you don't like Audie Murphy westerns, give this one a try. It will probably surprise -- and impress -- you.
Man Without a Star
(1955)
A very good western that's under-rated
18 November 1998
This is probably my favorite Kirk Douglas western. Although it has plenty of action this is not just another action western. Rather it deals with the implacable transition of the west from open range available to all to individually-controlled patches of range that are fenced off with barbed wire. Dempsey Rae (Douglas' character) loves open range and keeps drifting north to avoid the barbed wire which destroys it. Finally, however, he realizes that the small ranchers must fence off the range to protect themselves from the massive herds of a greedy rancher and her ruthless foreman and helps string and protect the wire that he hates so thoroughly. I love this under-rated western.
The Fastest Gun Alive
(1956)
Different but very good western
17 November 1998
To his friends and neighbors George Temple (Glenn Ford) is a mild-mannered store keeper. But, unknown to all but his wife, George is obsessed with guns because in his youth he lacked the courage to go up against his lawman father's killer. Through years of secret practice George has become the fastest draw in the west, but he is still afraid of drawing against a man. When a ruthless gunman (Broderick Crawford) comes to town and threatens to burn it down Temple is forced to overcome his fears and try to stop him. This finely-crafted western deserves more recognition than it has received. If you like westerns, try to catch this one.
Singin' in the Rain
(1952)
A true classic
17 November 1998
Singin' in the Rain is justifiably acknowledged to be one of the greatest musicals ever made. There's little to add to the highly-deserved praise contained in the other comments posted here. I would, however, like to draw attention to a beautiful little song in this movie that is generally overlooked: "Would You." It's a shame that this wonderful little song has never established a place of its own outside this delightful movie. But, hey, if your going to get lost this movie is a wonderful place to do so.
Somewhere in Time
(1980)
If you're a romantic with taste, you'll love this picture.
16 November 1998
This is a very good movie. It is romantic without being maudlin. The three principal players are all excellent. The mood and atmosphere are both captivating and convincing and the film score is gorgeous. This is on my personal top dozen films list.
Shenandoah
(1965)
A bittersweet but beautiful film
16 November 1998
This is a bittersweet, moving -- sometimes even beautiful --film. Jimmy Stewart is superb as Charlie Anderson, an arrogant, self-reliant man who thinks that he and his family can ignore the civil war which rages around his farm in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. He is disabused of this idealistic but naive notion when Union troops mistake his beloved youngest son, "Boy," for a rebel soldier and take him prisoner. Impetuously, the furious Anderson rides off with his older sons on a Quixotic mission to get the boy back. But this dangerous adventure costs him the lives of two sons and one of their wives. Only after the chastened Anderson reluctantly abandons his search does his beloved "Boy" -- who has escaped -- return home to him. Fine acting, good drama and characterization, beautiful scenery, and a poignant ending make this one of Jimmy Stewart's greatest movies.
Shane
(1953)
THE classic western.
16 November 1998
Shane is THE classic western. The plot is simple but classic: A gunfighter trying to escape his past must fight again to save homesteaders from a ruthless cattle baron. Alan Ladd rises above his normal roles and convincingly plays Shane as a reluctant but implacable hero. The cast as a whole is strong and Ben Johnson stands out as a ranch hand who taunts and fights Shane at first but eventually warns him of the impending trap which leads to the film's dramatic climax. The background scenery is gorgeous as is Victor Young's film score. Shane is a great movie, not just a great western.
The Petty Girl
(1950)
An old-fashioned fun movie.
16 November 1998
Joan Caulfield is a prim but beautiful college professor. Robert Cummings is an artist with a talent for cheesecake art who has become "serious" but mediocre. After a series of humorous misadventures this improbable pair bring each other to see their true selves and find they have a lot in common. There's lots of feminine pulchritude and good humor throughout. While pretty tame by today's standards, this is still a fun movie.
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