Posts by arthurarnell

all is still they go their seperate ways. As Yates walks slowly down the street he keeps his hand on his pistol, always expecting the unexpected. Suddenly as he passed a dark alley between the saloon and the general store he heard a noise. taking out his pistol he slowly walked into the alley. ....

Yates and Flint were just coming out of the dining room as Walsh reached the bottom of the stairs behind him they could hear the ravings of a demented Kate casting doubt on the parentage of anybody who had had anything to do with Walsh.
Jacob motioned quickly towards the door.
"What did you find out? where are we going"? Flint asked.
Struggling to get his shirt and kneckerchief on Walsh replied.
"We're going to look in some ditches"
Ignoring the look of puzzlement on his companions faces, Walsh continued.
We are looking for a grizzled mean old prospector named McWhirter who might just have the means of making us very rich. .......

slapped him. Turning to Walsh she said,
"You're different" and kissed him.
Walsh could smell the rouge and cheap scent but responded.
Kate then said.
"My brother runs the hotel at the end of the street there's room for ya all.
At two o'clock in the morning Kate woke drowsily from a heavy sleep, holding her Walsh said casually, "I'm looking for an old coyote named McWhirter, you ever heard of him?
Kate thought for a moment. "Why he's ....

standing in front of them was a woman. Dressed in a dance hall skirt and low cut blouse that had clearly seen better days, with straggly blonde hair and an unlit cheroot dangling from her heavilly made up lips. Walsh guessed her age at late thirties. "My names Kate she drawled, who are ya and wadda want?

The sun was low in the sky as the three men rode into town, a slight breeze made a sagebrush roll across the horses path. Walsh looked around and noticing the saloon at the end of the street said "Lets get a drink"
As they walked into the saloon the bar fell quiet. Walsh put his double loop winchester on the bar. "Whiskey and three glasses - and leave the bottle"

make a deal with Iron shirt then they can double cross Carlos and make a safe passage through to . .

Hi again
Christmas has come and gone and although I haven't had a chance to read it yet I have one small addition to make.It's a text book from YORK film notes entitled STAGECOACH. It is an 88 page text book written by acknowledged experts on film and media and ideal for A level and undergraduate media students. The general editor is Peter Bunten Head of English and Drama Tupton Hall School Chesterfield. The book gives

Film Reviews

Background to the film

Biographiesd of key players

Form and Narrative

Style and Technique

Culture and Cinematic contexts

Bibliography for further study

Glossary of cinematic terms.

The book is available from

York Press
322 Old Brompton Road
London SW5 9JH
Price £5.99

First indications appear that it is an interesting book well suitable for the serious JW historian.

Another book that briefly mentions John Wayn is 'RADICAL HOLLYWOOD - THE UNTOLD STORY By Paul Buhle and Dave Wagner.
This book deals with the Communists and Left leaning artists in Hollywood during the 1930s and 40s culminating in the Blacklist era. Page 236 deals with the Director Edward Dmytryk and the making of 'Back to Bataan'

Hondo
Yes you're right, a case of familiarity breeding contempt. I got so tied up with the George Sanders part that I didn't bother to check the rest of the cast, and it seemed reasonable to accept Walter Brennan as he appeared to be in everything around about that time.
If you look at the casting Chill Wills played the normal Walter Brennen role and Wilfred Lawson a British dramatic character actor and character was totally miscast as McDougal.

Regards
Arthur

PS
I bought an old English picturegoer magazine yesterday dated 1953 and there was a small paragraph relating to Warner Brothers making Hondo. The item also said that Hondo meant a noose or a lariat is that Spanish?

Arthur

Hi
I have a reproduction film poster showing John Wayne standing barechested in the middle of a river punching what looks like an apache indian with three companions dressed like Davy Crockett also fighting Apaches. The film is entitled BLACK RIVER and besides starring John Wayne it also mentions George Sanders, Walter Brennan and Claire Trevor. As George Sanders only appeared in one film it must be Allagahney Uprising. The only clue to the nationality is the word REGIE: William Seiter which although us English don't learn any one else's language must be foreign for Director. Hence Allaghaney Uprising in the US, The First Rebel in UK and Black River somewhere in Europe.
Incidentally in Fords Drums along the Mohawk the film predated the American Revolution so we were the good guys.

Best Regards for the Festive season
Arthur

BOOK ON DIRECTORS INVOLVING JW[U]

One additional book I should have included in my last:-

HOWARD HAWKS - THE GREY FOX OF HOLLYWOOD - Todd McCarthy
(Grove Press New York 1997)
A great book dealing at length with Dukes relationships with his co-workers some of whom he got on with, and some whom he didn't. Great in depth narrative of the making of Hatari

Hi
To add to your list
FILMS ABOUT JOHN WAYNE

JOHN WAYNE PROPHET OF THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE - EMANUEL LEVY
(Scarecrow Press 1988)
A heavyweight book dealing at length with all of Duke's films by genre.

JOHN WAYNE ACTOR ARTIST AND HERO - Richard D McGhee
(McFarland and Co 1990)
Another interesting book going deeper into Duke's personna comparing him at the time with soldiers in the time of the Vietnam conflict.

JOHN WAYNE A BIO-BIBLIOGRAPHY - Judith M.Riggin
(Greenwood Press 1992)
A strange book which lists nearly every book written about Duke up to that time and gives a complete version of the playboy interview

THE ULTIMATE JOHN WANE TRIVIA BOOK - Alvin H.Marill
Citadel Press 1996
A must for all Duke fans.

A TRIBUTE TO JOHN WAYNE - Editor Peter R.A.Fryd
One of many brochure published after Dukes death.

JOHN WAYNE THE MAN BEHIND THE MYTH -Michael Nunn
Robson Books 2003
The latest book as far as I know, drawing on the authors conversation with Duke in London whilst making Brannigan and subsequent telephone and personal conversations with many of his co stars. It is this book that reveals the Communist plot to assasinate Duke in the 1950s and 60s. I have just finished it and it is quite a good read.

BOOK ON DIRECTORS

SEARCHING FOR JOHN FORD - Joseph McBride
(St Martins Press 2003)
Another heavyweight book but very interesting reveals some unusual facts and destroys some legends.

JOHN FORD - Joseph McBride and Michael Wilmington
(Martin Secker and Warburg 1974)
Begins with Ford's funeral.

BOOKS BY OTHER ACTORS ETC

JAMES STEWART - Donald Dewy
(Little Brown and Company) 1996

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO HOLLYWOOD - Jessee L. Lasky Jr.
(Funk and Wagnells New York 1975)
Deals a great length with the autors relationship with Cecil B DeMille but includes a chapter on the Making of Reap the Wild Wind and reveals that the squid scene was an afterthought virtually made up on the spur of the moment to appease DeMilles anger and provide an ending to the film.

From arthur arnell
Hi all
This is what one English newspaper has to say about the new Alamo:

[quote] THE PLOT
In 1836, 189 Texans withstood siege from a Mexican dictator at a place that became known as The Alamo. They held out for 13 days before losing their lives in the attempt.

THE HYPE. Remember the Alamo? The Yanks love patriotic film, so expect plenty of support stateside.

THE EYE CANDY?
Wins points for Jason Patric. Loses them for Billy Bob Thornton as Davy Crockett.

MOST DRAMATIC MOMENT
The gory bloody battle of San Jacinto.

WHAT'S THE DAMAGE?
A relative bargain. Filmakers grew 21 varieties of crops specific to Mexico on a special 51 acre site and built 70 buildings at a cost of$95 million (£57 million)

HIT OR TURKEY
Depends - if they resist the temptation to rewrite history. The tale doesn't end well for the Americans, which never goes down well across the pond.

OSCAR POTENTIAL?
Oscar winning producer Ron howard has a magic touch - remember 'A Beautiful Mind'

Personally having seen the original uncut version and being aware of James Edward Grant's love of elequence I found parts especially when Travis was explaining his strategy to Ken Curtis slightly tedious.
As a film the Alamo stands out in the Duke's repotoire as one of his best and it seems criminal that a personnal dream cost him so much to fulfill with virtually no monetary reward.

I believe Harry Carey jnr is still with us, but the decreasing list should also include Lyle Bettger on of Universals baddest bad men who died on the 24th September

Arthur Arnell

Going through the 1940's George Montgomery is worth a mention. Like Randolph Scott, he seemed to be in every western that was made around that time. He might not have been the best but his films were worth watching. And under his real name of George Letz appeared in a couple of the Duke's 1930's westerns.

September and October have been bad bad months for the duke's co-workers
besides Jack Elam, we have lost Lyle Bettger (24-9-03), Sheb Woolley (14-9-03)
George Plimpton (25-9-03), Louise Platt (06-9-03) and Ruth Hall (09-10-03)
There arn't many left its very sad to see them go.

Despite his dislike of Geraldine Page she was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in Hondo and also won a Best actress Academy Award forher 1986 picture A Trip to Bountiful.
hortly before Hondo reached the screen there were plans at Warners to pair the two to-grther in a film which was to be called 'The Wicker Basket' but this was quickly denied by Warner Brothers officials.
My choice for one of the best actressesseen in a John Wayne Picture - Vera Miles
seen in The Searchers. The Man Who Shot liberty Valance and Hellfighters
The worst I agree another Vera - Vera Ralston