Posts from Hawkswill in thread „The Sons of Katie Elder (1965)“

  • The Sons of Katie Elder (1965)

    Well, this is mucho late, but while looking back at some posts, I found this one that Gorch had made and Keith put in for us to hear. Since it is old, some folks may not have heard it. So, as Keith says....here it is:


    Originally Posted by Gorch
    Although it wasn't used in the movie, the soundtrack has Johnny Cash singing the title song to The Sons of Katie Elder to Elmer's music. Worth looking it up if you already haven't hear it.



    [extendedmedia]

    [/extendedmedia] It isn't the greatest word wise, but the tune is easy and catchy and Johnny, well.....what can you say.....he is Johhny Cash!

  • The Sons of Katie Elder (1965)

    THE SONS OF KATIE ELDER


    Film was delayed from 1964 to 1965 because Duke’s lung cancer had been discovered, and he had a lung and two ribs removed. However, he insisted on doing his own stunts. Never saw a place where he didn’t….not the ones that counted, anyway. It is said that he came close to getting pneumonia from being in the river.


    I couldn’t find anywhere that counted in the brothers’ fight scenes where Duke had a stand in. Only two places I saw. One where Bud was holding him with his back to us….hair didn’t look quite right. Also, if you frame by frame, you will see that when Bud jumped on him, Duke’s face seemed to display pain as it did when he grabbed his arms especially when he turned away from the camera very possibly to “ask” for a cut quickly. Next thing you know, there is a cut and up comes a darker and longer haired “Duke”. There would have been no reason for Roberson to double him there since they didn’t do anything except that Bud’s being on his back and pulling his arms back must have been quite painful after his chest surgery. Once it came time for him to get hit again, there was Duke. Also, you will see when Bud came at him, Duke really pushed him down hard, perhaps to keep him from his body hitting his chest, and you can see the real pain that act caused him right before the punch from both brothers. Second place was probably Roberson falling through the screen door. It was definitely Duke when he got the punches from Dino and Earl, but I saw him look back and his hand grab the door jamb as he was falling backwards which straightened him up to keep him from falling. Cut, and then out falls hard, turned in a different direction than Duke had been, a dark haired fellah in Duke’s clothes…right under the screen. Then, up comes Duke. Well done. Always wondered why they didn’t cut and lighten Chuck’s hair! But then, most folks would never notice, so why would they?


    I loved all of the actors in this movie….just really introduced to Bud but thought he did a great job.


    Seeing folks I recognized amongst the town people was a big plus as always. Paul Fix helps to make any movie exceptional in my book. Heck, I watched The Rifleman as a child for him more than for Chuck Conners. Later I had to babysit Chuck when he was doing drugs to make sure he made it to the first tee in time for his tee off in the Atlanta Classic Golf Tournament. Glad to have seen him at my club in The Springs years later “clean”. We talked in the coffee shop, and I told him of my love for Paul Fix. Seems as if the feeling was mutual. I also got a big kick out of the relating of Pa Bass Elder’s “duel” with roman candles and greatly enjoyed Hyselman‘s description of it as he seemed to really be remembering it and the fun of the whole escapade. He also did a super job of making you believe how much he loved and respected Katie.


    I am not big into physical violence but didn’t mind it a bit when John whacked George Kennedy’s character in the face with the ax handle. Seems as if the make-up guys didn’t show anywhere near what that kind of thing would have produced in the way of facial damage! Wonder if Web was sick that day?


    I laughed a lot and cried some also. That usually makes a pretty enjoyable movie for me….not an Oscar winner maybe, but a really nice, good movie. Duke and Dino were always great together even on Dino's show on TV!


    You may not count this, but I did immensely. For some reason or other, I could NOT help but thinking of Katie, (often called Kate), as Herself, Maureen O’Hara. I had her in my mind from the beginning of the picture, and as it progressed, the picture grew stronger. And she is the ONLY female “hero actor” of mine, that would really make a big difference in a movie to me. The way I “saw” it, she was the glue in this somewhat “rambling” story. The “glue” that made it all work well for me. That and the fact Duke refused to use a double for anything his pain could stand……seems like he was always thinking of his fans more than himself.
    And that rocking chair at the end...seemed like HERSELF was there and approved!



    Well, finally got my thoughts together. This is my first one, so I won't be insulted if a bunch of you tell me all the things I did wrong, LOL! KPKEITH