This thread sort of morphed into what is a genuine western. I don't believe Westworld, Futureworld or Paleface land in that category. Which leads me to ask what you gents (and ladies) think of High Plains Drifter and Pale Rider. They had overtones of ghost movies that aren't traditional.
The moderators may want to start a new topic with this. Again, being a neophyte here, I hope this hasn't been covered in a thread I haven't yet found.
We deal in lead, friend.
I have to string along with the Lieutenant and Ringo on this one. I never understood Brando's reputation. If I had never heard of him before The Godfather, I would have figured he was a solid supporting actor, but his history of mannerisms, misfires and boxoffice bombs distracted me from his performance. My own prejudice, but I found him annoying.
Without going to IMDB, I recall he starred in such colossal flops as Guys and Dolls, Night of the Following Day, Mutiny on the Bounty, Teahouse for the August Moon, Candy, Ugly American and many more which (thank God) escape me.
One Eyed Jacks was a huge misfire. The only smart move that Brando, as director, made was hiring Ben Johnson and Slim Pickens. I understand that when he interviewed Ben, he asked him what he thought of Jack Palance's performance in Shane. Ben replied to the effect that if it were him, he wouldn't have put gloves on before drawing his handgun.
We deal in lead, friend.
Westworld was written and directed by Michael Crichton who also penned Jurassic Park. If you think about the theme - a resort area goes amok and trapped tourists have to resourcefully fight back - Mike recycled his own idea.
When Brynner was approached to play the Gunslinger, Crichton suggested playing him like Jack Palance in Shane, but Brynner suggested Chris from Magnificent Seven to Crichton's great pleasure. The movie was shot on a miniscule budget and when the Gunslinger is stalking down the miles of corridors, you can piece together that it's the same set over and over again.
Not a bad little movie but I don't think it, or Futureworld, qualify as westerns. Note that veteran stuntman Terry Wilson plays the doomed sheriff.
For shear torture try sitting through Silent Tongue with River Phoenix.
For laughs try Terror in a Texas Town which ends in a stand off between a gunhand and a harpooneer.
We deal in lead, friend.
I'm a little miffed that most recent westerns featured actors from abroad. Pierce Brosnan, Liam Neeson, Russell Crowe, Christian Bale and Viggo Mortensen come to mind. Don't we have any home grown actors who can pass in the old West?
Oh, and Cagney didn't improve much when he made Tribute to a Bad Man. He would have been better off armed with a grapefruit.
We deal in lead friend
