Comments on: Filmlog: The Bullfighter and the Lady http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/2009/04/13/filmlog-the-bullfighter-and-the-lady/ Your home for traditional conservatism. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:05:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Derek Leaberry http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/2009/04/13/filmlog-the-bullfighter-and-the-lady/comment-page-1/#comment-189391 Derek Leaberry Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:28:19 +0000 http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/?p=1690#comment-189391 Regarding "Ride the High Country", I find in the character of Steve Judd(Joel McCrea) a lesson in honorable living. Judd stays true to his moral code despite his loss of status and his own decline due to age. By staying true to his honorable code, Judd acts as mentor to Heck Longtree, Gil Westren's young accomplice in the planned robbery. Less convincingly, Westren(Randolph Scott) has a change of heart at film's end and returns to virtue. In the chaotic and morally squalid era in which we live, I can recommend few films that point to an honorable way in which to live. First among movies I would recommend is "Ride the High Country." Yet I don't know why Sam Peckenpaugh filmed it as "Ride the High Country" seems morally incongruous in comparison to Peckenpaugh's other films. Regarding "Ride the High Country", I find in the character of Steve Judd(Joel McCrea) a lesson in honorable living. Judd stays true to his moral code despite his loss of status and his own decline due to age. By staying true to his honorable code, Judd acts as mentor to Heck Longtree, Gil Westren's young accomplice in the planned robbery. Less convincingly, Westren(Randolph Scott) has a change of heart at film's end and returns to virtue.

In the chaotic and morally squalid era in which we live, I can recommend few films that point to an honorable way in which to live. First among movies I would recommend is "Ride the High Country." Yet I don't know why Sam Peckenpaugh filmed it as "Ride the High Country" seems morally incongruous in comparison to Peckenpaugh's other films.

]]> By: Allen Wilson http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/2009/04/13/filmlog-the-bullfighter-and-the-lady/comment-page-1/#comment-189389 Allen Wilson Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:46:53 +0000 http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/?p=1690#comment-189389 I remember seeing this movie years ago. I'll have to watch it again now. Thanks to all for the great movie reviews here and in the other articles. This was something we all needed. I remember seeing this movie years ago. I'll have to watch it again now. Thanks to all for the great movie reviews here and in the other articles. This was something we all needed.

]]> By: Philip Smith http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/2009/04/13/filmlog-the-bullfighter-and-the-lady/comment-page-1/#comment-189228 Philip Smith Fri, 17 Apr 2009 09:54:21 +0000 http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/?p=1690#comment-189228 [This comment is in response to Dr. Fleming's article on "Decision at Sundown," since the commenting pane is no longer present at that page.] "Decision at Sundown" is an interesting film, though I would not rank it among the best of the Boetticher/Scott collaborations ("Seven Men from Now" is to my mind much better all around, especially in terms of cinematography and acting.) I find "Decision at Sundown" a curious choice for a "Chronicles" column, since it is such a consciously atypical Western: in many ways it seems to presage "McCabe and Mrs. Miller" and other early-seventies inversions of classic genres. "Decision at Sundown" in many ways seems a critique of the moral universe of "High Noon," "Shane," and the John Ford westerns, though it is comparatively weak in conception and execution alongside those. Another reader suggested Scott's last film, "Ride the High Country" (which was Sam Peckinpah's second feature, the first being "The Deadly Companions"). To my mind one of the most interesting Scott films is "Albuquerque" (1948), though in a sense that interest hinges on the very antiquated direction and photography of that film, as well as its peculiarly off "Cinecolor" color process (which looks something like early two-strip Technicolor). Here are some films that I think would be worthy of consideration for this column (certainly all are worth seeing), listed chronologically: "Faust" (F. W. Murnau, 1926--see the new restoration from Kino Video); "The Big Trail" (Raoul Walsh, 1930--see the new release of the stunning 70mm Fox Grandeur version); "Easy Living" (written by Preston Sturges, 1937); "Hobson's Choice" (David Lean, 1954); "The Nun's Story" (Fred Zinnemann, 1959); "Will Penny" (Tom Gries, 1968). [This comment is in response to Dr. Fleming's article on "Decision at Sundown," since the commenting pane is no longer present at that page.]

"Decision at Sundown" is an interesting film, though I would not rank it among the best of the Boetticher/Scott collaborations ("Seven Men from Now" is to my mind much better all around, especially in terms of cinematography and acting.) I find "Decision at Sundown" a curious choice for a "Chronicles" column, since it is such a consciously atypical Western: in many ways it seems to presage "McCabe and Mrs. Miller" and other early-seventies inversions of classic genres. "Decision at Sundown" in many ways seems a critique of the moral universe of "High Noon," "Shane," and the John Ford westerns, though it is comparatively weak in conception and execution alongside those.

Another reader suggested Scott's last film, "Ride the High Country" (which was Sam Peckinpah's second feature, the first being "The Deadly Companions"). To my mind one of the most interesting Scott films is "Albuquerque" (1948), though in a sense that interest hinges on the very antiquated direction and photography of that film, as well as its peculiarly off "Cinecolor" color process (which looks something like early two-strip Technicolor).

Here are some films that I think would be worthy of consideration for this column (certainly all are worth seeing), listed chronologically: "Faust" (F. W. Murnau, 1926--see the new restoration from Kino Video); "The Big Trail" (Raoul Walsh, 1930--see the new release of the stunning 70mm Fox Grandeur version); "Easy Living" (written by Preston Sturges, 1937); "Hobson's Choice" (David Lean, 1954); "The Nun's Story" (Fred Zinnemann, 1959); "Will Penny" (Tom Gries, 1968).

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