Movies that you can,t help yourself from watching. (2 Viewers)

[marco55]

So many great movies mentioned here.You could spend another lifetime watching these and never watch a new movie again.
Mark

 

[lancer]

Great thread guys and I'm with Al as I never tire of watching any of the Ford/Wayne collaborations and in particular The Searchers arguably Wayne's finest onscreen performance. But my second favourite Ford movie that I can watch numerous times and never tire of doesn't have Duke in the cast is My Darling Clementine (1946). Superb casual acting from Hank Fonda as Wyatt Earp-he always made it look so effortless. Fonda was Ford's favourite actor-hands down- until they had a big fall-out while making Mr Roberts (1955) where Ford actually punched Fonda in the face-Although Ford apologised profusely for years after the incident Fonda refused to work with him again.

My Darling Clementine also has an ironic back story- after Fonda was cast as Earp, Ford searched for an actor for the second lead character- Doc Holliday. 20th Century Fox- head of production- Darryl F Zanuck suggested Jimmy Stewart for the part-Which would have been a stroke of genius. Ford's reaction was "Nah! Stewart could never play a western character". So who did he cast? Victor Mature ^&confuse^&confuse. He was OK in the role but his acting was hardly on par with Stewart's. Old man Ford made the biggest casting mistake in his film career by not casting Stewart and he knew it especially after the dozens of westerns Stewart made following his box office hit Winchester 73 released a few years later.

The irony of this yarn was that Ford did finally cast Stewart in three of his westerns and in Cheyenne Autumn actually had him play Wyatt Earp in the film's comedy intermission sequence- which really had no connection with the movie's main story at all.
Bob

Really interesting how the OK Corral story keeps garnering movies and TV shows about that one sequence of events. It can keep one watching for a long time. Hugh O'Brien's 'Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp' first introduced me to it, followed by the Lancaster and Douglas classic 'Gunfight at the OK Corral'. Throw in Ford's 'My Darling Clementine, the underrated 'Hour of the Gun' with James Garner and Jason Robards, Jr. , 'Doc' with Harris Yulin and Stacey Keach, 'Tombstone' with Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer, and 'Wyatt Earp' with Kevin Costner and Dennis Quaid, you have quite enough to keep you busy just trying to figure out all the twists and turns, facts and falsifications, and which is the most accurate. At any rate, they all have something to recommend them and are all worth watching and enjoying. If you are a fan of the OK Corral story, be sure to catch 'Hour of the Gun' and 'Doc', both of which are relatively lesser known compared to the others. -- Al

 

[UKReb]

Really interesting how the OK Corral story keeps garnering movies and TV shows about that one sequence of events. It can keep one watching for a long time. Hugh O'Brien's 'Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp' first introduced me to it, followed by the Lancaster and Douglas classic 'Gunfight at the OK Corral'. Throw in Ford's 'My Darling Clementine, the underrated 'Hour of the Gun' with James Garner and Jason Robards, Jr. , 'Doc' with Harris Yulin and Stacey Keach, 'Tombstone' with Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer, and 'Wyatt Earp' with Kevin Costner and Dennis Quaid, you have quite enough to keep you busy just trying to figure out all the twists and turns, facts and falsifications, and which is the most accurate. At any rate, they all have something to recommend them and are all worth watching and enjoying. If you are a fan of the OK Corral story, be sure to catch 'Hour of the Gun' and 'Doc', both of which are relatively lesser known compared to the others. -- Al

Al
As a rider to your post- albeit I'm not sure if applicable your side of the pond- but this August a Hi-Def Bluray of My Darling Clementine is due for release here in the UK. What is interesting is this set includes the Theatrical version and the Pre-view version. I have often read that Zanuck cut various scenes from Ford's final version of the film including the alternative ending. Ford always remained embittered over Zanuck's changes, and he apparently regretted the film's historical oversimplifications. However, for me what is most memorable about this movie is not the pulp-novel story line but Ford's relaxed, spacious filming style and of course Fonda's effortless portrayal as Earp.

Also included is the 1939 original Frontier Marshal starring Randy Scott which Ford used as the basis for Clementine. Other various documentaries and talking heads are included on Disc 2. The cost here is a pretty stiff £22.00 for a 70 year old film but for me it will be a must have, subsequently I've got it on pre-order.
Bob

 

[lancer]

Al
As a rider to your post- albeit I'm not sure if applicable your side of the pond- but this August a Hi-Def Bluray of My Darling Clementine is due for release here in the UK. What is interesting is this set includes the Theatrical version and the Pre-view version. I have often read that Zanuck cut various scenes from Ford's final version of the film including the alternative ending. Ford always remained embittered over Zanuck's changes, and he apparently regretted the film's historical oversimplifications. However, for me what is most memorable about this movie is not the pulp-novel story line but Ford's relaxed, spacious filming style and of course Fonda's effortless portrayal as Earp.

Also included is the 1939 original Frontier Marshal starring Randy Scott which Ford used as the basis for Clementine. Other various documentaries and talking heads are included on Disc 2. The cost here is a pretty stiff £22.00 for a 70 year old film but for me it will be a must have, subsequently I've got it on pre-order.
Bob

Hi Bob. I wasn't aware that MDC had been altered from what Ford wanted, although I shouldn't be surprised, Zanuck being Zanuck and all. Nor was I aware of the connection with the Scott movie. I'll have to check it out. Actually, I need to rewatch MDC as I have not even seen it in high-def yet. Never seen a really good print of it. Will look into the Blue-ray availability. Thanks for the info. -- Al