Wednesday, September 25, 2024
In the Line of Fire
- Commentary: Under construction.
I saw this some years ago, although not when it was first released. However, it left me with strong memories, specifically Malkovich's voice and images of Presidential motorcades. More later.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Clint Eastwood SSA Frank Horrigan John Malkovich Mitch Leary/James Carney/Booth Rene Russo SSA Lilly Raines Dylan McDermott SSA Al D'Andrea Gary Cole SSA Bill Watts Fred Dalton Thompson White House Chief of Staff Harry Sargent John Mahoney SSD Sam Campagna Gregory Alan Williams SSA Matt Wilder Jim Curley U. S. President/Traveller Clyde Kusatsu SSA Jack Okura John Heard Professor Riger Joshua Malina SSA Chavez
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1993
Directed by Wolfgang Petersen.
Labels: clint-eastwood, john-heard, john-mahoney, thriller4
Rawhide
- Commentary: Under construction.
Rawhide was not a show I, personally, watched when it was first run TV. During almost it's entire run (minus episodes in Season 1 shot in 1959) I lived outside of the U.S. It wasn't until I was in late high school and college that TV was a thing where I lived and, even then, we were exposed to nothing like the full array of what had been available to U.S. denizens for years and years. I can't even remember if this series ever even aired on our TV "network". It may not have.
I'm not sure what possessed me but a bit less than a year ago I decided to type the name into my search engine and, low and behold, it came up on Amazon. For free viewing. So, I settled in and found myself surprised by not only the stories but the production values. I was so pleased with its quality that I even contacted one of my sisters to tell her how much I was enjoying the show. I didn't binge. Somehow, I assumed it would be available forever. Wrong. When I went back to it after maybe four or five episodes, it had switched to a streaming service not available to me (I subscribe to almost no streaming services, especially if they require a fee for access). So, off and on, when I think of it, I've been checking to see if it's appearing on any of the very few services to which I have access. I have also been periodically checking for a reasonably priced full-season set of the show. Once again, this afternoon, I was checking and discovered that the series was coming up on Amazon at the same price, check after check, that it had been since I started looking. So, I decided, well, the price isn't dropping, but it isn't rising, either, so, yeah, I think I'll order it. It will be arriving soon.
I remember, when I contacted my sister after watching a few free episodes I told her that I thought serious (i.e., not comedy) story telling appeared to be much better, in the writing, acting and production, when we were kids than it seems to be, now. Of course, I was not exposed to much TV in my youth, since it mostly wasn't available at home. So, I wasn't really "trained" in any style of TV storytelling. Which is probably why I collect movies, almost exclusively. I was exposed to more movies (and even of those, not many) than I was TV shows, at least enough to "learn the language" of movie watching. So, this show, and many others, fell through the cracks for me. I'm not of the mind to collect any more shows that I might have watched had I not been located elsewhere than the U.S. I find it interesting, though, that perhaps the quality of television story telling was quite a bit better in my youth than it is now. But, then again, I don't watch much TV now, either.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Eric Fleming Gil Favor Clint Eastwood Rowdy Yates Sheb Wooley Pete Nolan Paul Brinegar George Washington "Wishbone" Haggerty Robert Cabal Hey Soos Patines James Murdock Harkness "Mushy" Mushgrove III Steve Raines Jim Quince Rocky Shahan Joe Scarlet
The only actors listed above are regulars. Even then, I listed less than half of them. I didn't even try to set up a list of guest stars, as everyone and their dogs (likely) who were actors at some point guest starred in this series. It is a bit of low-brow fun, in fact, to watch episode after episode and notice yet another familiar face playing an isolated role in an episode.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1/59 - 12/65
Directed by Various.
Labels: clint-eastwood, TV3, western
Saturday, May 20, 2023
Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil
- Commentary: Under construction.
Yes, I've seen this movie, more than once. It's been awhile, though, so before I write more I want to see it again.
I'm in love with The Lady Chablis, may she be Resting (or Causing a High Scene) in Power. That's why I decided I need to own this movie. There's more I like about it, but every time I watch this, if I can (depending, of course, on how it's being delivered), I always rerun one or more of Lady Chablis' scenes. Especially the debutante party scene. What a Glorious Bitch she is! I know, she's dead, but do you really think death defeated The Grand Empress of Savannah? From what I hear, she's keeping it heavy and hilarious, wherever she is.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role John Cusack John Kelso Kevin Spacey Jim Wiliams Jack Thompson Sonny Seiler Irma P. Hall Minerva Jude Law Billy Hanson Alison Eastwood Mandy Nichols Paul Hipp Joe Odom The Lady Chablis Chablis Deveau Kim Hunter Betty Harty Geoffrey Lewis Luther Driggers Bob Gunton Finley Largent Richard Herd Henry Skerridge Leon Rippy Detective Boone Sonny Seiler Judge Samuel L. White Dorothy Loudon Serena Dawes Patrika Darbo Sara Warren
Update 05/23/23: I finally (re-)watched this film last night and was reminded that the only thing I really like about this movie is The Lady Chablis. Otherwise, the structure of the film is feckless. The compilation of the individuals' stories has none of the energy or locational savvy of the book. The actors, while all good and some excellent, have real trouble rising above the disjointedness of the film craft and, truly, only one of them is capable of doing so, Jack Thompson who plays Sonny Seiler. Watching the film is kind of like finding yourself at a party you wish you'd not attended but are having trouble leaving because every time you close in on the exit, someone distracts you. Still, the performance of The Lady Chablis makes the film worth owning.
Clint Eastwood made many excellent films before this production and has made many since. I guess every director is allowed at least one fail (usually, many more). And, granted, I remembered this film, prior to purchasing it, with a great deal of interest. Unfortunately, upon finishing it, I was left wondering how it was that Eastwood simply didn't seem to scrub and polish this film with his usual energy and genius. At least he included The Lady Chablis. I'm grateful for that.
Here is a bit of information on The Lady Chablis. For more, read her book Hiding My Candy, available in full at the immediately previous link.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1997
Directed by Clint Eastwood.
Labels: bob-gunton, clint-eastwood, mystery3
Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Hang 'Em High - Clint Eastwood Collection
- Commentary: Under construction.
This is the only movie in this collection that isn't directed by Sergio Leone, nor was it filmed in Italy. And, no, I haven't watched it yet, haven't even received it, so I'll be back. More later. I'm very curious to learn what a "revisionist western" is.
The Clint Eastw50d Collection Volume 4.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Clint Eastwood Marshal Jed Cooper Inger Stevens Rachel Warren Ed Begley Cpt Wilson Pat Hingle Judge Adam Fenton Ben Johnson Marshal Dave Bliss Charles McGraw Sheriff Ray Calhoun Ruth White Madame "Peaches" Sophie Bruce Dern Miller Alan Hale Jr. Matt Stone Arlene Golonka Jennifer James Westerfield Prisoner Dennis Hopper The Prophet L. Q. Jones Loomis Michael O'Sullivan Francis Elroy Duffy Joseph Sirola Reno James MacArthur The Preacher
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1968
Directed by Ted Post.
Labels: clint-eastwood, pat-hingle, revisionist-western
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - Clint Eastwood Collection
- Commentary: Under construction.
I am truly surprised that I don't already own this movie. At the time I purchased this collection, I assumed I did and just shrugged off the fact that I'd now own two copies. But, I see it hasn't been there, until now. I've seen this movie a few times, perhaps more than a few through the years, because, initially, it was one of Mom's favorites, and, once I'd watched it with her, it became one of mine, as well. Plus, as she pointed out every time the movie commenced, "That music is haunting! I can't get it out of my head!"
So, yes, this one I've watched, with and without Mom, and I'm pleased to now have a chance to add a copy of it to my collection.
More later.
The Clint Eastw50d Collection Volume 4.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Clint Eastwood "Blondie" Man With No Name Eli Wallach "The Rat" Tuco Benedicto Pacífico Juan María Ramírez"The Rat" Lee Van Cleef Angel Eyes The Bad Al Mulock Elam Aldo Giuffrè Union Cpt Clinton Aldo Sambrell Angel Eyes Gang Benito Stefanelli Angel Eyes Gang Antonio Casale Jackson/Bill Carson Livio Lorenzon Baker Enzo Petito Gun Shop Owner John Bartha Sheriff José Terrón Thomas "Shorty" Larson Lorenzo Robledo Clem Luigi Pistilli Father Pablo Ramírez Mario Brega Cpl Wallace Rada Rassimov Maria
One of Roger Ebert's Great Movies.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1966
Directed by Sergio Leone.
Labels: clint-eastwood, eli-wallach, revisionist-western, spaghetti-western
For a Few Dollars More - Clint Eastwood Collection
- Commentary: Under construction.
This is yet another in the Eastwood quadrilogy I spoke of in the immediately previous post. No, I haven't seen it, I haven't even received it, yet, but I'll report back once I have.
This might be a good time to (re-)mention (I've spoken of this in another Clint Eastwood movie post, somewhere on this site) that I have been inspired to watch Clint Eastwood movies, et al, let alone his westerns (I wonder if most, if not all, of his movies could, one way or another, be classed as "westerns"; perhaps I'll set out to answer this question, perhaps not) by my maternal Aunt Jean's inordinate love of Clint Eastwood westerns, as well as his movies, in general.
The Clint Eastw50d Collection Volume 4.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Clint Eastwood "Manco" Man With No Name Lee Van Cleef Col Douglas Mortimer Gian Maria Volonté El Indio Mario Brega Niño Mara Krupp Motel Manager's Wife Luigi Pistilli Groggy Aldo Sambrell Cuchillo Klaus Kinski Wild Benito Stefanelli Hughie Panos Papadopoulos Sancho Perez Robert Camardiel Tucumcari Station Clerk Josef Egger Old Prophet Antoñito Ruiz Fernando Tomas Blanco Tucumcari Sheriff Lorenzo Robledo Tomaso, Indio's traitor Sergio Leone Whistling Bounty Hunter
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1965
Directed by Sergio Leone.
Labels: clint-eastwood, revisionist-western, spaghetti-western
A Fistful of Dollars - Clint Eastwood Collection
- Commentary: Under construction.
This is one of a four-pack of Clint Eastwood mid-20th century movies. Three of them are Sergio Leone productions. This is one of those.
More later, after I've watched it.
The Clint Eastw50d Collection Volume 4.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Clint Eastwood "Joe" Man With No Name Marianne Koch Marisol Gian Maria Volonté Ramón Rojo W. Lukschy Sheriff John Baxter Sieghardt Rupp Esteban Rojo Joe Edger Piripero Antonio Prieto Don Miguel Rojo Pepe Calvo Silvanito Margherita Lozano Consuelo Baxter Daniel Martín Julio Benny Reeves Rubio Richard Stuyvesant Chico
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1964
Directed by Sergio Leone.
Labels: clint-eastwood, revisionist-western, spaghetti-western
The Beguiled
- Commentary: Under construction.
Within the last week or so I've begun a consideration of Clint Eastwood film work in all his various Film guises, so, I can guarantee you, I'll be adding more of his movies to my collection in the coming months (I already have a few). All I can tell you about my Decision to Consider Clint Eastwood is that I rewatched Unforgiven last week, was suddenly captivated by Eastwood's heavy hand in that film and this piqued my curiosity about the products of his film career in general. I've spent the time since rewatching all the Eastwood movies I already have and found myself hungering for more. Some, I'll be checking out of the library (just in case I'm not captivated by this one or that one enough to add it to my collection). But some I'll be adding sight unseen, depending on how strongly my curiosity it piqued. This movie is one of which I'd not heard. It sounded very interesting, indeed, and was selling cheap, so I decided to acquire it, sight unseen.
I will, of course, write more once I've received it and watched it.
I had a devil of a time trying to find a review for this movie. There are loads of reviews for Sofia Coppola's 2017 remake, but almost none (left online and easily accessible, anyway) for this original movie. However, the review I was able to find is detailed, laudable and attached, above, to the title of this post. Because of it, I am looking forward, even more, to watching this movie. Thank you ScreenAnarchy.
This is, by the way, the first time I've used the label "southern-gothic". I wonder how far the inventory of this genre extends and whether I've been missing out on loads of interesting movies of which I've been unaware; or, if that label applies to movies I already have.
More later.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Clint Eastwood Cpl John 'McBee' McBurney Geraldine Page Martha Farnsworth Elizabeth Hartman Edwina Dabney Jo Ann Harris Carol Darleen Carr Doris Mae Mercer Hallie Pamelyn Ferdin Amelia 'Amy' Melody Thomas Abigail
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1971
Directed by Don Siegel.
Labels: clint-eastwood, southern-gothic
Thursday, October 13, 2022
Dirty Harry - WB 20 Film Collection Thrillers
- Commentary: It had been so long since I'd seen this one, it was fun to see it again. From today's perspective, not a particularly skillful thriller, but I enjoy watching the very first "episode" in the development of Dirty Harry. Makes me want to watch The Gauntlet again, and a few other Clint Eastwood thrillers.
By the way, check out this quote courtesy of the Wikipedia article on the movie Dirty Harry: "Eastwood's iconic portrayal of the blunt, cynical, unorthodox detective, who is seemingly in perpetual trouble with his incompetent bosses, set the style for a number of his later roles and, indeed, a whole genre of ̔'loose-cannon cop' films." There are two "loose-cannon cop" films in this collection, the other being Lethal Weapon. Dirty Harry was released in 1971. Lethal Weapon was released in 1987.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Clint Eastwood Ins. Harry Callahan Andy Robinson Scorpio Harry Guardino Lt. Al Bressler Reni Santoni Ins. Chico Gonzalez John Vernon San Francisco Mayor John Larch Chief Paul Dacanelli John Mitchum Ins. Frank DiGiorgio Woodrow Parfrey Jaffe Josef Sommer D. A. William T. Rothko Mae Mercer Mrs. Russell Albert Popwell Bank Robber Lyn Edgington Norma Gonzalez
Originally published in this journal on 081416.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1971
Directed by Don Siegel.
Labels: clint-eastwood, loose-cannon-cop, neo-noirA
Friday, July 15, 2022
Unforgiven
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: My mother used to be a Clint Eastwood fan with her sister, once they began living close to each other in their latter years. They saw all of Eastwood's stuff, the old and the new. I never figured out if my mother was truly an Eastwood fan or her sister's fan and thus willing to do anything that would bring them closer.
At any rate, although I've seen very few Eastwood movies, I saw this one, I can't remember where or why, when it first came out, and was surprisingly impressed. So, when, one evening, some years ago, my mother suggested that we "rent a Clint Eastwood movie", this is the one I picked. Good choice. Along with Morgan Freeman being in it, she loved the idea that a gunslinger could get old and have trouble reestablishing his former skills in a stab at morality. Since I bought the movie about a year ago, we've seen it a couple of times. Every time she sees it, she either says, "Your Dad would have liked this," or, "You know, I'll bet Jean would like this one, we should have her over sometime to see it. Wouldn't that be fun!"
Once again, I got lucky and found a screenplay online for this movie.
Gerardo Vallero, a site companion critic, also weighs in on this movie, putting it in a modified historical context of Eastwood's work.
Last but not least, an online journalist, a woman named Pam who only reviews westerns, has written a review of this movie that will make you smile and, if you've shied away from this movie, will make you want to see it. See it!
Update 7/15/2022: This post was originally published on November 11, 2006, but but wouldn't pull as a "clint-eastwood" movie. By changing the publishing date, I hope to have fixed the problem.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Clint Eastwood William Munny Gene Hackman Sheriff Bill Daggett Morgan Freeman Ned Logan Richard Harris English Bob Jaimz Woolvett The Schofield Kid Saul Rubinek W. W. Beauchamp Frances Fisher Strawberry Alice Anna Thomson Delilah Fitzgerald
One of Roger Ebert's Great Movies.
If you want to read the Wikipedia info about this movie, though, here is the link.
Release Date: 1992
Directed by Clint Eastwood.
Labels: action3, adventure3, clint-eastwood, drama8, morgan-freeman, popcorn-and-soda3, revenge1, revisionist-western, richard-harris, violence3
The Mule
- Commentary:
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Clint Eastwood Earl Stone Bradley Cooper Colin Bates Laurence Fishburne Warren Lewis Michael Peña Bates Dianne Wiest Mary Stone Ignacio Serricchio Julio Gutierrez Andy García Latón Taissa Farmiga Ginny Alison Eastwood Iris Richard Herd Tim Kennedy Lobo Sebastian Bug Clifton Collins Jr. Gustavo
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2018
Directed by Clint Eastwood.
Labels: andy-garcía, clint-eastwood, laurence-fishburne
Two Mules for Sister Sara
- Commentary: I've seen this movie before, probably under the auspices of my Aunt Jean, although I can't quite remember what the circumstances were. I remember being surprised by several aspects, including Shirley MacClaine's participation in it, which upped its game, in my estimation, and her top billing, above Clint Eastwood's. I also remember enjoying the hell out of it, especially the interplay between MacClaine and Eastwood. So, there. That's why I wanted to own this movie. It's a definite watch-again-production.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Clint Eastwood Hogan Shirley MacClaine Sister Sara Manolo Fábregas Colonel Beltrán Alberto Morin General LeClaire Armando Silvestre First American John Kelly Second American Enrique Lucero Third American David Estuardo Juan Ada Carrasco Juan's Mother Pancho Córdova Juan's Father José Ángel Espinosa French Officer Rosa Furman Sara's Friend
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1970
Directed by Don Siegel.
Labels: clint-eastwood, shirley-maclaine, violence4, western
Monday, May 24, 2021
The Gauntlet
- Commentary: Unlike the immediately previous movie, this movie, which came as a "double feature" with The Enforcer was just god damned violence fun. As I watched it last night (5/25/21) I realized that, yes, I have seen it before, remembered little of it, which is typical of popcorn-and-soda movies for me, even those I really enjoy, like this one. There's almost nothing more entertaining than watching a Clint Eastwood character fuck around with obstacles in his way when he's involved in a task that has turned risky. Although Eastwood's character in this movie is named "Ben Shockley" (how grinningly appropriate for an Eastwood character), this movie may as well be yet another episode in the Dirty Harry canon (or, "cannon", whichever seems more appropriate).
This movie is one of those captivating collaborations between Eastwood and Sondra Locke, who turned out to have been a very busy "early pioneer for women in Hollywood" (I use this quote without irony), both within and without her relationship with Eastwood. Her performance in this movie is sassy and fun. It makes me want to check out her work without Eastwood.
This movie is filed alphabetically on my shelves as "Clint Eastwood".
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Clint Eastwood Det. Ben Shockley Sondra Lockwood Augustina Mally Pat Hingle Det. Maynard Josephson William Prince Com. Edgar A. Blakelock Bill McKinney Constable Michael Cavanaugh Asst. D.A. John Feyderspiel Carole Cook Waitress Mara Corday Jail Matron Doug McGrath Bookie Jeff Morris Desk Sergeant Roy Jenson Biker Dan Vadis Biker
In case you're wondering why I cite, above, so many unnamed roles and their actors, it's because Eastwood tends to use the same actors over and over again, sometimes in named roles, sometimes in unnamed roles.
Here's the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
Release Date: 1977
Directed by Clint Eastwood.
Labels: clint-eastwood, loose-cannon-cop, neo-noirA, pat-hingle, popcorn-and-soda1, violence1
The Outlaw Josey Wales
- Commentary: Yes, this movie is the only movie listed in the category "jean-favorite". That's because it's the only movie that I know my Aunt Jean was in love with. I am remembering that she may have enjoyed Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, but I'm not sure of that ... I think this may have been mentioned to me by one of her immediate family, but I never heard her talk about that movie, nor do I even know if she saw it.
Of course, I have a suspicion that she probably watched and loved as many Clint Eastwood movies as she could find (this was back in the days when it was rare for people to have movies of any type in their home, reel-to-reel monstrosities that they were, let alone the equipment through which to show a movie, let alone a library of hundreds). But, again, I don't know. I do know about this Clint Eastwood movie, because she was so excited about it that she dragged my mother and me to a showing of its 1976 release at the original theater at Scottsdale Fashion Square in Scottsdale, AZ.
I ended up liking the movie, much to my surprise. At that time, I tended to avoid westerns, for no other reason than I'd not been exposed to them (or much TV, or many movies, at all) during my childhood and teen years and had the idea that they were simply repeats of the western TV shows my father would watch in the evening when I was a kid and always doing something other than watching TV. I remember Gunsmoke being one of those westerns, although I'm sure I never saw an episode, except bits in passing through the living room and out the door.
I'm not sure, but I think my mother liked being in her sister's presence more than anything else. Throughout their lives, until they were senior citizens, they spent so little time together in even the same state, let alone the same continent, it would be accurate to say that they never really got to know one another until they both retired. When they were finally living in the same city, they discovered that they enjoyed each other's company so much they actively sought each other out as often as possible.
This movie was acquired as a Double Feature with Pale Rider.
This movie is filed alphabetically on my shelves as "Clint Eastwood".
So, you know, Clint, thanks for providing opportunities for my mother and her sister!
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Clint Eastwood Josey Wales Chief Dan George Lone Watie Sondra Locke Laura Lee Bill McKinney Terrill John Vernon Fletcher Paula Trueman Grandma Sarah Sam Bottoms Jamie Geraldine Keams Little Moonlight Woodrow Parfrey Carpetbagger Joyce Jameson Rose Sheb Wooley Travis Cobb Royal Dano Ten Spot Matt Clark Kelly John Verros Chato Will Sampson Ten Bears William O'Connell Sim Carstairs
Here's the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
Release Date: 1976
Directed by Clint Eastwood.
Labels: clint-eastwood, jean-favorite, revenge1, revisionist-western, violence1
The Enforcer
- Commentary: Third Dirty Harry film. Under construction.
By the way, I may as well include these here, since I have plenty of space. Roger Ebert conducted three notable interviews, at least, that I know of: Here are the first, the second and the third. He may well have interviewed Clint more than these. If you're interested in Clint Eastwood, (and, I wonder, who isn't, I mean, the man, who was born in 1930, produced, directed and starred in a movie which has yet to be released but on which production has concluded, in his 91st year on the planet) you'll find the interviews fun and quirky, I think.
This movie came as a Double Feature with The Gauntlet.
This movie is filed alphabetically on my shelves as "Clint Eastwood".
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Clint Eastwood Ins. Harry Callahan Tyne Daly Ins. Kate Moore Harry Guardino Lt. Al Bressler Bradford Dillman Cpt. Jerome McKay John Mitchum Ins. Frank DiGiorgio Bill Ackridge Andy DeVeren Bookwalter Bobby Maxwell Albert Popwell Ed Mustapha John Crawford Mayor of San Francisco Robert Hoy Buchinski Michael Cavanaugh Lalo Jocelyn Jones Miki Waleska
Here's the Wikipedia write-up for this movie.
Release Date: 1976
Directed by James Fargo.
Labels: §, clint-eastwood, loose-cannon-cop, neo-noirA, popcorn-and-soda1, violence1
Pale Rider
- Commentary: I just finished watching this movie for the first time and I feel a little breathless. Some of that, I think, is due to me finally getting around to really appreciating westerns. The rest is due to me finally getting around to appreciating Clint Eastwood.
My Aunt Jean was both a western fan and a Clint Eastwood fan. I even went to the theater with her and my mother when The Outlaw Josie Wales debuted. At that time, it was a "courtesy" visit. I hadn't yet discovered the wonders of westerns, so I watched the movie with blocks in front of my eyes and brain, I am ashamed to admit.
That is no longer true. I have a fair number of westerns in my catalogue to the left, about as many as I have of any type of movie, and I don't think there's a dud in the bunch.
I love the mystery in this movie surrounding The Preacher, from his first appearance to his final disappearance. The story is very involving, with no loose ends. Even The Preacher's departure isn't treated as a loose end. It's as though, although you know you won't be privy to any more of The Preacher's exploits, you know he's headed off to another one, and that's enough.
I love the way Eastwood uses silent showing, through the eyes of other roles, to reveal just enough, even as he heightens the mystery. He also has an acute talent for picking actors, using them well, and respecting not just the story, but the roles the actors play and the actors' strengths, as well.
It's funny, because I considered obtaining the four-pack of Eastwood movies, of which this is one, kind of like an assignment, as though I had an obligation to familiarize myself with this guy's work, considering how much I'm into movies. Well, this movie was a pleasure, Mr. Eastwood, and I'm expecting the next four to be equally pleasing.
The movie came as a Double Feature with the movie The Outlaw Josie Wales.
This movie is filed alphabetically on my shelves as "Clint Eastwood".
Thank you, Mr. Eastwood. I'm really looking forward to the next three movies in this four-pack.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Clint Eastwood The Preacher Michael Moriarty Hull Barret Carrie Snodgress Sarah Wheeler Richard Dysart Coy LaHood Chris Penn Josh LaHood Sydney Penny Megan Wheeler John Russell Marshal Stockburn Richard Kiel Club Doug McGrath Spider Conway Chuck Lafont Eddie Conway Billy Drago Deputy Mather Jeffrey Weissman Teddy Conway Charles Hallahan McGill Marvin J. McIntyre Jagou Fran Ryan Ma Blankenship Richard Hamilton Pa Blankenship
In case you're interested, here is the Wikipedia write-up on this movie.
Release Date: 1985
Directed by Clint Eastwood.
Labels: clint-eastwood, popcorn-and-soda1, revisionist-western, violence1
