Been on an old western fix atm. Films I feel like I should have seen earlier I think.
Winchester '73
Straight after watching it I really enjoyed it. However after thinking about it the past few days my opinion's dulled a bit more. Don't get me wrong James Stewart is as brilliant as ever, but the story felt a bit more convoluted than it needed. Maybe that was the point. Plus the final battle scene felt a tad tacked on.
Ride Lonesome
This is actually my first Randolph Scott film. A little over a year ago my Granddad died. The relationship between my Dad and him (and Gran) was incredibly fractured so I hadn't seen them in nigh on 20 years. I decided to go see him knowing he was in a bad way. We eventually got talking about westerns and he said that Randolph Scott was his absolute favourite western actor. You don't see many people these days say that. I mentioned that I'd go round to his and we could watch one and he seemed keen on the idea. As it is he died not long after that. Shame really cos this was a great watch and one that would have also been great to watch with him. It doesn't mess about with any flab that's for sure. Story is told within the first three minutes and we're away on a story of manly men doing manly things.
Ox-Bow incident
Another tight western that doesn't have any flab. 1hr 15 all in. The storyline of a lynch mob aiming to hang three men for the murder of a ranch owner is pretty heavy. The whole film has probably four sets in all which helps with the feeling of claustrophobia in the plot. The role of Henry Fonda trying to get the prisoners off a death sentence is something he'd go back to in 12 Angry Men but he played this one off a lot more subtly. Great film.
The Man From Laramie
Another James Stewart but I enjoyed this one a lot more than Winchester. The story of all family feuding and cattle ranching was pure escapism. Perfect for watching on the the dank and miserable nights we're having.