Messages

41

General Discussion / Re: Eastwood Movie Challenge, Week Eleven: The Outlaw Josey Wales, The Enforcer

« on: September 29, 2016, 07:57:23 PM »

I got to watch two of my favorite Eastwood films today. 

I fell in love with The Outlaw Josey Wales the first time I saw it.  It's story telling at it's best.  I think my favorite character is Lone Watie, but that's just because Chief Dan George steals every scene he's in.  This is one film where I think Sondra Locke is perfectly cast.  I read the book and she's just right for the part.  Christopher is right that the book ended differently, although I can't remember how.  Of course, there is a second book, so that makes a difference.

The Enforcer is definitely my second favorite Dirty Harry film, although it just doesn't have the tension that the first two have.  I enjoy the interactions between Harry and Kate.  Matt said that Tyne Daly brings balance to the part, and I think that's what really does it.  She's pretty, but not ridiculously so.  She quite obviously has brains and has taken the trouble to learn the laws that she is to enforce. She may be the first female assigned to that position, but she's actually well chosen.  She's also physically up to the job.  It's absurd to expect a woman to run about San Francisco in a skirt and high heals chasing criminals, but she does a great job of it.

All in all, it was a fun break from the day's work. 

42

Off-Topic Discussion / Re: Your brush with death

« on: September 28, 2016, 06:34:36 AM »

There are two events which come to mind when reading the posts here.

The first was an accident I had while driving from Florida to Indiana back during our gypsying years.  I posted about it somewhere on this board (in 2010), but don't remember where now.  Anyway, I was driving a Ford 15 passenger van (fully loaded with belongings) and towing a 10ft trailer (also fully loaded).  My younger son was in the front passenger seat.  He was really too young to ride up front, but he wanted to ride with Mummy and the seat behind was full of stuff.  My husband and older son were two hours behind me as we had car trouble that morning and they stopped at the dealer.

I just passed the split between I-75 and I-475 on the south side of Macon, Georgia, when my left rear tire on the van blew.  (The police couldn't find anything on the road that caused it, but the tires were in good shape and should have been okay.)  I was travelling at something close to 70mph at the time.  It was all over in less than 30 seconds.  The trailer started to fishtail, trailer and van did an anti-clockwise 180 degree turn, we continued backward across an on ramp and crashed into the guardrail tail first, jackknifed and slammed the side of the van against the guardrail and bounced back about 10 feet, while the trailer remained planted firmly on it's left side on top of the guardrail.  The side window behind the driver's seat popped out on impact and things flew out.  Thank God my son was in the front seat.



 

In the moment that I had to realize what was happening, I knew we would probably die.  When we came to a stop, we were physically unharmed.  Two men who had witnessed the accident were at my door before we could even collect ourselves and get out of the van.  Despite the busy traffic, we didn't hit any other vehicles.  When I looked over the guardrail, there was a drop of at least 30 feet.  I'm shaking just thinking about it again.

The other event was so much quieter.  It required a lot of waiting in doctors' offices, waiting for results, waiting . . .  On July 31, 2014 I was told (after waiting 45 minutes for the doctor), that I had breast cancer.  It was small, it was early, it was nicely contained, but it was the worst kind you can have.  It was as though Death had come and laid a hand on my shoulder.  The strange thing was, I knew it could kill me, but I felt just fine.  It was very surreal.  I have walked through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and come out the other side into sunshine.  I went in a hesitant woman who still sometimes felt like a small child in a gathering of adults (something I'm very familiar with).  I came out mature and sure of myself.  I take the attitude that I have survived chemotherapy and can therefore survive anything.  I firmly believe that there is a reason why I am still alive, so I take the opportunities that come my way, and have even gone out of my way to find them.  I really don't know why I'm still here, but if nothing else comes of it, I will have made people's lives happier whenever possible. 

43

General Discussion / Re: Eastwood Movie Challenge, Week Ten: Thunderbolt & Lightfoot, The Eiger Sanction

« on: September 28, 2016, 05:50:16 AM »

I finally got a chance to watch both Thunderbolt and Lightfoot and The Eiger Sanction.  It seems to me I watched the former ase part of a movie night here on the board.  That is probably why it took me so long to come back to it.  I didn't have a lot to say about it then, and I still don't now.  It isn't one of my favorites, although I have to say that I have gained some appreciation for Jeff Bridges' portrayal of Lightfoot.  I was pretty much turned off the whole film the first time I saw it.  I do think the opening scene is gorgeously filmed.

As for The Eiger Sanction, I had forgotten how detailed Wormwood's death scene was.  I could have done without that.  I absolutely love the music.  I'm very fond of John Williams' music, but this film is where I discovered the broader range of his skill as a composer.  Since then I have seen some older movies when he was credited as Johnny Williams.  I think the generally lighter tone of the music keeps the film from getting weighed down by those incredible mountains.  My favorite scene from the film is when George and Hemlock are out running.  The scenery leaves me without words and in awe.  The music that goes along with that scene is delightful.  It's a warm happy spot in a film that otherwise seriously lacks happiness.  I had forgotten the ending.  It really seemed a bit much to take, having all three climbers so easily disposed of.  I'm not saying it can't happen, just that it seemed more like a quick way to hurry and end the story.  I'm glad Hemlock didn't kill Ben.  That would have been too much.

I don't think I'll be watching either of these two again soon, although I own both of them now.

44

General Discussion / Re: Eastwood Movie Challenge

« on: September 07, 2016, 07:58:58 AM »

With the extended deadline I just might make it.  I know, I got bogged down a long time ago, but summer is coming to an end and the work schedule is getting more hectic than ever.  It will all magically come to an end on September 30, so I've got a chance if I start now.  I always get lots of movies watched when I've got a close work deadline and lots to do.  Thanks for being merciful and extending the deadline.

It just dawned on me that in order to go and see Sully, I'll have to drive nearly an hour to find a movie theatre.  They just don't exist around here, which is really funny when you consider that the tiny town of Topeka, Indiana, where I live had one of the very first moving picture houses in the whole area.  We still have horses and buggies, but the movie house has gone.  It was called the Topeka Theater.

45

Off-Topic Discussion / Re: Happy Birthday Elizabeth77

« on: June 28, 2016, 08:39:59 AM »

Wow!! I nearly forgot I had a birthday.  It's so sweet of you all to remember.     I love the pictures.  Clint and a piano -- what more could I wish for?

I didn't really forget my birthday, but I celebrated by attending a niece's wedding.  Considering the hot weather they've had in southern California, Saturday was perfect in Thousand Oaks, where the wedding was held.  It was about 85 Fahrenheit and there was a lovely breeze.  It was really fun to be with my husband's family for the first time in three years.  I've always felt culturally awkward with my Chinese family, but that dims with each visit.  They are wonderful and I wish we lived closer so we could spend more time with them.  One reason it gets easier with time is that some of the other in-laws don't speak Chinese either, so we can band together when the general conversation leaves us behind.

Thanks again for your kind wishes.  I hope you all have a lovely summer (sorry, SK).  I'll try to drop by occasionally. I've got a lot of Clint's movies to catch up with. 

46

Off-Topic Discussion / Re: Calling all old timers

« on: June 22, 2016, 12:32:54 PM »

Aline, I'm so glad you've come back.  My deepest condolences on the loss of your mother.

47

Off-Topic Discussion / Re: The "Sad, shed a Tear" Thread

« on: May 23, 2016, 07:53:22 PM »

My beloved cockatiel died at 4:40 am today.  I heard him fall off his perch and flap around on the bottom of his cage.  I went to comfort him, but there was nothing I could do for him except stroke his back and quiet him.  It means a lot to me that I was there and didn't just find him there a couple of hours later.

I've had many pets through the years, and many of them have died on me, but Jingo was with us for 25 years.  I received him as an 8th grade graduation present 25 years ago (two weeks from now).  He was about a year old at the time.  He lived with my sister's family for 18 of those years, only returning to me three years ago.  No matter how long the time between visits, he always treated me as someone very special.  He brought beauty, joy and song into our home and will be sorely missed. 

48

Off-Topic Discussion / Re: Calling all musicians

« on: May 11, 2016, 10:02:57 AM »

I'm a musician, and proud of it.  Wow!  It's taken me nearly 39 years to come out and say it plainly.  I've always shyly admitted that I play the piano, and if occasion calls for it, the flute as well, but self-publicity isn't my style.  If you can reconcile all that I just said with the fact that I play the piano almost every week in church, great, but there I try to be like part of the furniture.  There, but not particularly noticed.  I'm just there to facilitate the service.

My love for music was full grown before I learned to talk (or sing).  I was an ornery infant who didn't want to go to sleep at night.  I also was an "offish" child, who didn't like to be held or cuddled.  My parents' cure for both problems was for Dad to sit in the rocking chair with me, and they would sing to me while Mom played the piano.  Fantastic.  They sang hymns in harmony.  That's where my love for church music started.  When I was six, Mom started teaching me piano.  After a year, I was sent to a lady who was about 90 years old.  She was a delightful teacher who laid a foundation that has stood me in good stead.  She was also a composer who wrote songs just for children that would be fun and challenging.  I have several pieces that she gave me to learn.  She always made sure to sign the music she gave me.  Her name was Blythe Owen and she taught piano for about 80 years.

The piano is my first love.  I play it when I'm happy, sad, angry, need cheering up, or for any other reason I can come up with.  I trained as a classical pianist for 12 years.  I became a church pianist at age 14, and a choir accompanist in high school.  I played for four different choirs my senior year.  In college, I continued to accompany one choir, while singing in another one.  After I married, my father fulfilled an old promise and bought me a piano.  In the happy, uncomplicated days when I was expecting my first child, I played the piano and sang to him every day.  That influence must have been very strong.  He is an enthusiastic musician at 16 and plans to become a high school music teacher.

I started flute lessons when I was 10, fulfilling a dream that I'd had since I don't know when.  Mom had the radio on most of the day when I was little, and we listened to the local classical station all the time.  Somehow I fell in love with the flute.  That love affair cooled when I was 17 and attended a music camp where I played in a concert band that had about 100 - 120 kids in it, and 22 of them played the flute!!  Why didn't anyone ever suggest I take up the French horn?  They are always in demand in orchestra because there aren't many of them.  I still play, and maybe I will regain some of my skill now that my sons play the violin well and we have started playing trios for fun.  The joy of music has come full circle when I can make beautiful music with my children and it's fun!

My whole family sings.  Parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts, cousins, in-laws, and out-laws.  Primarily we sing four-part harmony hymns in church and around the piano at home, but nearly all of us are currently members of a choir, or have been in the past.  My son and I constantly try to introduce each other to new music.  I'll listen to most anything once, but I'd prefer a good melody line.

The one thing I cannot do is play by ear.  I can sight-read just about anything that's printed, but the other eludes me.  I had a teacher who did her best to teach me some principles that would expand my skills in that direction, but I cannot just sit down and pick out a tune on the piano.  Funny, isn't it?

Gant, good luck with the piano.  You can increase your repertoire with a few more notes.  Then a few more . . . 

49

Off-Topic Discussion / Re: What is Last Play, Musical, Comedy, Drama, Dance, Opera, etc, you saw?

« on: March 27, 2016, 12:28:09 PM »

I went to see Mary Poppins three weeks ago.  It was put on by the local high school, and Mary Poppins was played by the daughter of my son's choir director.  The cast was fantastic.  Our area is blessed with incredibly talented young musicians who are willing to spend a large part of their free time in choir or orchestra.  Some of them also spend time in local theatre.  It really paid off.  The performance was thoroughly fun and beautifully done.  The pictures are from a dress rehearsal.

   

50

General Discussion / Re: Eastwood Movie Challenge, Week Eight: High Plains Drifter, Breezy

« on: March 21, 2016, 07:19:20 PM »

High Plains Drifter is one of my favorite westerns.  Some of the reasons have already been mentioned, so I'll stick to a couple of things that came to me again with this viewing.  I love how the town is brand new and raw.  One or two tents used as buildings are all that remain of the beginning of the town, but all that new lumber being put up says a great deal about the town.  I love Geoffrey Lewis as Stacey Bridges.  I think his effectiveness is assisted by that same contrast between face and behavior that works for Scorpio in Dirty Harry.  Without being too long, High Plains Drifter is never in a hurry, but never boring.  We get to take time, with the Stranger, to check on the men stationed on the rooftops of the town.

I'm falling asleep while trying to write this, so I'll finish it tomorrow.

51

General Discussion / Re: Eastwood Movie Challenge

« on: March 20, 2016, 07:51:53 AM »

Thanks, Matt, for the challenge.  I tried it two years ago, but couldn't handle the darkness and depressing aspects of some of the films while I was sick, so gave it up.  Now that my mind is in a sunshiny condition, it's fun.  I'm looking forward to watching the ones I've never gotten around to watching, even though I own them.  It's so much more fun having some encouragement along the way.

52

General Discussion / Re: The CEWB Definitive Top Ten List of Eastwood Movies: 2016

« on: March 19, 2016, 07:01:06 PM »

 1. 5 points:  The Good, The Bad and the Ugly
 2. 4 points:  In the Line of Fire
 3. 4 points:  High Plains Drifter
 4. 4 points:  A Perfect World
 5. 3 points:  Dirty Harry
 6. 3 points:  The Outlaw Josey Wales
 7. 2 points:  The Bridges of Madison County
 8. 2 points:  White Hunter, Black Heart
 9. 1 points:  For A Few Dollars More
10.1 points:  Million Dollar Baby

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General Discussion / Re: Eastwood Movie Challenge, Week Seven: Dirty Harry, Joe Kidd

« on: March 19, 2016, 06:43:27 PM »

I must have been very tired when I watched Dirty Harry, because it didn't seem to strike any kind of chord with me this time, positive or negative.  I do like the film, but somehow didn't get into it.  It's been said already, but it's the contrast between the sweetness of Scorpio's face and the darkness of his character that makes him so terrifying.  I really admire the lady who drove the school bus.  She was fantastic.  Her performance was the one that really stood out for me this time.

I have voluntarily watched Joe Kidd more than once and enjoyed it, but have to admit that it's not very memorable.  The train ride and its aftermath is probably my favorite scene.  I had completely forgotten that Robert Duvall was in this, so that was a pleasant surprise.  I think it will probably be a long time before I watch this film again.  There are so many other westerns that I like better.

54

Off-Topic Discussion / Re: What's your earliest Childhood Memory?

« on: March 07, 2016, 07:53:04 PM »

My earliest memories have to do with a family trip we took to West Virginia when I was 2 years old.  The first memory is really a still scene from the house where we stayed with friends.  They had a stairway that went up a few steps, then a landing, then more steps up.  I vividly recall standing on that landing, although I have no idea why.  The more interesting and fun memory of that same trip was a visit to a marble factory.  I think they did glass blowing and beautiful things like that, as well.  Anyway, that part is all rather hazy, but the marbles in the gutter outside the factory were very real.  I still have some of them, although they got mixed up with other marbles I've picked up through the years.

55

General Discussion / Re: Eastwood Movie Challenge, Week Six: The Beguiled, Play Misty For Me

« on: March 06, 2016, 02:29:18 PM »

There are a few moments that just don't seem necessary, maybe they're padding to bring it to feature length... the Monterrey Jazz Festival, and the song sequence "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face".  And speaking of that song sequence.... this looks like clover, but holy hell... that clover is about the size of her hand.

No, the Monterrey Jazz Festival was not necessary in forwarding the picture.  Tobie's new roommate could have been introduced some other way, but I think you could give Play Misty for Me a secondary title and call it My (Clint's) Favorite Places.  The song sequence bothered me the first time I saw it.  I really didn't appreciate it and I could have done without it.  I still could, but I think it serves two useful purposes.  It provides us with a sense of Dave and Tobie's growing relationship and the passage of time, all without words but lots of pictures.  I think both the song sequence (which reminds me of a music video slipped into the middle of the movie) and the jazz festival serve an important part in lulling the audience into some degree of security regarding Evelyn.  After the mounting tension that came before, it has got to be done somehow.

56

General Discussion / Re: Eastwood Movie Challenge Week Four: Paint Your Wagon

« on: March 03, 2016, 07:20:59 PM »

Better late, than never!  I finally got to watch Paint Your Wagon today.  It surely doesn't get shorter with time.  I still like it, but I'll admit it's really not because of the music.  I think they would have done much better just telling the story and leaving out all those interminable songs.  I was reminded of why I chose to be identified with Elizabeth.  I really like her and wish there had been more character development.  I can so identify with her desire for a house and home.  More character and fewer crowds would have given this story wonderful possibilities.

57

Off-Topic Discussion / Re: Happy Birthday Palooka!!

« on: March 02, 2016, 05:43:49 AM »

Happy belated Birthday! 

58

General Discussion / Re: Tag You're It #5!!!

« on: March 02, 2016, 05:42:45 AM »

Agreed, fantastic story, Elizabeth! Are there any books about it?

The only thing I've seen about it was a two page local history story in a local monthly magazine called The Hometown Treasure.  The magazine used to be very interesting and have local town council reports and a monthly report from the local police.  The best example I can recall was 5 arrests for one month, mostly traffic related.  When you think about that as today's statistics, you can see what a massive thing that murder must have been.  The magazine is full of the doings of the local schools, from kindergarten to high school seniors.  Mostly we get pictures of all their sports and music activities.  Then there are local business ads, but we always get a historical nugget.  The last one was about there being a movie theater in Topeka (formerly known as Hawpatch) that opened in September of 1915.  It had a seating capacity of 240!  The town only has one stop sign now, and had no RV industry then.  The local families must have been awfully large.  The town is really nice.  Today, the best thing they do every year is the July 4th celebration.  It's an all day event, with a parade and all kinds of fun activities.  They even have buggy races.  Amish buggies pulled by teams of four people.  They finish off with fireworks that we can see from our house.

I don't remember which Eastern newspaper carried the story, but it was from New York.  There must have been enough curiosity about it to make it that far.  There are no books that I know of, but it probably got a small mention in some local history book.  Those are so hard to come across, but we do have a local historical society, so maybe it wouldn't be so very hard to find out.  You're right, KC.  It does sound like it would make a fascinating book.  I'll have to look into it.

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General Discussion / Re: Tag You're It #5!!!

« on: March 01, 2016, 07:14:47 PM »

Elizabeth77:   You've mentioned you live pretty far out in a lower population area. Pretend we're Clint and you have a dinner with him to pitch the town for a possible plot, and what kind of story should he film there?

Matt, you ask the hardest questions.  Rural we are, but low population?  It's true, but the average number of children per household in our county must run to 4.  Any reasonable Amish family seems to have half a dozen kids, and there are lots of Mennonite families that are just as big.  Then those kids each have 4 to 6 kids . . . Back to an answer for your question.

It's an old story, around 1887 or so.  It goes back to the first murder committed in Van Buren Township in LaGrange County.  A young couple wanted to get married, but the young woman's mother refused to give her consent.  The daughter, a school teacher, wouldn't get married without it.  One day the young man, in the company of another woman, met his fiancee while she was out for a ramble with her students.  The young couple went off by themselves, leaving the other woman with the school children.  Shortly thereafter, a shot was heard and the students ran to the scene, only to discover their teacher dead and her fiance standing there with a gun in his hand.  As it was near a number of houses, people came rushing from everywhere.  The girl's father arrived and told the young man to give him the gun.  He then proceeded to prevent the community from taking the young man out and hanging him on the spot.  Needless to say, he was found guilty by a jury and sent to prison.  An Eastern newspaper claimed that the young woman told her fiance that she couldn't go on living the way things were.  They didn't provide a source for their information, and only the young man was present for any conversation with her.

Now comes the curious part of the story.  Some time later (a few years, I think), the town fathers, all the members of the jury that convicted the young man, and many other prominent people signed a petition requesting the governor to pardon the murder.  It seems to me that was the first pardon given by a governor of Indiana.  I don't think anyone ever actually found out why the young man shot his fiancee.

It wouldn't be hard to film the story and be very authentic to the time period.  Many of the fields around here are still plowed with teams of horses, the old school house is still here, and there are plenty of old farm houses to be seen.  Some farmers still shock their wheat and corn at harvest time. Some of the people who live here are the descendants of those who had a part in the original story.

I'll come back in a bit and tag some people.

60

General Discussion / Re: Eastwood Movie Challenge, Week Five: Kelly's Heroes, Two Mules for Sister Sara

« on: March 01, 2016, 06:31:52 PM »

I also like Two Mules for Sister Sara.  This time I was feeling a little pressed for time, so didn't enjoy it as much as some other viewings.  I appreciated Shirley MacLaine more than I have in the past.  That might have something to do with the fact that I watched The Apartment (1960) and really enjoyed Shirley and Jack Lemmon in that.

I like the opening shots of Two Mules for Sister Sara so much that I have screencaps of it for my lock screen and wallpaper on my laptop.  I like a dark background and just really love these.


My lock screen


My wallpaper