November 23, 2003

The Duke

A while back I bought a two-DVD set of old old John Wayne westerns. I try to watch one every saturday while the girls are at work, and I've noticed a few things.

More happens in a one-hour western than happens in today's two-hour action movies. Yeah, the special effects are gazillions times better now, but for sheer plot movement and storyline, you can't beat 'em, and this includes the long stretches of horse chases and riding back and forth between town and the ranch (or wherever the secondary locations are). I'm also realizing that there is truly nothing new in Hollywood. Today I watched the Duke, in grainy black & white, run up the side of a wall and dive back onto the bad guys he was fighting. In how many kung-fu movies have we seen that done?

He always got the bad guys and got the girl too. He was honorable when wrongly accused. When someone needed help, he was there for them. He never started trouble, but he always finished it.

John Wayne was America. What a cowboy.

Posted by Ted at November 23, 2003 12:53 AM | TrackBack
Comments

And the Eurowhenies wonder why we are not insulted when they call us coyboys.

Posted by: Rocket Man Blog at November 23, 2003 10:22 PM

The GM1 has a serious obsession with John Wayne. We watch "The Quiet Man" and "McClintok" at least once a week. And there is a 4x3 foot poster of the Duke in my bathroom.
You try showering with him staring at you.
He was the ultimate man, I tell you what.

Posted by: LeeAnn at November 24, 2003 09:41 AM
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