"True Grit" (2010)

"BARBARY COAST" (1935) Review

I have seen a good number of televisi and movie Westerns in my time. But I find it rather odd that it is hard - almost difficult - to find a well known story set during the California emas Rush era. And I find that rather surprising, considering many historians regard it as one of the most interesting periods in the history of the American Old West.

Of the film and televisi productions I have come across, one of them is the 1935 Western, "BARBARY COAST". Directed oleh Howard Hawks and adapted from Herbert Asbury's 1933 book, the movie told the story about one...

"THE SHADOW RIDERS" (1982) Review

When I first set out to discover how many of penulis Louis L'Amour novels had been adapted for the film and television, I had assumed at least a handful had gone through this process. I was surprised to discover that many of his works had been adapted. And one of them turned out to be the 1982 televisi movie, "THE SHADOW RIDERS".

I have only seen two L'Amour adaptations in my life - "THE SHADOW RIDERS" and the 1979 two-part miniseries, "THE SACKETTS". Both productions seemed to have a great deal in common. The two productions are adaptations of L'Amour (which...

"CALIFORNIA" (1947) Review

I am a history nut. And one of my favorit historical periods that I cinta to study is the Antebellum Era of the United States. One of my favorit topics from this period is the California emas Rush. I also cinta movies. But despite this love, I have been constantly disappointed oleh Hollywood's inability to create a first-rate movie about emas Rush.

I may have to take back my komentar about Hollywood's inability to produce a first-rate movie atau televisi production about the emas Rush. There were at least three that managed to impress me. Unfortunately, the latest film...

"THE BIG COUNTRY" (1958) Review

William Wyler and Gregory Peck first worked together in the 1953 comedy classic, "ROMAN HOLIDAY". The director and the actor became close friends and spent a few years trying to find the right property for which they could co-produce and work on together. Peck finally came across a magazine story, which eventually transformed to the movie screen as 1958's "THE BIG COUNTRY".

The magazine story in pertanyaan happened to be the 1957 Saturday Evening Post serialized artikel called "Ambush at Blanco Canyon". Written oleh future Matt Helm author, Donald Hamilton; the story...

"CENTENNIAL" (1978-79) - Episode Two "The Yellow Apron" Commentary

Set during the 1810s and 1820s, the detik episode of the NBC miniseries, "CENTENNIAL", continued the story of French-Canadian trapper, Pasquinel; his Scottish-born partner, Alexander McKeag; and their relationship with Clay Basket, the daughter of an Arapaho warrior. "The Yellow Apron" explored how jealousies, resentments and desire nearly broke apart their tenuous relationship.

"The Yellow Apron" began in 1809, with Clay Basket giving birth to the first of hers and Pasquinel’s three children, Jacques. The story quickly jumped...

Below is my review of the 1939 classic, "STAGECOACH", which was directed oleh John Ford:


"STAGECOACH" (1939) Review

The tahun 1939 is regarded oleh many film critics and moviegoers as the best tahun for Hollywood films. According to them, Hollywood was at the height of its Golden Age, and this particular tahun saw the release of an unusually large number of exceptional movies, many of which have been honored as memorable classics when multitudes of other films of the era have been largely forgotten. I do not harbor the same view as these critics and moviegoers. I can only view at least a handful of...

"CENTENNIAL" (1978-79) - Episode One "Only the Rocks Live Forever" Commentary

Over thirty-two years ago, NBC televisi aired a sprawling miniseries called "CENTENNIAL". Produced oleh John Wilder, The miniseries was an adaptation of James Michner’s 1973 novel of the same title. Because the miniseries stretched to twelve episodes, NBC aired the first seven episodes aired during the late fall of 1978. After a one-month hiatus, the remaining five episodes aired during the early winter of 1979.

Michner’s tale followed the history of the fictional town of Centennial, Colorado and its surrounding...

"SAN FRANCISCO" (1936) Review


I just recently watched the 1936 disaster film, ”SAN FRANCISCO”, which starred Clark Gable, Jeanette MacDonald, Spencer Tracy and Jack Holt. Released 30 years after the actual event, the movie is basically about a Barbary Coast saloonkeeper (Gable) and a Nob bukit, hill impresario (Holt) who became rivals for the affections of a beautiful singer (MacDonald), both personally and professionally in 1906 San Francisco. The story culminated in the deadly April 18, 1906 earthquake that devastated the city.

In the movie, a gambling hall tycoon named Blackie Norton (Gable)...