Recent content by RobHam

  1. RobHam

    Criterion Press Release: Red River (Dual Format)

    Ok, so this thread is about Red River - one of John Wayne's better better films/acting roles, and its been side-tracked. This will be my last post on this thread as I can see it's a contentious issue for some. Comparing Rio Bravo to El Dorado and their respective value as movies hinges (for me...
  2. RobHam

    Criterion Press Release: Red River (Dual Format)

    The legacy of John Wayne has always been caught up in his right wing politics - these slipped out in a one of the more embarrassing monologues from The Alamo (it was actually scripted as a dialogue, but Wayne's delivery turned it into a monologue), and even worse in the Green Berets. My aging...
  3. RobHam

    Criterion Press Release: Red River (Dual Format)

    Having those two in "Ride the High Country" I think is what made it such a valid comment on aging ("I don't sleep so good no more").as well as one of the great Westerns. For me, a much undervalued Western, also with Randolph Scott, is Boetticher's "7 Men from Now" - this has it all in less than...
  4. RobHam

    Criterion Press Release: Red River (Dual Format)

    The easiest way to think of this is to compare the changing acting styles of John Wayne and Burt Lancaster. When you watch Lancaster in Vera Cruz (1954), what is clearly lacking in acting technique is made up for in toothy grins. and posturing for the camera. Twelve years later in The...
  5. RobHam

    Criterion Press Release: Red River (Dual Format)

    John Wayne made a few fine Westerns in his long career, but I’ve always felt that he just coasted through many of his films – only really Ford, Hawks and to a lesser extent Hathaway forced him to earn his crust. The Wild Bunch has warm memories for me, as my dad took me to see this when I was...
  6. RobHam

    Criterion Press Release: Red River (Dual Format)

    If you add Shane and High Noon to that then you probably have the top 5. The order they're in could cause much debate. I love The Searchers, and consider it Wayne's best performance by some margin. For me it is slightly diminished because Ford gave too much to his ensemble supporting cast and...
  7. RobHam

    Criterion Press Release: Red River (Dual Format)

    Oh Mr Mulder - the best Western ever made. Wayne is rather good in this but the ending is just plain sully. Just about every great western has its faults, and I have a tough time with the supporting cast of The Searchers (excepting Hank Worden), but there are still so many that better or equal...
  8. RobHam

    International LONELY ARE THE BRAVE (1962) at Amazon Germany

    This is a superb modern western - allegedly Kirk Douglas's favourite film. I'll wait a few months to see if there is any sign of a UK release - if not, this one will do me
  9. RobHam

    A Few Words About A few words about...™ Nicholas and Alexandra -- in Blu-ray

    So I finally got this. The low figures on the TT release convinced me that this film will never see any other BD release in regions B or C - time to purchase now or forever hold my piece. It's a superb transfer - in many ways reminiscent of Doctor Zhivago. Something odd appeared in the audio...
  10. RobHam

    A Few Words About A few words about...™ Khartoum & Zulu -- in Blu-ray

    At last, someone actually dares criticise Larry's lack of cinematic craft. He was just off a theatrical run of Othello - but for a performance of similar excellence see Fisher Stevens in "Short Circuit". Anyone with any doubts about acting prowess in front of a camera should compare Ghassan...
  11. RobHam

    A Few Words About A few words about...™ Khartoum & Zulu -- in Blu-ray

    I (finally) received Khartoum today and watched it this evening. My own thoughts: I was pleased with the quality, with a single caveat – second unit location shots had flicker across the entire film. This is something I’ve become more sensitive to as I get older and I found some scenes...
  12. RobHam

    TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT OR TITUS

    Bruce - no criticism towards yourself was inferred in previous comments. Quite the opposite actually - apologies if its been taken the wrong way. What this thread shows, beyond the bletherings of the pro and anti Twilight Time cliques, is the need for communication from Twilight Time at the...
  13. RobHam

    TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT OR TITUS

    (ignoring the cease and desist order above, as this stuff, although stale, does still throw out interesting morsels). Bruce's "sneak peak" threads appear to be partially fulfilling the pre-preorder info on behalf of TT - I pre-ordered Khartoum on the basis of that initial positive nod from...
  14. RobHam

    TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT OR TITUS

    Bruce - maybe its my age and my brain is fuddled, but I seem to recall some sort of online blood-feud going on with yourself and Nick Redman many months ago. What happened on the metaphorical road to Damascus that turned you into one of Twilight Times' biggest champions? Not being critical...
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