A perfect example of a film as it pertains to me versus North to Alaska for you. I never watched IAMMMMW from beginning to end in my childhood, but have done so as an adult. It's an okay film, but I don't have a fondness for it like so many around here do for it.Ronald Epstein said:
I think I was already in college when I saw NORTH TO ALASKA for the first time. It was on a b&w TV on a commercial broadcast station back in the day. I didn't like it then. And every time I've tried to sit through it on cable, in color, in the years since I've never been able to stick with it. Now that I think of it, I tend to feel the same way about Wayne's other comedies, e.g. MCLINTOCK and THE WAR WAGON. And maybe even DONOVAN'S REEF, although that has enough other good stuff in it, thanks to Marvin, Romero, Lamour and Elizabeth Allen, that I could probably stick with that a little easier again if the opportunity ever came up.Ronald Epstein said:
I don't think I'd call The War Wagon a comedy. It's has some humor, yes, but a lot of guys get killed in that film and it has a more serious tone than the others mentioned above.Vic Pardo said:
Right, a lot of killing in it. Definitely, not a comedic western like McLintock.John Hermes said:
Same here on both counts - IAMMMMW I found mildly amusing but definitely not something particularly funny or worth repeat viewing; North to Alaska on the other hand I enjoy much more. I should say though that I don't really think of North to Alaska as a "comedy", I just consider it a light-hearted John Wayne film. It doesn't make me laugh out loud, it just puts me in a good mood because it shows a less serious side to the Duke.Robert Crawford said:
jim_falconer said:
Not available on BD, might be in some other region. Sorry to hear about The Undefeated. I guess that's one is just for big time John Wayne films like myself that enjoy him in any type of film.Ronald Epstein said:
On The Sons of Katie Elder, one of my favorite Wayne films from the 60's. A BD, I believe, would look great. It's been shown on HDNet Movies and looks excellent so it appears a master is available. Maybe next Father's Day (that seems to be a prime release time for JW films).Robert Crawford said:
I've never cared much for The Undefeated, either. Aside from the potent teaming of two all-time stars in Wayne and Hudson, it was just a routine western for me. I've seen it a few times, but consider it only OK. I was disappointed to see it get so many votes during the Fox Vote Your Choice thing.Ronald Epstein said:
So was I. I figured North to Alaska would be one of the winners, but I never dreamed Wayne fans would stuff the ballot box for the unquestionably second-tier The Undefeated. I so much wanted Two for the Road!David_B_K said:
You may be right. I saw it on TV decades ago but all I remember is the comedy. IIRC, the trailer, which I saw in a theater when it came out, played up the humor and that sort of got imprinted on my brain.John Hermes said:
+1 on The Sons of Katie Elder. I'll keep pushing for that one until it comes out or I'm gone!atfree said:
I have ordered War of the Wildcats based on your recommendation. In the McClintock! contest thread, someone recommended Tall in the Saddle which I also picked up. I loved that one, and Wildcats seems to be from that same era (and it's got Gabby in it again!), so I'll probably like it. I need to get more familiar with the films Wayne made when he was in his 30's, when he often played likeable good-humored characters.RBailey said:
War of the Wildcats is a good John Wayne film, but it's not Tall in the Saddle.David_B_K said:
WAR OF THE WILDCATS was made at Republic, while TALL IN THE SADDLE was made at RKO. For reasons that other historians may be able to articulate better, that makes a big difference somehow. Both studios had their strengths, of course, but TALL IN THE SADDLE had Ella Raines, which kind of trumps a lot of other aspects.David_B_K said:
