Comments on: Hang ‘em High http://outlawvern.com/2010/01/27/hang-em-high/ Then fuck you, Jack! Thu, 09 Sep 2010 20:34:34 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: CC http://outlawvern.com/2010/01/27/hang-em-high/#comment-20625 CC Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:36:13 +0000 http://outlawvern.com/?p=6650#comment-20625 Yeah, everybody agrees JUDGE ROY BEAN doesn't really reach it's full potential. Milius himself says that John Huston wasn't the right guy to direct it, and Paul Newman wasn't really the right actor for it, and that the whole tone of the thing is just not what it should be. Huston was in that early 70s, "Whatever, I'm just here for the paycheck" period of his career when he treated filmmaking as more of a part-time job then a passion, and you can tell he was kind've not taking it very seriously--even though he was a fan of Milius' original script. Still, the scope of it's vision is really impressive and inspiring, and the parts that work REALLY work. I'd say it's a success, albeit a frustrating one. But if you want to see what one of Milius' scripts could ultimately be in the hands of a director who really took the time and effort to make the best film they could, look no further then Milius own CONAN THE BARBARIAN, Sydney Pollack's JEREMIAH JOHNSON, and of course, Coppola's APOCALYPSE NOW. Hell, even his early EVIL KNIEVAL script probably came off better! (it's got a GREAT ending.) Yeah, everybody agrees JUDGE ROY BEAN doesn’t really reach it’s full potential. Milius himself says that John Huston wasn’t the right guy to direct it, and Paul Newman wasn’t really the right actor for it, and that the whole tone of the thing is just not what it should be. Huston was in that early 70s, “Whatever, I’m just here for the paycheck” period of his career when he treated filmmaking as more of a part-time job then a passion, and you can tell he was kind’ve not taking it very seriously–even though he was a fan of Milius’ original script.

Still, the scope of it’s vision is really impressive and inspiring, and the parts that work REALLY work. I’d say it’s a success, albeit a frustrating one.

But if you want to see what one of Milius’ scripts could ultimately be in the hands of a director who really took the time and effort to make the best film they could, look no further then Milius own CONAN THE BARBARIAN, Sydney Pollack’s JEREMIAH JOHNSON, and of course, Coppola’s APOCALYPSE NOW. Hell, even his early EVIL KNIEVAL script probably came off better! (it’s got a GREAT ending.)

]]> By: David Lambert http://outlawvern.com/2010/01/27/hang-em-high/#comment-19404 David Lambert Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:57:42 +0000 http://outlawvern.com/?p=6650#comment-19404 CC, you're thinking of HANNIE CAULDER. I like all of BOETTICHER's Westerns and 7 MEN FROM NOW is no exception. COMANCHE STATION is another one of his greats. THE BALLAD OF CABLE HOGUE is great, but then I like all of Peckinpah's Westerns, even really flawed work like MAJOR DUNDEE and THE DEADLY COMPANIONS (his TV show THE WESTERNER is also wonderful). THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JUDGE ROY BEAN has some excellent bits (like that crazy, ball-shooting gunfight in the bar), but doesn't work as a whole for me. CC, you’re thinking of HANNIE CAULDER.

I like all of BOETTICHER’s Westerns and 7 MEN FROM NOW is no exception. COMANCHE STATION is another one of his greats.

THE BALLAD OF CABLE HOGUE is great, but then I like all of Peckinpah’s Westerns, even really flawed work like MAJOR DUNDEE and THE DEADLY COMPANIONS (his TV show THE WESTERNER is also wonderful).

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JUDGE ROY BEAN has some excellent bits (like that crazy, ball-shooting gunfight in the bar), but doesn’t work as a whole for me.

]]> By: CC http://outlawvern.com/2010/01/27/hang-em-high/#comment-19173 CC Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:19:38 +0000 http://outlawvern.com/?p=6650#comment-19173 The Long Riders, Heaven's Gate, Bad Company and Jeremiah Johnson! Yes! Sam Fuller, I Shot Jesse James and Forty Guns! (which really does have one of the greatest openings of all time.) Yes!! What was that crazy, obscure western with Robert Stack and Raquel Welch hunting down the gang of rapists? Tarantino's a big fan, claims it influenced Kill Bill... I'll throw in a word for Budd Boetticher's terrific 7 Men From Now. And don't forget John Milius and John Huston's The Life And Times Of Judge Roy Bean. And Peckinpah's The Ballad Of Cable Hogue. The Long Riders, Heaven’s Gate, Bad Company and Jeremiah Johnson! Yes! Sam Fuller, I Shot Jesse James and Forty Guns! (which really does have one of the greatest openings of all time.) Yes!!

What was that crazy, obscure western with Robert Stack and Raquel Welch hunting down the gang of rapists? Tarantino’s a big fan, claims it influenced Kill Bill…

I’ll throw in a word for Budd Boetticher’s terrific 7 Men From Now.

And don’t forget John Milius and John Huston’s The Life And Times Of Judge Roy Bean. And Peckinpah’s The Ballad Of Cable Hogue.

]]> By: David Lambert http://outlawvern.com/2010/01/27/hang-em-high/#comment-18922 David Lambert Sat, 30 Jan 2010 21:00:29 +0000 http://outlawvern.com/?p=6650#comment-18922 YOUNG GUNS? Git outta heah! YOUNG GUNS? Git outta heah!

]]> By: RRA http://outlawvern.com/2010/01/27/hang-em-high/#comment-18904 RRA Sat, 30 Jan 2010 17:16:31 +0000 http://outlawvern.com/?p=6650#comment-18904 Vern's FIREFOX review should be interesting. I mean Clint Eastwood's sole big budget summer blockbuster, with a then-hefty $20 million pricetag and even FX designed by John Dykstra. If you ask me, Eastwood and WB got ripped off by Dykstra. Vern’s FIREFOX review should be interesting. I mean Clint Eastwood’s sole big budget summer blockbuster, with a then-hefty $20 million pricetag and even FX designed by John Dykstra.

If you ask me, Eastwood and WB got ripped off by Dykstra.

]]> By: Christof http://outlawvern.com/2010/01/27/hang-em-high/#comment-18885 Christof Sat, 30 Jan 2010 11:28:20 +0000 http://outlawvern.com/?p=6650#comment-18885 For the love of God, people. YOUNG GUNS. Best sepia intro of all time. And OPEN RANGE has the best gun battle. For the love of God, people.

YOUNG GUNS.

Best sepia intro of all time.

And OPEN RANGE has the best gun battle.

]]> By: David Lambert http://outlawvern.com/2010/01/27/hang-em-high/#comment-18877 David Lambert Sat, 30 Jan 2010 08:57:32 +0000 http://outlawvern.com/?p=6650#comment-18877 SUTTREE is just as difficult as BLOOD MERIDIAN so I'd just go with the latter. SUTTREE is just as difficult as BLOOD MERIDIAN so I’d just go with the latter.

]]> By: frankbooth http://outlawvern.com/2010/01/27/hang-em-high/#comment-18865 frankbooth Sat, 30 Jan 2010 05:02:37 +0000 http://outlawvern.com/?p=6650#comment-18865 I can't believe that no one has mentioned BILLY THE KID VS. DRACULA. I can’t believe that no one has mentioned BILLY THE KID VS. DRACULA.

]]> By: Dan Prestwich http://outlawvern.com/2010/01/27/hang-em-high/#comment-18858 Dan Prestwich Sat, 30 Jan 2010 02:55:45 +0000 http://outlawvern.com/?p=6650#comment-18858 The only Cormac McCarthy I've read is ALL THE PRETTY HORSES and, just like every other motherfucker on the planet, THE ROAD. I've heard BLOOD MERIDIAN is a tough read, I was thinking of maybe trying SUTREE or NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN next time I tried a McCarthy novel. The only Cormac McCarthy I’ve read is ALL THE PRETTY HORSES and, just like every other motherfucker on the planet, THE ROAD. I’ve heard BLOOD MERIDIAN is a tough read, I was thinking of maybe trying SUTREE or NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN next time I tried a McCarthy novel.

]]> By: David Lambert http://outlawvern.com/2010/01/27/hang-em-high/#comment-18857 David Lambert Sat, 30 Jan 2010 02:40:35 +0000 http://outlawvern.com/?p=6650#comment-18857 It's an amazing book. More similar in tone to UNFORGIVEN than the Don Seigel-directed Wayne film (which is good in its own right). In fact, UNFORGIVEN jacked a lot from the novel (along with TAXI DRIVER it was David Webb Peoples' biggest inspiration when writing the script). I'd recommend it to anyone. Speaking of UNFORGIVEN, anyone ever notice the nod to the underrated Charlton Heston Western WILL PENNY (the main character's name is WILL MUNNY, and his kids are named WILL and PENNY)? Anyway, you mean to tell me you haven't read BLOOD MERIDIAN? It’s an amazing book. More similar in tone to UNFORGIVEN than the Don Seigel-directed Wayne film (which is good in its own right). In fact, UNFORGIVEN jacked a lot from the novel (along with TAXI DRIVER it was David Webb Peoples’ biggest inspiration when writing the script). I’d recommend it to anyone. Speaking of UNFORGIVEN, anyone ever notice the nod to the underrated Charlton Heston Western WILL PENNY (the main character’s name is WILL MUNNY, and his kids are named WILL and PENNY)?

Anyway, you mean to tell me you haven’t read BLOOD MERIDIAN?

]]>