Westerns | Hollywood Yesterday

Fast Facts About Andy Clyde: California Carlson to William Boyd’s Hopalong Cassidy

October 23, 2019 By Joi Leave a Comment

Andy Clyde and William Boyd in the 1941 Hopalong Cassidy film, Outlaws of the Desert

Andy Clyde was born on March 25, 1892 in Scotland. Yes, Scotland! When I first read that he was born in Scotland, I have to admit I dug a little further in my research because I suddenly didn’t trust my source. In all the years I’ve listened to him on the radio, watched him in movies, and laughed at him in his television appearances (playing Frank Myers on the “Mayberry Goes Bankrupt” episode, for example) – I honestly assumed he was from Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona… one of the other beautiful states in the Midwest.

It just goes to show what a talented actor he was – he had me convinced he was a tried and true cowboy.

Andy Clyde in the 1940 “Short” A Bundle of Bliss

Below are more facts about this very talented and hilarious man.

He played California Carlson in the Hopalong Cassidy radio and film series. He was in 36 of the 66 Hopalong Cassidy films. If you have DirecTV, you should look for these films on channel 538 (SEWS). I have this channel on so often in my den that my cats are starting to walk like cowboys and cowgirls. The channel shows western movies as well as television shows.
As California (and many of his other roles), Andy Clyde can be seen grizzled, poorly-groomed, crusty, and wearing mismatched and crazy outfits. In real life, however, he was very clean-shaven and was known for being very well-dressed.
He became a naturalized citizen in 1943.
Clyde had regular roles in several tv series including No Time for Sergeants (1964), The Tall Man (1960-1962), The Real McCoys (1957), and Lassie (1964, 1966).
He was married to actress Elise Tarron from 1932 to his death in 1967. They had one child, a son, in 1935.
He played Frank Myers on the “Mayberry Goes Bankrupt” episode of The Andy Griffith Show in 1961. He was the older man (with a Civil War bond) the Mayor wanted to evict.
He played “Gimpy” in It’s a Wonderful World.
He enjoyed a film career that lasted over 40 years!
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6758 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on February 8, 1960.
Andy Clyde died at the age of 75 on May 18, 1967. Not surprisingly, he was still working at the time.

Andy Clyde as California Carlson

Watch the highly entertaining Outlaws of the Desert (1941) below. Andy Clyde was one of the best sidekicks of all time. In fact, if you watch closely, you can tell where many other sidekicks “borrowed” certain expressions and traits from this master of the craft.

Review: The Violent Men with Glenn Ford, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson, and Dianne Foster

September 14, 2017 By Joi Leave a Comment

Violent Men may not receive the attention many other Westerns do, but it’s an excellent movie. In fact, I think it’s far better than some Westerns that are practically household names.

The strength of Violent Men doesn’t lie so much in the plot or scenery as it does the cast. Glenn Ford, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson, Dianne Foster, and Brian Keith are each outstanding. Although, if (like me) you’re most familiar with Brian Keith as loving and kind Uncle Bill on Family Affair, it’s odd seeing him play such a smarmy character. Seriously, it took some getting used to.

When I first saw this movie a few years back, my first reaction to seeing him sleaze across the screen was, “Uncle Bill.. what the heck?!”

While Ford and Keith are wonderful in their roles, make no mistake about it, this is Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson, and Dianne Foster’s movie. More about them in a minute.

The Violent Men Trailer:

Plot Synopsis: Glenn Ford plays an ex-officer in the Union, John Parrish. Because his fiance is desperate to move out of town (and I do mean desperate), he agrees to sell his land to the ruthless Wilkisons of Anchor Ranch. Because his fiance is so eager to move east, he even considers the ridiculously low offer Anchor’s owner (played to perfection by the great Edward G. Robinson).

However, when he sees what bullies the Wilkisons can be – especially after they murder one of his men – he decides to stay and fight, calling upon his Civil War experience.

The wonderful, strong, and sultry to a fault Barbara Stanwyck plays Martha Wilkison who is married to Edward G. Robinson’s character (Lew) but carrying on a long-term affair with Lew’s brother Cole Wilkison (played by Brian Keith). The fact that Lew has lost use of his legs and is confined to crutches makes it easier for the dastardly duo to cavort behind his back.

Hence the, “Uncle Bill… what the heck?!”

In a relatively small role, Dianne Foster chews up the screen as Lew and Martha’s daughter Judith. Her chemistry with Glenn Ford is the stuff you hope for anytime you sit down to watch a movie.

She has an obvious beauty and tons of talent but she has that certain something “special” that, I don’t know, maybe only those of us who obsessively watch movies could recognize. You can’t take your eyes off of her when she’s on the screen – which, ironically, is the exact same thing I’ve always said about Barbara Stanwyck who plays her mother in this movie.

Foster (particularly with her hair light, as it was in this movie) actually reminds me A LOT of Barbara Stanwyck. The casting, makeup, and hair departments hit it out of the park with this one.

As for the one and only Barbara Stanwyck, she was at her best in The Violent Men. Here’s the thing about Stanwyck, whether she’s playing a good character or a bad one (which Martha certainly is), one thing is for certain…. you want her on your side!

Barbara Stanwyck, in any role, is an absolute force to be reckoned with. That’a one of the reasons she’s one of my top all-time favorite actresses. She’s like a female tornado gliding across the screen. And like a tornado, you do not want to cross her. Admire and respect from a distance? Absolutely. But cross? Not on your life.

What can you say about the great Edward G. Robinson? The man was simply one of the best actors of his time or any other time. Period. Like Stanwyck, he was a force to be reckoned with, so (as you’d imagine) their scenes together left you wanting more and more.

Edward G. Robinson was one of those stars who made everything look so easy and effortless than you often don’t realize just what a remarkable actor he was.While this may not be one of his most famous roles, it is (in my opinion, for what that’s worth) one of his best.

One of the things I liked most about Glenn Ford’s performance in The Violent Men is the fact that he played it with a “quiet strength.” It would have been easy, as the lead in a Western, to dial into a larger-than-life persona. In scenes with Stanwyck and Robinson, it would have, of course, been a disastrous ploy. I mean, how can you possibly be larger than two tornadoes circling one another?!

Ford’s John Parrish was exactly and precisely the sort of hero this movie called for. His understated performance was sheer perfection and, as I said, his chemistry with Dianne Foster was especially nice.

Whether you’re a fan of one of the stars of this excellent cast (how could you not be??!) or simply love Westerns (again… how could you not??), The Violent Men is one you’ll want to both watch as well as add to your collection. It seems that each time I watch it, I notice something else phenomenally brilliant Ford, Stanwyck, Robinson, Keith, or Foster do.

Such a STRONG cast.

Buy The Violent Men DVD on Amazon.

The Naked Spur with James Stewart and Janet Leigh

June 6, 2017 By Joi Leave a Comment

I recently re-watched The Naked Spur for probably the 12th time in my life. How could I not? James Stewart is one of my all-time favorites and Westerns are my jam… and jelly… and toast.

I have a ridiculous confession to make concerning this movie. Like 85 percent of Westerns I’ve seen, my first experience with them was as a child. My dad lived for Westerns, so they were pretty much on 24/7 in our home. Cowboys, “Indians,” saloon girls, deputies, and sheriffs were like family.

When growing up, whenever my dad had The Naked Spur on tv, I had the same three initial reactions each time:

I don’t like George Bailey like this.
I don’t like the lead girl.
I’m out.

So I never watched it in it’s entirety. I had a problem getting past Janet Leigh for some reason. As a young girl, my ideal leading lady in Westerns (as well as tv and other movies) looked closer to the dolls I played with. She needed the flowing brunette, red, or blonde hair and pretty clothes. Janet Leigh, with her sassy short hair and decidedly “boy clothes” didn’t amuse the child version of me any more than angry “George Bailey” did.

Fortunately little girls grow up. When I was older, I watched the movie past the 10 minute mark (all the way to the end) and wondered how I could have been so wrong. James Stewart was, of course, wonderful in the role (the range of this actor is amazing) and as for Janet Leigh… gorgeous.

The kid version of me couldn’t get past the clothes, the adult version of me can’t get past the face. Seriously, this is the exact face you’d expect angels to have. She was a stunning actress and doesn’t get enough credit for being one of the loveliest and most talented actresses ever. Although she doesn’t smile often in the movie, when she does it lights up the screen. Her’s is one of the most beautiful smiles to grace any screen, small or large.

Although I love Westerns as much as anyone and probably more than most, I’ll be the first to admit that the “story” isn’t always the star. In fact, many times (after watching a Western), you’ll find yourself asking, “Okay, what was the plot exactly??” The Naked Spur has a creatively-written plot – an actual story, if you will. The characters are all flawed to a certain degree, which makes it even more entertaining.

The Oscar-nominated story stars Academy Award-winner James Stewart (“It’s A Wonderful Life,” “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” “Vertigo”) as a ruthless (or as I always thought of him, an “angry George Bailey”) bounty hunter (Howard) who’s looking to bring in an outlaw (Ben) portrayed by Oscar-nominee Robert Ryan (“Crossfire,” “The Wild Bunch,” “Bad Day at Black Rock”). The bad guy’s beautiful co-traveler is Lina, played by Oscar-nominee Janet Leigh (“Psycho,” “Touch of Evil, “Little Women”).

The film also stars Ralph Meeker (Roy) and Millard Mitchell (Jesse). Mitchell’s Jesse is my personal favorite character in the movie. Little greedy, but you know what, I’m going to go ahead and forgive him for that.

Filmed in the gorgeous Rocky Mountains, The Naked Spur is considered by many as one of the best westerns ever made.

When watching The Naked Spur, you, of course, have to keep in mind that it was made in 1953. Going in, expecting more than should be expected from this period will rob you from enjoying the movie as it should be enjoyed. Then again, that can be said of all the wonderful movies we celebrate here on Hollywood Yesterday.

The film is beautifully done and perfectly cast. It’s one of those films that I would (and do) watch every time it’s on television.

Did You Know?

Included in “1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die.”
Was inducted into the Library of Congress National Film Registry.
Director Anthony Mann also worked with James Stewart in The Man from Laramie.
James Stewart despised the nickname Jimmy (wish I’d known that before naming his “category” on Hollywood Yesterday!)

The Official Trailer for The Naked Spur

The movie is (MUCH) better than the trailer – although it’s a hoot in spite of itself.

You can find The Naked Spur on Amazon. Speaking of the DVD… for those of us who’ve seen the film… ummm, can you believe the far-fetched art work on the front? Pretty funny!

Rio Bravo Trivia, Movie Poster, and Video Clip

May 10, 2017 By Joi Leave a Comment

Every now and then I get an overwhelming urge to watch a particular movie. Sometimes it’s a musical like Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Oklahoma, Wizard of Oz, or My Fair Lady. Other times it’s a classic like Gone With the Wind, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, Casablanca, or Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Other times, the only thing that I want from life is an evening with an Abbot and Costello or the Three Stooges.

In all honesty, however, the type of movie I crave time with the most often is a good old-fashioned Western – specifically a John Wayne Western. And if we’re going to get even more specific.. it’s usually Rio Bravo, El Dorado, or Rio Grande that I need in my life!

While I love all three, if I had to choose one it’d be Rio Bravo. Dean Martin, Angie Dickinson, and Walter Brennan make this movie (in my opinion). In fact, as far as I’m concerned you could have named it Dude, Feathers, and Stumpy instead of Rio Bravo.

Okay, maybe that’s going a little far, but you get the idea. How Hollywood kept from putting Angie Dickinson in more starring roles is beyond me. She’s the perfect combination of talent and beauty. Well, she’s the perfect combination of a lot of things, but we won’t get into that right now!

Rio Bravo Trivia

The sets were built to 7/8th scale which allows the stars to appear larger than life.
Claude Akins recalled that during filming all the actors found themselves starting to talk like the Duke. John Wayne wasn’t amused.
Ricky Nelson turned 18 years old just days into shooting the movie.
Rio Bravo is included on Roger Ebert’s “Great Movies” list.
Director Howard Hawks wanted an actor in the role of Colorado who would draw teenagers. Allegedly, his first choice for the role was Elvis Presley. While Elvis was interested in the role (some people even say he was pretty excited about it), his manager (Colonel Tom Parker) not only wanted too much money but also top billing. Can you imagine – billing over The Duke?! Not happening.
Although Rio Bravo was actually a 1959 release, the opening credits say 1958.
Walter Brennan once said that, after Rio Bravo, when people would meet him for the first time, they’d expect him to limp like Stumpy. He said he just chalked it up to good acting – after all he had to remember which leg to limp on in each scene!
For most of the film Chance (John Wayne) has the front of his cowboy hat turned up to make him look friendlier and more approachable. However at the point in the movie where Chance has to stand up to the villain, the front of the hat is turned down, making him appear more menacing and tough.
For the first four minutes of the film, (including credits), there is no dialogue.
Included among the “1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die.”
Angie Dickinson was cast in the role of Feathers after Howard Hawks saw her on an episode of Perry Mason.
Rio Bravo was HUGE in Italy. It actually led the way for the legendary (and fun) Spaghetti Westerns era.
Members of the Western Writers of America chose “My Rifle, My Pony, and Me” as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time. (Video Below)

Rio Bravo singing scene with Dean Martin & Ricky Nelson:

Find the great looking Rio Bravo Movie Poster pictured above on Amazon.

Rio Bravo: It’s Never the Wrong Time to Watch this Classic Western

August 14, 2015 By Joi Leave a Comment

Fun Every Time You Watch it: Rio Bravo

I guess the fact that I am infatuated with Westerns shouldn’t surprise me – my dad was one of the three biggest Westerns fans in the entire world. Literally, the first movies I remember watching involve cowboys, dirt roads, shootouts, ladies in long skirts, and lots of Clint Eastwood and John Wayne. Even some of my earliest television memories are of Gunsmoke.

Now married to another Western fan, my love for the genre continues. I was once asked who I preferred in Westerns, John Wayne or Clint Eastwood. I told them that was like asking me to choose between coffee and sweet tea – the answer is whichever one’s in front of me at the moment.

Two of my favorite all-time Westerns are Rio Bravo (1959) and El Dorado (1966). Even today, they’re just good, clean, outrageous fun to watch. I actually feel sorry for anyone who can’t sit back and enjoy a good old movie and simply take it for what it is. F-U-N.

Although I love James Caan’s Mississippi in El Dorado about as much as I love any movie character (and Robert Mitchum is mesmerizing as Sherrif J.P. Harrah ), I’d say my favorite of the two is Rio Bravo…. but just by a “feather.”

John Wayne, Dean Martin, Walter Brennan, Angie Dickinson, and Ricky Nelson – with a cast like this, how could it not be a classic? Although it’s darn near impossible to pick any out of that group, I’d (personally) say that Martin, Dickinson, and Brennan make the movie extra special.

In a pretty limited role – Carlos Robante, as Pedro, is also the very definition of scene-stealer.

Plot: In a small town in Texas, John Wayne is Sheriff John T. Chance. Along with his “drunk” deputy/friend, Dude (portrayed brilliantly by Dean Martin), a crankly old man deputy with a limp “Stumpy” (Walter Brennan at his best), and a singing young sure-shot named Colorado (a VERY young Ricky Nelson), he has to keep an eye on a murderer whose very wealthy and powerful brother is trying to break out of jail. As if Sheriff Chance doesn’t have his hands full with these characters, a beautiful distraction named Feathers (beautifully played by Angie Dickinson) comes to town on the stagecoach. She’s mysterious, chatty, and filled with equal amounts of energy and trouble.

Let the games begin!

I could watch this movie once a week and never complain – even though I’m pretty sure I could quote every line that comes out of “Stumpy” and “Feathers.” How are you going to miss with names like those? The wonderful Walter Brennan (Stumpy) and too gorgeous to even be believed or forgiven Angie Dickinson (Feathers) are at their best – and that’s saying something.

If you’ve never watched Rio Bravo or El Dorado, I’d whole-heartedly recommend buying the DVDs. You’ll fall in love with both movies. If you HAVE seen them, watch them again.

Somehow they just get better and better with each viewing.

DVDs on AMAZON: Rio Bravo and El Dorado

My Rifle, My Pony, and Me/Cindy – Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson and Walter Brennan:

Rio Bravo Trivia

The sets were built to 7/8th scale, so the performers look larger than life.
Ricky Nelson celebrated his 18th birthday during filming of Rio Bravo.
Director Howard Hawks didn’t want Ricky Nelson in the role of Colorado. He thought he was too young and unproven to handle his own with Martin and Wayne. He was so sour on the idea that he deliberately gave Nelson the fewest possible number of lines he could for a third-billed star. Undoubtedly, after Ricky Nelson proved himself (and surely helped with the success of the movie), he realized he’d been wrong.
Howard Hawks’ first choice for Colorado was actually Elvis Presley! Elvis was excited about the idea but his manager asked for too much money along with… get this.. top billing! Over John Wayne! Naturally Hawks and Wayne would have none of it, so the search for Colorado continued. Elvis Presley went on to join the US army in March 1958, two months before filming of Rio Bravo began.
One of the movie’s most famous fans is none other than actor/producer/writer Quentin Tarantino. Tarantino has said that before he enters into a relationship with a girl, he shows her Rio Bravo. If she doesn’t like it, the deal is off – there is no relationship! I can appreciate that.
John Wayne was 51 during the filming of Rio Bravo.
Montgomery Clift, who happened to be a very liberal Democrat, turned down the role of Dude because he’d have to work with very conservative Republicans John Wayne and Walter Brennan. Clift suggested Dean Martin for the role and the rest is history.

John Wayne Hondo Poster and DVD

July 16, 2015 By Joi Leave a Comment

Hondo John Wayne Poster

In the 1953 Western Hondo , John Wayne portrayed the role of Army dispatch rider Hondo Lane. The plot entails Hondo finding a woman and her son living in the midst of warring Apaches. Naturally, he feels compelled to become their protector.

The movie stars Geraldine Page as Angie Lowe and James Arness (best known to all of us as Marshal Dillon) as an Army Indian Scout.

Buy the Full Screen DVD on Amazon: Hondo.

Did You Know?

Pal, the dog that played Sam, was the son of the one and only Lassie.
Katharine Hepburn was originally planned to star in the role of Angie. However, as the script continued to come together, the female role grew smaller – soon becoming one that wouldn’t be suitable for a star of Hepburn’s stature.
Katharine Hepburn and John Wayne would finally become co-stars more than twenty years later in Rooster Cogburn (1975).
Apparently the very liberal and “left wing” Geraldine Page did not see eye-to-eye, politically, with her right-wing co-stars John Wayne, Ward Bond, James Arness and John Farrow.
After viewing the finished film at a private screening, John Wayne jokingly said, “I’ll be damned if I’m not the stuff men are made of!”
Hondo was the film debut for the Broadway actress Geraldine Page.
Geraldine Page was offered the role of Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975), but she turned it down. Louise Fletcher, who then took the role, went on to win the Best Actress Oscar for the performance.
Very often in his career, the 6’7″ James Arness was surrounded by co-stars standing on apple boxes. Other times, he actually had to stand in a ditch so everyone would fit in one shot!
James Arness got the role of Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke in 1955 after John Wayne suggested it. Although rumor has it that Wayne turned down the role, he was never offered the role.
Made four movies with his close friend John Wayne during the 1950s.

Rio Grande with John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara (Review)

August 6, 2014 By Joi Leave a Comment

Rio Grande Movie Poster

A few nights ago I watched Rio Grande (1950) and, strangely enough, I realized I’d never seen this particular western before. It’s strange because, for one thing, I’ve seen COUNTLESS old movies – particularly westerns. But the thing that makes it almost too strange to believe is the fact that Marueen O’Hara is one of my favorite actresses in the world.

How could I have missed one of her movies?!?!

I feel greatly relieved that I’ve set things right now. As you’d imagine, she was beyond lovely and did all but steal each scene she appeared in. I call it the O’Hara Magic.

Rio Grande was directed by the great John Ford. This was the first of five movies John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara would make together (Rio Grande, The Quiet Man, The Wings of Eagles, McLintock! and Big Jake) and was the third (and final) of the John Wayne/John Ford Cavalry films, which started with Fort Apache and was followed by She Wore a Yellow Ribbon.

Plot Synopsis: Rio Grande takes place after the Civil War. Lt. Col. Kirby Yorke (John Wayne) and and Kathleen Yorke (Maureen O’Hara) find themselves battling the Apaches and one other.

Yorke leads his Calvary troops to the Rio Grande to fight the Apaches. He finds himself also fighting to keep his family AND his reputation.

The great supporting cast includes Ben Johnson, Harry Carey Jr., Victor McLaglen and Chill Wills.

If you watch (and love) old movies like I do, I don’t have to tell you that the “oldies” aren’t perfect. Whether we’re talking “political correctness,” sets, dialogue, or even acting (except for that O’Hara Magic, that is) – watching old movies involves casting expectations of perfection out the window and simply enjoying the ride.

Rio Grande is a very fun and enjoyable movie and it’s John Wayne just how John Wayne fans love him….. as a tough guy with a heart.

Find Rio Grande on Amazon – in addition to all of John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara”s other movies.

Hang ‘Em High Trivia

June 11, 2013 By Joi 3 Comments

My husband and I watched one of Clint Eastwood‘s early westerns (Hang ‘Em High) a few days ago and I thoroughly enjoyed every second. Westerns from the 1960’s were their own little works of art and I haven’t met one yet I didn’t like – especially when they star one of my favorite actors of all time. Clint Eastwood was just made for westerns and I often think they were made just for him. If it weren’t for one John Wayne, I’d be convinced they were made for Eastwood and Eastwood alone.

Hang ’em High (1968) was directed by Ted Post. Eastwood and Post had worked together on the television series Rawhide (1959-1965). The movie also stars Ed Begley, Inger Stevens, Dennis Hopper, Pat Hingle, Ben Johnson and even “the Skipper,” Alan Hale.

Hang ’em High Trivia:

This movie has been referred to as Clint Eastwood’s first home-made American “spaghetti western” (it was filmed in New Mexico).
The Producer and Director’s personalities clashed so badly that Clint Eastwood, himself had to intervene. He reportedly told the producer, “If you show up on this set again, there won’t be a set … won’t be a cast, won’t be a crew.” He took the star’s advice and stayed away.
Eastwood’s leading lady in Hang ’em High was Swedish Inger Stevens. The actress, who seems to have suffered greatly from emotional problems, once even tried to commit suicide. She had a tendency to fall in love with her co-stars and when the love wasn’t reciprocated, she would become very depressed. She died when she was only 35 years old, a result of a lethal combination of drugs and alcohol.
A biography was written about the troubled life of Inger Stevens: The Farmer’s Daughter Remembered.
Before Ben Johnson (Marshal Dave Bliss) became a star, himself, he was a stuntman for stars such as s John Wayne, Gary Cooper and James Stewart.
Johnson, who was in more than 300 movies, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994.
Ed Begley was the father of actor Ed Begley Jr.
Unlike a few of the stars of Gilligan’s Island, Alan Hale (Matt Stone) loved the entire Gilligan’s Island experience. In fact, he wore Captain’s hats similar to The Skipper’s for the rest of his life. He donated many of these hats to charities.
Alan Hale (he dropped the “Jr” from his name after his dad died) served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II.
Hale was married to Naomi Hale from 1964 til the day he died in 1990 (cancer). Nearly as interesting in death as he was in life, Hale had his ashes scattered at sea.
Dennis Hopper (The Prophet) worked with James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause (1955). Hopper would later say that James Dean was the best actor he ever worked with.

If you’re a fan of Clint Eastwood and/or Westerns, you’ll definitely want to add this one to your collection.

Movie Description from Amazon: They riddled him with bullets. They strung him up. They left him to die. But they made two fatal mistakes: they hanged the wrong man…and they didn’t finish the job. In his first American-made western, Clint Eastwood indelibly carves his niche as the quintessential tough guycool-headed, iron-willed and unrelenting in his pursuit of revenge. Oklahoma, 1873. Jed Cooper (Eastwood), mistaken for a rustler and killer, is lynched on the spot by crooked lawman Captain Wilson (Ed Begley) and a rampaging band of vigilantes. But as Wilson and his gang flee the scene, there’s one very important detail they’ve overlooked: Cooper is still alive! Out for justiceand vengeanceCooper takes on the job of deputy marshal…and, one by one, tracks down the nine men who “done him wrong.”

El Dorado with John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, James Caan, Charlene Holt, and Michele Carey

December 28, 2011 By Joi 2 Comments

El Dorado Movie Poster

There’s really nothing quite like kicking back and enjoying a great Western, is there? While growing up, I loved to watch Westerns with my dad and now (more than a few years later), I love to watch them with my husband and/or cats.

We capped off a wonderful Christmas this year by watching back to back John Wayne movies on AMC. While I love that television stations show classic movies, I was reminded of the beauty of movies on dvd…. no commercials! I will say this, though, at least commercials give you ample time to make runs to the kitchen.

El Dorado is just a outstanding Western and a deliciously classic John Wayne movie. How fun is it to escape into a Western setting, complete with dust, guns, lovely ladies, and brave heroes?! Throw in leading men like John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, and James Caan and you’ll never want to leave.

The movie was directed by Howard Hawks, who also directed Rio Bravo (the second movie we watched on Christmas). Hawks also directed John Wayne in Rio Lobo.

Movie Synopsis:

John Wayne plays hired gunman Cole Thornton. Cole turns down a job with Bart Jason (Ed Asner – so unusual seeing Mary’s boss in a villainous role!) because it would mean fighting an old sheriff friend, J.P. Harrah (Mitchum). When he learns that a famous gunfighter is on his way to help Jason, and that his friend is now drinking heavily, Cole realizes that the good sheriff needs his help.

His only help is a new “kid” he has befriended called “Mississippi” (Caan). Mississippi is crazy good with a knife, but needs Cole’s coaching to handle a gun.

Robert Mitchum, John Wayne, and James Caan each give outstanding performances and have so much chemistry, I wish they’d made more movies together. However, character actor Arthur Hunnicutt (“Bull“) all but stole the movie from this powerful threesome. Personally, I’m fascinated by so-called character actors and actresses. They’re intended to simply “add” to the main star’s performances and, no doubt, know that they have to remain in check… mustn’t upstage the stars, after all. However, when the character actor is as talented as Arthur Hunnicutt, they can’t help but do just that.

Without even trying.

To me, a great character actor means that – after watching the movie – you simply can not imagine the movie without him or her. Arthur Hunnicutt pulled off greatness with El Dorado. In fact, even if the movie hadn’t been wonderful (which it was), it would be worth watching the movie for him alone.

Now for the ladies. Maybe it’s because I’m a female, myself, but one of the things I’m most fascinated with when it comes to movies is the actresses. I love everything about them. The hairstyles, the performances, the “chemistry” they have with the actors, the clothes, etc, etc. In fact, many times when my husband will ask me to choose which Elvis, John Wayne, or James Bond movie from his collections we’ll watch, I’ll mentally take stock of the actresses in each – Nancy Sinatra? Halle Berry? Mary Ann Mobley?

The lead actresses in El Dorado were Charlene Holt (Maudie) and Michele Carey (Josephine “Joey” MacDonald). These aren’t exactly household names, which bumfuzzles me. They were both as beautiful and talented as any actress of their time (or any time for that matter) – many of whom ARE household names.

Charlene Holt (1928 – 1996) was a brunette beauty with a decidedly exotic face. The combination, no doubt, helped her win “Miss Maryland” in 1956 . She played opposite The Duke in El Dorado and more than held her own. I wish she had been given more to do in El Dorado but I look forward to rounding up and watching the rest of her movies. Sadly, this won’t take long as there aren’t many. What’s more, quite a few of these movies list her as “uncredited.”

Holt appeared in several TV commercials in 1958 and reportedly signed a $50,000-a-year model contract in New York at age 19. Apparently she was spotted in a Revlon lipstick commercial by director Howard Hawks who then cast her in several of his films, including El Dorado.

Michele Carey played spirited, though at times misguided, Josephine in El Dorado. Overall, the character of “Joey” wasn’t quite as likable (or grounded) as Maudie (Holt). However, the viewer can’t help but be struck by Carey’s beauty and screen presence. She was a Jennifer Aniston type before there was a Jennifer Aniston.

I’ve seen SO many movies, and watch old and new movies so often, that I always recognize a face before I’m able to place where I’ve seen it. It can be a pain in the neck sometimes – as well as a strain on the brain. I’ll see an actor or actress and KNOW I’ve seen them in something else. Sometimes it isn’t until after the movie’s over that I realize where it was. I knew I’d seen Michele Carey’s adorable face before – but it wasn’t until the next day that I realized it had been in an Elvis movie. She was Elvis’ leading lady, Bernice, in Live a Little, Love a Little.

During El Dorado, each time Michele Carey was on the screen, I kept trying to come up with where I’d seen her before. For some reason, I kept associating her with a dog. I also knew that what’d I’d seen her in before was a comedy. Finally, the next day it hit me – she was Bernice in Live a Little, Love a Little and the dog in question was Albert.

It certainly wasn’t Elvis.

I also recognized Christopher George’s face (he played the “famous gunfighter” and The Duke’s main rival). He’d been on an episode of Bewitched… as a warlock no less! I loved him in El Dorado. He played a dirt bag with real style. If you’re going to be a dirt back, by all means be stylish about it.

The cast of El Dorado was nothing short of perfection. Great cast, a memorable sidekick (Bull), and a lot of fun make El Dorado a movie you’ll want to see.

Buy El Dorado on Amazon today – that way you’ll never have to sit through a gazillion and one commercials. The Duke will be just an arm’s reach away whenever you need him.