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Duck's Replies
The stories I have heard is that the Duke hated his wigs. The studio made him wear it, if you see his home movies he was not wearing one. Also in interviews his family and friends say he never wore a wig when not working.
Jack Elam is one of my favorite character actors. But he was not really one of the troupe of John Wayne regulars.
I think Ben Johnson (who was very much alive) would have been better than Henry Morgan as the Marshal.
I think Wayne was an under rated actor. His performance in Red River, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Searchers and this movie (among several others) prove that he could and did stretch himself as an actor.
Although he was a really good actor when given an opportunity to really act he is no where near the "America's greatest actor". But he may have been the Worlds greatest movie star!
A 1970 Nova and a 1969 Charger are not cheap cars. Particularly the Charger, which is a highly sought after collectors car. In 2007 when the movie came out they were not as expensive as today (classic car values have gone through the roof in the past 10 years) but the Charger would have been at least $20k (depending what motor it had). Today a 1969 Charger can go for $70 - $80K easy.
I am a car guy, and in particular a MOPAR guy. The chase/battle at the end of the movie is a top 10 or maybe even top 5 car chase in movie history. It redeems this movie for me. I can skip the first half of this movie and watch the second half over and over.
Even if it were not for the car chase this movie would still have Kurt Russel going for it. He is awesome, somehow managing to be both creepy and cool at the same time.
If you are not a car guy, or not a fan of car chase, I can understand why you did not like this movie, but I love it. A great car chase with a great performance by one of my favorite actors make a fun and re-watchable movie.
I have no problem if you do not like this movie. I have no problem if you do not like John Wayne . I have no problem if you choose to not like John Wayne for his political views.
Even though I disagree with all three of those opinions, you have every right to hold them.
However, I do have a problem with your misrepresenting facts.
John Wayne did not "weasel out of military service".
3 quick facts:
1. John Wayne was in his 40's during WWII with a wife and young children. It is very rare for family men in their 40's to join the military for any war. In fact in the modern military he would be to old and would not be able to join if he tried.
2. John Wayne had a bad back and would have been 4F (un-able to serve for health reasons).
3. Wayne was the number 1 box office draw in America. RKO Studios went to the Department of Defense and lobbied to not let Wayne enlist. The logic (other than the obvious financial ones) was that Wayne would do more good for the country staying at home and making propaganda type movies. The DoD agreed and asked Wayne not to join.
Bonus Fact 1: John Wayne worked tirelessly during WWII to sell War Bonds, raise money for the Red Cross and other war charities and causes.
Bonus Fact 2: John Wayne stated through out the later years of his life that not joining the military during WWII was the single greatest regret of his life.
I like Cannonball Run. I really like 70's era Burt and enjoy most everything he did. He just looked like a guy having fun, and I dig that. And I always love Jack Elam in most anything.
However, Gumball Rally is a better movie. Everything about GR is superior to CBR. The only thing CBR has going for it is Burt and crew having fun and letting us in on the joke.
Plot in a classic comedy like this was not really required. Like the Marx Brothers, Laurel and Hardy, and the Three Stooges, A&C do not need a plot to be great, all that was needed was some premise to let the boys go through their shtick.
I feel the need to go watch some of these great comedians.
Ahhhh, the surest sign of a lost debate, correcting your opponents grammar or spelling. :)
I love this movie, and I do not feel even slightly guilty.
From memory:
Pa Danby to Joe, "I gotten take on with that sheriff, you don't exactly dazzle no one with your intelligence".
I agree, but Mr. Elam could also be a terrific villain or thug. He was masterful at using those eyes to make you laugh, or to intimidate and scare the hell out of you. What wonderful range. He is one of my all time favorite actors.
I know it is an exercise in futility to respond, but here goes.
You make some valid points. Batman is certainly a great character. It could be argued one of the greatest (if not the greatest), depending on how you define greatness.
But your above statement is just incorrect.
"No other character has such an extensive publication history, adaptation history into several media, merchandising, quality of artists or cachet."
If that is your definition of "greatness" then not only does Superman rival Batman in that regard, but both fall to Tarzan.
Yes, Tarzan. He has been around longer, has a more books, more movies, more newspaper comic strips, more radio adaptations, more TV adaptations, and has been the subject of several very long running comic book series. In fact there is not a single media type that has not been conquered by Tarzan.
At the height of his popularity Tarzan was more popular in the US that Batman has ever been.
Tarzan was created in 1912 and his height of popularity probably in the 1920 through the 1960's. It has tapered off since then, but he remains popular enough that all his books are still in print, and they are still making Tarzan movies.
Batman may have been created in the late '30s but he did not really become a cultural icon until the late '60s. The two areas that Batman beats Tarzan: Box office (but that is an unfair comparison, when Tarzan movies were most popular movies tickets were 10 cents, and there were much fewer theaters), and comic books; but Batman is obviously a comic book character while Tarzan is from a series of novels.
I am not arguing that Tarzan is a better, or more popular character. I am only trying to show you that your argument is flawed. Batman might be the greatest character, but not for the reasons you list.