Some recent posts have spurred a few of us to make preliminary plans to watch certain films — Westerns, of course — over the holiday break.
Colin mentioned Escort West (1959). I’m thinking about Trail Of Robin Hood (1950), Roy Rogers’ Christmas picture. Then, of course, there’s stuff like It’s A Wonderful Life (1946), The Bishop’s Wife (1947, if you haven’t seen this, I urge you to) and A Christmas Story (1983) — which aren’t Westerns, but we won’t hold it against ’em.
As the weather gets colder, I always get the itch to drag out Track Of The Cat (1954) and Day Of The Outlaw (1959). A 16mm adapted ‘Scope print of 1958’s Escape From Red Rock is sitting here, too. And I’ve purposefully avoided the TCM schedule. So many movies, so little time.
So what’s stacked beside your DVD player, waiting its turn?
[The wonderful John Falter illustration appeared on the November 9, 1957 issue of The Saturday Evening Post.]
Love the illustration……..
At Xmas, I always make time for Trail of Robin Hood, and the holiday episodes of Have Gun, Will Travel; Wanted: Dead or Alive and Bonanza.
You’re right, it does.
And the rifle is indeed timeless. You can still get them.
That picture’s adorable! The Saturday Evening Post always seemed to have wonderful illustrations.
The Bishop’s Wife made it onto my family’s list of regular holiday viewing a few years ago. (Always makes me want to go ice-skating). Since we watch our holiday movies before Christmas, though, I’m thinking more along the lines of curling up with a good Western book during vacation – something by Max Brand, I think. (He wrote a good Christmas Western story, incidentally: “Wheel of Fortune”.)
I think I’m going to tackle the HELL’S HEROES/THREE GODFATHERS/3 GODFATHERS triumvirate. I hope watching them in proximity like that doesn’t ruin it. I’ll count Don Siegel’s STAR IN THE NIGHT as well. It has cowboys in it, after all.
A big pile of Italian movies, shuffled together for no reason other than I noticed I had a lot of Italian imports that need a keep-or-sell verdict. So maybe a spaghetti western or two….
The Bishop’s Wife is just possibly my favorite Christmas movie. Let’s see–how about My Favorite Wife (has Cary Grant and a Santa costume), and The Night of the Hunter?
Trail of Robin Hood is on the DVR awaiting my attention. For a Ben Johnson movie, probably Fort Defiance as it takes place around Christmas time, and there’s even a scene of Ben decorating a little pine tree while Peter Graves, playing a blind man, makes a leather belt for his absent brother (Dane Clark).
Non westerns — Miracle on 34th Street and Shop Around the Corner.
Wish there was a Hanukah Western! (Is there?)
‘The Frisco Kid’ would be the closest, I think.
Very excited to see that “The Last Hunt”, which I love, and “Day of the Evil Gun” are now up for pre-order at the Warner Archives page, as well as John Ford’s “The Fugitive” (which has Henry Fonda in it and is almost a Western). So I’ll spend the holidas waiting for those.
It’s not a Western, but I just have to mention rewatching HOLIDAY AFFAIR the other night, a very likeable Christmas movie. I’d forgotten Harry Morgan was in it–in his single scene he just about the steals the show; so funny and knowing as that police lieutenant. He could make the most of any part and was such a great actor.
We’re planning on MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS for Christmas Day–what else is new I know? But when you haven’t seen it for five or six years…
In the same vein, if anyone looks in at Laura’s Miscellaneous Musings, you’ll find her repost on MARGIE, too little seen Fox movie that TCM is showing Christmas Eve. I have posted there to back her up on this title–I’m pretty certain anyone who loves MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS will love this too.
Now to the main subject–Westerns. First, I’m excited THE LAST HUNT is now on Warner Archive; one of the great Westerns for me and one I’ll buy.
I don’t know which other actual Westerns I’ll watch on the holidays, but I am pretty definitely planning on playing one of my favorite movies ever the last day of the year. That’s THE LUSTY MEN. This year was the 100th anniversary of Nicholas Ray’s birth and, in a case of first among equals, this is my favorite of his treasure trove of masterpieces. Not an actual Western bcause it’s a modern subject set in the 50s, it still resonates deeply with Western themes and motifs.
Have to admit I’ve never seen The Last Hunt.
The Lusty Men sounds like a good one to commemorate the holidays with. I’ve been thinking about Hour Of The Gun a lot and might work it in.