Colin over at Riding The High Country recently posted a great writeup on Nicholas Ray’s Johnny Guitar (1954). Be sure to read it.
With a Blu-ray of Johnny Guitar coming from Olive in August, I’m getting excited about seeing the picture again (it’s been almost a year). It’s one of those films that, as Colin points out, shows us something each time we see it. A friend once described it as “the damnedest thing I ever saw” — a concise and completely accurate appraisal.
Any Western where Frank Ferguson and Ward Bond are in a group of vigilantes lead by Mercedes McCambridge has to have its merits.
Yep, Colin certainly did the film justice. As I mentioned, the closest thing to what Vienna and Emma bring to this film would be Ben-Hur and Masala. Great shout-out Toby.
I can’t wait to see this movie. I have always wanted to, but have never had the chance. I’ve already pre-ordered my copy and look forward to seeing it soon.
I’m as stoked about this one as I have been about any video release. It’s WAY overdue.
Hopefully, the Blu-ray will be widescreen — it was shot to be run that way.
I was absolutley thrilled when this came on television on my day off a couple of months ago!
I’ve never really liked “Johnny Guitar” (apparently Nicholas Ray felt the same way) and sometimes struggle to see it as a Western at all. I’d much rather see a restored version of Ray’s “The Lusty Men”, which is a terrific film (although again not exactly a Western).
Johnny Guitar is one of those films where I can completely understand why someone would hate it.
I love it, and it was my gateway drug into the many great pictures Nick Ray gave us. I also love Lusty Men. There are so many good ones.
The True Story Of Jesse James (1957) is one I’m really fascinated by —
http://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/2011/09/07/the-true-story-of-the-true-story-of-jesse-james-1957/
If you haven’t seen it, check it out. But only widescreen.
Guitar is an odd movie, but the actors in it so relishing their roles and playing them all up to the hilt, you can’t help but like this movie. Would it be an all-time favorite?, probably not, but it sure is a fun one to watch. I like anything with Sterling Hayden in it anyway. Very compelling actor and interesting off screen. Did anyone ever see his appearances in Tom Snyder’s Tomorrow interview show? I sure wish I had a VCR back in those days. But I remember watching them late at night in the dark. What stories he told!
Those Tom Snyder appearances can be found on YouTube. Or they were when I first began researching the book!