Ronald Reagan
February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004
I’m ashamed to have missed Tim Holt’s birthday on the 5th. I’m not gonna screw up Ronald Reagan’s. He’d be 105 today.
Here he is in Law And Order (1953). I resisted the temptation to post yet another photo from Allan Dwan’s Tennessee’s Partner (1955), a picture I love.
Actually, “LAW AND ORDER” is a bigger favourite with me, Toby. It may be because it was the first ( or maybe second) film I ever saw at the cinema, on release, and therefore the first film I ever saw in colour. You can imagine the huge impression that made on a six-year old.
I like Law And Order a lot, too. It was one of the first 50s Westerns I got on DVD, and the color really knocked me out.
Thanks for sharing that story.
I watched 2 movies tonight, in honor of my favorite President of them all, Ronald Reagan, I actually did watch LAW & ORDER tonight (before I knew you posted this). The second movie was SHORT GRASS. LAW & ORDER is my favorite of the Ronald Reagan western movies, mainly because this is a sole starring Ronald Reagan movie where he is not sharing the spotlight with another star. He looks just like he did when he was president and in the movie seems to always have a sense of humor about him. Just as he did in real life.
I switched parties from being a Democrat in 1978 to Republican just so that I could vote for him in the primaries to be sure he’d be the nominee. Just like today he had to fight the establishment Republicans who were just as much against him as the liberal Democrats. It’s funny how history seems to repeat itself. Just as in 1979 we’re now in our lowest point just as we were under Jimmy Carter. And just as in 1979 the establishment is trying again to defeat the real conservative Republican who’s running. I won’t go further because this is not supposed to be political, but I was really happy to see Pres. Reagan again tonight. If only he were in office again.
Amen. RR was a winner on the screen, as a leader and as a human being. As you suggest, we sure could us him now. Westerns, adventure/action, comedies and drama… He did them all with a self assurance and sincerity that cultivated a liking for the man. My personal Reagan favorite films were DESPERATE JOURNEY (he more than held his own with Errol Flynn), KINGS ROW, THE HASTY HEART and being a diehard St. Louis Cardinal fan, THE WINNING TEAM.
Thank you.. Your enthusiasm for his westerns have motivated me to renew my viewing of his contributions to my favorite genre.
My favorite Reagan Western has always been THE LAST OUTPOST aka CAVALRY CHARGE. I really enjoyed his devil-may-care attitude in that one, his ability to deliver a witty remark with ease had me smiling throughout. Another favorite is STORM WARNING in which he shows everyone just what a good actor he can be. And he’s just great early on in his career as BRASS BANCROFT in a series of action/mystery films that possibly inspired the Indiana Jones character. And even slapping Angie Dickinson around as the cruel gangster in Don Siegel’s THE KILLERS couldn’t keep him from being elected governor of California shortly thereafter…Most of us wish that we could have an outstanding career in something during our lifetime. Ronald Reagan had three; a major radio announcer, a really fine actor, and of course, the most difficult of all.
Law and Order is great. One of my top 20 westerns. The color and resolution are fantastic.
I’m really chuffed to read all this positive talk about “LAW AND ORDER”. Every book I have read where it receives mention describe it as action-packed, which it is, but also routine or standard. Well, I suppose it is routine in that it breaks no new ground or anything special.
I thought maybe I’m biased because of its early impression on me (as I said higher up this post) but I watched it again just recently and found it to be a thoroughly enjoyable and satisfying film, routine or not.
Thanks, guys, for cheering it on.
Count me in as another who really liked LAW AND ORDER…I didn’t own it the first time I saw it and enjoyed it so much I got my own copy. A fantastic deep cast including Dorothy Malone, Preston Foster, Jack Kelly, Dennis Weaver…and I was really taken with Russell Johnson as Reagan’s hotheaded brother. Saw “the Professor” in a whole new way!
For much of my life I only knew Ronald Reagan as Governor of my state and then as President — his movies were kept off TV because of “equal time” laws. I think until a few years ago I’d only seen KINGS ROW. It’s been great fun to gradually catch up with his films and also to realize he was *much* better than some of the jokes would have it. My favorite non-Western Reagan film is THE VOICE OF THE TURTLE with Eleanor Parker and Eve Arden (available from Warner Archive) — he’s absolutely charming.
Best wishes,
Laura
Agree wholeheartedly, Voice of The Turtle is my favorite non-western Pres. Reagan movie. My second favorite Reagan movie is LOUISA w/so many great character actors including Spring Byington and Edmond Gwenn. Not many people are familiar with this movie, but it is definitely one worth seeking out. It’s funny and charming and a real pleasure to watch. See this one Laura if you haven’t yet.
I’ll look for LOUISA, Johnny Guitar, the cast sounds wonderful! Thanks much for the tip. Glad to hear from another fan of THE VOICE OF THE TURTLE!
Best wishes,
Laura
Wayne Morris is in Voice Of The Turtle, isn’t he?
Yes, it’s a fairly small role but Morris is in it!
Best wishes,
Laura
Richard mentioned his BRASS BANCROFT B-movies from early on – they are really good and great fun too!
I just watched this movie ,LAW AND ORDER again the other night ,thoroughly enjoyed it.