Talking One-Eyed Jacks On The “Robert Bellissimo At The Movies” Podcast.

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Talking One-Eyed Jacks On The “Robert Bellissimo At The Movies” Podcast.

June 22, 2021 by Toby

Just finished this up. What a blast. Click on the image to check it out.

Posted in Ben Johnson, Hank Worden, Karl Malden, Kirk Douglas, Podcasts, Ray Teal, Slim Pickens | 20 Comments

20 Responses

on June 22, 2021 at 8:34 pm | Reply Robert Bellissimo

Thanks for sharing Toby! Thanks for coming on. Really appreciate it ! I learned a lot and had a great time. Look forward to talking to you again !
- on June 23, 2021 at 7:28 am | Reply Toby
  
  It was a lot of fun, Robert. Anytime!
on June 25, 2021 at 2:48 pm | Reply Walter

Robert, thank you for having Toby on your podcast and thank you Toby for sharing it with us on your blog site. I really enjoyed it. Also, I highly recommend Toby’s book A MILLION FEET OF FILM: THE MAKING OF ONE-EYED JACKS(2019), because it is a well researched and well written enjoyable and informative read. I hope it is selling well on Amazon.com.

The podcast triggered personal memories of mine concerning ONE-EYED JACKS(filmed 1958-59, ’60. released 1961). As a youngster, I recall seeing and closely observing a still from the movie, in which Rio(Marlon Brando) is sitting in front of a painting of Mona Lisa. In the painting, Mona Lisa is holding the ace-of-hearts. Also, I observed how Rio was dressed and how he was wearing his pistol. I realized. just from the photo, that ONE-EYED JACKS might be a different kind of Western. The photo was from a book CAMERAS WEST(1971) written by Frank Manchel. The writer wrote an interesting paragraph about the movie that intrigued me. I wanted to see ONE-EYED JACKS.

On a Saturday in 1973, I was sitting in the town library reading the state newspaper and I read where Little Rock’s KARK Channel 4 was showing that night at 10:30 ONE-EYED JACKS. I lived on a small ranch about twenty miles from town and I had to turn our tv antenna, by hand, south towards Little Rock, Arkansas in hopes of viewing the movie. Even with a mountain in the way, I was able to get good enough tv reception to view the movie. I wasn’t disappointed, because ONE-EYED JACKS wasn’t the usual Western Movie released in 1961, or any other year. Not long afterward I viewed the movie again on the Memphis WREC Channel 3 LATE MOVIE and enjoyed it even more. ONE-EYED JACKS is well worth watching, because there is so much there to appreciate.

Toby, something else that you said that triggered a memory of mine. You talked about seeing the LAST TRAIN FROM GUN HILL(filmed 1958, released 1959), NO NAME ON THE BULLET(filmed 1958) released 1959), and THE TALL T (filmed 1956, released 1957) in about a months time and that set you on the road to what you are doing now. For me it was in July-August, 1971 that I first viewed on tv THE SEARCHERS(filmed 1955, released 1956), THE TALL T, THE UNFORGIVEN(filmed 1959, released 1960), BROKEN ARROW(filmed 1949, released 1950), GARDEN OF EVIL(filmed 1953-54, released 1954), and THE LAST HUNT(filmed 1955, released 1956). Viewing these Western Movies, at that particular time, made we want to know more about the making of them. Who wrote, directed, produced, photographed, and so forth. Even though I had viewed so many Westerns before, this was a turning point for me, especially THE SEARCHERS, which is my favorite movie.

Also, your interest in the movie BONNIE AND CLYDE(filmed 1966-67, released 1967) is interesting too me. As a youngster in 1967, or 1968 I attended the ARKANSAS STATE FAIR, LIVESTOCK, AND RODEO in Little Rock, Arkansas. One of the attractions was the 1934 Ford Death Car of Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker. The car was riddled with bullet holes. Years later I read about fake Bonnie and Clyde cars making the rounds of state fairs. I’ve wondered whether I saw the real deal, or a fake one.

A friend of mine, the late Phillip W. Steele, knew Clyde Barrow’s sister Marie Barrow Scoma. He wrote a book with her titled THE FAMILY STORY OF BONNIE AND CLYDE(2000). It can be found on Amazon.com and it is well worth reading.

Thanks to Robert and Toby for a wonderful podcast.
- on June 25, 2021 at 3:01 pm | Reply Toby
  
  First things first — https://www.facebook.com/AMillionFeetOfFilm/photos/a.318834511535284/3780131022072265/
  
  Thanks for your kind words about the podcast and the book.
  
  I love your OEJ-viewing story. It’s not too different from mine (in the intro to the book).
  
  I also saw a B&C “death car” in Thomasville, Georgia, as a kid. It made quite an impression.
  - on June 25, 2021 at 8:46 pm | Reply Walter
    
    Toby, you are most welcome. I wonder if Robert Bellissimo has viewed THE SEARCHERS yet?
on June 28, 2021 at 2:00 am | Reply Gcwe1

Jerry,I am in WA at the moment and I visited Maraget River.one.combos.cm
on June 28, 2021 at 4:55 pm | Reply Jerry Entract

I envy you, Graham. I could handle touring the wine country around Margaret River. Have a glass for me!
- on June 29, 2021 at 9:17 am | Reply Lyson
  
  Some of my favorite Chardonnays that I’ve ever enjoyed have come from the Margaret River region- unfortunately they are hard to find in the U.S.
  - on June 29, 2021 at 2:00 pm | Reply Jerry Entract
    
    A visit there might be your only answer, Lyson. I agree, the wines from there are very good.
    - on June 30, 2021 at 10:30 am | Reply Lyson
      
      Great idea Jerry! Both my daughters did their University semester abroad at the University of Sydney. We managed to visit the younger one but only visited NZ, Melbourne and Sydney.
      I love the red wines coming from South Australia and whites from Western Australia but we so enjoyed our time in Sydney that we couldn’t motivate ourselves to even get to the Hunter Valley or the Mornington Peninsula which weren’t that far away.
      So we should follow your suggestion and make the long journey back. We’ve visited many places in North America, Asia, Europe, SA & Africa and Sydney is among the top 5! Persuading my wife to go there again will be way easier than getting her to watch The Last Train from Gun Hill which just arrived on my doorstep this week:)
on June 30, 2021 at 11:55 am | Reply TAMMIE FLOWERS

I saw LAST TRAIN FROM GUN HILL in the late 80s and liked it a lot. CAROLYN JONES was in it . I had seen her on the daytime soap CAPITOL where she played a villainous role. Her name was MYRNA CLEGG. Carolyn played the part well. Also EARL HOLLIMAN is in this movie. I am a big fan of his.
- on June 30, 2021 at 8:17 pm | Reply Lyson
  
  Hi Tammie:
  
  Is that the same Carolyn Jones from The Munsters? She was great in that series as was the wonderful Fred Gywnne from Car 54 Without You & My Cousin Vinnie fame.
  I’ve never seen Last Train From Gun Hill so you’ll have to wait for my comments there – but I’m pretty sure I’m going to like it.
  - on July 2, 2021 at 4:00 pm | Reply TAMMIE FLOWERS
    
    CAROLYN JONES was not on THE MUNSTERS. She played MORTICIA on THE ADDAMS FAMILY. YVONNE DECARLO was on THE MUNSTERS with FRED GWYNNE. Yvonne had done western movies earlier. Besides LAST TRAIN FROM GUN HILL I know Carolyn from two other westerns. They are HEAVEN WITH A GUN with GLENN FORD and HOW THE WEST WAS WON (as the wife to GEORGE PEPPARD).
    - on July 3, 2021 at 1:48 pm | Reply Lyson
      
      Sorry Tammie – I don’t know how I confused the two shows as I was a fan of both. And I’ve watched quite a few Yvonne DeCarlo Westerns and one or so with Carolyn Jones.
      Oh well – won’t be the last mistake I make!
on July 2, 2021 at 3:28 pm | Reply john k

Just had a blast listening to Toby and Robert’s podcast.
Regarding Robert having never seen THE SEARCHERS can you believe
I’ve never seen TOUCH OF EVIL and I’m 75 years old.
I’m also stoked because I’ve just purchased LAST TRAIN FROM GUN HILL
Blu Ray from Amazon at a decent price with free postage.
VistaVision films look so stunning on Blu Ray.
ONE EYED JACKS I would class as a “Grandiose” Western possibly alongside
DUEL IN THE SUN and THE BIG COUNTRY and maybe alongside
JOHNNY GUITAR.
ONE EYED JACKS and JOHNNY GUITAR are in a class of their own and
I’ve never understood why the Brando film is so generally disliked by
traditional Western fans.
The high definition restorations of both these films are jaw dropping,to say the
least.
- on July 2, 2021 at 3:41 pm | Reply Toby
  
  So glad you enjoyed it, John. It was fun to do, for sure.
  
  I agree with you — don’t see why OEJ isn’t more appreciated as a “traditional” Western. While it’s certainly different, it has plenty of the usual 50s Western elements and themes in it.
on July 2, 2021 at 3:38 pm | Reply john k

Very interested in Toby’s BONNIE & CLYDE project.
I would recommend Toby check out PERSONS IN HIDING (1939) a Paramount
B Movie directed by Louis King loosley based on the B & C legend.
I’ts one of the best B Movies ever with an imposing performance by
Patricia Morison-the scene where she and J Carrol Naish go visiit the impoverished “old folks” is sensational as were the scenes in Penn’s film.
If you love GUN CRAZY and BONNIE & CLYDE PERSONS IN HIDING
is a must….I’d buy a Blu Ray of this film in a heartbeat.
on July 2, 2021 at 3:39 pm | Reply Walter

John K, I like your term “Grandiose” for those particular Western Movies. Also, I agree with you concerning ONE-EYED JACKS and JOHNNY GUITAR being in a class of their own.
- on July 2, 2021 at 11:20 pm | Reply gcwe1
  
  Hi Guys and Gals.Well I’m back and because I was in some hot spots in WA I was due to spend 14 days in quarantine in a hotel ,but after 2 days they released me.The government is getting rid of lockdowns and are only used in extreme circumstances.If you have both needles,you will oniy need to quarantine for 7days.I have a few orders to open up,so it will be like Christmas for me.Unfortunately,Jerry and Lyson,I’m not a wine person.I prefer the amber stuff,xxxx to be exact.
on July 5, 2021 at 9:27 pm | Reply gcwe1

Imprint BLU RAY have announced their September releases and there is a boxset called BIG SCREEN BRITISH COMEDY with 4 films .STEPTOE AND SON,STEPTOE AND SON RIDE AGAIN ,ARE YOU BEING SERVED and DAD’S ARMY.No westerns on the horizon yet.