Posted in John Ford, Peter Bogdanovich on April 14, 2022| Leave a Comment »
The Los Angeles Dodgers play their home opener against the Cincinnati Reds today.
It’s a tradition around here to mark the Dodgers first home game with this shot of John Ford sporting his Dodgers cap in Monument Valley. It’s one of my favorite, if not favorite, images to ever appear on this blog. It comes from Peter Bogdanovich’s documentary on Ford. (Sadly, we lost Bogdanovich this year.)
Posted in Peter Bogdanovich on January 6, 2022| 12 Comments »
Peter Bogdanovich
July 30, 1939 – January 6, 2022
Peter Bogdanovich has passed away at 82. He never made a Western (though he tried to), but he provided us all with a wealth of information through his interviews with those who made the best of them: Ford, Hawks, Walsh, Dwan, Stewart, Wayne and others.
Working on this blog and book over the years, I’ve developed a real appreciation for his work as a film historian. His books — from John Ford to This Is Orson Welles to Who The Devil Made It are a real godsend.
Posted in John Ford, Peter Bogdanovich on April 9, 2021| 3 Comments »
I’m digging out the John Ford Dodger cap photo. That means baseball’s here — and the Dodgers have their Dodger Stadium opener today.
Ford was sporting the cap in Monument Valley while shooting Peter Bogdanovich’s terrific documentary on him. It’s one of my all-time favorite images.
So glad we’re getting more games this season — and I’d love another World Series! Go Dodgers!
Posted in DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews, Harry Carey Jr., Henry Fonda, Jimmy Stewart, John Ford, John Wayne, Peter Bogdanovich, Richard Widmark, Warner Archive on September 2, 2015| 6 Comments »
Directed by Peter Bogdanovich
Starring John Ford, John Wayne, James Stewart, Richard Widmark, Henry Fonda, Harry Carey, Jr. Peter Bogdanovich, Orson Welles (narrator)
Some of my all-time favorite movie dialogue comes from this documentary.
Peter Bogdanovich: Mr. Ford, you made a picture called Three Bad Men which is a large scale western. You had a – quite elaborate land-rush in it.
John Ford: Mmm hmm.
Bogdanovich: How did you shoot that?
Ford: With a camera.
That pretty much sums up Directed By John Ford (1971). It’s a wonderful film, though I always come away from it glad I’m not Peter Bogdanovich (though I’d love to lay claim to What’s Up, Doc?). Bogdanovich’s documentary is coming to DVD from Warner Archive. If you don’t have it, you need it. (This would make a great pairing with the upcoming Blu-ray of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.)
Love that Dodgers cap! Hope they make it to the Series this year.
Posted in Allan Dwan, John Ford, Misc., Peter Bogdanovich, Post-1959 on October 31, 2014| 5 Comments »
Here’s wishing you all a safe and happy Halloween. And while you’re here, I want to show off my daughter’s costume.
Her all-time favorite movie is Peter Bogdanovich’s What’s Up, Doc? (1972). A great choice (where’d she get her exquisite taste in movies?). Anyway, for Halloween, she decided to be Madeline Kahn as Eunice Burns (Presley above, Madeline below). And yes, the plaid bag has igneous rocks in it.
To tie this to 50s Westerns, let’s see — ever read Bogdanovich’s terrific books on John Ford and Allan Dwan?
50 Westerns From The 50s. 