Category: Comedy

Two Rode Together: John Ford attempted a small-scale, satirical reworking of ‘The Searchers’ starring James Stewart and Richard Widmark

Two Rode Together (1961), directed by John Ford and starring James Stewart and Richard Widmark in lead role, finds the great American director attempting a satirical, quasi-sequel to his classic Western, "The Searchers (1956)." The 1956 film, "The Searchers," is perhaps the greatest Western ever made, and certainly one of the greatest American films ever … Continue reading Two Rode Together: John Ford attempted a small-scale, satirical reworking of ‘The Searchers’ starring James Stewart and Richard Widmark →

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Cat Ballou: Lee Marvin runs riot in an Oscar winning duel role in this whimsical Western

Cat Ballou (1965), starring Jane Fonda in the title role and Lee Marvin in a duel role is a whimsical Western that at once parodies Western tropes as well as manages to become a classic Western in its own right. The best actor Oscar is more often than not given to very serious performances; performances … Continue reading Cat Ballou: Lee Marvin runs riot in an Oscar winning duel role in this whimsical Western →

The Gauntlet: Clint Eastwood’s over-the-top send-up of his ‘Dirty Harry’ films is fun, fast-paced and packed with baroque action sequences

The Gauntlet(1977), directed by and starring Clint Eastwood and co-starring Sondra Locke, was an attempt by Clint to send up his 'Dirty Harry' films by exaggerating and parodying the tropes associated with those cop thrillers. Originally conceived as a starring vehicle for Marlon Brando and Barbara Streisand, and then, after Brando's withdrawal, as a vehicle … Continue reading The Gauntlet: Clint Eastwood’s over-the-top send-up of his ‘Dirty Harry’ films is fun, fast-paced and packed with baroque action sequences →

Barry Lyndon: Stanley Kubrick’s ice-cold exercise in pure cinema is also his most emotionally rich and perfect movie

Barry Lyndon(1975), adapted for the screen by Stanley Kubrick from William Thackeray's novel, is perhaps Kubrick's greatest film. The film, starring Ryan O'Neal and Marisa Berenson, charts the rise and fall of its amoral hero, Redmond Barry, in the backdrop of the tumultuous events in Eighteenth-century Europe. I find Stanley Kubrick to be a bundle … Continue reading Barry Lyndon: Stanley Kubrick’s ice-cold exercise in pure cinema is also his most emotionally rich and perfect movie →

From Noon till Three: Charles Bronson and Jill Ireland bring their endearing real-life chemistry to this delightful rom-com Western

From Noon till Three (1976) is an amusing romantic comedy set in the old-west. The film, directed by Frank D. Gilroy from his own novel, stars the real-life husband & wife team of Charles Bronson and Jill Ireland. Charles Bronson and Jill Ireland met for the first time in 1963 when Bronson was filming "The … Continue reading From Noon till Three: Charles Bronson and Jill Ireland bring their endearing real-life chemistry to this delightful rom-com Western →

Little Big Man: Dustin Hoffman entered ‘The Guinness Book of World Records’ with his epic portrayal of the titular misfit in Arthur Penn’s oddball Western Tragicomedy

Little Big Man(1970) is a revisionist Western directed by Arthur Penn from Thomas Berger's satirical novel. The film stars Dustin Hoffman as Jack Crabb, a white man raised by Native Indian Tribes, and it tells the tale of the conquest of the American West from the point of view of the Native Americans. Dustin Hoffman … Continue reading Little Big Man: Dustin Hoffman entered ‘The Guinness Book of World Records’ with his epic portrayal of the titular misfit in Arthur Penn’s oddball Western Tragicomedy →

Cry Macho: Clint Eastwood’s first Western since ‘Unforgiven’ is funny, poignant and earnest, but ultimately a minor entry in the icon’s illustrious film cannon

Cry Macho (2021) is legendary actor\director Clint Eastwood's first Western since the Oscar Winning classic Unforgiven(1992). Apart from playing the lead role, the 91-year old Clint produced and directed this film from a script that has been kicking around Hollywood for almost 50 years. This macho thing is overrated. Just people trying to show that … Continue reading Cry Macho: Clint Eastwood’s first Western since ‘Unforgiven’ is funny, poignant and earnest, but ultimately a minor entry in the icon’s illustrious film cannon →

True Grit(2010): Jeff Bridges brilliantly reprises John Wayne’s Oscar winning role in Coen Brothers’ fantastic reimagining of the classic 1969 Western

True Grit (2010) is the second screen adaptation of Charles Portis' eponymous novel. This time the film is scripted & directed by Joel & Ethan Coen, and stars Jeff Bridges as the tough frontier lawman, Rooster Cogburn- a role immortalized by the great John Wayne in the 1969 adaptation. The Coen brothers- Joel & Ethan- … Continue reading True Grit(2010): Jeff Bridges brilliantly reprises John Wayne’s Oscar winning role in Coen Brothers’ fantastic reimagining of the classic 1969 Western →

Rooster Cogburn: John Wayne reprises his Oscar winning role opposite Katherine Hepburn in this Western version of “The African Queen”

Rooster Cogburn(1975) is the stand-alone sequel to the 1969 Western, 'True Grit', with John Wayne reprising his Oscar winning character of Marshal 'Rooster' Cogburn, this time, opposite screen-legend Katherine Hepburn. This is the only film Wayne and Hepburn made together. “From head to toe he is all of a piece. Big head. Wide blue eyes. … Continue reading Rooster Cogburn: John Wayne reprises his Oscar winning role opposite Katherine Hepburn in this Western version of “The African Queen” →

Two Mules for Sister Sara: Clint Eastwood co-stars with Shirley MacLaine in Don Siegel’s amusing blend of Spaghetti Western and romantic-comedy

Two Mules of sister Sara(1970) is a quirky Western directed by Don Siegel, and starring Shirley MacLaine and Clint Eastwood in lead roles. The film mixes the aesthetics of a Sergio Leone Western with the romantic-comedy elements from John Huston's African-Adventure, The African Queen, to arrive at a highly enjoyable romantic-comic Western adventure. The quirky … Continue reading Two Mules for Sister Sara: Clint Eastwood co-stars with Shirley MacLaine in Don Siegel’s amusing blend of Spaghetti Western and romantic-comedy →

North to Alaska: John Wayne at his romantic-comic best in this rollicking Western adventure

North to Alaska(1960), directed by Henry Hathaway and starring John Wayne, Stewart Granger and Capucine in lead roles, is a highly enjoyable comic-Western set in turn-of -the-century Alaska, and showcases Wayne's talents for comedy and romance to the fullest. Big Sam left Seattle in the year of ninety-twoWith George Pratt his partner and brother Billy … Continue reading North to Alaska: John Wayne at his romantic-comic best in this rollicking Western adventure →

The Electric Horseman: Robert Redford is supercool as the modern-day cowboy who sets himself and a horse free in this enjoyable Romance-Western

Robert Redford and Director Sydney Pollack teamed up for the fifth time for this very entertaining modern-day, Romance-Western that features Jane Fonda, John Saxon and Willie Nielsen in major roles. “For me it was a chance to demonstrate my own particular affinity for horses, but the film is also about a way of life out … Continue reading The Electric Horseman: Robert Redford is supercool as the modern-day cowboy who sets himself and a horse free in this enjoyable Romance-Western →

Kelly’s Heroes: Clint Eastwood reteams with his ‘Where Eagles Dare’ director to put an irreverent, satirical spin to the ‘Men on a mission’ WWII adventure

Kelly's Heroes(1971), directed by Brian G. Hutton, and starring Clint Eastwood, Donald Sutherland, Don Rickles and Telly Savalas is a satirical take on wartime heroism, with Eastwood leading a band of soldiers on a private mission behind enemy lines to steal Nazi gold. In 1968, Clint Eastwood teamed up with director Brian G. Hutton to … Continue reading Kelly’s Heroes: Clint Eastwood reteams with his ‘Where Eagles Dare’ director to put an irreverent, satirical spin to the ‘Men on a mission’ WWII adventure →

Friendly Persuasion: Gary Cooper is a non-violent hero in William Wyler’s big, warm, colorful and charming slice of Americana that takes a sensitive look at war and religion

Friendly Persuasion(1956), directed by William Wyler and starring Gary Cooper, Anthony Perkins and Dorothy McGuire is a wholesome family entertainer set during the American civil war and tells the story of a pacifist Quaker family, and how their religious beliefs are tested by the onset of war. Gary Cooper started out in the movies in … Continue reading Friendly Persuasion: Gary Cooper is a non-violent hero in William Wyler’s big, warm, colorful and charming slice of Americana that takes a sensitive look at war and religion →

To Catch a Thief: Cary Grant and Grace Kelly epitomizes the glamor and sizzle of golden age Hollywood in Hitchcock’s witty, elegant, extravaganza

To Catch a Thief(1955), Hitchcock's glossy, lighthearted, caper film offers frothy, romantic entertainment, and Grant and Kelly's combustive star power sets off significant fireworks. Sex on the screen should be suspenseful, I feel. If sex is too blatant or obvious, there’s no suspense. You know why I favor sophisticated blondes in my films? We’re after … Continue reading To Catch a Thief: Cary Grant and Grace Kelly epitomizes the glamor and sizzle of golden age Hollywood in Hitchcock’s witty, elegant, extravaganza →

The War Wagon: John Wayne and Kirk Douglas lend their beefy charisma to this breezy Western that subtly parodies genre conventions

The War Wagon(1967), Directed by Burt Kennedy, is a tongue-in-cheek hybrid of a traditional Western, buddy comedy and Heist movie that brought macho superstars, John Wayne and Kirk Douglas, together for the last time. John Wayne (as Taw Jackson): Did you know why Pierce wanted you to kill me? Kirk Douglas (as Lomax): Sure, so … Continue reading The War Wagon: John Wayne and Kirk Douglas lend their beefy charisma to this breezy Western that subtly parodies genre conventions →

McLintock!: John Wayne transitioned into a charming & affluent ‘Patriarch of the West’ with this rollicking comic-Western

John Wayne has never shied away from propagating his socio-political views through his films and McLintock!(1963), co-starring his favorite heroine Maureen O'Hara, is perhaps the ultimate 'John Wayne Western', where his reel and real life personas are seamlessly mixed up. In 1963, two very successful films were released that bore the unmistakable stamp of two … Continue reading McLintock!: John Wayne transitioned into a charming & affluent ‘Patriarch of the West’ with this rollicking comic-Western →

Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid: Paul Newman and Robert Redford gives timeless portrayals of the legendary outlaw duo in this quirky, delightful Western Classic

Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid(1969), starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford and, Directed by George Roy Hill, is one of the most popular Westerns ever made. The film made a star out of Redford and revitalized the Western genre,but, it is writer William Goldman who leaves the strongest imprint on the film, with his … Continue reading Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid: Paul Newman and Robert Redford gives timeless portrayals of the legendary outlaw duo in this quirky, delightful Western Classic →

Only Angels have Wings: Cary Grant epitomizes the tough, existential Hero in this prototypical Howard Hawks classic

January 18 marks Cary Grant's 116th birth anniversary. So it's good time to look back at one of his most memorable performances in one his greatest films: director Howard Hawks' 1939 film Only Angels have Wings, which has now completed 80 years. The film was, perhaps, the first time Grant broke from the mold of … Continue reading Only Angels have Wings: Cary Grant epitomizes the tough, existential Hero in this prototypical Howard Hawks classic →

Once upon a time in Hollywood: Quentin Tarantino’s love letter to 1960s Hollywood is his most satisfying film since Pulp Fiction.

Once upon a time in Hollywood, featuring an all star-cast of Leonardo Di Caprio, Brad Pitt, Al Pacino etc..., is Quentin Tarantino's most satisfying and most personal  film since Pulp Fiction. He has gone beyond his quirky Tarantinoisms to craft a technically competent, mature film that expands his range as a filmmaker (Mild spoilers included) … Continue reading Once upon a time in Hollywood: Quentin Tarantino’s love letter to 1960s Hollywood is his most satisfying film since Pulp Fiction. →