Films Worth Viewing Year 2 | Page 7 | The Boneyard

Films Worth Viewing Year 2

western interlude

"The Missing"-Ron Howard-2003

I liked this film better than its many critics. It'is set in New Mexico in 1885. A widow, Cate Blanchett, lives on a ranch with her two daughters. In addition to running the ranch, she is known as a healer. She has a sexual relationship with one of her employees. He never sleeps over inthe house when she has visitors. Her father, Tommie Lee Jones, left the family several decades before. He went to live with the Apache and he even took another wife. He arrives unannounced at the ranch. The reunion goes badly, he goes into town and spends the night in jail drunk.

Her two daughters and the two ranch hands go off to tend to the herd. A marauding part of Apaches hit them, The men are killed, and the elder daughter is abducted. The younger daughter hides and she is discovered by her mother the next morning. She goes to town for help. She discovers that the Apaches have left the reservation and they have hit several other farms. The sheriff says that it is the cavalry's problem, Unfortunately, they are searching in the wrong direction. Cate secures the release of her father, and together with her younger daughter they began tracking the band. It turns out that the band have several renegade whites, and that they plan to sell the women in Mexico. The initial plan is to attempt to buy back Cate's daughter. The leader of the band, Eric Schweig, is a brujo (witch); he is the embodiment of evil.

The two heroic figures are both flawed. Blanchet is unwilling to accept help, and she is unwilling to change her attitude toward her father. Tommy Lee Jones offers no real explanation as to why he left his family. The younger daughter wins him over. The reason for his return was because what a medicine man told him. Success appears unlikely, but they continue.

I didn't find the length a problem. The story has an urgent forward motion. There is a lot of violence, much of it pretty graphic. The brujo is unrelenting. It turns that the Apaches in the band were army scouts. There were a few plot holes, but they didn't bother me. I realize that opinions were split, many viewers think the film sucks. The performances of Schweig, Jones, and Blanchett are top flight. I found the story interesting, so for me it's a solid recommendation. It's available for free streaming.
 
"Geronimo: An American Legend"-Walter Hill-1993

Geronimo is one of the most divisive characters in Western History. This film presents a positive view of this Apache leader. It has an excellent cast: Wes Studi, Jason Patric, Matt Damon, Robert Duval, and Gene Hackman.
The story and script were by John Miles. The US government decided to put all Apaches on reservations and force them to become farmers. The job of getting all the Apaches on reservations was given to General George Crook (Gene Hackman). He is initially successful. He sends Lt. Gatewood to find Geronimo, the last holdout and
convince him to come in voluntarily. Gatewood (Patric) along with green Lt. Davis (Matt Damon) and an Apache scout and Seiber (Robert Duval) head of the scouts complete the mission. Davis narrates the story, and he later goes to supervise the reservation. The life is hard, the land is poor; so the Apaches become dependent on government supplies. Some Apaches are not happy on the reservation, the army blames a medicine man. There is a confrontation and some of the Apache guides revolt, soldiers are killed. Geronimo takes a group off the reservation. Attacks on the local white population follow. General Crook is forced out; influential people in Washington believe he is pro Apache. He is replaced by General Giles. He tries for half a year to capture Geronimo with no success. He turns to Lt. Gatewood to find Geronimo and make him an offer. He and his band will accept two years of exile in Florida; then they will be allowed to return to the reservation. Gatewood suspects the duplicity of the government, but he follows orders. The government never planned to honor the agreement; Geronimo spends the last 20+ years of his life in prison in Florida. All Apache scouts are dismissed from the army. Those scouts from Geronimo's tribe are sent to Florida.

It is not without interest that the Supreme Court recently found tHe US in treaty violation in Oklahoma. I can't think of an instance where the government kept its word to Native Americans. Studi is terrific as Geronimo. His crimes are Understandable because of the government's bad faith. Whether you accept this reasoning or not is up to you. This is well filmed by an experienced director of westerns. It is available to stream' This is a very solid film, highly recommended.
 
"The Professionals"-Richard Brooks-1966

This is a well reviewed and a box office success film. Brooks was a solid writer/director. He adapted this from an unknown novel by Frank Rourke novel. It had a stellar cast: Ralph Bellamy, Burt Lancaster, Jack Palance, Claudia Cardinale, Woody Strode, Robert Ryan, and Lee Marvin. A prominent railroader recruits a crew to return his kidnapped wife. She was taken to Mexico by the prominent bandit/revolutionary, Jesus Raza (Jack Palance). His first recruit was Fardan (Lee Marvin) he served with Pancho Villa for six years; he was demonstrating automatic weapons. His next recruit was Ehrengard (Robert Ryan) a horse trainer and wrangler.
The next recruit was Jake (Woody Strode) a tracker and bowman. Fardan added a friend Dolworth (Lancaster) a virtuouso with explosives. Grant (Bellamy) pays each man $1,000 in advance. They will receive $9,000 more apiece if they return his wife. Raza has asked for $100,000 as a ransom.

They interplay among the professionals is well done. There is plenty of action, the piece de resistance is the attack on the compound which includes a lot of explosions. The group escapes with Grant's wife, Maria (Claudia Cardinale). It turns out that she had always been in love with Raza. This was part of a plot to scam Grant out of the $100,000 in gold. Getting away and getting back to the US is a major problem. I won't spoil the ending. The cast with the exception of Lee Marvin and Cardinale were in their 50's. They did their own stunts. Cardinale ended up doing her most dangerous stunt because the stunt double died in rehearsal. Marvin and Lancaster didn't get along. Brooks was known for being a master of the shouting technique of directing. The 60's was
a great decade for Westerns; this doesn't rank with the greats, but it is better than good. It is available to stream free.

The final line is worth quoting: Gates: ""You bastard."
Fardan: "Yes, sir. In my case it was an accident of birth. But you, you're a self made man."
 
"The Quick and the Dead"-Sam Raimi-

Let's face it, this is not a film anyone would claim as a profound film. Sam Raimi had fun with special effects. The bullets make real holes; you can see the sky. The plot has no relation to reality. A group of gunfighters come to a town for a shoot off. The prize to the one winner is over$100,000. This has a solid cast: Gene Hackman, Rusell Crowe, Leo DiCaprio, Pat Hingle,Gary Sinise, and Sharon Stone. The Kid (Leo DiCaprio) wants to
gain his father's, Herod's (Hackman) respect. Cort (Crowe) a preacher working with the less fortunate. He was a former cohort of Herd, but he swore off violence. Herod's thugs grabbed him up, and he is being forced into the conflict. Ellen has a personal situation which brings her to town. She is forced into the contest.

Lots of shootouts. Take note there is a sneaky ending. There are some nice bits; Stone's coat is a real western antique. For those interested some classic examples of western handguns are shown. We have some explosions; pretty well done. I enjoyed it. Free streaming is available.
 
"Silverado"-Laurence Kasdan-1985

This is a film which is often cited as the starting point for a revival of the Western. It is true that the Western revived in the '90's, but this film despite decent reviews didn't make money. I like some of Kasdan's films particularly "The Big Chill" and "Grand Canyon." Still he is better known as a screenwriter "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and several scripts in the Star Wars universe. This film was a mammoth undertaking: a complicated set was built in New Mexico, and the huge cast rehearsed for 30 days before shooting began. The major players include: Brian Denehy, Linda Hunt, Rosanna Arquette, Danny Glover, Lynne Whitfield, Kevin Costner, John Cleese, Jeff Goldblum, Kevin Kline, and Scott Glenn. For many it was their first Western. The plot is so involved that it would take at least 500 words to scratch the surface. There is a corrupt town with a corrupt sheriff. The town is run behind the scenes by a nasty cattle baron who is out to get the homesteaders. A mixed group rides in to save the day. The town does have a great bar managed by Stella (Linda Hunt). A shady gambler comes to town.

This is lushly filmed and costumed. I wasn't really impressed, I found it dragging. This is a decent film; it's available to stream. This concludes this western interlude. I should warn you that I just received my 40 film
Clint Eastwood set; most of the films aren't westerns, but there still are a number which are Westerns. The price was very low, under $40 for 40 films.
 
"Lincoln"Steven Spielberg-2012

This was a highly successful film, both with critics and at the box office. Liam Neeson was originally cast as Lincoln. He did a lot of research. On the surface this seems to be a strange piece of casting until you remember him in Schindler's List. Spielberg was interested in Doris Kearns Goodwin's book:"Lincoln s Team of Rivals."She served as a consultant to the film. The script was written by Tony Kushner. The original version was well over 500 pages. Kushner did five re-writes of a 70 page script. The script focused on one aspect of Lincoln's presidency, the effort to pass the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation focused on only those slaves who were living under Confederate control. That was justified as a war time measure. Lincoln had just won re-election with a large majority in the House of Representatives. That wasn't always a slam dunk. One indication of hoe precarious it seemed was dropping Hannibal Hamlin in favor of Andrew Johnson as vice president. Union victories and arrangements to enable the soldiers to vote provided a solid margin of victory. The question is why Lincoln didn't wait until the new Congress was seated. The film doesn't provide a definitive answer. A partial answer might be that at that time the second term wouldn't begin until late March.

The manipulations Lincoln had to undertake were seemingly beneath him. This is a little known area of US history. In order to be sent to the states for ratification, the amendment had to be passed by both Houses by a two thirds vote. By trying to pass this in the lame duck session, Lincoln needed a substantial group of Democratic votes. What the film does very well is to detail the deal making necessary to hold all the Republican votes and to pickup the Democratic votes. I will leave the historical lesson there. What disappointed me were the major deviations from the historical record. These center around the vote. First Connecticut cast all five votes in favor of the Amendment. Second the measure was voted on by a secret ballot and not by a roll call vote.

The cast is terrific. Particular cudos to Daniel Day Lewis as Lincoln and Sally Field as Mary( Molly) Lincoln. Other notables include: David Straithairn (Seward), James Spader (Bilbo), Tommy Lee Jones (Thaddeus Stevens), and Hal Holbrook (Preston Blair). Lewis is a remarkable Lincoln. Spielberg is excellent at organizing a huge production. Most of the film was shot on a magnificent White House set constructed in Paris. Some critics felt that the mini series Lincoln based on Gore Vidal's novel gives a better portrayal of Lincoln. I don't; it covers more ground, but other than that; this film is superior in every way.

This is highly recommended, but I must admit that this viewing wasn't up to my memories.
 
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Your last line is interesting as given your synopsis, I'm inclined to watch it again. I saw it a theatre and other than DDL's performance, wasn't as impressed as most, and feel I missed a lot.
 
I thought Lincoln was one of the few films that managed to make the Civil War boring. And they misrepresented Connecticut. A very average film.
 
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I did like all of the telegraph wire. That's what I remember most.
 
"Glory"-Edward Zwick-1989

Let me begin this discussion by stating that this is an excellent film. It is the story of the early years of the 54th Infantry Regiment from Massachucetts. It ends with the failed attack on Fort Wagner. As with all historical fiction; there are deviations from historical truth. Certain deviations are important; the regiment was made up of largely Free Blacks and not escaped slaves. Many of the Free Blacks came from important families; included among them were two of Frederick Douglass' sons. I would say that is an important deviation. The fact that the attack on Fort Wagner as shown in the movie comes from the wrong direction is not as important. The most telling criticism is that it is told from the point of view of its white Colonel, Robert Gould Shaw (Matthew Broderick). Shouldn't it have been told from the point of view of the Black soldiers?

There is a story that the screenwriter, Kevin Jarre, became interested in the story after seeing the Agustus Gauden's sculpture on the Boston Green. It portrays Shaw heroically leading his troops in the assault on Fort Wagner. The sculpture was begun in 1880 and completed in 1897. It was recently defaced during Black Lives Matter demonstrations. The news accounts offer no real explanation. One of the reasons for the focus on Shaw is that his letters form one of Jarre's chief sources. Another plausible reason is that the focus might be due to box office considerations. Were there letters home from the Black troops, almost certainly. It is unlikely that there is a collection curated as the Shaw letters were.

There is a belief that this film falls into the "White Savior" or "White Hero" category. The implication being that
stories told about the Black Experience from a white person's viewpoint are in essence misjudged and inauthentic. That seems a little tough on Shaw. He died in the attack, and he was buried in the same unmarked grave. Why was Broderick chosen to Play Shaw. According to Zwick it was because he looked remarkably like the historical Shaw. He was also the right age. Many people believe that Broderick's performance is lacking. I thought it was solid. It isn't of the same quality as Freeman's, Braugher's, and particularly Washington's.

Mention should be made of the cinematography; Freddie Francis won the Oscar. The period detail is excellent. In addition to 3 Oscars, the film won many other awards including a major award from the NAACP.
Financial details are lacking, but apparently it wasn't ahuge box office success. It won several British awards, but I couldn't find box office details for overseas markets. It is available to stream for free, use Roku. I found this film lived up to my memories. This is a must see for civil war buffs, history buffs, Washington fans, and those who like a solid story with well developed characters. Watch or re-watch.
 
zymurg said:
"Glory"-Edward Zwick-1989

Let me begin this discussion by stating that this is an excellent film. It is the story of the early years of the 54th Infantry Regiment from Massachucetts. It ends with the failed attack on Fort Wagner. As with all historical fiction; there are deviations from historical truth. Certain deviations are important; the regiment was made up of largely Free Blacks and not escaped slaves. Many of the Free Blacks came from important families; included among them were two of Frederick Douglass' sons. I would say that is an important deviation. The fact that the attack on Fort Wagner as shown in the movie comes from the wrong direction is not as important. The most telling criticism is that it is told from the point of view of its white Colonel, Robert Gould Shaw (Matthew Broderick). Shouldn't it have been told from the point of view of the Black soldiers?

There is a story that the screenwriter, Kevin Jarre, became interested in the story after seeing the Agustus Gauden's sculpture on the Boston Green. It portrays Shaw heroically leading his troops in the assault on Fort Wagner. The sculpture was begun in 1880 and completed in 1897. It was recently defaced during Black Lives Matter demonstrations. The news accounts offer no real explanation. One of the reasons for the focus on Shaw is that his letters form one of Jarre's chief sources. Another plausible reason is that the focus might be due to box office considerations. Were there letters home from the Black troops, almost certainly. It is unlikely that there is a collection curated as the Shaw letters were.

There is a belief that this film falls into the "White Savior" or "White Hero" category. The implication being that
stories told about the Black Experience from a white person's viewpoint are in essence misjudged and inauthentic. That seems a little tough on Shaw. He died in the attack, and he was buried in the same unmarked grave. Why was Broderick chosen to Play Shaw. According to Zwick it was because he looked remarkably like the historical Shaw. He was also the right age. Many people believe that Broderick's performance is lacking. I thought it was solid. It isn't of the same quality as Freeman's, Braugher's, and particularly Washington's.

Mention should be made of the cinematography; Freddie Francis won the Oscar. The period detail is excellent. In addition to 3 Oscars, the film won many other awards including a major award from the NAACP.
Financial details are lacking, but apparently it wasn't ahuge box office success. It won several British awards, but I couldn't find box office details for overseas markets. It is available to stream for free, use Roku. I found this film lived up to my memories. This is a must see for civil war buffs, history buffs, Washington fans, and those who like a solid story with well developed characters. Watch or re-watch.
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I agree this is an excellent film.

While Shaw is the major plot device, the story does not only come though his eyes. The narrative has multiple points of view. One is Shaw. But we also see the POV of Tripp, Rawlings and Seales, each of which is different. This is one of the reasons it doesn't fall into the trap of many Civil War films that portray blacks and whites as monolithic groups. The portrayals are of nuanced individuals, there is depth and growth from the characters. When Tripp refuses to carry the flag, he isn't being saved by anyone.

The opening scene at Antietam does a great job of translating the horror of the Civil War to a modern audience. It is the antithesis of "glory." It also sets the stakes for the picture.

I am always a sucker for set and period pieces. Zwick does a great job of giving us just enough of the 1860s to transport us. There is a light touch to this that just feels right. I was once told by director that the audience doesn't care about your huge authentic set. Tell the story. That is exactly what is done here.
 
"The Red Shoes"-Powell and Pressberger-1948

Let me confess; I know next to nothing about ballet. Opera is another thing; I had season tickets to the opera at the Bushnell for years. I have dozens of operas on CD and DVD. I've watched simulcasts from the Met at local theaters. So why not present an opera in this forum? Maybe sometime in the future, but for now we are looking at a movie which deals with ballet. The film is based on a story by Hans Christian Anderson. In 1937
Pressberger wrote a script which was picked up by Alexander Korda. WWII intervened, and the film was never made. Powell and Pressberger bought the script back from Korda. They planned to make the film themselves; they hooked up with J. Arthur Rank. The film went over schedule and over budget. Rank nearly buried the film, but it proved very successful in small art house theaters. This film ran for over two years in theaters in New York and San Francisco. It has never really gone away. In 1977 Powell and Pressberger wrote a novel which covered and expanded upon the movie script. The Criterion DVD has Jeremy Irons reading portions of the novel synched to the film.

The film has a number of areas which draw adulation. One of the most often mentioned is the three strip Technicolor. I was disappointed, but watch it yourself. The second is the Photography of Jack Cardiff; these accolades are well merited. The ballet inside the film is considered a classic; I find it so today more than 70 years after its initial appearance. The story is a fantasy; remember the source. Then there is the duality; in the ballet the red shoes are enchanted. If you wear them; you literally dance yourself to death. The ballet is set in the world of a dancer and a dance company (Lermontov). An aspiring dancer gets the prima donna role in a new ballet "The Red Shoes." She also falls in love with the composer. The question is are these two forces compatible? The answer of course is no.

Powell decided he wouldn't make the film without casting a ballerina who could act. It took him a year to convince Moira Shearer to take the role. Her brilliant red hair was just a bonus. Boris Lermontov was played by a seasoned Austrian (Anton Walbrook) whose first film role was in a 1915 horror film. Julian Craster (Marius Goring) had a long career primarily in TV. Leonid Messine was a Russian born dancer, dance teacher, designer. He replaced Barishnikov after he left. He's simply astounding as the shoemaker in the ballet. He could have had a bigger career in films. He's an excellent actor. Shearer made a few films, but dance was always her love. This is one of those films which inspires almost manic devotion from its accolytes. The detractors just don't get it. I liked this film a lot when I first saw it over 50 years ago at an art house; I still like it a lot. Still if you want to see brilliant Powell and Pressberger technicolor, hunt out "Black Narciscuss."

This is one of Scorcese's favorites; one of the extras on the DVD is a view of some of the items he collected from the film.

This is a real classic.
 
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zymurg said:
Still if you want to see brilliant Powell and Pressberger technicolor, hunt out "Black Narciscuss."

This is one of Scorcese's favorites; one of the extras on the DVD is a view of some of the items he collected from the film.

This is a real classic.
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I once read where "Black Narcissus" is simply brilliant in its use of technicolor, that it is one of the most colorful films ever made. It is a wonder to look at, and it is another great Powell/Pressberger film.
 
"Umberto D"-Vittorio Di Sica-1952

Sometimes it helps me to connect with a film if I can make a connection between the film and my own life. Last night after watching the film, viewing the extras on the Criterion DVD, and reading a number of reviews; I went to bed. I was having trouble sleeping, when I awoke at around 4 am. I had a memory of a a teacher at HPHS when I taught there. He taught English, he made Phi Beta Kappa, and he was approaching retirement. I remember that I found him to be a gentleman, always polite, carefully dressed and well spoken. I also thought him to be a gentle man, he cared about others, and was calm in all types of situations. This is Umberto D. In the movie he is retired after 30+ years working in the Department of Public Works. The individual who portrays him in the movie was a university professor of languages. De Sica believed that it was impossible to find actors to play all the key roles in some of his films. He actually had a team searching for the perfect match. They saw Carlo Battista on the streets of Rome, and they approached him. He thought it was some kind of joke/scam, but they convinced him to meet Di Sica. This was his only film role.

Umberto first appears at a protest march complete with signs. The protesters are retired civil servants. They can no longer support themselves on their pensions. They are demanding to see the minister. They are dispersed by police. They didn't have a permit; they tried to get one, but they were denied. We didn't have a "Bloody Sunday" event. The protesters are dispersed firmly, but without violence. They disperse talking as they part ways.

Umberto D has a last name; it is almost never used, Names are often thought to have power, mystically and in the real world. His last name is Ferrari, and no he clearly is not one of those Ferraris. The script was written by Di Sica's friend and partner, Cesare Zavatini. Zavatini was obviously aware of the Ferrari image. I shouldn't pat myself on the back; it is obvious. What is the character of our protagonist? We find out that he has no family. He has lived alone in the same furnished room for 20 years. He has standards;he dresses carefully every day. He wears a suit; he is clean shaven, and he wears a hat when he goes outside.

He is several months in debt to his landlord. She is a buxom, bleached blonde, with friends who appear for musicales. She is proud of her singing voice, and she is determined to get rid of Umberto. Umberto has two friends in the world. He is close to the young maid, Maria (Maria Pia Cassilo). She is unfortunately pregnant, unwed, and unsure of which of two soldiers is the father. They help each other whenever possible. Umberto wants her to find another job; she wants him to find another place to live. However, Umberto's real confidant is his dog Flicke (Flag). He is small, intelligent, and well trained.

This film is beautifully photographed. It is also very sad. We become increasingly aware that Umberto is not going to be able to escape his problems. This happens while we begin to understand and to care about our non Ferrari. In addition to his money/landlord problems, Umberto's health is failing. Battista shows his pain in his face,but it is most often subtle.

This is not only a classic, it is a great film. It hasn't aged, Umberto is like Shakespeare's Cleopatra:"Age cannot wither her, nor custom stain her infinite variety." This is what only the great films do; we don't just watch figures on a screen; we are given the opportunity to experience another life.

Available to stream for free on YouTube.
 
"The Freshman"-Andrew Bergman-1990

This is a well cast, cleverly written film that stands up to repeated viewings.Bergman is an elusive artist. He began in films as a script writer for "Blazing Saddles." He also directed some successful films: "Fletch" and "It Could Happen to You." After the 90's, he drops from view. He has a Phd from University of Wisconsin in history.
He also has written 4 detective novels.

If you have seen this film; you can't forget Marlon Brando as Carmine Sabatini. Sabintini is the character who is the basis for The Godfather. 1990 marked the premier of Godfather III. Bergman met with Brando for 3 days where they discussed everything nut the film. Brando agreed to do the film if he could allude to his Godfather character. Bergman modified the script to allow Brando full reign. Brando was always something of a prima donna. He had a special hookup to feed him his lines. When the film ran over shooting schedule one day; he demanded an extra one million dollars. When that didn't come through; he trashed the film. They paid him the money and he changed his tune.

The plot is implausible, but this is somewhat corrected by revealing that the whole thing was set up by Sabatini.
Clark Kellog (Matthew Broderick) is going to the NYU Film School. His stepfather is a crazed animal rights activist. Clark arrives in NYC, and he is immediately robbed by Victor Ray (Bruno Kirby) of everything he brought to college. While meeting with his advisor, Arthur Fleeber (Paul Benedict) he sees Vic out the window. He chases him down, and Vic offers him a job in lieu of returning his goods and money. The jobentails making a pickup in customs at the airport and bringing it to New Jersey. He goes to Sabitini's mansion to pick up a car.
He meets the Don's daughter, Tina (Penelope Ann Miller). They dance and he see the real Mona Lisa. He gets the car and he enlists his roommate to help with the pickup. It turns out that the cargo is a Komodo Dragon an endangered species. Naturally, the trip doesn't go smoothly, but finally the delivery is made.
Clark discovers his dragon is only one of many endangered species at the estate. It turns out that there is a special dining club which begins with $250,000 a plate. The diners eat endangered species.

It turns out that this is an elaborate con. Sabatini wants out, and he manipulates Clark to help him. Part of the manipulation has him becoming Tina's fiance. The ending is very funny and clever. I am particularly fond of the final scene. Everything has been revealed to Clark. He watches Carmine trying to walk the Dragon down a dirt road in a corn field. Clark runs to catch up; he tells Carmine that Komodo's don't walk very well. He picks up the dragon, and they walk off together.

Bergman finds humor in likely (the pretensions of the film school) and the unlikely (the name on Clark's Italian passport is a character from "A Night at the Opera"). Max Schell has a supporting role as Sabatini's chef/partner. I think this is a largely forgotten pleasure. Highly recommended. Free streaming.
 
zymurg said:
"The Freshman"-Andrew Bergman-1990

This is a well cast, cleverly written film that stands up to repeated viewings.Bergman is an elusive artist. He began in films as a script writer for "Blazing Saddles." He also directed some successful films: "Fletch" and "It Could Happen to You." After the 90's, he drops from view. He has a Phd from University of Wisconsin in history.
He also has written 4 detective novels.

If you have seen this film; you can't forget Marlon Brando as Carmine Sabatini. Sabintini is the character who is the basis for The Godfather. 1990 marked the premier of Godfather III. Bergman met with Brando for 3 days where they discussed everything nut the film. Brando agreed to do the film if he could allude to his Godfather character. Bergman modified the script to allow Brando full reign. Brando was always something of a prima donna. He had a special hookup to feed him his lines. When the film ran over shooting schedule one day; he demanded an extra one million dollars. When that didn't come through; he trashed the film. They paid him the money and he changed his tune.

The plot is implausible, but this is somewhat corrected by revealing that the whole thing was set up by Sabatini.
Clark Kellog (Matthew Broderick) is going to the NYU Film School. His stepfather is a crazed animal rights activist. Clark arrives in NYC, and he is immediately robbed by Victor Ray (Bruno Kirby) of everything he brought to college. While meeting with his advisor, Arthur Fleeber (Paul Benedict) he sees Vic out the window. He chases him down, and Vic offers him a job in lieu of returning his goods and money. The jobentails making a pickup in customs at the airport and bringing it to New Jersey. He goes to Sabitini's mansion to pick up a car.
He meets the Don's daughter, Tina (Penelope Ann Miller). They dance and he see the real Mona Lisa. He gets the car and he enlists his roommate to help with the pickup. It turns out that the cargo is a Komodo Dragon an endangered species. Naturally, the trip doesn't go smoothly, but finally the delivery is made.
Clark discovers his dragon is only one of many endangered species at the estate. It turns out that there is a special dining club which begins with $250,000 a plate. The diners eat endangered species.

It turns out that this is an elaborate con. Sabatini wants out, and he manipulates Clark to help him. Part of the manipulation has him becoming Tina's fiance. The ending is very funny and clever. I am particularly fond of the final scene. Everything has been revealed to Clark. He watches Carmine trying to walk the Dragon down a dirt road in a corn field. Clark runs to catch up; he tells Carmine that Komodo's don't walk very well. He picks up the dragon, and they walk off together.

Bergman finds humor in likely (the pretensions of the film school) and the unlikely (the name on Clark's Italian passport is a character from "A Night at the Opera"). Max Schell has a supporting role as Sabatini's chef/partner. I think this is a largely forgotten pleasure. Highly recommended. Free streaming.
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Love this movie. I do Larry London impersonations in my kitchen. Penelope Ann Miller never looked more gorgeous. Brando was funny and Kirby was full Bruno. I am not a big Broderick fan, and I actually enjoy his performance here more than in FBDO.
 
zymurg said:
"The Third Man"-Carol Reed-1949

This film deals with a part of post WWII rarely seen in English language films. It doesn't deal with the refugee crisis, nor with the hunt for escaped Nazis, nor with the beginning of the Cold War. We arrive with Holly Martins
(Joseph Cotton) a relatively unsuccessful pulp novelist specializing in Westerns. Martins came to Vienna because his old friend, Harry Lime (Orson Welles), has promised him a job and a place to stay. Vienna is an international city, divided into four zones: American, British, French, and Russian. Depending upon where you look Vienna can appear as a city returning to normal,or a city devastated by the war and now the occupation. Everything is for sale on the Black Market.

Martins arrives, goes through customs, and takes a cab to Lime's residence. The caretaker reports that they have just left. Holly learns that they have taken Lime's body to the graveyard for burial. He hurries to the funeral. He joins a small crowd, and he puts a spoonful of earth on the coffin with other mourners. Martins is already willing to doubt the official account. Lime was hit by a truck which left the scene. He is picked up at the funeral by Major Calloway (Trevor Howard) who heads the Military Police in the British sector. Calloway wants him to leave Vienna on the next morning's plane. According to Calloway, Lime is the worst sort of criminal..

The movie is dominated by the man who isn't there. The script is an original by Graham Greene; he worked with Reed several times, but on all the other occasions he adapted his novels. Reed is a top director; some of his other successes Include:"Odd Man Out", "Our Man in Havana" "Fallen Idol," and "Trapeze." The production was a joint effort between Alexander Korda, and David O. Selznick. Selznick formed his own production company after the laurels for "Gone With the Wind" were stolen by Louie Mayer. Cotton was under contract to Selznick; Alida Valli Fraulein Schmidt, was his choice as well. It is most unusual for a character with only 5 minutes of screen time in a film over 100 minutes long to dominate the film. The film is all about Lime. Martins believes that Lime was murdered; the accident was no accident. He and Anna Schmidt refuse to accept that Lime is evil. His great charm stands in the way.

No commentary about the film can be complete without the mention of the zither. This is a stringed instrument plucked rather than strummed common in Eastern Europe. The Third Man theme played by Anton Karas became an international top seller. Karas later started a club in Vienna, "The Third Man", which he ran until his death. The title is a little trick; Martins thought that a third man carrying the body from the road was a piece of the puzzle which helped to show it was murder rather than hit and run. This has nothing to do with the central story which is uncovering who is Harry Lime. The film was shot in Vienna. The famous sewer scene where Lime is fleeing from various used off duty Vienna Police as extras. Orson Welles didn't wander through the sewers, his closeups were filmed in England. A double was used for long shots in Vienna.

We don't see Welles until one hour and six minutes have passed. Then we see his face just for seconds; Holly chases him through the streets and Lime vanishes. Martins goes to Calloway to report the sighting, but Lime is nowhere to be seen. Calloway focuses on what looks like a telephone booth, but really is an entrance to the sewer system. That leads to Calloway digging up Lime's grave. A missing medical orderly is found in the coffin. He stole the penicillin for Lime. Lime not only raised the price, but he diluted it until it was a poison rather than a cure. Holly and Fraulein Schmidt are forced to confront the reality that Lime's charm masked evil.

There is a famous line that Welles improvised: "In Switzerland they had brotherly love five hundred years of democracy and peace, and what did they produce, the cuckoo clock. Goodbye, Holly." Welles played a similarly evil character in "The Stranger" at about the same time. This film has been ranked #1 in polls picking the best British film of all time. It often finds itself in the top 100 American films as well. Korda and Selznick never made another film together despite this film's success. My only problem with the film is that end seems to be in slow motion. Despite that, this is near great at the worst. It is available to stream for free.
The camera work is brilliant particularly in the use of shadows and the changes in perspective. The shot of Lime's face, visible for the first time is etched in the viewers mind. This is a must see.
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Been waiting for this one. Many consider it the best British film.
 
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zymurg said:
"The Freshman"-Andrew Bergman-1990
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I think this film was poorly marketed. I remember hearing about it back then and thinking it can't possibly be good. Years later a buddy at work said he enjoyed it as well.
 
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zymurg said:
"The Freshman"-Andrew Bergman-1990

This is a well cast, cleverly written film that stands up to repeated viewings.Bergman is an elusive artist. He began in films as a script writer for "Blazing Saddles." He also directed some successful films: "Fletch" and "It Could Happen to You." After the 90's, he drops from view. He has a Phd from University of Wisconsin in history.
He also has written 4 detective novels.

If you have seen this film; you can't forget Marlon Brando as Carmine Sabatini. Sabintini is the character who is the basis for The Godfather. 1990 marked the premier of Godfather III. Bergman met with Brando for 3 days where they discussed everything nut the film. Brando agreed to do the film if he could allude to his Godfather character. Bergman modified the script to allow Brando full reign. Brando was always something of a prima donna. He had a special hookup to feed him his lines. When the film ran over shooting schedule one day; he demanded an extra one million dollars. When that didn't come through; he trashed the film. They paid him the money and he changed his tune.

The plot is implausible, but this is somewhat corrected by revealing that the whole thing was set up by Sabatini.
Clark Kellog (Matthew Broderick) is going to the NYU Film School. His stepfather is a crazed animal rights activist. Clark arrives in NYC, and he is immediately robbed by Victor Ray (Bruno Kirby) of everything he brought to college. While meeting with his advisor, Arthur Fleeber (Paul Benedict) he sees Vic out the window. He chases him down, and Vic offers him a job in lieu of returning his goods and money. The jobentails making a pickup in customs at the airport and bringing it to New Jersey. He goes to Sabitini's mansion to pick up a car.
He meets the Don's daughter, Tina (Penelope Ann Miller). They dance and he see the real Mona Lisa. He gets the car and he enlists his roommate to help with the pickup. It turns out that the cargo is a Komodo Dragon an endangered species. Naturally, the trip doesn't go smoothly, but finally the delivery is made.
Clark discovers his dragon is only one of many endangered species at the estate. It turns out that there is a special dining club which begins with $250,000 a plate. The diners eat endangered species.

It turns out that this is an elaborate con. Sabatini wants out, and he manipulates Clark to help him. Part of the manipulation has him becoming Tina's fiance. The ending is very funny and clever. I am particularly fond of the final scene. Everything has been revealed to Clark. He watches Carmine trying to walk the Dragon down a dirt road in a corn field. Clark runs to catch up; he tells Carmine that Komodo's don't walk very well. He picks up the dragon, and they walk off together.

Bergman finds humor in likely (the pretensions of the film school) and the unlikely (the name on Clark's Italian passport is a character from "A Night at the Opera"). Max Schell has a supporting role as Sabatini's chef/partner. I think this is a largely forgotten pleasure. Highly recommended. Free streaming.
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This has long been a favorite of mine. And young Penelope Ann Miller is just adorable.
 
"Harry Brown"-David Barber-2002

This is an independent British film. Both the director (Barber) and the screenwriter (Guy Young) are relative unknowns. It is a genre/sub genre film. Harry Brown (Michael Caine) is a vigilante. In the beginning Harry lives a solitary life. He resides in what the Brits call an estate. This is really large scale public housing. As in the US, large scale public housing developments are often centers of criminal activity. His wife is dying in the hospital; his lone close friend, Lionel Atwell (David Bradley-"GOT") is his drinking and chess partner. Lionel is killed by a local gang. The film opens with a gang beat-in filmed on a cell phone. Lionel is angry and fearful about the gang situation. He has complained to the police, but they have done nothing. This leads him to seek out the gang armed with an old bayonet. He is stabbed repeatedly with his own bayonet.

Harry is visited by two detectives led by DI Alice Frampton (Emily Watson); they try to get some information about who might have done the crime. Harry isn't sure. The police round up the usual suspects. The interviews/confrontations are interesting. They are released. Harry mourns the death of his friend by getting drunk for the first time at his local. When he pays his bill; money falls from is wallet. This is noted in the pub.
A drug addict tries to rob him at knife point. They struggle and Harry kills him with his knife. Harry cleans up and he decides to observe the gang to try and find the killers.

This leads to Harry, a former British Marine who served in Northern Ireland during "The Troubles" to revive his military self which he left behind after his service. He identifies the local criminal structure, and proceeds methodically to go after some of the principals. The story is solid. The suspense and the action ring true. I was surprised to discover just how many guns were available. The gun deaths bring the drug trade into prominence. The police while aware of the trade, have done little to curtail it. A massive raid directed by Superintendent Childs is planned yo hit the estate. DI Frampton is convinced that Harry is responsible for the uptick in gun related violence. Harry has one great line during a confrontation with a drug and gun dealing leader. The gangster's gun misfires during a confrontation. Harry sends him off saying: "You failed to maintain your weapon." Dry, understated, careful and professional describes Harry. The police superintendent is boastful, unprepared, and unprofessional. His raid goes very wrong.

This is quality film making on a small budget. Caine is at the top of his game; he is a geriatric Harry Palmer. This is highly enjoyable; and is available for free on Prime. I enjoyed it, and it is worth re-viewing.
 
The Last True Movie Musical

This is what "Grease" is often called. So pack up your troubles in your old kit bag and smile yarders smile. It is time to hop aboard the Wayback Machine. However, it is unclear whether we should set the controls for 1959 or 1978. Our destination is Rydel High. If it's 1959, that includes "The Day the Music Died." Of course that song is a '70's product. I must mention that I am a member of the class of 1959. I graduated from Manchester High in Manchester, Ct. Now in 1978 when "Grease" came out, I was teaching at Weaver High School in Hartford. Since it was an inner city school, the nostalgia for the '50's was lost on most of my students. George Clinton was far more relevant than Chubby Checker. MHS had 4 African American students in 1959, WHS was nearly 90% Black in 1978. "Grease" opened in the summer of '78; Old School Rap was new school then, but Doo Wop was making a comeback. "Looking for an Echo" by the Persuasions was one of my favorites; "we are oldies now,but we were newies then" is one of the many quotable lines. Sha Na Na, a 50's revival group had more than a moment of fame. (They appear in the movie as Johnny Casino and the Gamblers.

"Grease" was a super hit on Broadway;it ran for nearly 4,000 performances. The songs by Jacobs and Casey are classic. The show had a major revival in 1994; there have been several since then. Robert Stigwood became attached to the production; That opened the door for Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees to write a new title song, "Grease" for the movie. It was sung by Frenkie Valli, and not Franky Avalon who plays "Teen Angel" in the movie. "The song is "Beauty School Dropout." The film grossed $334 million in its first go round. Most of the reviews available date from the 1998 revival. One of the most criticized elements of the film is that the principals were too old; Stockard Channing (Rizzo) was 33; Olivia Newton John (Sandy) was 28; even Travolta was 23. It was also often thought to be parody; I think hyperbole is a more apt term.

High school was divided into cliques; this film is seen mainly from the POV of the pseudo gangs. The T Birds and The Pink Ladies are the central figures. I was in another group the high academic group; in my day we were called accelerated rather than honors students. I had classes with the same group of students all four years. However, I had friends from school activities (drama, soccer, and choir) and from work (caddying and janitorial services at the local hospital) who weren't in that basic group.

The adult figures in Grease were often played by 50's cultural icons>Sid Caesar of "Your Show of Shows" played Coach Calhoun and Eve Arden of "Our Miss Brooks" played Principal McGee. John Travolta (Danny Zuco) achieved fame on "Welcome Back Kotter." He was signed to a three picture deal with Paramount based on his TV success. He had played Zuco in London and on the road. He was signed for "Grease" before "Saturday Night Fever," but the later film came out first. This of course is set the Disco Club scene; it was a huge success, so Travolta got top billing on "Grease." He used this power to nab an extra song. When Olivia Newton John was hired, he brought along her composer., John Ferrar. He contributed two songs not in the musical: "Hopelessly Devoted to You" and "You're the One that I want." The soundtrack sold 22 million copies. "Grease" was the highest grossing film in 1978. This was the last time a musical topped the charts. The path for movie musicals is film then Broadway, Examples of this are "The Producers" and "Hairspray." "Grease" is just about the last major example of a movement from stage to screen. Sometimes, as with "The Producers" there is movement back to the screen for a second time.

I could go on and on, but letme tie this up. The opening credits and the end credits are great. The songs and the performances are top drawer. The plot is basic, this film doesn't offer emotional profundity. It drags sometimes in between songs, but the pace is quick. I forgive the film's slow points, because it moves right along. There isn't much time between songs. When Paramount was deciding what films to bring back theatrically for 1998; it was George Lucas who pushed "Grease." I don't think this is a great film, but it is great entertainment.

There is some difficulty with free streaming. Daily Motion has it, but it isn't complete. The end including the final credits is missing. The entire film is on YouTube, but it is broken into 26 parts. There is another choice. In 2016 there was a live TV broadcast of the musical. This is available on Crackle; it's good, but the original is a solid cut above the live musical. The DVD doesn't have a lot of add ons. Musicals are not really my thing, but this one is special.
 
"Harlem Nights"-Eddie Murphy-1989

Murphy directed, wrote the screenplay,executive produced, and starred in the film. This film was despised by the critics, but over the years it has become a guilty pleasure with thousands of film fans. The score is excellent
Herbie Hancock ties together some of Duke Ellington's greatest songs which are period and pace appropriate
for the 1930's Harlem setting. In this period there was a battle over the numbers between Dutch Shultz and Bumpy Johnson. The period detail costumes, props, automobiles is excellent. Murphy said the backstage banter was funnier than anything in the script. Pryor and Murphy didn't really hit it off; Pryor believed Murphy's comedy was mean spirited'

Pryor plays Sugar Ray an after hours club owner in Harlem. Murphy plays his adopted son Quick. The film also features Redd Fox and Della Reese as associates in the club. The opening of the film is set n 1918 with a young Quick bringing cigarettes to Sugar Ray. An incident at the crap table bonds the two. The story picks up with
Sugar ans Quick managing a highly successful after hours club in Harlem. An Irish gangster, Bugsy (Michael Learned) wants to take over the highly successful business. The conflict develops, Sugar Ray realizes that his crew can't beat Bugsy's crew in a straight out war. He plans to rob the the take from a heavyweght championship fight with his crew.

The film is notable for using ---- word 133 times. Of course that doesn't rank in the top five in film history.
The more memorable line is Della Reese's : "Kiss my ass." Acting cudos to Pryor and Reese. I liked this film a lot more than I thought. Recommended; it's fun even if a little over the top.
 
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"No Way Out"-Joseph Manciewitz-1950

This is a quality effort from a major studio (Fox). Manciewitz made "All About Eve" the same year. Both Manciewitz scripts were Oscar nominated;"Eve" won. Daryl F. Zanuck produced both films. Zanuck was by far the most progressive studio head. He was behind both "Gentlemen's Agreement" and "Pinky." Manciewitz wanted to do a ground breaking film, so the co-operation was natural.

The story and the dialogue were shocking, and the box office reflected that. The film didn't hurt either Zanuck of Manciewitz. It did launch the career of Sidney Poitier; It was Ossie Virgal's first film as well. It marked the first time that he and his wife,Ruby Dee, appeared on screen. Poitier was only 22 when he made this film; helied about his age claiming to be 27. He looked really young, several years latter he played a teenager in "Blacjboard Jungle." Poitier plays Dr. Luther Brooks a resident at a public hospital. He is assigned to the prison ward. His first duty is to care for two brothers, shot in the legs, in an attempted robbery. The wounds should be very treatable, but one of the brothers is showing symptoms which indicate something other than a gun shot wound.
Dr. Brooks thinks there may be a brain tumor. He performs a spinal tap and the patient dies on the table. Unfortunately, his brother, Ray Biddle(Richard Widmark ) is a virulent racist. He believes the doctor murdered his brother.

Widmark had already made a career playing violent, often unstable criminals. He already had his prints on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He wanted leading man roles. Zanuck convinced him to make the film. Widmark was the polar opposite of his film roles. He married his high school sweetheart; they were together for 55 years. He continually apologized to Poitier. They became life long friends. Widmark was the first Hollywood figure to invite Poitier into his home.

Ray refuses to allow an autopsy that Brooks feels will clear his name. Dr. Wharton (Steve McNally) the medical head tries to help Dr.Brooks. He finds that the deceased brother listed a wife as next of kin on a previous admission. They find the wife, but it turns out that she divorced him over a year ago. Edie Johnson (Linda Darnell) is dismissive at first, but she goes to the hospital to talk with Ray. It turns out that she had a relationship with Ray beyond what one might expect. Edie becomes involved in a race riot which is developing. Edie is yet another person with no way out. One further mention of two solid performances by character actors, a deaf and dumb Biddle brother, and Dr, Wharton's black maid Gladys.

This is quality film making. Fortunately, it is available to stream free. If you can get access to the Fox DVD, the commentary is well worth a listen. Very highly recommended. This is a must see for noir enthusiasts. This is a groundbreaking film for its unflinching portrayal of racial conflict. Yes, in the vast library of films, there are hidden gems as well as guilty pleasures.
 
"The Road to Perdition"-Sam Mendes-2002

This is one of the early films taken from a graphic novel. The novel (by Collins and Renner) is based on a true story. The script is by David Self. The cinematography won an Oscar for the late great Conrad Hall. Sam Mendes is a quality director. His first feature, "American Beauty" won the Oscar. He has done Shakespeare and Musicals. His latest film "1917" we looked at here. The period detail is superb.

The film opens with a boy riding his bike on a newspaper delivery route. We see him trying to sell to workers coming off shift. He then drops off the unsold papers at a drugstore. Turns over the money, and while the store owner is putting the papers away, he filches candy from the jar on the counter. He rides home and engages in a snowball fight with his brother with a pipe in his teeth. He hides the pipe as his father comes up the drive. I neglected to mention that this boy, Michael Sullivan Jr, is the narrator.

We are immediately thrust into the world of an Irish crime family at a wake. The close relationship between Michael Sullivan, Tom Hanks, and the Don John Rooney (Paul Newman) is evidenced when they play a song on the piano together. Inside the wake, Rooney meets with the key players in the organization. Sullivan and Connor Rooney (Daniel Craig) are sent to have a discussion with the brother of the man killed and celebrated at the wake. He was supposed to have stolen from the organization. John Rooney emphasized that this was talking only. However, the unstable Connor kills him. This will be a problem, even more because Michael Jr.
hitched a ride to the confrontation. Unfortunately, Connor glimpses him. Of course it was Connor who was responsible for the theft. In an attempt to silence Michael, Connor murders Michael's wife and younger son, Peter. This sets up the rest of the film. In the next six weeks Michael and Michael Jr. take revenge for those deaths.

The cast includes Stanley Tucci as Frank Nitti who is charged with protecting Connor, and an assassin, Frank McGuire, Jude Law, charged with killing Mike Sullivan. The opening is so great that expectations are perhaps too high, But despite some excellent scenes, the second half of the movie does drag. I didn't remember it that way from previous viewings. Newman is excellent in his last role; this isn't one of Hanks best performances; he's far from bad. The McGuire character is a hoot. He is a crime photographer who creates his own subjects.

About the name, Perdition is a town where Michael's wife's sister lives. It is out as a hideout early on. The Michaels are forced into a roadshow to fulfill their mission of revenge. The film has several good free streaming options. There is also a full length documentary on the making of "Road to Perdition." This is a solid film with many good points, but it isn't one of Mendes' or Hanks" best.
 
"Aunt Mary" -Peter Werner-1979

If you are looking for a family film,perhaps even a sports related family film; you've come to the right place. This Hallmark Hall of Fame production is terrific. It tells the story of Mary Dobkin who became a Baltimore legend for her promotion of youth sports. Over 50,000 children participated in the programs she developed. Newspapers all over the country eulogized her in obituaries. They are available on line. I saw this on broadcast TV, but I hadn't thought about or seen it since. Mary faced debilitating injuries from frostbite she suffered at age 8. She had over 130 surgeries in her life. She lost one leg below the knee, and part of a foot on her other leg.

The movie benefits from the work of topflight character actors: Jean Stapleton (Aunt Mary), Martin Balsam (Harry Strassberg), Dolph Sweet (Amos Jones), and Harold Gould (Dr. Sweet). You may not recognize the names, but you will recognize the faces. As with all docudramas, the story takes liberty with the facts, but in this case not with the emotional truth. Aunt Mary is shown as a devoted Orioles fan, who enjoys playing catch from her wheelchair with Strassberg's grandson. She decides to start a baseball team in her impoverished neighborhood.

She assembles a motley crew of proto delinquents and just plain kids. They work their way into the league. The film ends with their loss in their first league game.

In real life Aunt Mary integrated her leagues, made provisions for kids with prosthetics, and brought girls into organized sports. In the film she does it in a single season. She ended up beginning leagues in baseball, basketball, and football. In the film she has only a single baseball team. Those of you who are familiar with the rules of Little League baseball will notice several situations where rules are ignored. The period detail is solid, and I forgive the lapses in rule adherence because the on screen product is so solid. It is available on Amazon Prime, but it also streams for free. Just an added incentive, the score is by Arthur B. Rubenstein. This is another hidden gem; my highest recommendation.
 
man, you just may have some of the best 'words' on the entire internet. outstanding. stunning, actually.
 
Just finished “Judy”. Holy crap what a performance from Renée Zellweger. She sang the songs which is impossible enough, but she also showed us a tortured soul. Truly impressive.

I cant really say much more. I suppose the only consolation is that Judy will mean something to us long after those who profited from her talents and stole her life are gone.
 
"The General"-Charles Buckman and Buster Keaton-1926

I had an idea about a triple play about generals who weren't generals in common parlance; that fell through.but
parts remain. This is a great film, you should have this silent masterpiece; however, to appreciate it, you need to find a worthy restoration. The Cohen Group restored this film in co-operation with the Library of Congress in 2013. This is available on Amazon Prime. This one of the best silent restorations I have ever seen. It also has a new score by Carl Davis.

I can't remember whether I saw "The General" or the Disney Film "The Great Locomotive Chase"first. During the Civil War a group of undercover Union agents/soldiers went south with the mission to disrupt the Western and Atlantic railroad. They were led by Harry Andrews a civilian. This was the story covered in Pittanger's book "The Great Locomotive Chase." Keaton changed the story to feature the heroism of a Southern individual, Johnnie Gray. He believed that this was a better underdog character. This film was made by United Artists, just a reminder this was the production group founded by Chaplin, D.H. Griffith, and Douglas Fairbanks. The major concept was to allow the artists to control their films. Keaton had a contract with UA; this was the last of his films he truly controlled.

This was filmed in Oregon at the huge cost of $400,000. Keaton used the Oregon National Guard to play both Union and Confederate troops. In the movie they just change uniforms, off camera of course. In the movie they capture the engine of Johnnie Gray. He pursues first on foot, then with a flat car, and finally an engine. The love of his life was captured in the baggage car. In real life although both the engineer and the conductor pursued the stolen train;it was the conductor who was most persistent and who captured Andrews. Go to rogerebert.com and read his review for "The Great Movies." He does an excellent job of explaining Keaton's vision. One final note. I believe his love interest becomes the first female action hero.

This is remarkably fresh for a film nearly a century old. This is a must see.
 
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