Friday, July 18, 2008
HEARTS OF GOLD
Today's NYTimes Best 1176 Film was John Ford's first sound western
I had never seen it.
I am amazed at its sophistication. There was never a dull moment.
The young John Wayne begins his career playing an outlaw with a heart of gold. Mesmerizing. You can see the star quality immediately. His opening shot is kickass. Ford must have had love at first sight.
Claire Trevor is a whore with a heart of gold.
Everyone has a heart of gold. And there are the best collection of character actors you could find. Ford was always very lucky with his picks. Or talented at casting. Or both.
Andy Devine, Donald Meek, John Caradine, and others. One of the best is the blustery Berten Churchill as an absconding banker. He is Mr. Bluster and more. Very funny. Very good. A blowhard of the classic kind.
The linked 'review' has a great unpacking of the film's structure. Something I was totally unaware of as we watched, of course, but interesting. These classics get a lot of attention from the real film nuts.
I will give this a 4 out of Netflix5. Once is enough for one of these oldies but I wouldn't walk if it got served up again.
Labels: best films
