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The Train Robbers won’t be placed on the registry of historic films. It does however, entertain as a western. John Wayne films have the elements that keep the viewer watching. They have good direction, good dialogue, male bonding and good acting. John Wayne plays Lane, a gunhand, hired by Mrs. Lowe, a widow, (Ann Margaret), […]

This film is King Kong, with low production values; and features a dinosaur instead of an angry ape. The setting is different taking place in a small Mexican town. It has some interesting effects by Ray Harryhausen. James Franciscus stars as Tuck Kirby, who has a Wild West show in the Mexican town. The show

The main merit of this film is that it has two of the best all around stars, that MGM ever produced. It has them completely in their element. Gene Kelly shows his singing and dancing, that worked so well for him in movies, and Judy Garland goes toe to toe with him. Charles Walters has

A film about POW’S in World War II, would seem to be a mostly depressing movie. The Great Escape has its down moments, but its central theme is teamwork and determination. The officers in the prison have tried escaping several times, and have always been recaptured. Ramsey (James Donald), meets with Bartlett, ‘Big X (Richard

Lon Chaney was known as the man of a thousand faces. He was one of the true talents of the silver screen. He is a true star of the silent era. In this movie he plays O’Hara, a tough as nails Marine Corps seargent. In this role, Chaney created the model for all actors who

The first theatrical entry by one of the most famous of all comedy teams, The Marx Brothers, The Cocoanuts, has some zest to it. It doesn’t get to the level of their other movies, but it has its moments. Groucho’s wit is still there, and Harpo has a saxophone solo. Don’t get discouraged, he has

Sam Peckinpah has crafted a western that puts over the hill outlaws in a good light. They are led by William Holden who plays Pike. Holden doesn’t disappoint in his role. He made a career of playing antiheroes, although in this role, he’s a bad guy. Ernest Borgnine is his friend and partner, Dutch. Robert

There was a time when Hollywood produced westerns all the time. The lines were mostly drawn between good and bad. This western doesn’t have clear definitions. That’s because this story from Henry Hill, paints Jesse James and his brother Frank, as anti heroes. It shows the railroad turning them into train robbers. In this film

Most epic films have a great look to them, and the story is long and plodding. Lawrence of Arabia is a film that follows that pattern to a point. It is a beautifully photographed film, with terrific desert scenes. The story of the British officer, T.E. Lawrence, who unites the Arabs in their fight against

This is a straightforward western with John Wayne complemented by Geraldine Page, who plays Angie Lowe. An army scout named Hondo Lane, comes across Angie Lowe and her son, living in the middle of Apache country. Hondo asks her where her husband is and she says he’s out hunting. Before leaving, Wayne tells her to