The Directors: Anthony Mann

How could I not be smitten with a director who gathered his first blush of fame with film noir in the 40's and westerns in the 50's?  Let's get real here.  His true fame came with those westerns that began in 1950 and included five sublime ones with James Stewart (and three non-westerns) that are etched with noir and usually referred to as psychological westerns.

Five More "B" Westerns I Loved

The title says it all.  You've hardly had time to bathe and change clothes (cowboys rarely did that) from our first Five B Westerns postings and here we have five more.  Is this just going to go on and on, you may ask?  Well, no, this is it for the B westerns unless you write and beg for more.  My love of these films stems from my total immersion in westerns that featured Indians.  Let's git ridin'.

Good 50's Films: Johnny Guitar

1954 Western
From Republic Pictures
Directed by Nicholas Ray

Starring
Joan Crawford
Sterling Hayden
Mercedes McCambridge
Scott Brady
Ward Bond
Ben Cooper
Ernest Borgnine
John Carradine
Royal Dano
Paul Fix
Frank Ferguson
Rhys Williams

Western Character Actors

These character actors have populated so many westerns, particularly those in the 1950's and later, that fans of the genre would recognize the faces of many of them.  Some of you may recognize some of their names as well.  We aren't doing lengthy bios this time nor would I want to try your patience mentioning even most of their movies.  Let's face it, character actors have usually appeared in far more films than leading actors could possibly manage.  It's the photographs that may be the most fun this time.

Good 50's Films: The Searchers

1956 Western
From Warner Bros
Directed by John Ford

Starring
John Wayne
Jeffrey Hunter
Vera Miles
Ward Bond
Natalie Wood
John Qualen
Olive Carey
Ken Curtis
Harry Carey Jr.
Henry Brandon
Hank Worden
Walter Coy
Dorothy Jordan
Patrick Wayne

Audie Murphy and Wanda Hendrix

They were two tempestuous Lilliputians who had bad tempers, full enemy camps, unexceptional Hollywood careers, a brief marriage and short lives.  Audie Murphy gathered some fame for his decidedly B westerns but it was based on a greater fame as the most decorated war hero of WWII.  Wanda Hendrix, ever the southern belle, was gorgeous and sexy but is barely remembered at all.  Let's visit.

Five "B" Westerns I Loved

We'll admit that none of them rivaled Shane but these B movies are the very ones I flocked to in my youth and still watch whenever I get the chance.  Three of them, in fact, I have seen recently.  I cherish my afternoons, particularly if rainy with comfort food nearby, watching a colorful B western.  I'm saddled up and ready to go. Are you?

Good 50's Films: Shane

1953 Western
From Paramount Pictures
Directed by George Stevens

Starring
Alan Ladd
Jean Arthur
Van Heflin
Brandon De Wilde
Jack Palance
Ben Johnson
Edgar Buchanan
Emile Meyer
Elisha Cook, Jr.
Douglas Spencer
John Dierkes
Ellen Corby
Nancy Kulp

Westerns

You've been warned. The month has arrived that we're going to jaw about westerns.  Yep, pardner, the whole month.  That's gonna work out to nine postings... not nearly enough if you like westerns but far too many if you don't.  I appreciate that some of you may not be so fond of them... I've certainly heard it enough in my time.  I only know I was raised on them and some things, I guess, just stick with you.