Comments on: Million Dollar Movie http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2010/06/08/million-dollar-movie-9/ Development site for Bronx Banter Blog's upcoming look and feel Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:17:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: douglassk http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2010/06/08/million-dollar-movie-9/#comment-116555 douglassk Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:24:41 +0000 http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=35607#comment-116555 John, “The Professionals” seems to be getting on the radar for a lot of film lovers these days, perhaps because of its wonderful Blu-ray edition (Conrad Hall’s photography looks fantastic) and its frequent appearances this summer on cable TV. I have to agree that for some reason I don’t include it on my ten-best list of westerns in spite of its high entertainment value. I’ve been reading a lot lately about “The Professionals” for an upcoming book I’m writing, “Tough as Nails: The Life and Films of Richard Brooks,” to come out in spring 2011. Brooks was all over the place, never wanting to be defined by a specific genre but following themes about tough men at odds with their own values. His other westerns, “The Last Hunt” (1956) and “Bite the Bullet” (1975) offer that theme but lack the overall fun and action of “The Professionals.” Still, they are worth watching, I think. As a writer, Brooks did a fine job of adapting Frank O’Rourke’s novel; he developed the twist in the plot and moved the action sequences around a bit to make the chase more exciting than in the novel. (In Brooks’ worn copy of the book, among his papers at the academy library, he wrote off to the side “biggest cliché” when O’Rourke had his band of professionals saved at the last minute by a cavalry-like group.) Brooks wrote the closing line you cite the night before shooting that scene. I think he found inspiration under pressure, kind of like “The Professionals” themselves. – Douglass K. Daniel John, “The Professionals” seems to be getting on the radar for a lot of film lovers these days, perhaps because of its wonderful Blu-ray edition (Conrad Hall’s photography looks fantastic) and its frequent appearances this summer on cable TV. I have to agree that for some reason I don’t include it on my ten-best list of westerns in spite of its high entertainment value. I’ve been reading a lot lately about “The Professionals” for an upcoming book I’m writing, “Tough as Nails: The Life and Films of Richard Brooks,” to come out in spring 2011. Brooks was all over the place, never wanting to be defined by a specific genre but following themes about tough men at odds with their own values. His other westerns, “The Last Hunt” (1956) and “Bite the Bullet” (1975) offer that theme but lack the overall fun and action of “The Professionals.” Still, they are worth watching, I think. As a writer, Brooks did a fine job of adapting Frank O’Rourke’s novel; he developed the twist in the plot and moved the action sequences around a bit to make the chase more exciting than in the novel. (In Brooks’ worn copy of the book, among his papers at the academy library, he wrote off to the side “biggest cliché” when O’Rourke had his band of professionals saved at the last minute by a cavalry-like group.) Brooks wrote the closing line you cite the night before shooting that scene. I think he found inspiration under pressure, kind of like “The Professionals” themselves. – Douglass K. Daniel

]]> By: Matt Blankman http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2010/06/08/million-dollar-movie-9/#comment-116554 Matt Blankman Tue, 08 Jun 2010 18:20:23 +0000 http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=35607#comment-116554 Of course, Lancaster also traipses off to Mexico in Aldrich's "Vera Cruz" with Gary Cooper, a film which seems to have had a big influence on the revisionist and spaghetti westerns of the 1960s and 1970s....even though Emma thinks it's "cheesy." Of course, Lancaster also traipses off to Mexico in Aldrich’s “Vera Cruz” with Gary Cooper, a film which seems to have had a big influence on the revisionist and spaghetti westerns of the 1960s and 1970s….even though Emma thinks it’s “cheesy.”

]]> By: Matt Blankman http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2010/06/08/million-dollar-movie-9/#comment-116553 Matt Blankman Tue, 08 Jun 2010 18:07:39 +0000 http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=35607#comment-116553 Sonny Rollins always comes to mind when I think about Woody Strode.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7G4DciALDs Sonny Rollins always comes to mind when I think about Woody Strode….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7G4DciALDs

]]> By: Chyll Will http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2010/06/08/million-dollar-movie-9/#comment-116552 Chyll Will Tue, 08 Jun 2010 16:37:25 +0000 http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=35607#comment-116552 [5] I was wondering about that description too; thanks for clearing that up. And yes, whenever I think of Woody Strode, I think of him with <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gTNWlUv-nY" rel="nofollow">That Pose...</a> It's a shame more people don't seem to talk about him concerning roles like "Seargent Rutledge" than in the supporting parts in other Westerns, particularly in "The Man Who Shot Liberty Vallance". Obvioulsy Pompey had more depth than was probably intended, and that has a lot to do with Woody Strode himself. [5] I was wondering about that description too; thanks for clearing that up. And yes, whenever I think of Woody Strode, I think of him with That Pose…

It’s a shame more people don’t seem to talk about him concerning roles like “Seargent Rutledge” than in the supporting parts in other Westerns, particularly in “The Man Who Shot Liberty Vallance”. Obvioulsy Pompey had more depth than was probably intended, and that has a lot to do with Woody Strode himself.

]]> By: Sliced Bread http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2010/06/08/million-dollar-movie-9/#comment-116551 Sliced Bread Tue, 08 Jun 2010 16:24:58 +0000 http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=35607#comment-116551 Claudia Cardinale. Yes, very much, please http://tinyurl.com/39tsbpr Claudia Cardinale. Yes, very much, please

http://tinyurl.com/39tsbpr

]]> By: Alex Belth http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2010/06/08/million-dollar-movie-9/#comment-116550 Alex Belth Tue, 08 Jun 2010 15:49:17 +0000 http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=35607#comment-116550 Conrad Hall: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005734/ Conrad Hall:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005734/

]]> By: Alex Belth http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2010/06/08/million-dollar-movie-9/#comment-116549 Alex Belth Tue, 08 Jun 2010 15:48:23 +0000 http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=35607#comment-116549 Conrad Hall is a LEGEND. Oh, and Brooks had a very interesting career. His IMDB page also has him as an uncredited screenwriter on another fine Lancaster movie, THE KILLERS. Conrad Hall is a LEGEND. Oh, and Brooks had a very interesting career. His IMDB page also has him as an uncredited screenwriter on another fine Lancaster movie, THE KILLERS.

]]> By: cult of basebaal http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2010/06/08/million-dollar-movie-9/#comment-116548 cult of basebaal Tue, 08 Jun 2010 15:45:47 +0000 http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=35607#comment-116548 <i>died a righteous death at Kirk Douglas’s hands in “Spartacus,”</i> Actually, Strode defeats Douglas in the arena, but refuses to kill him and is then killed by a guard while attempting to scale the wall to the box where the Roman Aristocrats are watching the action. Leone used him well in his brief appearance at the beginning of <i>Once Upon a Time in the West</i>. died a righteous death at Kirk Douglas’s hands in “Spartacus,”

Actually, Strode defeats Douglas in the arena, but refuses to kill him and is then killed by a guard while attempting to scale the wall to the box where the Roman Aristocrats are watching the action.

Leone used him well in his brief appearance at the beginning of Once Upon a Time in the West.

]]> By: Jon DeRosa http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2010/06/08/million-dollar-movie-9/#comment-116547 Jon DeRosa Tue, 08 Jun 2010 15:36:51 +0000 http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=35607#comment-116547 [0] and [1] which is why lists are fun but never fully satisfying. They can be revised based on the changing position of the sun. I always forget to consider Nicholan Ray when making lists; Johnny Guitar for the westerns, and In a Lonely Place for noir. Loved going through this film this way, thanks for the write up. [0] and [1] which is why lists are fun but never fully satisfying. They can be revised based on the changing position of the sun. I always forget to consider Nicholan Ray when making lists; Johnny Guitar for the westerns, and In a Lonely Place for noir.

Loved going through this film this way, thanks for the write up.

]]> By: Diane Firstman http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2010/06/08/million-dollar-movie-9/#comment-116546 Diane Firstman Tue, 08 Jun 2010 15:14:12 +0000 http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=35607#comment-116546 "The show-me-your-papers crowd in Arizona would have us believe there are so many illegals heading north that even celluloid mercenaries looking south of the border better stay home lest they be trampled. " ================ Wonderfully-stated! “The show-me-your-papers crowd in Arizona would have us believe there are so many illegals heading north that even celluloid mercenaries looking south of the border better stay home lest they be trampled. ”

================

Wonderfully-stated!

]]> By: viscosity http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2010/06/08/million-dollar-movie-9/#comment-116545 viscosity Tue, 08 Jun 2010 15:06:10 +0000 http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=35607#comment-116545 Nice review. It's also on Netflix watch instantly, fyi. Nice review. It’s also on Netflix watch instantly, fyi.

]]> By: Alex Belth http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2010/06/08/million-dollar-movie-9/#comment-116544 Alex Belth Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:52:25 +0000 http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=35607#comment-116544 "There’s a well-worn feel to much of it, I’m not denying that, but to me, watching “The Professionals” is like putting on a favorite pair of Levi’s, faded, frayed and so soft and comfortable that I never want to take them off." So RIGHT ON, John. Great write-up and great call. Funny, how some of the favorites might not stand out as the BEST or GREATEST but are still so valuable all the same. “There’s a well-worn feel to much of it, I’m not denying that, but to me, watching “The Professionals” is like putting on a favorite pair of Levi’s, faded, frayed and so soft and comfortable that I never want to take them off.”

So RIGHT ON, John. Great write-up and great call. Funny, how some of the favorites might not stand out as the BEST or GREATEST but are still so valuable all the same.

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