Archive for C
Concrete Cowboys Movie Review (1979)
This made-for-TV movie from 1979 starring Jerry Reed and Tom Selleck falls squarely into the hickspoitation/hick-flick genre. The cover says it stars Tom Selleck and Morgan Fairchild. In small print it also says Jerry Reed, which is what convinced me to pick it up. When the credits for Concrete Cowboys start, it’s obvious that Mr. Reed was the star, and the others were not. Fame is fickle.
Basically Jerry Reed carries this movie, but Tom Selleck doesn’t hurt it any. Roy Acuff, Ray Stevens and Barbara Mandrell each make a cameo appearance. Morgan Fairchild isn’t too memorable in this roll that probably could have been done better by several actresses of the time. Of course, I could be swayed by her later, more glamorous, image and seeing her as a Nashville wannabe just didn’t seem to fit her.
Jerry Reed and Tom Selleck play J. D. Reed and Will Eubanks, two drifting cowboys on the way to California. But they get sidetracked to Nashville while running from some hick sheriff and a crooked poker game. When they arrive, they call up Lonnie Grimes, a guy they got drunk with at a football game, and he offers to let them stay at his place if they pick up a package. He is on his way out of town, but they can use his apartment and his car. In fact, he seems almost too happy to have them pick up the package and use his car and his apartment.
A hit man mistakes the cowboys for Lonnie when they pick up the package. The hit man doesn’t know who to get, just whoever picks up the package. And a woman who mistakes them for Lonnie because they are at his apartment comes and asks them to find her sister. She offers $1000 so they take the job. Surprise, Surprise, the two incidences are related.
If you just want to kick back and enjoy some good-ole-boys, this is a fine movie. Don’t try to patch the holes in the story, they are too big. The fun in this movie is Jerry Reed and Tom Selleck. But mainly, Jerry Reed. A lot of faces you’ll recognize. There’s some cool fashions and decorations also. Lonnie has a movie camera that pops out of the ceiling aimed at his bed. Selleck as Will asks “What would a fella be doin’ with a setup like this in his bedroom?” Reed: “Well… The trouble with you Will Eubanks is you’ve let too sheltered a life.”
Concrete Cowboys, 1979, directed by Burt Kennedy, written by Jimmy Sangster. starring Jerry Reed, Tom Selleck, Morgan Fairchild, Claude Akins. 100 minutes.
Captain Blood (1935) Movie Review
Captain Blood is one fantastic adventure movie. It was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar in 1935, but lost to another sea film, Mutiny on the Bounty. Errol Flynn is a natural at these larger-than-life characters and it’s easy to see why he was a top box office star for so many years. His demeanor is perfect for righteous indignation and rousing speeches. Olivia de Havilland is beautiful, coy, and charismatic as Arabella. Flynn and de Havilland would make a stunning eight movies together including The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938). Basil Rathbone is much better than expected as the Frenchman Levassuer and was Flynn’s nemesis in Robin Hood.
Dr. Peter Blood (Errol Flynn with great 1970s hair) isn’t interested in politics when he is summoned to help a man wounded in a revolt against King James in 1685. While attending the man, Dr. Blood is rounded up with several other traitors and condemned to death. By chance, a group of the condemned are spared hanging and sent to be slaves in Jamaica, including Dr. Blood. He is allowed a certain amount of freedom because of his occupation as a doctor and the fondness of Arabella Bishop (Olivia de Havilland) and he uses this freedom to orchestrate an escape for himself and his comrades. The escaping slaves take over a Spanish fighting ship and become pirates led by Captain Blood. Three years later Arabella is captured by the pirate Levasseur (Basil Rathbone). Levassuer and Captain Blood fight a duel for her and when Blood wins the duel, he finds Arabella hates him and all that he has become.
Michael Curtiz (who directed Casablanca) is a great action director. He highlights contrasts well. One example is the men who were formerly turning a water wheel while whipped are seen gladly turning the wheel to raise anchor on their new ship.
One of the very best swashbuckling movies of all time, it’s hard to believe this is Errol Flynn’s first starring role in a Hollywood movie and only his third Hollywood feature overall. According to the DVD special feature Captain Blood: A Swashbuckler is Born, several other stars of the time were tested for the role, but the unknown Flynn kept returning as very impressive. Some of the others considered include Leslie Howard, Ronald Coleman, Clark Gable, Robert Donat (who turned down the role), and Fredrick March. There is also An Evening at the Movies, introduced by the omnipresent Leonard Maltin, with all the various types of things you would see in a theater in 1935: newsreel, cartoon, etc. A great movie for kids and adults alike, buy Captain Blood
from Amazon, you won’t be sorry.
from Amazon, you won’t be sorry. Captain Blood, directed by Michael Curtiz, written by Casey Robinson from the novel by Rafael Sabatini. starring Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Basil Rathbone, and Lionel Atwill. 119 minutes. 1935.
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