The Last Roundup

Howdy, Y'all,

I'm going to shut 'er down. Part of my problem with getting good material also involves finding points to emphasize. Although I love to watch certain character values in movies, I'm not willing to have it come out that I'm writing about the same old thing all the time. And I don't want this to become boring for the regular readers.

I think I've made my points throughout these missives. Kind of saddens me, though, because I thought I would be writing more than I have.

In addition, I have other concerns and pursuits that need my time in other places. "Stormbringer's Thunder" is still going strong, and I'm beginning to write something that is intended for Christian audiences over at ChristianBlog.com. We'll see how that goes.

Well, I see the fire's safely put out and the coffee is all gone. Nothing left to do but ride on. Y'all be good to yourselves, and stay out of shadows. If'n ya need me, the e-mail address is in the profile link.

And remember what John Wayne said:

"Courage is being scared to death - and saddling up anyway."

Change of Plans

Just had to share a cartoon that I think is great:

Giddy On Up, Giddy On Out

Howdy. Yes, I know, not much happening here lately. I suddenly ran into a brick wall for material that I want to write about, material that fits my own standards. So, I have to re-think what the heck I'm doing with this Weblog. Just wanted you to know that I haven't forgotten it.

In the meantime, here's a fun thing I happened across earlier today. Laura Bell Bundy's video is fun and has a Western theme. And I'm in love. Again.

Sometimes You Just Have to Know

"There's things a man has to know and has to do,
and it's best that he does them alone."
— Jim Slater (Richard Widmark)

Howdy! Ready for a haul on the Spoiler Express? OK, let's get to it, then. Mind you, I'm not going to tell you the entire story, that would be boring for both of us.

Finally got the chance to see Backlash, with Richard Widmark (1956, there are several other movies by that title around). Although the movie spreads itself a bit thin by trying to do several things at once, overall, I say it's worth watching.

Jim Slater (Richard Widmark) goes to Gila Valley in Arizona to find his father. He had not seen his father for many years and did not remember him. It turns out that the Apaches had massacred five men who were there. Slater is interested in a sixth man who had escaped, but many people did not know about that. This sixth man could have gone for help and saved the men, but he had a motive for not helping them.

People do not believe that Jim wants to avenge his father. Instead, they think he's after the $60,000 in gold that the murdered men were hoarding and that the sixth man wanted for himself.
Slater meets Karyl Orton (Donna Reed) at Gila Valley. She is looking for some sign of her husband, who was probably killed in the attack and buried. But she is interested in the gold, and Jim does not trust her. They are able to clearly identify three of the dead men, so the search for answers continues.

|> Fast forward. Karyl tells Jim that her husband was a Confederate soldier (as was Jim) who did not return to her after the war, and yet still sent her a letter when he "came into money". When Slater fell asleep, Karyl found a letter from his father, telling Jim's mother to send him out to Gila Valley.

The search for information takes them to the Diamond C ranch, because Slater was told that the sixth man had a horse with the Diamond C brand. They had a discussion with Major Carson and learned that his son was one of the ones killed at the Valley by the Apaches. Also, Major Carson is getting ready for a range war with ranchers on the side of Bonniwell. Slater turns down an offer to ride with Carson as one of his guns.

Karyl and Jim have most of the people identified, except two: His father, and her husband. She makes Slater think of something that was unthinkable to him, that perhaps the sixth man, the traitor to the group that did not go for help, is his own father. He rides off, alone, and into town.

In the town, Bonniwell and Jim come face to face. Bonniwell is, in fact, Jim Slater, Senior. And he's a murderous criminal. Bonniwell says that Jim will be just like him because they are of the same blood. He wants Jim to join with him in their ambush of Major Carson's group when they ride into town, but he will have no part of it. Slater runs into the street and tries to shoot so he can alert the approaching riders in Carson's group, but "Bonniwell" had removed the bullets from his gun.

Slater is chased by Bonniwell, and Slater attacks one of of Bonniwell's gang that is waiting in ambush. In the fight, shots are fired and Slater's purpose is achieve of alerting Carson. When Carson's people begin circling the town, Bonniwell's gang decides that since it won't be an easy shoot-out, they ride off.

Bonniwell and Jim are hidden from each other, and Bonniwell wants a showdown with his son. He says that they should both holster their weapons and come out for a draw. But Bonniwell never holsters even though Slater does. When they both step out into the open, Bonniwell gets shot by Carson's riders before he can shoot his son. (Stupid! He knows what's going on and should have never been walking around, especially with a drawn weapon.) Slater throws away his gun, and he and Karyl leave the town.

"OK, Cowboy Bob, nice story, but what do you want me to get from all this?"

First, I believe that ancestry and genetics play a part in who and what you are. But another part of who and what you are comes from your environment and from what you make of it. You make your choices and you have a hand in how your character develops.

Second, I agree that sometimes, there are indeed things that a man has to know and has to do. Sometimes he has to do them alone. But not always. If you have someone who cares and is willing to help you through the rough patches, don't push them away.

Whatever Happened To...

Things have been frantic at the ranch lately, so I haven't been posting. And I feel bad about it. Here is something that will do two things. First, it will show you that I'm still alive and thinking about you. Second, it's really good.

This is a kind of slide show. The song is "Whatever Happened to Randolph Scott". You will see the classic stars and co-stars, and — aw, how about if I just clam up and let you see it?

Take a look here: http://oldfortyfives.com/thoseoldwesterns.htm

Hard Truths and Right Reasons

Howdy. Yours truly had the experience of being pleasantly surprised by a picture called The Last Wagon. I thought it would be lame and depressing, but it was surprisingly good. If I don't tell you too much and ruin it for you, I hope you'll give it a look.

All aboard the Spoiler Express? Let's go!

An hombre called Comanche Todd (Richard Widmark) is on the run for murdering three white men, and he is captured by a sheriff. He is treated brutally until they meet up with a wagon train. Although the sheriff is vicious and inhumane, the travelers want to treat Comanche Todd in a Christian manner. The sheriff disagrees, even pulling his gun. He chases away people that want to show kindness to Todd, even attempting to shoot one of the teenage boys. During the fracas, Todd gets an axe and manages to fling it, killing the sheriff. Nice throw!

Todd is left tied to the wheel of a wagon.

During the night, several of the teenagers, both boys and girls, slip away for a moonlight swim. When the kids return, the camp is in ruins and everyone is dead due to an Apache sneak attack. In this way, the movie is merciful because those attacks were unthinkably brutal, and I will not describe what went on so you do not get nightmares. Suffice to say that there is no honor in such extreme brutality, and it is even worse when innocent people are the victims (including women and children).

Comanche Todd's wagon was pushed over a small cliff, but he survived because of the way it landed. The kids manage to pull the wagon up, but they argue about setting him free. One girl hates all Indians (including her own half sister), and refuses to trust Todd because he was raised by Comanches. Some of the youngsters even accused him of helping, or refusing to warn the travelers. The oldest, a girl named Jenny (Felicia Farr), has sense and is willing to trust Todd.

After some discussion, the kids realize that he is their best chance at survival. He does not help matters by telling them the truth, that they cannot even bury their dead because the Apaches would know that there were survivors and hunt for them. The group manages to assemble a wagon and ride out, but they have to be on guard every step of the way. He is telling them some hard truths, but they need to know so that they have a chance at surviving. This is not a time for sentiment.

During the journey, Todd and one of the boys become friends. While Todd is teaching him how to snare a rabbit, a lone Apache attacks, but Todd is able to kill him before he harms the boy. Later, the Indian-hating girl manages to get bitten by a rattlesnake. She makes a great deal of noise, and one of the boys shoots the snake. Oh, great. May as well put up a sign to help the Apaches find them.

Todd helps the girl who was bitten. Then, two Apaches show up to find out what the ruckus was about. Todd challenges them to hand-to-hand combat and manages to kill them both. Obviously, the would have either killed the travelers just then, or brought more Apaches to participate in the killing of the group. The injured girl is coming out of her delirium from the snakebite and starts to warm up to Todd.

One night, Todd and Jenny watch the Apaches as they get worked up for their next planned massacre. The next morning, Todd notices a small detachment of cavalry. They are heading towards the Apaches and certain death, so he signals them. Remember, Todd is a wanted man. He could have let the soldiers get killed.

But by this time, the kids have all come around and are willing to trust Todd. They even tell the soldiers that he is their father.

To get out of there, Todd and the soldiers set up the equivalent of smoke and mirrors, to run off the Apaches. Shooting, explosions and all kinds of good stuff so that they make their escape. Unfortunately, the leader of the cavalry figures out who Comanche Todd really is, so he is taken into custody after they are all safe.

During the hearing about Todd at Redrock Bluff, the truth comes out. He was taken by the Comanches and had been married. He had children. But his wife and children were brutally murdered, and he killed their murderers. The judge gave the typical song and dance about taking justice into your own hands and so on, and Todd even said that he would do it again. After all, it was Comanche justice, and there was no white man's justice to be had anywhere near there.

Jenny could no longer stay silent. She came forward and talked about justice. Sure, Todd killed those men who deserved it. But what about saving lives? Not only did he save the lives of the teenagers, but he could have let the cavalry men get killed as well.

Fortunately, the officer in charge had sense and a good heart. He remanded Todd into Jenny's "custody" after he learned that they loved each other; it was doggone near a short marriage ceremony.

What caught my attention is that Todd was going to do what needed to be done, when it was needed. There was no chance of survival if people gave in to hand wringing or creature comforts.

But he was no so hard line that he only thought of himself. He could have betrayed the kids and let them die, and he could have let the soldiers get ambushed. In addition, his skill and creativity got all of them out of those bad situations. Even though he was technically a murderer, he was still good at heart.

I can vouch for the fact that sometimes doing a good deed can blow up in your face and you're sorry that you did it. But deep inside, you know that what you did was right. And there are times that doing the right thing pays off.

My belief is in doing the right thing for its own sake. That "for its own sake" can come about from your conscience, and your conscience can be led by God and good teachings. You'll have the right reasons, trust me.

Impressions and Assumptions

"I don't hold too much for first impressions. The way I figure it, the last impression is important." — Tom Destry (Audie Murphy)

I tend to agree with Destry's remark, there. What was it, a dandruff shampoo or something that was using the saying, "You never get another chance to make a good first impression"? If we go around trying too hard to make a good first impression on people, it causes a lot of anxiety. Heck, if the first impression was all that mattered, I'd have quit trying because I'd be judged and sentenced by everybody I meet within minutes or seconds.

I had a good time with Destry (based on the novel Destry Rides Again by Max Brand). Perhaps it is because I wasn't spoiled by the 1939 version with James Stewart (which I want to see anyway); people compare so much that they can't appreciate something for what it is. And this movie was good entertainment. Humorous trivia: The same director did both versions.

Hear that sound? The Spoiler Express is late, but moving full steam ahead.

Sheriff Bailey was trying to set something right about a land grab that Phil Decker (Lyle Bettger) and his cronies are pulling. They control all the land, and all of the drovers would have to pay a toll when the brought their cattle through. But Henry Skinner was cheated out of his ranch in a card game. When Bailey tried to put things right, he got a bullet in his back for his trouble. The crooks in charge (including the mayor) forced the doctor to fake the paperwork and say that he died of a heart attack.

Since the sheriff is dead, the townspeople appoint the town drunk to be the new sheriff. Obviously, they just want a figurehead, not law and order. But Reginald ("Rags") Barnaby (Thomas Mitchell) wants to take the job seriously, and quit drinking. Rags sends for some competent help with the job and wants Destry to be his deputy. Destry is big, mean, quick with a gun and all that.

When the stage arrived, Tom Destry (Audie Murphy) is underwhelming, to say the least. He's a little guy, pleasant mannered, soft spoken — and doesn't carry a gun. Rags is disappointed to find out that this is the son of the famous Destry! When a scrap between women in the saloon ensues (one of whom is a part of Decker's swindlers), he breaks up the fight but still looks bad in the process.

Looks like a bad day for first and second impressions.

Decker tries to claim the ranch that he swindled away from Skinner. Rags and Tom ride out to stop the shooting. Destry is not making any friends by upholding all of the law, not just parts of it. As far as he can tell, the ranch is the lawful property of Decker. But certain remarks get him thinking that this may not be the case, and he investigates further. He finds out that the town doctor never examined the body, but was forced to sign at gunpoint that it was a heart attack.

Late, some shooting action in the saloon gets his attention. Some of Decker's toughs are shooting up the place, and Destry wants them to put a stop to "this promiscuous shooting". Then Destry proceeds to startle everyone by borrowing the guns of the shooters and giving them a display of marksmanship. Looks like the first impression as well as the assumption that he did not know how to shoot were both wrong! Ha!

Then Destry proceeds to dig the bullets out of the saloon wall and gave them an introduction to what would become the new science of ballistics. He tells them that each gun makes its own marks on bullets. (The doctor shows up just then.) Tom further informs them that the doctor examined the body, and now they knew who fired the bullet that killed Sheriff Bailey. Curly Adams was taken into custody.

I need to throw in a bit here that Jack Larsen (Alan Hale, Jr., before he put on pounds and became Gilligan's "Skipper"), a resentful drover, went through the ranch land "legally" owned by Decker by means of assault, and did not pay the toll. Destry locked him up to prove a point, but let him go to tend to his cattle. Tom told Larsen that he expected him back at the jail by sundown because he knew he had character and would live up to it.

The crooked mayor wants to do a hurry-up trial, but Destry said that a judge had already been sent for.

>> Fast forward.

Rags has been shot in the back and Curly removed from jail while Brandy the saloon girl distracts Destry. Tom goes back to his hotel room and opens up his suitcase. He carried his father's gun around in the case, and then he strapped it on. Knowing his skill with a gun, and seeing the look in his eye, the bad guys got very nervous.

Destry found a way into the saloon to settle things. After a bit of shooting and jumping, he is creeping up on Decker while the mayor is standing by his easel, attempting to do some painting. But his paint kit also contains a pistol, and Destry is ignoring him (making his own bad assumption that he was not packing heat). At that moment, the doctor and Larsen came in and placed some excellent shots, saving Tom's hide.

Here's the stuff I want to point out. Larsen could have been an enemy, but turned into an ally. In fact, he came through uninvited to help Destry in a tough situation. That was because Destry saw decency in the man and also let him keep his dignity. No, I'm not saying to just assume everyone is good deep down inside. Use your discernment like Tom did.

Another point that I want to make is that when you are standing up for what is right, you can have good people come through for you. Sometimes, and this has happened to me, people will see someone struggling and add their strength. Heck, I just remembered pulling my car over, jumping out and help people push a stalled car out of the intersection. Haven't you done something like that yourself? Bet it's happened to you, too.

Destry made a lousy first impression. After he was able to prove himself, it turned out that he was right: The last impression is important. This can be useful, too. Unless you are like certain Italian businessmen that I know, you do not have to make a good first impression or show of power. Sometimes, it is in your best interest to let people underestimate you. Let 'em. Then you can show them what you're made of when it really matters.