Category: Western
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Whispers of the West: Richard Boone’s Untold Hollywood Saga Revealed
In 1957, when classic TV Westerns were all the rage and Gunsmoke reigned supreme, actor Richard Boone presented viewers with hero of the Old West different from any of the others. His name was Paladin, the show was Have Gun Will Travel and Boone gave us a character with heart and compassion who was also…
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John Ford’s Game-Changing Henry Fonda Film – Is ‘My Darling Clementine’ a True Story?
For legendary filmmaker John Ford, telling the story of the American West through a demystified lens is conveyed through a singular image. In 1946, a shot of Henry Fonda sitting on the porch of a local barbershop, leaning back on a chair as he looks upon the open vista is a minimalist example of Ford’s…
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Henry Fonda’s Cinematic Odyssey: From Hollywood Titan to Gritty Characters
What Do Henry Fonda’s Favorite Films Say About Him? Despite being one of the most recognizable and beloved screen faces of his time, Henry Fonda only earned an Academy Award in his final film role. He played Norman in Mark Rydell’s On Golden Pond, a screenplay drama adaptation of Ernest Thomson’s play of the same…
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Behind the Keys: Val Kilmer’s Piano Performance in Tombstone – Fact or Fiction?
Val Kilmer’s Doc Holliday never ceases to amaze those around him in Tombstone, and the same can be said for the actor’s performance playing the piano during the 1993 Western. The actor has given dozens of notable performances throughout his 40-year career, but his portrayal as Doc Holliday might be one of his absolute best.…
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Tombstone’s Enigma: The Unanswered Questions Surrounding Lester Moore’s Resting Place in Tombstone
In Tombstone, a grave for a man named Lester Moore makes a momentary appearance and serves as an important bit of symbolism in the film. Tombstone, the classic 1993 Western, tells the story of the legendary Earp brothers and their friend Doc Holliday as they work to bring order and justice to the lawless frontier.…
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The Duke’s Defiance: John Wayne Ignites Sparks by Ignoring ‘True Grit’ Source in Sequel
It’s rare that an iconic Western such as True Grit would find itself with a sequel. Most classics in the genre didn’t get a traditional sequel, least of all with John Wayne reprising his role from the original. But that’s exactly what 1975’s Rooster Cogburn did, with Wayne back in the saddle as the titular…
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From ‘Rio Bravo’ to Raw Truths: Angie Dickinson Opens Up on Fame, Friendship, and a Seven-Decade Career
“Fair to middling” is how Angie Dickinson is feeling this morning as she talks about “Rio Bravo,” the 1959 film that made her a star. “Somebody who says they’re great at 90, you can figure out that they lie a lot.” It’s a line that could have come straight from Jules Furthman and Leigh Brackett’s…
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Long-Overdue Apology: Academy Acknowledges Mistreatment of Sacheen Littlefeather at 1973 Oscars, Featuring a Tense John Wayne Moment
Sacheen Littlefeather displayed incredible bravery at the 1973 Oscars. She ensured that the world would hear her powerful words, but it would come with backlash. The room certainly didn’t give her a warm welcome, and her career as an actor went down the drain. However, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences finally came…
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Iconic Antagonist: The Black-Hat Maestro Lee Van Cleef Who Stole Scenes from Clint Eastwood
Move over Wayne and Eastwood — Lee Van Cleef is here to steal your scene! Sure, John Wayne and Clint Eastwood are practically synonymous with Westerns (and for good reason), but Van Cleef is the most under-appreciated and overlooked regular of the genre. His hawkish, piercing eyes and naturally intimidating demeanor make him an effortless…
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Unearthing John Wayne’s Grave-Robbing Controversy and Disturbing Seventies Racist Comments
If John Wayne were still alive, he’d be in real trouble. The Western movie star, who died in 1979, has been hauled over the coals on Twitter for his racist views. Screenwriter Matt Williams dug up an interview ‘Duke’ gave to Playboy in 1971, in which he held forth on Native Americans, black people and…