Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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John Wayne’s Co-Star’s Audacious Act: The Secret Stir Behind ‘The Searchers’
The Searchers was shot in Ford’s favoured Monument Valley, part of the Navajo territory on the Arizona/Utah state line, where temperatures during filming could reach heights of 49°C (120°F). Among the actors was Gone with the Wind and It’s a Wonderful Life’s Ward Bond, who played Reverend Captain Clayton in the Western. He was a…
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Beyond the Horizon: The Enigmatic Tale of ‘The Searchers’ and John Wayne’s Redemption
Despite the best efforts of Clint Eastwood, Kevin Costner and a handful of other Hollywood directors and stars, the Western is largely a forgotten genre in these morally tangled times, its narrative simplicity and black-and-white verities elbowed aside by 150 shades of gray. Yet the taming of the frontier, even as portrayed in the Western,…
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Red River’s Intriguing Dynamics: Montgomery Clift’s Debut Amidst Affection and Guns
In 1946, when he was cast opposite John Wayne in Red River (the film’s release would be delayed until 1948), Montgomery Clift was 26 years old. As was common in those days, Clift spent years making a name for himself onstage, appearing on Broadway from the age of 15. Red River was his first movie…
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John Wayne’s Rescue: How His Role in ‘Red River’ Averted a Filmmaking Disaster
While the story about Tom Dunson, a determined rancher who turns into a horse-riding Captain Ahab during a harrowing cattle drive from Texas to Missouri, was crammed with action and intrigue, it proved tonally problematic for Hawks’ star. Gary Cooper had made several films with Hawks and many Westerns prior to “Red River,” but he…
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Tarantino’s Cinematic Revelation: The ‘Perfect’ Western That Defined His Childhood
After years of lectures on film history and world cinema, Quentin Tarantino isn’t just known for iconic movies like Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction. In addition to his status as a prominent director, Tarantino has also developed a strong reputation in popular culture for being a highly opinionated and extensively knowledgeable tastemaker. That’s precisely why…
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The Oscar Winner’s Hidden Gem – A Revolutionary John Wayne Movie!”
There’s a reason John Wayne is thought of as the quintessential cowboy, from his breakthrough role in “Stagecoach” (1939) to his final movie, “The Shootist” (1976). Starring in 142 motion pictures spanning six decades, John Wayne’s movies have made him synonymous with the Old West. His Westerns embody the frontier history of the United States,…
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Val Kilmer Drops Jaw-Dropping Behind-the-Scenes Video for 30th Anniversary of Iconic Doc Holliday Role
Beloved actor Val Kilmer has sent a wave of nostalgia across cyberspace by sharing a behind-the-scenes video in celebration of the 30th anniversary of his Western movie, Tombstone. Led by Kurt Russell, and featuring an ensemble cast including Kilmer, Sam Elliott, Bill Paxton and Charlton Heston, the movie was loosely based on the story of…
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Who is the standout contributor to the excellence of ‘Tombstone’ as a Western, if not Kurt Russell?
Tombstone is one of the last great Westerns, a rousing slice of old-fashioned pulp fun that would make Sam Peckinpah proud, and the last gasp of a type of Western snuffed out by modern blockbuster Hollywood and the ripple effects of Unforgiven. Leading the charge (and secretly directing the film) is Kurt Russell in a…
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Legendary Collaboration: Merle Haggard and Clint Eastwood’s Duet Strikes Gold with No. 1 Country Hit
American country music artist Merle Haggard collaborated with actor Clint Eastwood in 1980 for a duet titled “Bar Room Buddies.” The song was written by Milton Brown, Cliff Crofford, Steve Dorff, and Snuff Garrett. It was released as the soundtrack for one of the first Clint Eastwood movies he directed, “Bronco Billy.” Meaning Behind The…
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Rare 1971 US Billboard Poster Featuring Eastwood Could Fetch £6,000
Posters from the Rome premiere of The Good, The Bad And The Ugly, starring Clint Eastwood, are being sold at auction and could fetch about £40,000 each. Film and TV entertainment memorabilia auction specialist Propstore has announced the launch of its 13th UK poster auction, featuring 400 rare and sought-after movie posters and artwork, including…
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