Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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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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Lost in Time: The Unseen Twist in a John Wayne Western’s Alternate Ending
No Western onscreen feud surpasses the fiery father-son conflict between John Wayne’s tyrannical Thomas Dunson and Montgomery Clift’s groundbreaking performance as independent-minded Matthew Garth in Howard Hawks’ 1948 masterpiece, Red River. But nestled within the film’s enduring legacy there is a secret in its saddlebag — an alternate ending lost for years and only recovered…
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Musical Maestro John Williams Unleashes Ambitious Plans: Aiming to Surpass Clint Eastwood’s Legacy at 91
The legendary composer John Williams defies retirement at the age of 91. Renowned as one of the most iconic composers in cinematic history, John Williams has shared his reluctance towards retirement in a recent interview. With a career spanning over decades, Williams has left an indelible mark on the world of music and cinema. He…
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Clint Eastwood’s Unexpected Confession: The Real-Life Inspiration Behind Dumb & Dumber’s Toilet Scene
Dumb and Dumber redefined the boundaries of comedy in the ’90s, thanks in part to the infamous Dumb and Dumber toilet scene, and the always-stoic Clint Eastwood unexpectedly commented on the sequence. The movie tells the story of two well-meaning but dim-witted friends, Harry Dunne (Jeff Daniels) and Lloyd Christmas (played by Jim Carrey), who…
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John Wayne’s Hidden Depths: A Riveting Journey in ‘Quiet Man’ and ‘Yellow Ribbon’ at Stanford Theatre
In the popular imagination of John “Duke” Wayne, there’s a soft side to him that goes unpraised: the delicious romantic, the cool hipster or relaxed compadre who doesn’t want to get in anyone’s way. We tend to think of Wayne as a prowling neon sign of America, an uncomplicated cliche: a hard, indestructible cowboy, more…
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Discovering the Forgotten: 10 Lesser-Known John Wayne Movies That Demand Attention
Though we’ve already covered the greatest films in Wayne’s career, there are scores of films viewers haven’t seen. From bringing the American war effort to the silver screen at the height of World War II to dramatic turns that expanded Wayne’s range, Wayne has shown a surprising amount of acting skill. Here we’ll explore the…
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Unearthing Hollywood’s Muddy Secrets: John Wayne’s Controversial Move in McLintock
Andrew V. McLaglan’s 1963 film “McLintock!” is a loose Western adaptation of William Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew” (c. 1592), a problematic play to say the least. The story of Shakespeare’s play involves a willful and bitter young woman named Kate who refuses to settle down and get married. This upsets Kate’s younger sister…
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Behind the Scenes of the Funniest Duel Ever: John Wayne and Red Skelton’s Comedy Showdown
John Wayne is a legendary American icon and Red Skelton was America’s funny man for almost four decades. Separate, they were really something to behold – with John Wayne teaching us to stand up for ourselves, be brave, love your family and love your country and Red making us laugh nightly thanks to his entertaining…
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Clint Eastwood’s Admiration for the Timeless Brilliance of ‘His Girl Friday’
Few names ring true in the ears of western cinema fans quite like the one of Clint Eastwood. With appearances in some of the most memorable movies of the Old West throughout the latter half of the 20th century, Eastwood remains one of American cinema’s brightest and most enduring stars, becoming a genuinely titanic figure…
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Unveiling Clint Eastwood’s Cinematic Twist: His Favorite John Ford Movie Defies Western Norms
While Clint Eastwood’s most-loved John Ford movie might not be a Western, it is still no surprise that this classic topped the list of the director’s favorites. Ford was a legend in the Western genre, and Eastwood even called the filmmaker one of his favorite directors. Eastwood became a major mainstream star shortly after Ford’s…
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