Movie Review: *** How the West Was Won

This is a good western epic following the lives of two sisters, Eve and Lilith Prescott (Carroll Baker and Debbie Reynolds) and their husbands, Linus (James Stewart) and Cleve (Gregory Peck).  This movie is overflowing with famous actors.  Karl Malden portrays the father of the girls.  George Peppard as the son of Eve.  Henry Fonda as Jethro Stuart a mountain man dealing with changing times.  Andy Devine in the Civil War scene as a corporal, Robert Preston as the wagon master who wants to marry Lilith, John Wayne as General Sherman and Harry Morgan as Ulysses S. Grant.  There are some portrayals that are racist--depiction of Native Americans, and no Black people in the west at all.  But it has good action and drama.  And Debbie Reynolds can really sing.  She is the thing that makes this movie move.

James Stewart, John Wayne Movie Review: ****^ The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

 The West is in its last days, and a lawyer, Ransom Stoddard (James Stewart) comes to town.  He meets Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin) on his way to town as Valance beats him with a whip during a hold up of the stage coach.  Tom Doniphon (John Wayne) collects him of the trail and brings him to town.  Doniphon uses a gun for his talking, and Stoddard law books.  Valance also uses guns and violence.  Stoddard has a couple more run ns with Valance.  The sheriff, Link Appleyard (Andy Devine) is ineffectual.  Doniphon has a girl, Hallie (Vera Miles) at least he claims her, but she takes a liking to Stoddard.  Stoddard teaches her to read.  

The territory is going through a struggle for statehood.  Stoddard and Valance are on opposite sides of the issue.  He represents the ranchers who want to keep things open and wild.  Dutton Peabody (Edmond O'Brien) the newspaper editor writes a derogatory story about Valance.  He gets himself a beating for his efforts. Valance issues a challenge for Stoddard.  Something has to give.

Very good movie with an interesting twist at the end.  Different philosophies collide and Doniphon is a dying breed.  Pompey (Woody Strode) is Doniphon's sidekick.  

John Wayne Movie Review: ****Island in the Sky (1953)

 John Wayne is the pilot of a Corsair C-47 transport in the northern country, when they become confused as to their location, and icing forces them down way north where temperatures are not in their favor.  Nor is it in the favor of those who would find them.  This makes for an interesting movie as they attempt to communicate their location, and survive.  

I enjoyed this movie.  It is very emotional.  One of the men dies when he decides to go hunting and becomes lost in the cold and dark; even though he is just steps away form the plane.  The planes get close, but do not see them

• 

  John Wayne

  Capt. Dooley
• 

  Lloyd Nolan

  Captain Stutz
• 

  Walter Abel

  Col. Fuller
• 

  James Arness

  Mac McMullen
• 

  Andy Devine

  Willie Moon
• 

  Allyn Joslyn

  J.H. Handy
• 

  Jimmy Lydon

  Murray

  (as James Lydon)
• 

  Harry Carey Jr.

  Ralph Hunt

Disney Movie Review: *^Robin Hood (1973)

*^ Robin Hood.  I think this is probably the worse  Walt Disney movie ever made.  It is all based on cliche and nothing on character development.  Very little to redeem this movie.However I must admit Robin and Little John pretending to be street side gypsies as the rob Prince John is cut.  "Fortunes forecast!  Fortunes forecast!"  Peter Ustinov voices Prince John and King Richard, Phil Harris, Little John and Andy Devine, Friar Tuck.  Ken Curtis (Festus) and George Lindsey(Goober) portray two crazy vultures for comic relief.