Showing posts with label glenn ford. Show all posts
Showing posts with label glenn ford. Show all posts

3/17/2012

The Sacketts (1979) Review

The Sacketts  (1979)
Average Reviews:

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This is a motion picture I could watch over again and again, if only to see the terrific collection of Western film icons. An early scene features Ty Sackett (Jeff Osterhage) trying to sign on with a cattle drive. Around the campfire sit the owner of the cattle (L.Q. Jones), the foreman (Glenn Ford), and the top hand (Ben Johnson). Right then the viewer knows that he's in for first-rate entertainment.
The story line is split between Tell Sackett (Sam Elliott) trying to steer clear of three brothers (Jack Elam, Gene Evans, and Slim Pickens) out to revenge Tell's killing of their card shark brother, and Orrin and Ty Sackett (Tom Selleck and Osterhage) doing their best to bring law and order to Sante Fe despite the diabolical dealings of the town's richest man (the always oily John Vernon).
But the focal point of the picture is the underrated Glenn Ford as the mysterious Tom Sunday -- one time attorney, marshal, and even murderer. He begins the film as a mentor to Orrin and Ty, but eventually time and fate pit the three against each other.
Don't get me wrong, "The Sacketts" is not in the league of "The Wild Bunch," "High Noon," or "Ride the High Country," but I can't think of a much better way to spend three hours of my time.
Except for maybe doing a little riding on my old Buckskin on a cool, clear Saturday morning.

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10/17/2011

Columbia Pictures Film Noir Classics, Vol. 1 (The Big Heat / 5 Against the House / The Lineup / Murder by Contract / The Sniper) (2009) Review

Columbia Pictures Film Noir Classics, Vol. 1 (The Big Heat / 5 Against the House / The Lineup / Murder by Contract / The Sniper) (2009)
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The Sniper features an audio commentary by author Eddie Muller. He starts off talking about the origins of the film - a husband and wife writing team. He mentions that it was a very controversial film at the time because of its subject matter. Muller provides all kinds of fascinating production details, like how much of the film was shot on location in San Francisco. He explains that The Sniper is a landmark film because it was one of the first to prominently feature a serial killer.
"Martin Scorsese Presents The Sniper" features the legendary filmmaker talking about the documentary feel of the film thanks to the use of authentic locations.
Also included is an original theatrical trailer.
The Big Heat starts off with "Michael Mann on The Big Heat." He speaks admiringly about the prominent female characters in the film. The director talks about the ethnic aspect of the film as well as the uncompromising nature of Glenn Ford's character.
"Martin Scorsese on The Big Heat" features the director talking about how Ford's character becomes what he's fighting against. Scorsese draws particular attention to the flat look of the film and how director Fritz Lang directs us to the behaviour of the characters.
Also included is the original theatrical trailer.
The only extra for 5 Against the House is the original theatrical trailer.
The Lineup includes an audio commentary by author Eddie Muller and James Ellroy. Muller says that this film started off as a television show cut from the same cloth as Dragnet. He plays the straight man on this track, rattling off facts, while Ellroy is his usual colourful and profane self offering his bizarro opinions on this film. He sings the praises of Don Siegel's more than capable direction. Fans of Ellroy will love this track as he gets to cut loose have some fun commenting on The Lineup.
"The Influence of Noir with Christopher Nolan" sees this respected director citing noir as an influence on his own work, most notably the psychological states of the characters, the atmosphere and the style in relation to the substance and how they all interact with one another.
Also included is the original theatrical trailer.
Murder by Contract features "Martin Scorsese on Murder by Contract." He reminisces about when he first saw the film as a teenager and how it would later influence aspects of Taxi Driver. The director speaks admiringly of the "economy of means" - how Irving Lerner depicted the passing of time. Scorsese gives us a brief background to Lerner and talks about how he got to know and even work with him.
Finally, there is the original theatrical trailer.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Columbia Pictures Film Noir Classics, Vol. 1 (The Big Heat / 5 Against the House / The Lineup / Murder by Contract / The Sniper) (2009)

In the 1940s, a new genre - film noir - emerged from the world of "hard - boiled" pulp magazines, paperback thrillers, and sensational crime movies. These films - tough and unsentimental - depicted a black-and-white universe at once brutal, erotic and morally ambiguous. Now, Sony Pictures and The Film Foundation have brought five noir classics together in one collection, all restored and remastered, and featuring brilliant performances by Glenn Ford, Lee Marvin, Kim Novak, Eli Wallach and Gloria Grahame, the genre-defining cinematography of Burnett Guffey, Hal Mohr and Lucien Ballard, and focused, taut direction by celebrated directors including Fritz Lang, Don Siegel and Phil Karlson.

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