The John Wayne Century Collection (Big Jake, Donovan's Reef, El Dorado, Hatari, Hondo, In Harm's Way, Island in the Sky, McLintock, Rio Lobo, The High and the Mighty, True Grit, The Shootist, etc.) (1967) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Contrary to Amazon's editorial description above, the John Wayne Century Collection contains 14 movies, but does NOT include THE QUIET MAN. Still, it is a good bargain and contains a new Special Edition release of TRUE GRIT.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The John Wayne Century Collection (Big Jake, Donovan's Reef, El Dorado, Hatari, Hondo, In Harm's Way, Island in the Sky, McLintock, Rio Lobo, The High and the Mighty, True Grit, The Shootist, etc.) (1967)

Click here for more information about The John Wayne Century Collection (Big Jake, Donovan's Reef, El Dorado, Hatari, Hondo, In Harm's Way, Island in the Sky, McLintock, Rio Lobo, The High and the Mighty, True Grit, The Shootist, etc.) (1967)

Read More...

Devil's Disciple (1959) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This classy film mixes fact and fiction. Bernard Shaw's take on the American Revolution has all the smart touches that we associate with his plays with some scant reference to history thrown in. What makes this movie a hit are the three great actors who are all in their prime here. Laurence Oliver's John Bourgoyne (Gentlemanly Johnny) is simply brilliant. His acid wit makes for a most stunning portrait of this famed general. Shaw was probably inspired to write a play on this subject because Bourgoyne was something of an ametuer playwright himself in the 1770s. The film losely depicts his 1777 campaign from Canada to divide the northern colonies. The plan envisioned Bourgoyne's 9,000 (British, Hessian and Loyalists, with a few Indians) to combine with a drive up from New York under general Sir William Howe's main army. Berry St.Leger was to come down from Oswego with a smaller force. All three were to meet in Albany to divide and conquer the colonies.
Bourgoyne's plan, while elegant on paper did not reflect the logistical reality as far as 18th century armies were concerned. The events were to show that great miscalculations were made. The movie is based losely on the campaign. The towns and locales shown, as well as the characters of Lancaster and Douglas are purely fictional. But the clever plot and role reversal, plus the way these characters evolve in response to events illustrates how the Revolution must have seemed to many not directly involved in it.
The British were fighting a war for the hearts and minds of the Americans (sounds familar in Iraq now). The movie shows this quite well. While a little slow in the beginning, this short film quickly gains speed while its trio of lengendary actors unfold their magic on screen. Its interesting that the production was B&W as the color of the period and the unifroms would have come out better in color. The production value of the movie is quite good with correct period detail, unifroms, military bands, and artillery. While the emphasis of the movie may not be on the Revolution per se, it provides excellent period details all the same.
This sophisticated look at the American Revolution may appear too wordy for some, but it runs circles around such films as the "The Patriot". Whether you are a fan of the great actors shown here, love wity dialogue, or are seeking an unusual period movie, "The Devil's Disciple" has it all.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Devil's Disciple (1959)

Click here for more information about Devil's Disciple (1959)

Read More...

The History Channel Presents The Revolution (2006) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)A great examination of the American Revolutionary War by the History Channel. Includes interviews with historians, battlefield maps and examinations of troop movements, letters from the battlefields, and actor portrayals of battles and historical figures.
The Revolution starts out with the examinations of the cause of the revolution, such as colonial resentment of taxes levied after the Seven Years' War without any representation. It follows this through the forging of the Declaration of Independence and the battles of the Revolutionary War. It finishes up with the problems facing the nation after the war.
I don't think I had a good enough realization in school with how hard times were for these soldiers as they waged war. This video goes into detail with the troubled supply lines that plagued Washington's army, the heavy desertion and mutiny (which Washington clamped down on with some extraordinary tactics), and the many failed battles that occured in the first few years of the Revolutionary War. It covers internal conflicts between such characters as Horatio Gates and George Washington.
Also discussed are Benjamin Franklin's efforts in France to recruit the French navy and John Paul Jone's foray into Britain and Ireland.
The first half of the series covers the battles in the north and the remaining few episodes discuss how the battles move south into Savannah, the back woods of the Carolinas, and finally Yorktown.
One problem with the series is that they tend to recycle the interviews and footage throughout.
US history books tend to lionize the founding fathers, but this series (and books such as the Founding Brothers) show how none of these people was perfect, and shows their faults as well as their strengths. I came away with this series (which I downloaded from iTunes, BTW) with a much better understanding of the Revolutionary War.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The History Channel Presents The Revolution (2006)

Get 59% OFF

Click here for more information about The History Channel Presents The Revolution (2006)

Read More...