A to Z Challenge
....Carroll O'Connor starred with John Wayne (In Harm's Way) who starred in...
1. STAGECOACH-1939-WESTERN
DIRECTOR: John Ford
STARS: John Wayne, Claire Trevor, Thomas Mitchell*, John Carradine
PLOT: An eclectic group of travellers on a stagecoach are joined by the Ringo Kid and must deal with the Indians, the Wild West and themselves.
QUOTE: Well, there are some things a man just can't run away from.
OSCAR NOMS: Best Picture, Best Director, Cinematography, Art Direction, Film Editing
OSCAR WINS: Best Supporting Actor*, Best Score
LOVE: The action sequences (Bless the highly valued stuntman Yakima Canutt-look him up!) and the Cinematography (First time Ford used Monument Valley as his backdrop)
FAVOURITE SCENE: When they are chased by the Apaches! Stunts are done by Yakima and no CGI!
FAVOURITE CHARACTER: Dallas (Claire Trevor)
TIDBITS: Ford was known to be a bit of an SOB on the set and he verbally abused Wayne throughout this film (and all the others) to the point where many of the actors stood up for Wayne which is what Ford wanted. Wayne was the new kid on the block in an A movie and he wanted the actors to feel sympathy so this could be carried on in the film. Also Orson Welles watched this movie 40 times at least before he made Citizen Kane. He considered it required viewing.
SIX DEGREES (MORE OR LESS) OF SEPARATION: John Wayne was directed by Raoul Walsh (The Big Trail) and Raoul Walsh directed James Whitmore (Battle Cry). James Whitmore starred in....
2. SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION-1994-PRISON DRAMA
DIRECTOR: Frank Darabont
STARS: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman*, Bob Gunton, Clancy Brown, James Whitmore
PLOT: Innocent man is sent to a hellish prison and is befriended by Red. He becomes the accountant for the warden and the guards while he waits and hopes.
QUOTE: Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.
OSCAR NOMS: Best Picture, Best Actor*, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Sound, Film Editing, Original Score.
OSCAR WINS: Nil
LOVE: The plot! So many twists and turns
FAVOURITE SCENE: When Andy defiantly plays the record of the 2 opera singers (Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro). The 2 gals are actually scheming, writing a letter to the other's husband to catch him in infidelity.
FAVOURITE CHARACTER: Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins)
TIDBITS: Get this..The American Humane Association monitored the set to prevent cruelty to..the maggot! It would be too cruel to give a live maggot to the crow so they had to use a maggot that died of natural causes..i'm not kidding.
SIX DEGREES (MORE OR LESS) OF SEPARATION: James Whitmore starred with Ann Miller (Kiss Me, Kate) and she starred with Fred Astaire (Easter Parade) who starred with Rita Hayworth (You'll Never get Rich). She starred with......Until Saturday....
3 posters that made men go ga-ga
Raquel Welch
Though never a fan of Wayne (I know!) I did enjoy Stagecoach. Shawshank is one of my favorite movies. A maggot? Really? Oh the stories I could tell about folks and animals, bugs, etc.
ReplyDeleteI will ignore what you said about Wayne:) isn't the maggot story just beyond stupid.
DeleteStagecoach was such a classic I'm sure I must have seen it, but alas I don't remember it. The Shawshank Redemption was a brilliant film. Finally - love those filmstar images... we used to play dinosaur games on the back of the Raquel Welch one... Ten Million Years BC or similar wasn't it?
ReplyDeleteSusan A Eames from
Travel, Fiction and Photos
Shawshank is one of my all time favourite films because it talks about hope. The film is actually 1 Million Years BC and it is so funny to watch- high camp:)
DeleteHaven't seen any of these films again. :(
ReplyDeleteDo the AHA go out and monitor what birds in the wild are eating? And then stop the crows and robins, teaching them eating live worms is inhumane? I can only imagine what they think about fishing.
I know..crazy isn't it? I am all for making sure animals are unharmed but that is just beyond stupid
DeleteWhat say you there, fuzzy-britches? A line from Shawshank redemption regarding the Raquel Welch poster.
ReplyDeleteI’m exploring different types of dreams and their meanings.
S is for Sleep Paralysis
Stephen Tremp’s Breakthrough Blogs
That is a great quote! I had a hard time. Thinking of which one to use.
DeleteNever saw Stagecoach but I bought Shawshank Redemption. I was sorry the governor shot himself, too easy a way out.
ReplyDeleteYup the Warden should have been given a worse sentence. He was an awful character
DeleteHi, dear Birgit!
ReplyDeleteI know both of these movies. I studied John Ford's Stagecoach in a film history course in college. It's hard to imagine anybody verbally abusing John Wayne and living to tell about it, but it was a masterful movie making technique used by Ford to produce the desired chemistry among the characters. The Shawshank Redemption us one of Mrs. Shady's favorite movies and she has seen it a dozen times. (I highly recommend the TV series Prison Break which we are currently watching on Netflix.) That story about the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Maggots is hard to believe!
Thank you, dear friend BB!
It would be neat to study Stagecoach since many things in that film was brand new although now often done. Shawshank is one of my most favourite films that I just love! Whoever decided to go power hungry and have the maggots unharmed should be bitch slapped.
DeleteI've seen them both.
ReplyDeleteIn an early episode of "Cougar Town" they re-enact the prison escape.
MM was overrated.
I have not seen that tv show. I am not an MM fan and I don't think she was a great actress by any means. Others have said she actually looked puffy for real but it changed when she was filmed.
DeleteI have seen the Shawshank Redemption and even though I would probably not watch it again, I always enjoy movies with Morgan Freedman.
ReplyDeleteHe really is a good actor even if he seems to be in everything now
DeleteInteresting about the maggot; glad to hear people are concerned about their safety :)
ReplyDelete(haven't seen either of these movies) (you are not surprised I'm sure :)
betty
Yes...I wonder how much the person got paid for protecting the maggot
DeleteSeen both at my sea. Shawshank is a great movie, watched it a few times. Never knew that about the maggots. Rather pathetic.
ReplyDeleteYes....I mean...really? Who thought this was a bright idea.
DeleteThese were such different movies, yet both are in the same category--excellent. Those pinups are darned good, too! As to the maggots. . .I'm not in sync with the Humane Society on that one.
ReplyDeleteThese movies are excellent, not much more to say than that and the person who looked after the maggot should be kicked in the ass.
Delete"Stagecoach" was a great movie.
ReplyDeleteBTW, those posters still work.
I know those posters still work. :)
Delete"Stagecoach" was a great movie.
ReplyDeleteBTW, those posters still work.
I think I've seen Shawshank Redemption but I can't remember it, so maybe it wasn't my cup of tea.
ReplyDeleteOh wow....I can't compute:)
DeleteNever saw Stagecoach. Didn't see Shawshank until it was on TV, so didn't realize how brilliant it was when it was up for those Oscars. But that was a tough year, anyway.
ReplyDeleteIt really should have won way over Forrest Gump. I think the name hurt the film but once you see the film, you realize how great the title is.
DeleteRita Hayworth was stunning, wasn't she? I've heard she was Astaire's favorite dance partner.
ReplyDeleteRita was a beauty and yes, she was his favourite dance partner because she could really dance, never made a fuss, learned quickly, was the right height and she was beautiful
DeleteHey, this time I've seen both your movies. Shawshank Redemption: awesome movie. Stage Coach: anything with John Wayne in it works for me. That was interesting about how John Ford treated JW in order for the actors to feel sorry for him and carry that into the acting.
ReplyDeleteRE: The American Humane Association being there to monitor: it's a good thing that they are assigned to all movies to ensure no harm comes to any animal ... or in this case, living insect. It might seem like an overreach but they serve a great purpose. This reminds me of the Bradley Miller quote that is the foundation for the Animal Chaplain program of which I'm a part: "Teaching a child not to step on a caterpillar is as valuable to the child as it is to the caterpillar." I'm glad the American Humane Association is there to oversee when any living creature is used in filmmaking. It's an important role.
Michele at Angels Bark
These are both great films. I know what you mean because I read about that saying but I just can't get my mind around it even though I am an animal lover.
DeleteEnjoyed both movies. Unbelievable about the maggot, though! They always take things too far.
ReplyDeleteYup..I love animals but I agree with your statement
DeleteMy brother had tat poster of Raquel on our bedroom wall. I was ten and didn't know what the fuss was about.
ReplyDeleteI believe that would have changed if you were 13:)
DeleteI love the cards you've been making, they're unlike anything I've seen and so original. The Shawshank Redemption is an original movie which fans from all over know and love. I must watch it again.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much about my cards...glad you like them. I can watch this movie over and over again.
DeleteVisiting from A to Z. I love love love The Shawshank Redemption! Great post!
ReplyDeletehttp://juliesreadingroom.blogspot.com/2016/04/s-stardust.html
Glad you like what I wrote
DeleteShawshank is my favorite of all time. Based off a short story by my favorite author as well. My 2 favorite lines are, when the "fat man" starts to cry that he wants his mother, in the background, someone yells "I had your mother, she wasn't that great" My other favorite line is when the Warden shoots himself and Red narrates "I'd like to think that the last thing that went through his head, other than that bullet, was to wonder how the hell Andy Dufresne ever got the best of him."
ReplyDeleteGreat movie!
It is such a great film and there are so many lines that I could have used. The 2 you used are also priceless
DeleteI almost used Shawshank in my series; I absolutely love that movie. It's a classic and one of my favorite Morgan Freeman works. You've done a lot of work on your posts, Birgit, and they are GREAT!
ReplyDeleteCherdo
Cherdo on the Flipside
"Favorite Characters, Favorite Lines" on the A-to-Z Challenge 2016
Than you and glad you are enjoying my blog posts
DeleteStagecoach.. a good old-fashioned cowboys and Indians movie. I have to be in the mood. Shawshank Redemption is fabulous. Just about anything with Morgan Freeman I love. And Raquel Welch...Yeah my husband would like :)
ReplyDeleteI love that western and it is the basis for some many others to follow. Yes, any red blooded male would love this poster
DeleteI have not seen either of these. Shawshank Redemption is pretty popular, I have thought about watching it. A maggot? Really? Some people/organizations are very odd!
ReplyDeleteI was not enthused to see it at first and finally I gave in. Thank God, because it is a wonderful film
DeleteI've seen both movies and enjoyed learning more about them. Hard to believe anyone would give John Wayne a hard time. :) Who knew maggots were held in such high regard? How do they know the maggot used really died of natural causes? ;)
ReplyDeleteJohn Ford was known to do that with WAyne and Wayne took it from him. I have no idea how they knew the maggot died of natural causes unless they watched it die...how much did they get paid for that?
DeleteJust watched most of The Searchers. Ford was a visual master. He sucked at just about everything else.
ReplyDelete