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Boy! Can That Guy Ed Dig Up Some Good Stuff on The 'puter!
by Wyatt Newman
If the Class of 60 had such a thing, I'd nominate Ed Mauget, our esteemed,
talented and most valuable webmaster for the Crossed Crystal Cutlass
Award, presented to alums of good old Rogers High, for helping to
keep memories alive, quite valuable for us as we advance more into
our senior years.
Last month, Ed submitted a complete list, of the better movies,
year-by-year, that appeared in theaters 1956-1960. What a gem for
one such as I, a real fan and devotee to classic movies of
yesteryear. I have, and will do so in the coming months, written
about some of those movies that I have particular memories of, but
there are a few more I'd like to mention.
1956
The Searchers
I didn't see this until I bought the VHS less than ten years ago,
about the time I became a belated John Wayne fan. Critics say this
was one of Wayne's best movies. He's given particular commendations
for his very emotional scene when he tells Harry Carey, Jr. to shut
up and never ask again what he saw the Indians do to a family of
friends. His final walk away from the camera is a personal salute to
the late Harry Carey,Sr, a good friend of his, when Wayne held one
elbow with his other hand, a Carey characteristic move.
Friendly Persuasion
Where was I in 1956, and how come I never saw this Gary Cooper
classic, again, not until I bought the VHS years later? I do
remember the title song, which was quite popular and sung by Pat
Boone. It never made sense to me when the song was popular, but I
liked it then as well as I do now.
The King and I
I was not one for musicals. I didn't even see this one, but my mom
liked it, especially when Yul Brynner says, "Etcetera!
Etcetera! Etcetera!" I enjoyed watching her do the
impersonation of Yul.
1957
12 Angry Men
Would never have watched this as a kid. Watching it today is good
courtroom (in this case jury room) drama, with a very grainy, 1950s
black and white look. Did Henry Fonda ever play a role in which he
wasn't some especially upright, honorable, stellar person? He was
the one juror, interestingly all men, who turned the other 11
around, one-by-one, to find a kid innocent of murder.
Bridge on the River Kwai
The movie that made "The Colonel Bogie March" famous. Not
a war movie for kids-- too complicated with themes and human
behavior and not enough fightin'. One of the best movies of all
time, though, as I view it today. A classic of a conflict of wills.
Paths of Glory
Now this one I actually saw and enjoyed in 1956. A very disturbing
movie of some French soldiers being pulled out of the ranks to face
execution by firing squad because a unit commander felt the entire
unit was guilty of cowardice in the face of the enemy. "How
could anyone do such a thing?" I wondered, killing some for
being supposedly guilty by association.
1958
The Young Lions
A Marlon Brando movie. Brando is just too method-heavy in his style.
I could only enjoy his role as The Godfather. The movie just didn't
seem right for a good war movie, unbelievable characters.
Thunder Road
A movie I didn't see until a friend loaned it to me on VHS a few
years ago. Car movies have never been my thing. I do remember in
1958 Mitchum singing the title song, which I thought would not
really make him a singer. To this day, when I see Mitchum I think of
his guttural voice singing "Thunder Road."
1959
On the Beach
The movie had the submarine crew go back to take a look to what
might be left of an American city that might have life after a
nuclear war, wiped out every area on earth except Australia. I read
the book, and as I recall the sub went to Seattle. The movie used
San Francisco, perhaps for filming purposes and being more
identifiable with the American public. Really a frightening move,
probably the most disturbing one of the many films having to do with
a nuclear holocaust. In seeing this, one really gets the feeling of
facing death and how to personally deal with it.
Suddenly Last Summer
The only interesting part of the film was Liz Taylor coming out of
the water in a white swim suit. Was then; still is.
Pork Chop Hill
Considered one of the best of the few movies of the Korean Conflict.
It was said in my ROTC days at Wazzu that one of our cadre
instructors, Captain Cook, was the lieutenant portrayed in the film
by Gregory Peck. I think that might be what is called, "an
urban legend." The captain had a Peck personality, though.
Could it be?
1960
A great year for films, many quite lengthy. Looking over the list,
the ones I saw were in my Pullman days--Elmer Gantry (which I
thought at the time was strange that the audience had to be warned
about the negative religious theme of the movie, a disclaimer to
ensure strong Christians that not all Christians acted like Gantry
or fell for religious charlatans.
Spartacus
A very unusual Roman era film. One of the most magnificent scenes of
movie history is the Roman Army forming up and marching to battle to
defeat the slave Army commanded by Spartacus, as played by Kirk
Douglas. Probably the biggest group of extras you'll ever see on
film, and how they paid for all those costumes is a mystery. Movies
cannot be made like that any more because of cost.
The Sundowners
Delightful film with one of my favorite character actors, Peter
Ustinov (who also did superbly in Spartacus). I dated one of Bob
Gay's high school girl friends at WSU to see this movie...don't
remember her name.
North to Alaska
One of John Wayne's sillier movies. This is another movie when the
title song, in this case sung by Johnny Horton, was more popular
than the movie. I consider this silly because of the falling in mud
scenes, too much slapstick humor, which I never find funny.
The Alamo
A John Wayne produced and directed movie that has horrible revues.
Wayne was a hero worshipper, so say the movie critics, and he tried
to outdo himself on this one, an attempt by Wayne to honor the
martyrs of The Alamo.
- Wyatt |
