Movie Review: Fort Apache

Miss Thursday, Lieutenant O'Rourke, and Captain York chat on the stairs.

Movie Review: Fort Apache (1948) directed by John Ford Lieutenant Colonel Owen Thursday (Henry Fonda) was a general during the American Civil War. He showed his brilliance in a particular battle, at the cost of his friend Sam Collingwood’s (George O’Brien) career (that man is now a captain.) After the war, Thursday lost his brevet rank… Continue reading Movie Review: Fort Apache

Movie Review: The Shooting

Billy Spear looks down on you.

Movie Review: The Shooting (1966) directed by Monte Hellman Former bounty hunter turned miner Willett Gashade (Warren Oates) returns to his diggings somewhere in Utah to discover that his partner Leland has been shot dead, his brother Coigne is missing, and the less than bright Coley (Will Hutchins) doesn’t understand why this happened or who did… Continue reading Movie Review: The Shooting

Movie Review: The Comancheros

Jake and Paul have a contentious relationship at first.

Movie Review: The Comancheros (1961) directed by Michael Curtiz In 1843, gambler and womanizer Paul Regret (Stuart Whitman) kills a man in an illegal duel in Louisiana. This ordinarily wouldn’t be a problem, except that the dead man (who’d falsely accused him of cheating at cards to eliminate him as a romantic rival) had a politically… Continue reading Movie Review: The Comancheros

Movie Review: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Sundance and Butch discuss the outcome of their latest escapade.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) dir. George Roy Hill Parts of this story are true. There actually were outlaws named Butch Cassidy (Paul Newman) and the Sundance Kid (Robert Redford) who belonged to the Wild Bunch. They did indeed rob banks and trains. They did indeed move to Bolivia when things got hot for… Continue reading Movie Review: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Movie Review: Vengeance Valley

Owen and Lee consult the bartender for local news.

Movie Review: Vengeance Valley (1951) directed by Richard Thorpe Owen Daybright (Burt Lancaster) is the foster son of rancher Arch Strobie (Ray Collins), and foreman of the ranch. Along with his foster brother Lee Strobie (Robert Walker), he’s been out riding the winter range for several months. They stop in to the saloon to get their… Continue reading Movie Review: Vengeance Valley

Movie Review: The Over-The-Hill Gang

The gang arrives in town.

Movie Review: The Over-the-Hill Gang (1969) directed by Jean Yarbrough Captain Oren Hayes (Pat O’Brien), (very) late of the Texas Rangers, is visiting his daughter Hannah Rose (Kristin Harmon) and son-in-law Jefferson Rose (Ricky Nelson) in Boulder, Nevada. Jeff, a newspaper publisher, is running for mayor on a reform platform. Current mayor Nard Lundy (Edward Andrews)… Continue reading Movie Review: The Over-The-Hill Gang

Book Review: Heller with a Gun

Book Review: Heller with a Gun by Louis L’Amour King Mabry has a reputation. Some of it’s earned. He indeed is a fearsome man when holding a gun, having killed eleven men “not counting Indians.” But he’s at pains to point out that those men were all armed and facing him at the time. Mabry’s… Continue reading Book Review: Heller with a Gun

Movie Review: Adventures of Gallant Bess

Bess gives Ted his marching orders.

Movie Review: Adventures of Gallant Bess (1948) directed by Lew Landers Ted Daniels (Cameron Mitchell) and his pal Woody (Fuzzy Knight) have been sent out to capture a wild horse for their boss Bud Millerick (James Millican) for display in Millerick’s rodeo. Ted finds and manages to capture a magnificent chestnut mare he names Bess (Bess).… Continue reading Movie Review: Adventures of Gallant Bess

Book Review: Hopalong Cassidy

Book Review: Hopalong Cassidy by Clarence E. Mulford There’s trouble brewing in Texas between the cowboys of the Bar-20 Ranch, and those of the H2. Meeker, owner of the H2, is down from Montana, where the rule was open range, and he’s not used to the strict water rights situation in his new territory. (It… Continue reading Book Review: Hopalong Cassidy

Movie Review: For a Few Dollars More

Monco and Colonel Mortimer share a quiet moment.

Movie Review: For a Few Dollars More (1965) directed by Sergio Leone It is a time when life is cheap, but death can be lucrative, and bounty killers have come to the land. One such killer is referred to as “Monco” (Clint Eastwood) because of his preference for doing things left-handed. Another is Colonel Douglas Mortimer… Continue reading Movie Review: For a Few Dollars More