tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post4822176903409091879..comments2024-03-05T21:05:36.848-05:00Comments on CommentaramaFilms: Film Friday: They Came To Cordura (1959)AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-35033213475033861022015-11-02T09:11:55.288-05:002015-11-02T09:11:55.288-05:00Cooper did NOT refuse to name names. It was a cond...Cooper did NOT refuse to name names. It was a condition of being a friendly witness to name people, which he did willingly. egomoihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15018752686185525287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-1988574038941966492015-11-02T09:07:53.759-05:002015-11-02T09:07:53.759-05:00Not sure where the initial reviewer got his mistak...Not sure where the initial reviewer got his mistaken facts about Gary Cooper and his politics In fact , prior to the HUAC situation, Cooper was what might be described as a populist and liberal. His perspective was not unlike that of Frank Capra, with whom he often worked . Projects like Meet John Doe or High Noon, have a distinct populist liberal bias. Capra' s long time writing collaborator, Sidney Buchman latterly ran afoul of HUAC. This mirrors Coop 's relationship with Carl Foreman , who wrote and produced High Noon. Foreman eventually fled to Europe to avoid testifying before HUAC. Cooper then backed out of the agreement he had made to co-produce films with Foreman (somewhat less than heroically) . His subsequent self serving HUAC testimony (as a friendly witness) could certainly be viewed as a change of heart politically, much as Ronnie Reagan's shift from New Deal Democrat to ardent anti-Commie Conservative could also be characterized. egomoihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15018752686185525287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-36555916253551769992013-09-01T09:29:56.047-04:002013-09-01T09:29:56.047-04:00This flic reminds me of seeing brothers returning ...This flic reminds me of seeing brothers returning from s.e.Asia being spat on by ignorant cowards in the airports upon returning HOME.<br />SIMPLY DungAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-47453652845327444662013-06-08T23:51:47.856-04:002013-06-08T23:51:47.856-04:00This idea could in truth that be cheaper when comp...This idea could in truth that be cheaper when compared to working with many people.<br />Many people have gotten the incorrect impression from entitlement to live "Royalty Free Music".<br /><br /><br /><br />Here is my site: <a href="http://xn--zakaenia-organizmw-61B04y.pl/" rel="nofollow">candida</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-69664478086181213732013-06-08T23:11:35.500-04:002013-06-08T23:11:35.500-04:00A person's PC based harbour has flourished tho...A person's PC based harbour has flourished those industry with some unlimited uses. When it comes to biorepositories, details have been everything.<br /><br />Here is my homepage :: <a href="http://xn--organizacja-Wczasw-61b.pl/" rel="nofollow">wyjazdy na wycieczki egzotyczne</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-84442397031930187822013-06-08T22:53:12.409-04:002013-06-08T22:53:12.409-04:00Critch, I've seen Cordura several times trying...Critch, I've seen <i>Cordura</i> several times trying to see if I just misjudged it and I've never found anything to like about it. You're right in that it just leaves you feeling empty.<br /><br />I love <i>Bridge on the River Kwai</i>, that's truly a powerful film on so many levels. That is a movie that did everything right.<br /><br />I never cared for Rock Hudson either. He's just kind of blah to me. I do like Peck a lot. I don't like his politics, but I can respect that he was open about it. So I can overlook that. What I do like is that he has a strong screen presence and he's very good at making you feel what his character feels. But a lot of his films leave me cold.<br /><br />I think <i>Dr. Strangelove</i> was hilarious and brilliant.<br /><br />As I mention above, <i>BoB</i> didn't resonate with me and I disliked <i>Ryan</i>... or at least everything after the Normandy landing.<br /><br />Working with ICBMs? That's a job I would not want to have!AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-64513776822558711732013-06-08T22:40:26.230-04:002013-06-08T22:40:26.230-04:00Just one note, I'm an old Cold Warrior, I serv...Just one note, I'm an old Cold Warrior, I served in SAC from 1972-1976 as a nuclear weapons specialist in the ICBMs. I did another 25 years in the Air Guard. I didn't like the Russians then or now, but I think Dr. Strangelove is one of the funniest movies I've ever seen...to the best of my knowledge, you still can't rent or buy Dr. Strangelove on a US Air Force base...Critchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07106908233705403513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-24897115203492110912013-06-08T22:35:59.808-04:002013-06-08T22:35:59.808-04:00I remember seeing They Came to Cordura when I was ...I remember seeing They Came to Cordura when I was a kid in Memphis at the drive-in. In those days the drive-ins often ran films that were 2-3 even 10 years old...it was cool. I was in the 5th grade so it must have been 1964. I didn't like this film then and no matter how many times I've seen it I didn't like it. It wasn't inspiring, it was a let down. About this time I also saw The Bridge on the River Kwai, which I think was an excellent movie,,and BTW, it really made me dislike the Japanese...looking back, that was a powerful film. At almost 60 years old I can still remember how it made me feel. They Came to Cordura made me feel empty. I never saw the attraction of Gary Cooper or Rock Hudson as he-man leaders. Now, Gregory Peck could act,,,one of his best films was The Stalking Moon...a creepy cowboy movie...hard to beat. He always just seemed to be a normal guy doing his job and doing it well. Saving Private Ryan was good the first few times then I just didn't go back for more; Band of Brothers was really good. Critchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07106908233705403513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-50004527739034237762013-06-08T12:43:05.463-04:002013-06-08T12:43:05.463-04:00Scott, I suspect that if BH was transported back t...Scott, I suspect that if BH was transported back to the 1950s, they would be digging into communist infiltration of Hollywood.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-60941626457697661042013-06-08T12:25:57.361-04:002013-06-08T12:25:57.361-04:00Andrew -
Another quick thing re: celebs. Nolte a...Andrew - <br /><br />Another quick thing re: celebs. Nolte always liked to say that he didn't attack celebrities of yesteryear because they were PROponents of something and he wouldn't attack someone for standing for something... as opposed to Opponents, who just hate and hate.<br /><br />Fair enough, but if BH existed back in the 50s and 60s, you know Shapiro, et al would be doing write-ups of people like Gregory Peck and how they're not real Americans and where are all the classic stars, like Mary Pickford? (Taking that analogy back even further in time!)<br /><br />And even now, all a celebrity has to do is say something slightly positive about Obama and they're branded a Socialist.<br /><br />We've talked about it before but it's really a lose-lose.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-2366085898517988982013-06-07T23:50:37.778-04:002013-06-07T23:50:37.778-04:00P.S. That does sound really cynical about them rea...P.S. That does sound really cynical about them reading Ike's note in a mocking tone. It doesn't sound particularly accurate either. I don't remember the scene though.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-46040695512393163452013-06-07T23:49:36.407-04:002013-06-07T23:49:36.407-04:00Rustbelt, I honestly don't remember it enough ...Rustbelt, I honestly don't remember it enough to state anything with certainty. All I can say for sure is that it was very pretty, but it left me cold. So cold that I don't really remember it and I usually do remember things I watch. I also haven't had any desire to re-watch it.<br /><br />I haven't seen <i>Ike</i>, but it sounds interesting. I can imagine that DeGaulle was a real jerk.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-7897220721450972902013-06-07T23:01:09.076-04:002013-06-07T23:01:09.076-04:00Andrew, thinking a little harder about BoB, I thin...Andrew, thinking a little harder about BoB, I think another problem is that all the characters were pretty much the same. All the dialogue was alike. They were pretty much interchangeable. Plus, the filmmakers emphasis on how miserable they were didn't help. About the only thing that separated them was the degree of anger they kept showing.<br /><br />As for extra cynicism, I think the scene that rubbed me the wrong way and set the tone for the series was when the paratroopers were handed the message from General Eisenhower. One of them proceeds to read it in the most mocking manner possible. This after most of the actual troops said they found Ike's words inspirational. (I guess Hanks and Spielberg had other opinions about Eisenhower. Surprise, surprise.)<br /><br />On that note, I'd like to recommend a recent- and decent- war movie: "Ike: Countdown to D-Day." (2004- A&E) No battle scenes at all. It just shows everything that Ike (Tom Selleck) had to deal with as he and his staff planned the invasion- German moves in France, a general blurting out the invasion plans while drunk in a restaurant, Monty's ego, the weather, and plenty of other problems. It heavily focuses on Ike's relationship with Churchill. And IMO, if the real Ike's encounters with General DeGaulle were half as irritating as they are in this film, Ike had the patience of a saint.<br /><br />-Rustbelt Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-86819500597603045212013-06-07T21:14:20.961-04:002013-06-07T21:14:20.961-04:00T-Rav, That could well be. There are certainly ac...T-Rav, That could well be. There are certainly actors who just stink at picking roles. And that's why I'm not saying Cooper necessarily believes this stuff. I just don't know. What I do know is that his films always strike me as a bit "off."AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-46667571393208805042013-06-07T20:48:04.992-04:002013-06-07T20:48:04.992-04:00Yeesh. I'm kind of surprised this movie was ma...Yeesh. I'm kind of surprised this movie was made at all, given the times. <br /><br />As for Cooper, I don't know. Maybe he was just a bad judge of roles?T-Ravhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10861218035729479354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-47090995336391987002013-06-07T20:43:28.841-04:002013-06-07T20:43:28.841-04:00Rustbelt, I didn't see When Trumpets Fade, but...Rustbelt, I didn't see <i>When Trumpets Fade</i>, but it sounds like par for the course on modern war movies. Look at all the Iraq war films and you will see that the soldiers are always presented as blood thirsty, cowardly, racist/rapist morons who are the dupes of big business. That is Hollywood's new default mode. What interests me about <i>Cordura</i> is that you already see the identical allegations in a movie from 1959. That really wipes out the idea that Hollywood's cynicism is the result of disillusionment with Nixon or Vietnam... it was already in place long before then.<br /><br />On <i>Band of Brothers</i>, I enjoyed it, but never felt a desire to re-watch it because it felt hollow. It was pretty, but it wasn't anything all that exciting and I never related to it. The points you make could be the reason. In fact, the one memory I really have of the series is the anger they all had for one of their officers who doesn't join them in the invasion (David Schwimmer I think). So maybe you're on to something!<br /><br />In any event, let me toss out another movie that fits exactly what you're talking about -- <i>Saving Private Ryan</i>. I remember a lot of conservatives latching onto that one because "it kicked ass" (a direct quote I heard every time the film was mentioned). But they ignored how unlikeable so many of the characters were and how they all kept talking about there being no point to fighting. None of them seemed to know why they were fighting. Tom Sizemore even gives a speech on that point -- I talk about it in the film guide if I an ever get that thing finished.<br /><br /><i>Ryan</i> struck me as the first attempt to revise WWII through the ideas of the Vietnam generation. And it leaves me cold.<br /><br />Totally agree on the shaky cam. I hate that thing with a passion.<br />AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-68927447776391500762013-06-07T20:21:34.603-04:002013-06-07T20:21:34.603-04:00(...continued)
The other is 'Band of Brothers...(...continued)<br /><br />The other is 'Band of Brothers.' I know this got a LOT of critical acclaim, but it reminded too much of 'When Trumpets Fade.' <br /><br />Exactly how many times did the soldiers complain that the war was meaningless? Every single episode? Rather than repeat my last post, let me just say everything above applies here. Historical accuracy aside, I felt an unusual detachment from this series. Either the actors didn't seem to care, or they were intentionally bland. (One critic said the series was "all backdrop, and no frontdrop.) <br /><br />Also, I have to agree with critics who noted the soldiers complain and drone on mightily through the series until they discover the concentration camp. Oh, my! After all this dreary cinematography, there IS a reason to fight! (No surprise the episode is called 'Why We Fight.') Yeah, it's based on real events. But producers and directors can focus material on themes of their choosing. Hanks and Spielberg got a little too obvious, even for their buddy critics. (And Hanks' comments that the sequel series- "The Pacific"- shows WWII was racist sure doesn't help my increasing animosity to BoB.)<br /><br />And one more thing: the shaky cam can go to Hell!<br /><br />-RustbeltAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-18099520367461301172013-06-07T20:03:35.080-04:002013-06-07T20:03:35.080-04:00Andrew, I haven't seen this movie, either. But...Andrew, I haven't seen this movie, either. But from what you've said, it doesn't sound like it has any redeeming features with its 'cynicism galore.'<br /><br />Interestingly, it reminds of two more recent war movies.<br /><br />The first is 'When Trumpets Fade.' (1998) Made-for-HBO. Basically, it's about a soldier fighting in the Battle of the Hurtgen Forest in 1944. The thing is just a mess. The lead soldier is an a$$. He spends the whole film trying to get a section 8 due to combat stress (no Kilnger-style humor in sight). During the course of the film, he gets promoted because his NCO's are killed, he tries to bargain his way into a discharge, executes a flamethrower-carrying soldier who runs off, challenges his superiors to kill him, and basically just acts demoralized. Oh, yeah. His superior officers see battle for the first time, fall apart mentally, and see the futility of war. The film ends by mentioning that this battle has been forgotten because it's overshadowed by the Battle of the Bulge.<br /><br />This was promoted as 'WWII through the Vietnam lens.' A better tagline might've been, 'All soldiers are depressed a$$es, kill their own, and everything is ultimately meaningless.' I guess we're supposed to see the lead soldier as hero because he overcomes his selfishness when he leads an attack on some German tanks to clear the way, but it doesn't work for me. <br /><br />I'm not going to say that all soldiers were gung-ho. Certainly, many suffered trauma and depression. But this is just demoralizing. All the characters are either pieces of crap or optimists just waiting to see 'reality.' (If the behind-the-scenes footage showed some hipsters smoking weed behind the cameras, I wouldn't be shocked. <br /><br />(continued...)<br /><br />-Rustbelt Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-46938711483958029172013-06-07T18:21:54.192-04:002013-06-07T18:21:54.192-04:00Scott,
That was a huge problem for Fail Safe. Bu...Scott,<br /><br />That was a huge problem for <i>Fail Safe</i>. But even beyond that, I just didn't think it was a well-done film. It lacked subtlety.<br /><br />Yeah, BH had an odd view of the film work at times.<br /><br />I think you are right for the most part about actors, but not always. By the time a star becomes a big name with a choice of roles, and when you can start to see patterns, then I think it's safe to reach conclusions. In this case, as I say in the article, I find Cooper confusing. There's something strange about his choices that is hard to put my finger on.<br /><br />On needing a sympathetic character, that's true. Without someone to sympathize with, the story becomes difficult to like and you have nothing to hope for really. That said, I think we were supposed to sympathize with Cooper just on the basis that he's being attacked by the rest who are all jerks, but it's not enough.<br />AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-67077215638893862862013-06-07T18:13:31.461-04:002013-06-07T18:13:31.461-04:00Just some random thoughts for the room:
-Fail-Saf...Just some random thoughts for the room:<br /><br />-<i>Fail-Safe</i>, while a good film, doesn't quite work because it was already beaten to the punch by <i>Dr. Strangelove</i> and once you satirize something, it's hard to take seriously.<br /><br />-I 1000% agree re: BH and rose-colored glasses. The stars of yesteryear had their vices - in some ways they were better, in other ways they were worse. They were also products of their time and above all, they were human. But say something even remotely negative about The Duke or Clint Eastwood and the BH gang would ride you out of town on the rails!<br /><br />-It's also usually a fool's errand to judge an actor's movie roles through the prism of politics. Fonda, Peck, etc. are the exceptions, as are modern actors like Matt Damon and Sean Penn... but 99% of actors aren't A-listers - they're working stiffs who sometimes just need a paycheck. Or they can compartmentalize - I said this before but if I make/star in a movie with an evil businessman, it doesn't necessarily mean that I'm anti-capitalist.<br /><br />-But after reading this review - and I'd never even heard of the film - I'm reminded of why movies need at least one sympathetic everyman. And it's something I've tried to do in my own creative work: the lead characters might be cynical dicks but at least have one supporting character to represent the audience.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-13837217749194485032013-06-07T18:02:08.999-04:002013-06-07T18:02:08.999-04:00K, LOL! I think it's a computer. We're a...K, LOL! I think it's a computer. We're awash in what appears to be Russian or Polish spam -- over 200 hits a day from the same source. It's all gibberish.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-59837150124658127912013-06-07T17:58:46.528-04:002013-06-07T17:58:46.528-04:00Either something has gone wrong with the Turing te...Either something has gone wrong with the Turing test or this Anonymous guy is quite the dadaist. Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16289856510554336990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-60069210569070247272013-06-07T16:18:05.705-04:002013-06-07T16:18:05.705-04:00Thanks K!
"A queer duck" is a good way ...Thanks K!<br /><br />"A queer duck" is a good way to put how I see him as well. It's hard to put my finger on it, but time and again, I feel there's something strange about his characters. I get a similar feeling with Peck. Peck's films are always negative and de-motivational somehow. He seems to project anger and hopelessness whether the role calls for it or not. I get a similar feeling from Cooper in the sense that he seems to project hopelessness. <i>Cordura</i> is one of the first times where I think a very clear political statement can be attached as well. If this film were made today, I think it would fit right in with the worst leftist anti-Iraq war films.<br /><br />In terms of something changing, I suspect the real key was fame/power. When he did <i>Sergeant York</i>, I doubt he had the power to do much more than act. But by the time he did <i>Cordura</i>, he had enough power to control his own films. Or, it could be what you suggest and he took a hard-left turn after the HUAC. Or it could just be he liked the story. It's hard to tell, which is why I find this interesting.<br /><br /><i>Fail Safe</i> absolutely feels like propaganda.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-36805341826030550812013-06-07T16:05:16.950-04:002013-06-07T16:05:16.950-04:00Nice article, Andrew.
Cooper has always seemed a...Nice article, Andrew. <br /><br />Cooper has always seemed a queer duck to me from a political messaging POV. He fit the part of the individualist hero guy so well that he was pretty typecast in that roll - whatever the message of the movie. When he did Cordura he had his own production company and may well have wanted to play something against type - just to be different. <br /><br />In Cooper's case, if you're looking for a turning point between Sergeant York and Cordura, the HUAC was likely an influence. Cooper testified but refused to name names. <br /><br />Personally, I'm a fan of Fonda's Fail Safe - not because of it's now discredited message, but as an example of a near flawless propaganda film. Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16289856510554336990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-33925146012332822772013-06-07T16:04:41.049-04:002013-06-07T16:04:41.049-04:00wulfscott, Welcome! I go back and forth on Sergea...wulfscott, Welcome! I go back and forth on <i>Sergeant York</i>. On the one hand, he is presented as quite a simpleton. But on the other hand, I think the film as a whole really does fit the American ideal. He's the guy who only wants to be left alone but felt he had to finally act because it was the right thing to do. He does things his way. He succeeds wildly and yet remains very humble. And the others around him seem to accept him -- in particular, the industrialists who meet him at the end accept him without trying to change him and see the nobility within him. I think a lot of that fits the American mythos of the reluctant hero.<br /><br />That's an interesting take on <i>High Noon</i>. I don't think that's what Foreman intended, he was intending to make a statement about the HUAAC, but it really does fit the film. As an aside, the Soviets hated the film. They banned it for "glorifying the individual."<br /><br />On <i>Cordua</i>, I don't think you'll miss anything by skipping it. To me, it really does leave a bad taste in the mouth.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.com