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TOTW 18/07: Do you think classic cowboy icons like the "Marlboro Man" were proto
Brown Eyes:
Just as a reminder, here are some images of James Dean looking Ennis-like. These were posted earlier in this thread by Chrissi.
<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/midsize/3047748-41a.jpg" border="0" />
<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/midsize/3047741-7e0.jpeg" border="0" />
<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/midsize/3047746-a93.jpg" border="0" />
<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/midsize/3047719-a4e.jpg" border="0" />
<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/midsize/3047745-b27.jpeg" border="0" />
And, then in terms of a very close Ennis-James Dean pose... I think this one must have been in the back of someone's mind during the shooting. On my very first viewing of BBM, I remember thinking that this was a classic James Dean-look in this pre-reunion moment
<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/thumb/3109699-f19.gif" border="0" />
<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/1668336-440.jpg" border="0" />
Finally, this is one of the spookiest images (I think). I think this pic of James Dean could easily be mistaken for Heath upon first glance. Just amazing. :o
<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/midsize/3047747-3f8.jpg" border="0" />
Brown Eyes:
Heya,
So, I just finished watching Giant... and I thought I'd post my initial impressions and then I'll leave this topic alone. Nothing I say here will constitute any kind of real spoiler.
First of all, Liz Taylor is just wonderful in it. I think she really carries the film. And she and Rock Hudson certainly are the dominant protagonists in the movie with James Dean's character hovering on the fringes/margins as an outsider (which is what his character is).
Overall Giant reminds me of BBM in that both look like westerns in every way (location, costume, certain plot elements) but, each really can be characterized as other genres as well. As we've been discussing there's a way in which BBM can be seen as a pure drama/love-story and, it's very evident that the best fit in terms of genre for Giant is really a classic melodrama (which is not at all surprising given Rock Hudson's involvement in the film).
One other big thing that they hold in common is that both are based on literature written by female authors (in Giant's case the novel by Edna Ferber). And, both films are/were socially controversial. I watched a bit of the special features on Giant and they begin by making a point about how difficult it was to get the film funded and made. It was apparently such an unpopular/controversial book in Texas that there was a lot of furor over it initially. Like BBM, Giant highlights big social issues (but in a somewhat more blatantly didactic way)... in the case of Giant the issues really are sexism and racism/poverty.
And then there are some fun details that could stand as comparisons with BBM. Right after the opening credits, the film begins with a train coming into the frame much like BBM. And, later Thanksgiving is a big highlighted/tension-filled holiday in Giant and compares two different Thanksgivings happening simultaneously in two different locations. When it comes to physical comparisons between James Dean's character and Ennis, well the comparisons are strikingly numerous (too many to elaborate in detail). In terms of mannerisms and certain poses there's most certainly something going on between those two characters. They're definitely not exact (not at all), but there's definitely a lot to compare... even things like a certain mumbled/taciturn style of speaking. Some of these comparisons come across better while watching the action of the film than in looking at these still photos.
Front-Ranger:
Amanda, I received the Heath tribute issue of The Advocate as a gift, and I got to see the image of Heath next to the one of James Dean. Spellbinding!!
Brown Eyes:
Heya,
I was just flipping the channels and came upon Ride the High Country on TCM right at 8 pm when it was just starting. So, I'm watching it now. I've never seen it before and have been curious about it ever since this thread.
I'm only 30 minutes into it. But, I'm enjoying it so far.
I've noticed 2 potentially direct BBM connections so far (beyond the scenery and the cowboys).
1) one of the very first scenes of this western involves a camel!
2) There's a prominent line early on... in this case: "If he don't, I will."
--- Quote from: atz75 on February 21, 2008, 01:12:18 am ---I'm posting again, because while glancing through the Story to Screenplay book tonight, I noticed yet another explicit and concrete example of a reference to a historic cowboy movie written into the screenplay (at least this published version of the screenplay).
Of course this one on p. 60 has already been discussed a lot on this thread:
"EXT: RIVERTON, WYOMING: RANCH: BACK OF HAY TRUCK: DAY: 1972:
ENNIS stands in the back of a hay truck, looking much like James Dean in 'Giant.' Throws open bales of hay out to the cows.
ENNIS
Come on! Come on!"
And, this second reference actually comes right before the "maybe Texas" scene and is found on p. 70. It says:
"EXT: WYOMING MOUNTAINS: DAY: 1978:
JACK and ENNIS ride through the mountains, like Randolph Scott and Joel McCrea in 'Ride the High Country,' only more life-worn, more weather-beaten."
So, here are some images I found doing quick web searches for Ride the High Country (1962).
<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/3843779-875.jpg" border="0" /> <img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/3843788-067.jpg" border="0" />
<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/midsize/3843782-764.jpg" border="0" />
<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/3843781-7e3.jpg" border="0" />
The most interesting component of the Ride the High Country reference, I think has as much to do with Randolph Scott as with the film itself. In Hollywood there is longstanding and fairly well substantiated speculation that Scott may have had an affair with Cary Grant. They Scott and Grant lived together for many years. So, again here we have an example of subtext hovering just below the surface of a famous western image.
Here's just a nice photo of Scott:
<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/midsize/3843780-918.jpg" border="0" />
And here are two apparently, somewhat famous photos of him with Cary Grant taken at their home. I found one on Wikipedia and one on Answers.com:
<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/3843786-20d.jpg" border="0" /> <img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/3843787-0de.jpg" border="0" />
Here's a link to the Wikipedia page about Scott (it's a very large page on his film career, his military service, etc. and then at the end there's a long section called "Rumored homosexuality"). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randolph_Scott
And, here's a link to the Answers.com page about Scott, which is almost a duplicate of the Wikipedia page in many regards, but this also has lots of nice thumbnails of many of his movie posters. http://www.answers.com/randolph+scott?cat=entertainment
Here's just a taste of the blurb from Answers.com
Anyway, just thought this was interesting. Reading the direction notes in the Story to Screenplay book is actually pretty revealing about certain scenes. And, of course it's fun to find the places where the screenplay differs (sometimes greatly) from what the finished film actually seems to show.
--- End quote ---
Front-Ranger:
WOw, thanks for letting us benefit from your channel surfing, friend! I'll have to hunt up that movie asap!!
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