Comments on Destructible Man: Gunman's Walk (Phil Karlson, 1958)

I seriously enjoyed your analysis of this movie, h...

2009-12-30T14:30:59.127-08:00

I seriously enjoyed your analysis of this movie, however I stumbled upon it. However! May I respectfully point out- that the horse was called "a white MARE"-- a female. Technically, it was an albino, not 'white'-and I could not tell on the film whether it was in reality a mare. More likely a gelding-- since mare's would not rear up as in the film, as a rule.
There is no such thing as a white horse, only shades of gray-as in Life. And, movies ARE artforms-- as subject to analysis and personal interpretation as any other art. If I were to view the film-I might take extra time to analyze the reactions/actions treatment of the women, since I am one; or of the Indians, since I am one, now that I claim it;or of the Spanish/Mexicans, since I married into that culture. Since I am also a horse person-I might take extensive time to analyse the treatment of the horses as portrayed in that artwork. True art can function as a mirror, letting you see truths about your self. They are not necessarily the same for everyone. When I first saw Rodin's The Thinker-I thought- hmm, he's having a hard time crapping. I myself struggle with that physiological issue. Did you see that? What do you see when you look at, say, Rodin's She Who Used to be the Beautiful Heaulmere"--excuse the spelling, please. From your anaylysis-- I would say that you are a gay man possibly non white-who had an overbearing controlling father figure. That I look at the Heaulmere statue-and see someone mourning the ravages of time upon my earthly body-I mourn, too. So you can figure out that I'm a post-menopausal female. When I watched Westerns as a child living in Arizona-- it just-- WAS.
Fish who swim in the water rarely analyze the water-it just, is. I never analyzed the dynamic of the possible gay connotations-it was not in my comprehension at the time, nor was it upsetting that the folks were racist. It was just the way it was.
See what I mean? Art is a mirror of self - but it is nice that you shared these, your personal insights about this artform. Um. I doubt that the pictures on either side of the judge's bench meant anything-- it was just the normal kind of thing to have on the wall of a government office. But, who knows? Like that sled- Rosebud- sometimes artsy folks do stuff on purpose. But I doubt seriously that Frosty the Snowman's carrot nose was a phallic symbol... as some have presumed. I do rather wonder where one would get a carrot in the dead of winter-and why that would be the only edible part of the snowman.But to quote someone -- W C Fields? -"Sometimes, a cigar is just a cigar". I do like your website and topics though- I love it that the movies used dummies at that time. Originally-they used to just use a real horse, a disposable one. I understand that movies have gone full circle-that some of the nastiest movies on the fringes are not done with special effects, but with real disposable people. Humans are so nasty, don't you think?

2009-07-15T12:36:45.794-07:00

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To risk this becoming a couch session on the Merv ...

2009-07-15T12:36:45.450-07:00

To risk this becoming a couch session on the Merv Griffin Show...we thank you, Darrell for YOUR kind words. RANCID POPCORN is top-of-the-line. While there are MANY fine voices out there contributing to the current cinema blogosphere, yours is the least "judgemental" and self-applauding. It concerns itself with what riches one can find under the superficial crust and doesn't proclaim to be guilty for enjoying those riches. Superior job! Your last few entries especially.

Kimberly -- Great to see you take time out from your continuously extraordinary CINEBEATS to join us here!

GUNMAN'S WALK is, without reservation, one of the finest westerns ever made. Frank Nugent is an unstoppable screenwriter and Karlson fits himself into the text like a hand in a privately tailored glove. This film wasn't made, it was BORN. It is dark, uncompromising, intimate, emotionally painful and absolutely gorgeous to look at. AND you get the ambiguously gay, narcissistic hot lunch buffet of Darren, Heflin and Hunter! It's currently available only on a Spanish DVD from Colombia. Go figure.

Tab is "the Hunter and the Hunted" and ...

2009-07-14T01:38:43.053-07:00

Tab is "the Hunter and the Hunted"

and he's also the Hottie!

I gotta see this now because I love me some James Darren and with Van and Tad along for the ride I just know I'll enjoy this ambiguously gay western.

2009-07-13T17:50:17.800-07:00

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Your kind comment over in my ballyard reminded me ...

2009-07-13T17:47:20.248-07:00

Your kind comment over in my ballyard reminded me to catch up on the doings in Destructible-land. My goodness! I'm probably most clueless regarding the western genre, and this is something I probably wouldn't have given a second thought. You've really opened it up for me however. I'm glad there was a dummy death to get it on your radar, because your breakdown of the balance of the film is making me put this on the must watch list. So much going on under the surface of these things, isn't there? Viva Macistes!