As some background information, you should know I have a big place in my heart for Gary Cooper, although not as big a place as I've got for Jimmy Stewart. I also am incredibly inclined to love old patriotic films. I was born close to 4th of July and I've always been quite the patriot in some ways. Additionally, I am a huge fan of American Dream movies, as long as they were made several decades ago. Also usually love those Capra morality tales. With these stipulations in mind, you can bet correctly that I love all the films you are thinking of. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington? Definitely. Yankee Doodle Dandy? Oh, it made me weep! The Spirit of St. Louis? Tremendous! et cetera, et cetera. I also really love prison movies, but that's another post.
Well, it turns out, I didn't love Sergeant York. Very surprising, indeed. I am not exactly sure why I didn't think it was grand. hmmmmm. On the other hand, the actual story of Alvin Cullum York is remarkable and fascinating. And it is also pretty grand that York refused to authorize a film version of his biography unless Gary Cooper would play him. Pretty solid taste, I say.
Gary Cooper is certainly better lookin' than the real York.Sorry the above picture is sideways. I am too lazy to fix that right now. It's (probably obviously) a picture of the tv. heh. From an odd but enjoyable film, It's a Big Country.
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4 comments:
Wow, I normally can't stand Gary Cooper and this is absolutely my favorite Cooper performance and film. I think folksy fits Cooper like a glove and he's just so damn earnest and upright here. At the same time though I think he does a lot of good internal work (as opposed to just physical and presentational acting) as you see the wheels start to turn as York begins to develop as a human being.
I'm not quite sure I understand why this particularly didn't work for you. Care to elaborate some in the comments?
I'm not quite sure I understand why this particularly didn't work for me either. haha. Well, it was too long. I don't mind lengthy movies, but a lot of the first half of this was unnecessary. ehhh, I started writing out what I thought when I was writing the post and I couldn't articulate it at all so I don't think I will be able to now.
And I didn't dislike this film, still gave it 4 stars on Netflix, but I was disappointed I couldn't give it 5. And it was more like a 3.5.
My favorite Cooper performance is Ball of Fire with Barbara Stanwyck. She's pretty swell. Also love High Noon. But that also only got 4 stars.
Ball of Fire is good but INCREDIBLY dated. I prefer Stanwyck is WAY more interesting than Cooper in it though. See now that is a movie I think could stand to be updated but I would make sure that the professors were at least SLIGHTLY more culturally savvy. I'm not saying they would see and understand everything they saw but come on, it's not like they're animated princesses' visiting New York for the first time.
hahaha, you just had to bring in Amy Adams some how, didn't you? ;-)
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