Clint Eastwood - All action, and... some more action... and, lots more action

Gregory Peck - who must have inspired all others to be a muse....

The muse of all times - Audrey Hepburn

Elvis Presley - The King still rules...

Top Ten - Western Movies

The best of the movies for any movie-loving kid, of any age...

1. The Magnificent Seven (1960)
2. For a Few Dollars More (1965)
3. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)
4. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
5. Mackenna's Gold
6. Gunfight at the OK Corral (1957)
7. Unforgiven
8. They call me Trinity (1971)
9. Trinity is still my name (1972)
10. Lonesome Dove

Hornet's Nest

Another movie, that would just about not get into the list of my all-time favorites. But, I like the movie, because of its period genre of the second world war, made in the US at the time of the stink about the Vietnam War, and entirely to bring together the hype of the macho US army soldier. Absolutely done, as required, by Rock Hudson.

I saw it during the same months as "Too Late the Hero", and many a year went by, with memory playing tricks and bringing the stories together... Imagine... Rock Hudson, Henry Fonda and Michael Caine... doing the suicide run, and later, blowing up the dam.

Of course, it was Henry Fonda and Michael Caine in the suicide run, and Rock Hudson, blowing up the dam.

Too Late the Hero

A movie that would just about not be able to sneak in to my list of great movies. Actually most purists would not even include it in any list. But, its a good movie. I saw it in Aurora Cinema at King's Circle, Mumbai in 1975 with my father, and later thrice, in 1976 with my grandfather. They came, each time, to see Michael Caine, in an action movie.

I went with them to watch Michael Caine, but ended up watching and appreciating Henry Fonda, instead. The scenes where they run zigzag to avoid the Japanese bullets and the cockroach race, are classic.

-----------------------------

A review -

Filmed on location in the Philippines, Suicide Run is the alternate title of the British war thriller Too Late the Hero. Cliff Robertson stars as an opportunistic, mildly cowardly US navy lieutenant who is reluctantly recruited for a suicide mission. When his CO is killed, Robertson is forced into a leadership position, ordering his men forward to destroy a Japanese outpost. Michael Caine, Harry Andrews and Denholm Elliott play key roles, while Henry Fonda makes a pre-credits guest appearance as the man who gives Robertson his marching orders. Suicide Run caused a serious rift in the relationship between star Cliff Robertson and director Robert Aldrich, when the latter would not give the former time off from shooting so he could go to the Academy Awards ceremonies to pick up his Oscar for Charly. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

GANDHI

A movie that I cannot include in any list. Its an entirely different genre, in a list by itself, and in a class of its own. You cannot ever compare it with another movie. But, yes... there is one other movie... it is the same movie, dubbed in Hindi. Both superhits.

Ben Kingsley, as the Mahatma, won the Oscar in 1982 or 1983, if I remember correctly. The movie won several other awards. Simply because, you could not avoid giving it the awards in most categories.

Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Maulana Azad meet with the British after the Jalianwala Bagh Massacre. Kinnock, played by the famous actor from "Yes, Minister" is on the other side.

Gandhi asks the British to leave India. The British are sceptical and ask him if he really believes that the British would leave India, "just like that"? Yes, replies Gandhi. He talks of non-cooperation. A really cool video clip, that presents the courage, humility, pragmatism and the sensibilities of that time.

A violent reaction to the Jalianwala Bagh issue would perhaps have destroyed the freedom movement. Cinema history, about history... Excellent.

My Fair Lady

"Luverly" - A classic video song montage featuring Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady, using the London Vegetable Market situation to excellent advantage.

Lawrence of Arabia

A classic shot from Lawrence of Arabia - When Peter O'Toole rides his camel into the sea...

The scene where Anthony Quinn moves in on an unsuspecting Peter O'Toole is also classic cinema history.

Who can forget the scene where Omar Sharif, playing Prince Ali, makes his first entry in the movie, "Lawrence of Arabia"? He shoots the person drinking from his well, from a long distance gun shot, and then rides in on a petrified Peter O'Toole, playing Lawrence. I can never forget this scene.

If I had only known - Reba McEntire

I made this Flash Music Player at MyFlashFetish.com.

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers - remade in Hindi as "Satte pe Satta" starring Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini and others. Watch the original English movie and then understand and accept that a classic is a classic is a classic... always.

The songs, the locations, the story idea, and the sub plots within - the community that comes together to build a house. Fantastic stuff.

The Sound of Music

Yet another classic. Done to death in Hindi Cinema with Jeetendra and Jaya Bhaduri and the lord alone knows in how many other versions in other languages in India. But nothing to beat Julie Andrews, as she strums ''Do re mi" - that taught millions of Indians that there was another world outside "sa re ga ma"...

I went to see the Von Trapp castle in Vermont, where they resettled after they escaped from the Nazis in Austria. In the same valley, is Rudyard Kipling's home.

My Fair Lady

From the classic Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw - came a beautiful movie, starring Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn. Of course, Rex Harrison burnt all his goodwill with me, after starring in the Hindi Fiasco - "Shalimar" - but the movie is a classic. Audrey Hepburn, with the song, "The rain in spain", and her father doing a falsetto dance... in the streets of London, when the sewer lines are being laid. Classic movie.

Reba McEntire - Take the mountain

The famous video from Reba McEntire - "I'm gonna take that mountain" - is significant of the approach that women should hold within themselves.

As a movie media by itself, I am most impressed by the video. It's totally complete within itself and does not require any story before or after the video.

Lonesome Dove - A Photo Album

Tommy Lee Jones - as Woodrow in "Lonesome Dove". A classic role. A King in his own right.

The Book by Larry Mc Murtry. Several fiction titles in Westerns. But after "Lonesome Dove", he does not even have to write another word.

Crossing the river... during the great move in the movie. The signatures are that of Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones.

Robert Duvall as "Gus" in Lonesome Dove. A role that was starkly different from that of "Hagen" in Godfather, or later as "Lenin" in Lenin.

Woodrow watching the great march on its way. A classic portrayal of the movie.

All photographs are with copyright of their owners. I am merely paying a tribute here.

Gregory Peck - A tribute

From Gregory Peck's OBIT in CNN.com -

"Peck was best known for roles of dignified statesmen and people who followed a strong code of ethics: a magazine reporter confronting anti-Semitism in "Gentleman's Agreement" (1947, a best picture Oscar winner), a military officer in "The Guns of Navarone" (1961), the president of the United States in "Amazing Grace and Chuck" (1987).

But he also could play against type. He was a conflicted father in the original "Cape Fear" (1962) and a Nazi in "The Boys From Brazil" (1978), the latter against Laurence Olivier's Nazi hunter.

He also gave an air of wondrous bemusement to his reporter in Audrey Hepburn's first major film, "Roman Holiday" (1953), for which Hepburn won an Oscar. "

Gregory Peck was nominated for five Academy Awards. Besides "Mockingbird," he also was nominated for "The Keys of the Kingdom" (1945), "The Yearling" (1946), "Gentleman's Agreement" and "Twelve O'Clock High" (1949).

He made his film debut in 1944 with "Days of Glory," playing a Russian, and followed that with a Roman Catholic priest in "The Keys to the Kingdom," Alfred Hitchcock's "Spellbound" (1945) and "The Yearling." By that point, he had established himself as a major star.

Quo Vadis - The Movie's Trailor.

Quo Vadis - Often mentioned as the "greatest movie ever made" - with the most stunning performance by an actor - in Peter Ustinov playing the Emperor Nero. This is the movie's trailor that introduces you to the movie in its splendor. Watch the complete movie with patience. When you have watched it entirely, stop, breathe, and see it again. There's nothing better than this.

Audrey Hepburn receives the Oscar for her performance in Roman Holiday

Audrey Hepburn receives the Oscar for her performance in "Roman Holiday". This is part of Cinema History. I got the shot from YouTube.

I will delete it if anyone objects to copyright infringement, if any.

Roman Holiday 1 - When Princess Anne rides the Lambretta in Rome

The scene where Princess Anne rides the Lambretta with Joe Bradley in the streets of Rome. From http://www.audrey1.com/

The video will be deleted if the web manager from audrey1 objects.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Perhaps, one of the most under-rated westerns and movies of all times in India, at least. But maybe not so, among buffs.

Indians perhaps saw, really really saw Robert Redford as a true genius in this movie. What struck me most, was the movement of the story from the US to South America and the cowboys and lifestyle in those locations.

The cycle scene, with Robert Redford and Katharine Ross is of course Cinema History. And the last gunfight, almost similarly depicted in Sholay, Mera Gaon Mera Desh and a score of other movies, ... but not enough to beat the last move... leaves you gasping for breath, scene after scene after scene.

A Bridge Too Far

A great world war 2 movie. Excellent movie for most Indians who know about the World War 2 nowadays from their miserably edited History textbooks only.

Have you ever seen a movie with James Caan, Michael Caine and Sean Connery together? Well, here it is. Is that not a good combination? Good? Wait - there's more. Add Edward Fox, Gene Hackmann and Anthony Hopkins? Better? Wait - there's more. Add Laurence Olivier, Ryan O'Neal and Liv Ullmann. Awesome. What a group of actors. The Multi-starrer to beat all multi-starrers.

Ryan O'Neal in his Air Force Bomber Jacket set the fashion trend to follow. Tom Cruise and others later, look too tame in comparison.

What a relief to see Sean Connery away from his James Bond image, with his thick scottish accent. Excellent role.

As you see the movie again and again and again, as I did, at least 20 times, you live the tragedy with the soldiers, again and again and again. If only...

Watch it.

Stalag 17

The comedy to beat all comedies. Otto Preminger, Billy Wilder and William Holden. Awesome. Saw it at Aurora Cinema, King's Circle, Mumbai with classmates from Khalsa college. And we found that our college teachers were seated behind us, watching the movie.

The movie bridged the gap between all of us, and we ended up being good friends since then.

Excellent world war 2 movie, takes off on "The Great Escape" and other such movies, but in a serious manner of its own. William Holden, brooding and handsome, stands out in the movie with its entire collection of characters.

Who can forget the guy who takes a brush and bucket of white paint and begins to paint his way to the Russian Women soldiers POW barracks? Or, the use of the "Queen" in the chess game to pass messages?

Get the VCD or DVD. Watch it.

The Godfather

"I'am gonna make him an offer he can't refuse" - Who can forget it? Both, from the book by Mario Puzo and from the movie by Francis Ford Coppola, who can forget Marlon Brando, as Don Vito Corleone, saying those words and chilling the audience.

What a star cast! Marlon Brando, James Caan, Robert Duvall and Al Pacino. Truly made as a great movie. Was predicted to be a world beater, and continues to be one, even as a part of the trilogy. If only, if only, if only - Robert De Niro was included in the first one, as Andy Garcia was in the 3rd. If only.

Inspite, it is still cinema history.

Omar Mukhtar - Lion of the Desert

Anthony Quinn - after Guns of Navarone and Lawrence of Arabia, as Omar Mukhtar in a rendition of the true story of the legend, the lion of the desert.

Awesome movie. Most of the movie is forgotten as one remembers Anthony Quinn on his horse, encouraging his Bedouin warriors to fight.

Kagemusha

Most film addicts in India would never have even heard of Akiro Kurosawa. I was one of them untill I saw Kagemusha. And, after that I was totally a fan of Kurosawa. I was always jealous of friends from Japan, because they were closer to Kurosawa's movies in the Japanese language than others around the world.

When I was in Okayama, in December 2006, I kept asking for VCDs and DVDs of Kagemusha and other Kurosawa movies, but was very disappointed that most friends in Japan actually laughed at my fascination.

Kurosawa, David Lean, Satyajit Ray - in one breath. And the people from that land could not guide me to a decent DVD store for Kagemusha.

The movie itself - breathless. Is what it makes you, breathless. The classic story has been the inspiration, perhaps for Don and several other such movies. And perhaps if it is not based on a true story, can also be related to Alexandre Dumas' "The Man in the Iron Mask". Or is it vice-versa?

I hope someone makes it in good colour renditions, and dubs it in English so that the entire world can enjoy it.

Lonesome Dove

Not a movie, actually. A TV Series from the classic novel, "Lonesome Dove" by Larry McMurty. But most deserving of a movie status than most movies in that genre.

Classic Western. Cinema History. Movie Legend.

I had never heard of "Tommy Lee Jones" untill I had seen this movie, in Micanopy, near Gainesville, Florida, in 1993 in the home of my Professor, Dr. Charles Woods. He and Missy, introduced me to the magic of Lonesome Dove. I saw it twice, the second time with Patty, who had not seen it earlier, I think.

Tommy Lee Jones, was again introduced to me as the "Amitabh Bachchan of the US" by Francine Berkowitz at the Smithsonian.

Tommy Lee Jones, Robert Duvall (who played Hagen in Godfather) and Angelica Huston, make for a hauntingly memorable movie that spans the westerns and the land. The cattle, the rivers, the land, the canyons, the horses and the rattlesnakes and the rain. Awesome.

The chuckwagon and the cook. The small town. The two pigs. The sign board. All of them contribute to the movie.

Mackenna's Gold

"Better put on your belt, Mackenna, or, your pants may fall down!" - who can forget that dialogue from Omar Sharif to Gregory Peck.

A totally different panorama from Lawrence of Arabia, where Omar Sharif plays a Sheikh's Warrior Son in Arabia to a brigand cowboy in the American West who dreams of becoming a playboy in Paris.

India, and Mumbai, saw the American Indians up close, for the first time in Mackenna's Gold and empathised with them more than with the story.

Boys in Mumbai practised for days on end to swing their pen knife and small made-up hatchet axes in the manner that the American Indians threw them.

I must have gone on at least 3 so called "expeditions" in 1975-76 with my "gang" from school, Sunil Gvalani, Zaheer Allam Abbas and Melwyn Aruja, to Antop Hill to hunt for gold canyons.

Lawrence of Arabia

This movie towers above most others for its sheer scale, historical value, cinematic panorama, and for the actors. What a group of actors - Peter O'Toole, Omar Sharif, Anthony Quinn, David Niven and for interest to Indians, most of all, I. S. Johar.

The late Shri I. S. Johar, an excellent actor, an English Professor, plays a beautiful cameo in this movie and was usually not recognised in India, whenever the movie played in theatres.

Peter O'Toole and Omar Sharif go head-to-head in this vast movie. The sheer scale of Arabia, the coasts, the cities, the sand, the desert, the oases and the people, were part of the magnificence brought together by David Lean.

Omar Sharif is awesome. Dark, brooding, handsome, rugged and excellently portrayed.

Peter O'Toole plays Lawrence. Read the "Seven Pillars of Wisdom" and read about "Lawrence". There is a lot of knowledge and wisdom out there, if you read about Lawrence of Arabia.

The Guns of Navarone

The action movie to beat all action movies about the 2nd World War. Gregory Peck plays Mallory, the mountaineer, who had earlier climbed Mount Everest in the movie. Anthony Quinn and David Niven make the movie that much more better.

The Guns of Navarone was followed by "Force 10 from Navarone" but had Harrison Ford, if I am not wrong.

Both the movies were from novels written by Alistair MacLean, and the books are equally good.

But there is nothing to beat watching Gregory Peck, in the rainy night, at the helm of the Fishing Boat, cool and steady, with a hot cup of coffee... a scene for cinematic history.

I must have seen this movie more than 25 times, and at least more than 5-8 times with my Grandfather.

Quo Vadis

Again, an excellent movie. The story line is extremely thin. The movie has to be seen again and again to see Peter Ustinov acting theatrically as Emperor Nero. The movie actually has a scene of him "fiddling while Rome burnt"...

Peter Ustinov also later played in "Fiddler on the Roof" and became a documentary director. He was the last person to see the late Smt. Indiraji Gandhi alive. His interview was completed barely 30 minutes before her assasination.

Roman Holiday

What a movie! My topmost of my top 10. Who will forget Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck as they move around Rome. I must have seen it at least 25 times or more. I cannot forget all the elderly Parsi ladies on Pateti, way back in 1973, at Regal (Mumbai) in the night show, crying and sniffing through the last scenes.

Audrey Hepburn when she emerges with the haircut - brought a gasp from the entire audience in Regal in 1973, in Aurora (Kings Circle, Mumbai) in 1975 and kept wowing audiences always.