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Quentin Tarantino and Kirk Douglas show POSSE (1975) at SBIFF and Quint was there!
Ahoy, squirts! Quint here with something a little different. When you go to a film festival the focus is almost always on what’s new. You look forward and not back. Typically. At most festivals there’s a retrospective element, like at Sundance they did a screening of Harold & Maude, one of the great American dark comedies, but those are usually not the priority.
At the Santa Barbara Film Festival I noticed they had a screening of an obscure 1975 movie called POSSE, which Kirk Douglas directed and starred in. The big draw wasn’t just a movie I hadn’t seen before and probably wouldn’t get a chance to see in the near future, but that Quentin Tarantino hand picked it to play at the festival and was going to be hosting a Q&A with the legendary Kirk Douglas after the movie.
Well, Q&K is what they called it, but you get the picture.
So, my last movie of the festival wasn’t a foreign film or an indie or documentary, but a forgotten film from the ‘70s starring one of the biggest and best screen icons in the history of the motion picture.
I might catch some shit for that from some people, but all I can say is that by its very name Film Festivals are a celebration of all cinema, not just new cinema.
This review might feel a little like my old A Movie A Day columns, which is only a good thing, I think. I’ll be starting up a new series of A Movie A Day very soon, so consider this a primer for the new run. Also make sure to scroll below the review to see the entire Q&K recorded by my handy-dandy FlipHD.
This is a mean little film. It’s not Wild Bunch mean… like bloody or intense… but it’s a highly political take on The American Western. POSSE takes your idea of heroes and villains and turns them on their heads as we see Kirk Douglas take on Bruce Dern.
If you’ve seen THE COWBOYS you know that at this point casting Bruce Dern in a Western playing a train robber would be, without a shadow of a doubt, the villain role. Especially with the heroic, square-jawed tin-star-wearing Kirk Douglas trying to bring him to justice.
But things aren’t exactly what they seem… That’s not say that Dern is a straight up hero and Douglas is a straight-up villain. Dern’s still a thief, but Douglas is something worse: a politician.
His Nightingale is running for the Senate seat and is a tried and true politician. He’s good at speeches, he can smile and nod and rub the right elbows… but on top of the politician’s shine he’s also a damn smart lawman, a brilliant tracker and strategist. And did I mention cruel?
The movie opens with Douglas’ posse paying off one of Dern’s men to tip them off on their location. As the outlaws sleep, their recent railroad loot (some $40,000) scattered around the old barn that is their hideout, Douglas’ men sneak in, throw torches and burn them all alive. Dern is outside when the posse rides up and hides amongst the horses, killing one of Douglas’ men before making his escape.
Right away you know that both men are willing and capable of murder, but at first we’re kind of taken in by Nightingale’s charm. A lot of that is the baggage that both actors bring to their roles. You expect that if Douglas is after Dern and willing to kill all of Dern’s men that Dern himself must be fucking Satan.
So we’re automatically torn. Our sympathies should lie with the hunted, not the hunter, but I found myself waiting for the shoe to drop, waiting for Dern to show his true evil colors.
You think that’s coming when Dern’s character, Jack Strawhorn, starts enacting his revenge by killing the Judas from his group in a nearby town’s saloon. But when he’s confronted with the town sheriff he tries to avoid confrontation… The only business he had in town is lying dead in the saloon, but Strawhorn’s reputation has everybody jumpy and the sheriff sees his chance to be a hero. He’s not good enough, naturally, and is shot dead in the street.
Strawhorn high-tails it, turning to his Mexican friend, Pepe (played by Alfonso Arau, who every single one of you knows even if the name doesn’t ring a bell. He is El Guapo in Three Amigos! “It’s a sweater!”), to organize a group of cut-throats as Douglas and his methodical, highly trained posse close in.
But Dern’s men, while mean, are dumbasses and are easily picked apart by Douglas’ posse and, in a surprise turn, Douglas actually captures Dern at this point, still in the first two reels of the movie.
The movie has a 3:10 To Yuma element to it as Douglas and Dern verbally spar as Douglas revels in the political advantage he has now that he’s captured the big, bad Jack Strawhorn. It becomes more and more evident that Douglas has been bought by the Railroad and is so blinded by his ambition to become a powerful politician that all sense of morality has flown out the window.
As immoral as Dern’s character is there’s a “What you see is what you get” honesty to him. He’s a bastard, but hey… at least he’s honest about it whereas Douglas is bastard who is trying to come across as a saint.
Over the film’s runtime the balance of power shifts between Dern and Douglas, sometimes verbally, sometimes physically, and we witness the political destruction of Douglas’ carefully crafted image.
Both lead actors are in fine form as are the supporting cast. There are a lot of recognizable faces in here, like the great Bo Hopkins (of White Lightning, American Graffiti and The Wild Bunch fame) and Luke Askew playing members of Douglas’ posse, Dick O’Neill (The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, Wolfen and The Mosquito Coast) as Douglas’ personal photographer who follows him around like a puppy dog… and then there’s James Stacy.
James Stacy knew some popularity in the ‘60s for doing beach movies and having a regular role on Ozzie & Harriet, but was in a motorcycle accident in the early ‘70s that took an arm and a leg.
In Posse he plays a newspaper man and ex-soldier. He’s the only townsperson not taken in by Douglas’ charm. In what could have been either a throw-away sequence or a boringly overdone one, Stacy has a sit down with Douglas who tries to charm him over to his side. “Why don’t you like me?” Douglas asks. Stacy pauses and says he’s wary of ambitious men. Douglas says that ambition is a good thing, then Stacy mentions his career as a military man and a commander he had. Brilliant man, but too ambitious, reached too far. You get the idea that in reaching too far this commander is responsible for Stacy’s character’s handicap, but it’s not dwelled upon or even made a gigantic moment.
Really smart bit of storytelling and a great performance by Stacy.
The script was written by William Roberts (The Magnificent Seven) and Christopher Knopf (Emperor of the North Pole). I didn’t realize this until writing up this review, but I was absolutely reminded of Emperor of the North Pole while watching the movie. I guess it’s just the inclusion of period badasses (on trains no less) butting heads. In Emperor it’s Ernest Borgnine and Lee Marvin, in this movie it’s Kirk Douglas and Bruce Dern.
It’s a tight, impressive and whip smart political western. And cynical, too. This is post-Watergate and the cynicism is palpable, the distrust in politicians heavy. So it’s a radically different kind of western than you’re used to and boy what a fucking great ending.
After the movie Tarantino and Douglas came up onto the stage and the Q&K began. Instead of recapping it I decided to try a video experiment. Below is the entire Q&A caught by my FlipHD. I apologize for any shaky-cam going on, but I think it turned out pretty good. For any film lover this is going to be a must watch…
Keep in mind Douglas suffered a stroke years back, so it’s a little difficult for him to talk, but you can tell the fire is still there. It’s especially poignant near the end when Douglas talks about how lonely it is being 93 years old, how all of his colleagues are dead and he’s left with little but beautiful memories.
Enjoy:
Hope you liked that. Be back soon with some Sundance catch-up and final pieces on Santa Barbara!
-Quint
quint@aintitcool.com
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Readers Talkback
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FIRST
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Thank you so much for posting this video, Quint.
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Feb. 8, 2010, 5:23 a.m. CST
Sounds Like Another One I Gotta Check Out...
by The Dreaded Rear Admiral
I fell in love with an el-cheapo pack of Westerns from Wal-Mart while visiting my folks. "Cry Blood Apache", "The Grand Duel" were among them. This sounds like another for my yet small Western collection!
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You floating head photoshoppers out there could learn a thing or two.
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nuff said.
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I was 15, and we were huddled in the base theater in P'cola Florida because of a hurricane - theater was used a shelter. The projectionist fired up Posse, and at the time thought it was the coolest movie I had ever seen. And I believe it was the first GP/PG movie I ever saw, as well.
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I can't thank you enough for sharing this with us, absolutely brilliant.
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thats awesome, dude. and DellsDontBounce: what a story! cool.
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quentin is pretty chubby... must have had a good time... hehehe!
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Er, you've got something called a family, haven't you Kirk?!
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And lay off the pies QT!!
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...poster.
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Feb. 8, 2010, 8:49 a.m. CST
WOW, SOMETHING ACTUALLY COOL ON THIS SITE, IMPRESSIVE...
by TehCreepyThinMan
Most impressive....
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Thanks for sharing this stuff with us, Quint!
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Feb. 8, 2010, 9:43 a.m. CST
Wow...That was fuckin great. I love this film
by NomoredirtyjokespleaseweareYanks
I watched it many times in my teens. I'm gonna have to find it again. Kirk Douglas is the man... He is also the only man to make me piss myself with laughter. To be fair, I was ten and it was Cactus Jack.
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But it looks like we're gonna need some subtitles for Kirk's dialog.
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It's really great to see all the positive comments.
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Douglas is no doubt one of the greats; Tarantino is no doubt one of the douciest.
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Could just be perspective. Douglas' chair might've been farther back than Tarantino's. If that's not the case then QT is a giant. Or Douglas is the size of a Hobbit. 93 years of gravity will do that.
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OF COURSE IT WILL BE SUBTITLED!!!
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I'm just sayin.... you can really see how his gut hangs.
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He IS fat.
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He is one of the greatest directors of our time.
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...on my slowER intertnet connection. Even gone directly to youtube, these videos just don't want to play for me. Never have youtube trouble normally. REALLY desperate to watch them. Certainly the best review, etc that AIC has done for a long while.
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...on my slowER intertnet connection. Even gone directly to youtube, these videos just don't want to play for me. Never have youtube trouble normally. REALLY desperate to watch them. Certainly the best review, etc that AIC has done for a long while.
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But am I the only one that hates this trend of putting up interviews and reviews and whatnot as videos? I much prefer reading these things, even though I'm sure it's a hassle for you guys to type it all up. Really appreciate it, though. Regardless, this was great!
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i would be happy as shit to hang with him
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His genius went into his gut?
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Kirk Douglas is a legend. QT is awesome too. I remember seeing a movie called the Villain with Kirk Douglas, Ann-Margret and Arnold Schwarzenegger in the theater in 79. I was four.
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Sweet. I've been itching for a run of Westerns and this one might have to be at the top. Cool, cool stuff this.
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Feb. 8, 2010, 3:45 p.m. CST
I wonder if that poster was inspiration for a scene in...
by SoylentMean
The Fall. That movie is fantastic.
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He just knows how to act tall. A tip of the hat to Bruce Dern also. No one does a psycho like Bruce.
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She's the super hotness in Wild At Heart and she's Ellie Sattler in two Jurassic Park movies!
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I've had this film for a few years now and watched it several times. I love it! I watch a lot of the classic's from then. Others I have that I'd recommend are RED SUN, JEREMIAH JOHNSON, THE PROFESSIONALS, THE TRAIN ROBBERS, THE WILD BUNCH, among others.
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though, doesn't it? "Right, O.K."?!
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this scene always cracks me up : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPqCLZpajLo&feature=related HAHAHA
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Feb. 8, 2010, 6:12 p.m. CST
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPqCLZpajLo&feature=related
by Windowlicker74
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hahahaha i'm still laughing
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And Kirk sounds way more coherent than he did years ago on Parkinson.<p> If you don't like QT's movies, that's fair enough, but if you honestly think he's not a nice person at the end of that 25 minutes of interviews, well you and I have different tastes in people. It was especially touching the way he kissed Kirk Douglas' hand near the end there. It's those little moments that define a person, and that's what makes me think he's a genuinely nice guy who some people here are trying desperately hard to pick apart out of schadenfreude.<p> Kirk is also wonderful, of course. And though it's been a while since I saw Posse, he was always good in politician roles- including his screen debut as a squirmy, put-upon politician in the Strange Love of Martha Ivers.
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say schadenfreude again!
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I only learnt it from Lisa in a Simpsons episode! She explained its meaning and everything:<p> "The Simpsons: When Flanders Failed" (1991)<p> Lisa: Dad, do you know what Schadenfreude is?<p> Homer: No, I don't know what "shaden-frawde" is.<p> [sarcastic]<p> Homer: Please tell me, because I'm dying to know.<p> Lisa: It's a German term for "shameful joy", taking pleasure in the suffering of others.<p> Homer: Oh, come on Lisa. I'm just glad to see him fall flat on his butt!<p> [getting mad]<p> Homer: He's usually all happy and comfortable, and surrounded by loved ones, and it makes me feel... What's the opposite of that shameful joy thing of yours? Lisa: Sour grapes.<p> Homer: Boy, those Germans have a word for everything!
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Missed that one though. Great stuff. It's such a great word though. One of my fave Homerisms (besides "sacrelicious!") is when he says, "I DON'T know", but - with total conviction. Gold, I tells ya.
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When Kirk told Quentin that Q was his new best friend and Q kissed his hand in homage I burst out in tears like the quintessential baby. This was an incredible, one of a kind interview. Thank you so much for posting this , Quint. You will be blessed. And to those wonderful representatives of humanity Vulcan_CSC_Rep & Bruce of all Trades...there is absolutely NOTHING funny about strokes...you sick, heartless, insensitive, shiteating, motherfucking trolls.
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Two great legends that go great together! Five star interview! Oh yeah...and I had NO problem understanding what Mr. Douglas said at all! Pretty spry and sharp for a 93 year old!
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Amazing scene
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Eli Roth wasn't the first choice. Can't remember who was..
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That was really, really cool. When I think of just how many awesome and incredible films Douglas has been in and how many of the greats he's worked with, it's pretty fucking amazing. I wish him long(er) life but when he goes, it'll truly be the end of an era.
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Anyone who cruelly takes the piss out of such a gentleman by mocking his stroke (take a bow Vulcan_CSC_Rep & Bruce of all Trades) is clearly a reprehensible, rim-jobbing, syphilitic cocksucker.
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Anyone who'd even think of giving you shit for that ought not to be listened to EVER... or saved from drowning, if applicable.
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Quint, that's the big news as far as I'm concerned. If I may make one suggestion, could you post the first week's titles for TWO weeks before your start date? That way, those of us who enjoy following along with you can have a little more time to re-adjust our Netflix queues. Thanks again for doing this, Quint. I'm always saying I want to take time and delve into older, odder films, and AMAD was what got me excited to do so.
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Looked over Stanley Kubrick's shoulder while Kubrick was editing his film and told him, "You can't polish a turd". Kubrick, without missing a beat said, "You can if you freeze it". Zing!
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Loved hearing Kirk.
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Some people here are bashing QT. I can only go by my experience. A few years back I went to one of the QT fests he holds here in Austin. [hope he does another soon] It was at "The Backyard" and was an outdoor movie venue. We sat on the ground or on blankets and watched the movies under the sky. He was very funny and enthusiastic in his into to the movies. What really got me though was after the show. He got up thanked everyone for coming and reminded everyone to pick up their trash. The staff starts cleaning up and every body is walking off to their cars. I would expect a big name guy like QT to be jumping into his limo and heading off to a party or his hotel, but he was out on the field picking up litter with the rest of the staff. That in itself won a lot of respect from me.
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Kirk is indeed one of my favorite actors and Tarantino just gets cooler in my book. I just watched "Paths of Glory" with Kirk Douglas the other day and it made me stand up and clap in my living room. Fucking great movie. This is an EXCELLENT post; I think everyone is agreeing we need more like this...focus on COOL (like this) rather than horrendously gay (like who is buying Terminator).
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but you better believe it's going in my queue.
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cool story by the way
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I have it all outlined ,action, and all the shots... Dialog easy... I have all the tools and even the mechanics to make the effects work...Not to mention my boss knows all the JUNK yard owners... I sent it to VIACOM and they hired a WRITER director 3-4 days later... I sent it to my self copywrote it and sent it to a lawyer... I think it can be made for under 50 K... And look good but most of all give the audience a ride.
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I have 2 - 7 WESTERNS outlined and 2 at 300 pages...I think TARANTINO would be perfect for...DOUGLAS could make a CAMEO...
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Wonder why no one talks about one of thee greatest if not the greatest SPAGEHTTI out there...
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is a first rate Kirk Douglas performance. Great film.
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Feb. 10, 2010, 7:30 p.m. CST
Recently saw the old Dick Cavett interview with Kirk
by Chuck_Chuckwalla
And he was great — a real stud back in those days. Is it me or is he looking like the bad guy in UP in those clips?
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We'll give you some more time to work out which character is Spencer Tracy! Sorry, couldn't help it. What I want to know is how Christopher Plummer and Ed Asner feel about playing Kirk and Spencer. Sorta weird!
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How Kirk feels about someone else playing him/having his likeness (I know there are other actor references in the likeness, but that's the main one). Probably curses the stroke's effect on his enunciation on those days. <p> Of course if Carl was a kid (while Muntz was an adult) and is 'now' about 80, then Kirk is about the perfect age to play Muntz! Oh well.
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Feb. 11, 2010, 10:12 a.m. CST
I've Been Getting Ripped off for the LAST 3 years so I must be d
by KHjLL
I have post on a BOARD for the last 3 years And I can start naming everything I 'v e been ripped off on... How come everyone can steal It but nobody wants to lend out a hand...
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Should start out at the RANCH where He sees his family again...then about 20 minutes into it start it like the END of THE GREAT SILENCE....
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I can't beleive I missed it when I've been trying to go through the ENTIRE WESTERN genre... Europe I just need the REGIONAL DVD BLUE RAY player but I'm filing Bankrupcy so thats out of the question... But I'v efound a few... The regional thing also prevented me from seeing just a few HORROR films but do time....POSSE should be at my house any day...Waiting to read the INTERVIEWand WATCH I didn't want to ruin anything before I saw one of my favorite actors of that era love WAR WAGON best line WAYNE "Your the only cracker around here I can trust."
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I WALK ALONE... ACE IN THE HOLE....DETECTIVE STORY...20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA...ULISSE...MAN WITHOUT A STAR...TOP SECRET AFFAIR...PATH OF GLORY...THE VIKING...SPARTACUS...DEVIL'S DISCIPLE...THE FURY-top 5...ONCE IS ENOUGH...THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER..TOUGH GUYS...OSCAR...THE VILLAIN...When I first saw MAJOR DUNDEE I always thought that KIRK DOUGLAS should have been in it...
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http://www.stephenking.com/forums/showthread.php/13836-Inglourious-Basterds-Once-Upon-A-Time-In-Nazi-Occupied-France...I think you should put him in the sequel as a PATTON type ALDO sargent...have him a ladies man rolling around and a hrad A$$ all at the same time.
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I think you should put him in the sequel as a PATTON type ALDO sargent...have him a ladies man rolling around and a hrad A$$ all at the same time.
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KIRK DOUGLAS should play JOHN RAMBO'S father..perfect match...
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Have him be the one getting revenge for his SON...
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Have KIRK DOUGLAS play RAMBO's father...END with a huge action sequence build up....to the END and KILL everyone he khows...Because he got back on the GRID when he went back home to see his family...
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The next could be about hunting down the killers...then following the DICTATOR that paid KILLER and his GANG...
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Feb. 11, 2010, 11:37 a.m. CST
KILL RAMBO in the first or have a triology should them all at on
by KHjLL
KILL RAMBO in the first or have a trilogy shoot them all at once...
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one of the best top five in DOUGLAS's list...even though there was much time...but none the less A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE only had HURT on for a moment...wish De PALMA would do more HORROR concepts...DRESS TO KILL is one of the greatest slashers of all times just behind PSYCHO
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QT rocks... loved Basterds, hope his next film comes out before 2020.
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Lay off the coke dude.
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In the words of SAM PECKINPAH..."I can't write we I sober."
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Can't wait the story has everything to do with what I'm writing in my WESTERNs...
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I can't direct when I'm sober. I prefer," I can't fucking direct when I'm sober. " I wish I could have known him I think he would have liked me and PEDRO.
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Did KIRKDOUGLAS at one time own or was going to make a JOHN CARPENTER written WESTERN I know one was BLOODT RIVER and JOHN WAYNE or a production compant at one time owned one of his SCREENPLAYS but I thought KIRK DOUGLAS was attached to one of his SCREENPLAYS at one time? Anybody know?
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POSSE – When I was a kid I use to get two Holidays every year. I spent my mom’s side with her family by myself anyway. My Grandfather and his sons and sons n law would all sit around and drink beer and liquor play cards and reminisce. I would always listen and watch WESTERNS. They are my grandfathers favorite thing to watch on the tube. After watching POSSE I realized I’ve seen it numerous times at their house in the late 80’s early 90’s… My uncle Larry looking just like BRUCE DERN… He would always talk about going to see POSSE with my grandfather who SERVED his COUNTRY, worked, hunt and watch basketball. Any ways for some reason It was a huge deal the hard ass my grandfather could be… But LARRY and JOE would do all these skits from WESTERNS they had see at the drive in or the THEATER with my grandfather the gag they always started and ended at was BRUCE DERN in POSSE…My uncle JOE learned to play the Harmonica because of WESTERNS…POSSE brought back a lot of old memories from my child hood at my GRANDFATHERS house…KIRK DOUGLAS reminds me a bit of my GRANDFATHER except my grandfather has a cheer in him with a joke or two…. I borrowed a page and a half this time…And found out where OLIVER STONE got the first line in his SCAREFACE screenplay…
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After watching he reminds me of my GRANDFATHER...spitting image...
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MMVrabO <a href="http://unvoae.com/ ">WHbGBzf</a>
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gYDfutS <a href="http://ntqxxr.com/ ">STBOHX</a>
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Watching in now on Netflix bitstreaming. A fine film I see every 10 years. My favorite KD western after "There was a crooked man"
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