Sunday Matinée: True Grit (1969 & 2011)

True Grit

1960 Amazon | IMDb Director: Henry Hathaway Writers: Charles Portis (novel) Marguerite Roberts (screenplay) Stars: John Wayne, Kim Darby and Glen Campbell

2011 Amazon | IMDb Director: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen Writers: Charles Portis (novel) Ethan Coen & Joel Coen (screenplay) Stars: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Hailee Steinfeld

 

Favorite Quote: “You must pay for everything in this world, one way and another.”

 

Happy Father’s Day everyone! To celebrate I thought I would review the Western that my dad and I both love True Grit. And since there are two it’s going to be a “Double Feature” of sorts.

True Grit is the story about a fourteen year old girl, Mattie Ross, who sets out to get justice for her father’s death. Along the way she seeks help from Rooster Cogburn, a gruff, one-eyed man with true grit, to hunt down her father’s killer, Tom Chaney.. But that help doesn’t come easy or cheap.

While the two set off on their journey to find Tom Chaney, they meet a young Texas Ranger, La Boeuf, who is also tracking Chaney. It turns out Chaney is quite the wanted man with a fifteen hundred reward on his capture after he killed a Texas Senator and his dog.

Mattie does not like La Boeuf and despite her efforts, Rooster and La Boeuf decide to team up and split the reward to find Chaney. The two actually try to abandon Mattie but she is persistent in tagging along.

After several days, the three plan to stay at a cabin. However, they learn that Emmett Quincy and Moon, two horse thieves waiting for Ned Pepper and Chaney So the trio set a trap that does not go as planned.

The three continue their pursuit, and after a few days Mattie comes face to face with Chaney She draw her father’s pistol and yells to her comrades. As Chaney advances towards her, Mattie shoots and wounds him, but he still captures her and takes her to Ned Pepper’s.

Soon a shoot-out between Rooster and Pepper’s gang. Chaney is in charge of keeping Mattie safe, but he has other plans and tries to kill her. La Boeuf shows up just in time knocking Chaney out and taking Mattie to watch the shoot-out. After La Boeuf saves Rooster’s life, Chaney comes up from behind and hits La Boeuf in the head with a rock which is thought to be fatal. Mattie shoots Chaney, but falls into a pit and is bitten by a rattlesnake. Rooster soon arrives killing the snake and rescues Mattie with the help of La Boeuf.

As Rooster and Mattie make it back up, they can see how bad the snake bite is and decide to leave La Boeuf behind to find help.

Both movie versions are based off the 1968 novel by Charles Portis, however each takes their own few and sheds different lights on the main characters. Also there are scenes that have been changed and the endings are fairly different.

My father and I love the original movie with John Wayne. Seeing the spunk and determination Mattie has for getting justice. Plus we both love John Wayne. So when we saw that there was a new True Grit coming out we were excited, especially me with Jeff Bridges as Rooster.

We were both a little disappointed however, but that is because we went in thinking it was going to be exactly like the original. I think I need to watch the new one again and take it for it’s own movie. Then I might like it more.

 

(Update: I have watched the new version again and I have to say that it did grow on me, but only because Jeff Bridges is AWESOME! I still prefer the storyline of the 1969 version, but I love Jeff Bridges interpretation of Rooster as well. Did I mention the man is awesome?)

Sunday Matinée: Love Comes Softly

 

Love Comes Softly

Amazon | IMDb

 

Director: Michael Landon Jr.

Writers: Cindy Kelley (teleplay), Michael Landon Jr. (teleplay) and Janette Oke (book)

Stars: Katherine Heigl, Dale Midkiff and Corbin Bernsen

 

Favorite Quote: “Sometimes love isn’t firecrackers. Sometimes love just comes softly.”

The first of a series of movies made for the Hallmark Channel based on the book series by Janette Oke and directed by Michael Landon Jr., Love Comes Softly is a story about two widowers that join together in a time of need. One of the best love stories that comes from the promise land of the west!

Marty and Aaron Claridge (Katherine Heigl and Oliver Macready) set out to start a new and wonderful life in the opportunity filled west making plans for a family and farm. Sadly this is short lived when tragedy strikes leaving Marty to face a bleak future on her own. Or what would have been bleak had Clark Davis (Dale Midkiff), a widower, not suggested a "marriage of convenience."

The two make a deal that if Marty can be a mother and show Clark's daughter, Missie (Skye McCole Bartusiak), how to be a child again, then in the spring Clark will help Marty get back home when the wagon train heads back east. At least that is the plan.

It takes some time for Missie to let her guard down around Marty, that the two just can’t get along. But once Marty realizes that Missie has yet to fully grieve for her loss, they realize they have more in common.

As the seasons pass we see more heartbreak happen for these people that they become closer and begin to feel like a real family. And with the end of winter comes spring’s thaw for the wagon train. It’s at this time Clark and Marty realize they have fallen in love. Which begs the question, with Marty stay or leave?

The first of a series of movies made for the Hallmark Channel based on the book series by Janette Oke and directed by Michael Landon Jr., Love Comes Softly is a story about two widowers that join together in a time of need. One of the best love stories that comes from the promise land of the west!

Marty and Aaron Claridge (Katherine Heigl and Oliver Macready) set out to start a new and wonderful life in the opportunity filled west making plans for a family and farm. Sadly this is short lived when tragedy strikes leaving Marty to face a bleak future on her own. Or what would have been bleak had Clark Davis (Dale Midkiff), a widower, not suggested a "marriage of convenience."

The two make a deal that if Marty can be a mother and show Clark's daughter, Missie (Skye McCole Bartusiak), how to be a child again, then in the spring Clark will help Marty get back home when the wagon train heads back east. At least that is the plan.

It takes some time for Missie to let her guard down around Marty, that the two just can’t get along. But once Marty realizes that Missie has yet to fully grieve for her loss, they realize they have more in common.

As the seasons pass we see more heartbreak happen for these people that they become closer and begin to feel like a real family. And with the end of winter comes spring’s thaw for the wagon train. It’s at this time Clark and Marty realize they have fallen in love. Which begs the question, with Marty stay or leave?

 

I absolutely love this movie and always try and catch the whole series when it is featured on the Hallmark Channel! I am also a fan of how this series looks at faith and religion. Now I will admit, God and I have our own relationship that is not what some people would consider “normal.” I am much more of going on a hike and looking at nature in a way of my worship, much like Clark. There is also the frustration and misunderstanding of why God allows misfortunate events to happen (something I have struggled with and still do to this day). I wouldn’t say it’s an overpowering part of the movie but is enough for me to “fall back in love” with God.

 

Besides the spirituality, there is also a great love story set in the pioneering days. These two people have suffered through one of the worst losses, decide to marry out of convenience and suffer through even more hardships along the way. I mean come on, this movie has no shortage on drama. I like to think of it as a “chick-stern” (I should trademark that haha).

Did you see?

 Did you see the new feature I have added. Every Sunday, I will try to review a movie that I have seen starting with some of my favorites.

And speaking of new things, I hope to also put up some of my family history, not so much as for sharing it with you but more for having a place I can go on later and read it. I also found some of my great grandmothers diaries she kept in the 70's and will post them daily so look for those on here soon.

As for the craftier side of things I am still working on my ripple blanket, but there hasn't been much progress to share. However I did buy something that I hope to share with you all soon.

Until then stay crafty!

Sunday Matinée: Now, Voyager

Now, Voyager

Amazon | IMDb

Director: Irving Rapper

Writers: Casey Robinson (screenplay), Olive Higgins Prouty (novel)

Stars: Bette Davis, Paul Henreid and Claude Rains

Favorite Quote: "Don't let's ask for the moon. We have the stars."

Now, Voyager is a 1942 drama that was directed by Irving Rapper. Casey Robinson based the screenplay on the 1941 novel by Olive Higgins Prouty that had the same name (I’m still trying to find a copy to read). Prouty took her title from a line in a Walt Whitman poem “The Untold Want” which is read in the movie:

“The untold want by life and land ne’er granted,

Now voyager sail thou forth to seek and find.”

The movie follows Charlotte Vale (Bette Davis), an unattractive, overweight, spinster whose life is controlled by a verbal and emotional abusive mother (Gladys Cooper). Because of this abuse, Charlotte has no self-confidence and is thought to be on the verge of a nervous breakdown by her sister-in-law, Lisa (Ilka Chase), an angel in Charlotte’s eyes. Lisa introduces the family to Dr. Jaquith (Claude Rains), who has no doubt that Charlotte is troubled and takes her away to spend time in his sanatorium.

 

While away from her mother, Charlotte is able to blossom. The new woman, at her sister-in-law’s encouragement, goes on a lengthy cruise after her treatment where she meets Jeremiah ‘Jerry’ Duvaux Durrance (Paul Henreid), a married man traveling with friends. Through his friends, Charlotte learns about Jerry’s daughter Christine ‘Tina’, and how his manipulative and jealous wife treats her (much like how Charlotte’s mother treats her). Because of Jerry’s devotion to his daughter, he will not divorce his wife in fear of how Tina would be treated.

 

On a port stop in Rio de Janeiro, Jerry and Charlotte become stranded after there car runs off the road on Sugarloaf Mountain. They end up spending five days together before Charlotte flies to Buenos Aires to rejoin the cruise. It’s in those five days that they realize how much they love each other, but they decide it would be best not to see each other again.

 

When Charlotte arrives home, her family is stunned by the changes in her appearance and personality. However, her mother is quite determined to regain control over her daughter. But the memory of Jerry’s love keeps Charlotte strong.

 

While at home, Charlotte is introduced to Elliot Livingston (John Loder), a wealthy widower. They eventually become engaged although it is soon broken off after Charlotte sees Jerry at a party. As imagined Charlotte’s mother is upset at the news of the broken engagement and quarrels with her daughter. During the argument Mrs. Vale becomes so angry that she has a heart attack and dies. Of course Charlotte blames herself for her mother’s death that she decides to return to the sanatorium.

 

When she arrives, she meets lonely and unhappy Tina (Jerry’s Daughter) and soon forgets her own problems. With permission from Dr. Jaquith, Charlotte takes Tina under her wing. Soon they both return to Charlotte’s house in Boston after Tina’s mental health had improved.

 

Jerry and Dr. Jaquith visit the Vale home, where they are delighted to see Tina’s improvement. Jerry at first pities Charlotte, believing she has settled in her life, but is taken aback by her acidic reaction. She simply tells Jerry that she sees Tina as his gift to her and her way of being close to him. They know that their relationship could go no further or Tina would be removed from Charlotte’s care by Dr. Jaquith. The movie ends with Jerry asking Charlotte if she is truly happy and has everything she wants, to which she replies, “Oh Jerry, don’t let’s ask for the moon. We have the stars.” (*sniff*)

 

I first saw this movie a few years ago and watch it at least once a month, that is until I lost the DVD. Can you believe that, I lost the DVD, case and all, who does that? Anyway, I would recommend this to anyone who has just broken up, needs a good cry, loves dramatic classics, or is big into the fashion from the 40’s. So if you fall into one of those categories, go out and rent it or look for it on TCM (my favorite channel).

 

Interesting fact: For those of you who may have seen P.S. I Love You (Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler) you may recognize the scene where Charlotte steps off the cruise boat to go on an excursion. It’s that same scene that Swank’s character pauses the movie and says “cute shoes.”