EL DORADO (1966)

Studio: Paramount Pictures

Producer: Howard Hawks

Director: Howard Hawks

Music: Nelson Riddle

Release Date: June 7th, 1967

Awards: None.

Origination: It is not hard to see the comparison with this film and Howard Hawks Rio Bravo (1959). In fact, this is considered the second part of a western trilogy, with Rio Lobo (1970) as the third installment. The story itself was based off of the novel titled The Stars in Their Courses by Harry Brown.

Interesting Fact: The paintings illustrated in the opening introduction where painted by Olaf Wieghorst. Olaf also played as the gunsmith, Swede Larsen, in the film.

Mississippi: I hit the sign, and the sign hit him.
Cole: Well, that's great.
Mississippi: He was limping when he left!
Cole: He was limping when he got here!

As I mentioned above, this is an obvious remake of Rio Bravo. What I like about this picture is it seems to have more humor and a better storyline. My favorite character in the film is Mississippi, played by James Caan. I, myself, have a long name and I've often been asked to repeat it. It's also refreshing to see a character that can't use a gun in a western. By this time Wayne knew he had cancer, yet he didn't slow down at all. I could watch this one over and over.

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS MOVIE?

HOWARD HAWKS (1896-1977)

HOWARD WINCHESTER HAWKS

Born: May 30th, 1896 (Indiana)

Died: December 26th, 1977 (stroke)

Marriages: Athole Shearer (1928-1940), Nancy Gross (1941-1949), Dee Hartford (1953-1960).

Children: He had four children from his three marriages:  David, Greg, Barbara and Kitty.

Interesting Fact: His wife, Nancy, was credited for discovering Lauren Bacall on the cover of a magazine and recommended her to Hawks. Lauren was then showcased in To Have and Have Not (1944).

Success: He had directed almost every genre and succeeded very well in each one. Near the end of his career he turned to westerns with John Wayne, ending on Rio Lobo (1970).

Awards: He was only nominated once and that was for Sergeant York (1941). In 1974 he was given an Honorary Award from the Oscars. He was nominated three different times for the Director's Guild of America and twice for the Laurel Awards. He did, however, achieve a star on the Walk of Fame and a Western Heritage Award for his contributions to the West through motion pictures.

My Favorite Films: Sergeant York (1941) & I Was a Male War Bride (1949).

Howard Hawks may be one of the most under appreciated film directors of Hollywood. He started before talkies and color and made the transition without a stop. He has quite an impressive list of films which involved some of the major stars of his day like; Cary Grant, Gary Cooper, Edward G. Robinson, John Wayne & Humphrey Bogart. He directed one of the most famous; gangster films, Scarface (1932), WWI films, Sergeant York (1941), & comedic films, Bringing Up Baby (1938). All of this was accomplished without much praise from the Academy and other institutions until his retirement.

Near the end of his life he teamed up with John Wayne in some of my favorite films like; Hatari (1962), El Dorado (1966) & Rio Lobo (1970). Another team up that I enjoyed was with Cary Grant in films like; Bringing Up Baby (1938), His Girl Friday (1940) & I Was a Male War Bride (1949).

SERGEANT YORK (1941)

Studio: Warner Brothers

Producer: Howard Hawks, Jesse L. Lasky & Hal B. Wallis

Director: Howard Hawks

Awards: It won two Oscars: Best Actor (Gary Cooper) & Best Film Editing. It was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor (Walter Brennan), Best Supporting Actress (Margaret Wycherly), Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Director, Best Music, Best Picture, Best Sound & Best Writing. It has also received a NYFCC Award and was placed in the National Film Registry in 2008.

Release Date: July 2nd, 1941

Origination: Based on the life story of World War I hero, Alvin York. The stories were taken from his personal diary.

Interesting Fact: Alvin York would not give permission for his life to be made into film unless it starred Gary Cooper as himself.

Alvin: Therefore, render unto Caesar the things that ere Caesar's, and unto God the things that ere God's.

This is not just a story about a legendary sniper who became the shinning figure of World War I. It is not just a picture about the struggle that a religious man felt at that time when the call of war came to his people. It is a film about the idea of America, that men must fight to allow others to enjoy the freedoms they have been given. Freedom of Religion can not exist unless people stand to defend it. This is also a story about a family that raised a man who became a greater hero than any Senator. It's a story about a mother who never judged her son, but instead gave him encouraging words that created a great bond between them. This is an amazing story.

Gary Cooper's performance earned him an Academy Award and rightfully so. The performance of Margaret Wycherly, who played Ma York, was even more amazing. To this day, my mom will often say to us "When ya comin' home?" The story may be a little long, but I don't remember it that way when I was younger. This is a great piece of history for every American to watch.

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS MOVIE?