The Western Film Industry

Hello and welcome to The Western Saloon. Today I would like to give you some background information on the western movie. The first wetsern film ever produced was named 'The Great Train Robbery' which was released to the american public on the first of December 1903 and was written directed and produced by Edwin S. Porter. The film starred an unknown cast whcich included Justus D. Barnes and Gilbert M. Anderson. The film ran for a meer twelve minutes, although all early silent films were undoubtebly short in comparison to the films of our generation. The film was distributed by the Edison Manufacturing Company. Another film was released thirteen years later entitled 'The Great K & A Train Robbery' which loosley followed the same story line. This particular film marked John Wayne's first western film ever made. It was directed by Lewis Sieler and had an all star cast including Larry Semons acting wife Dorothy Dwan as well as the most popular horse in the film industry at the time, 'Tony the Wonder Horse', the most famous wetsern horse preceeding that was Roy Rogers horse 'Trigger', which today is seemingly more well - known. In 1927, the first sound film was released - 'The Jazz Singer', starring Al Jolson. Dispite it's racism, the film was an enourmous sucess, prodominently due to the fact that it was is sound. On Christmas Day of 1928 the first sound western film was released - 'In Old Arizona'. The film starred Warner Baxter and was directed by Irving Cummings and Raoul Walsh. The film was a major sucess, for numerous western fans were eagerly awaiting the arrival of the first sound western film. The film was nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Picture. As well as being nominated, Warner Baxter won an Award for Best Actor of 1929. Raoul Walsh only directed a portion of the film due to an unusual accident - a Jackrabbit jumped through the winshield of his automobile and gouged his eye out. As a result of this he had to abandon the project and hand it over to Irving Cummings who completed the picture. It was distributed by the Fox Film Corporation.
In 1930, when Raoul Walsh had recovered from his Jackrabbit

accident in 1928, he returned back to the silver screen and dirceted a lavish and big budget wetsern filmed which helped launch the career of a then almost unkown John Wayne. Unfortunatly for Raoul Walsh the film was a falirue, although it wasn't particularily a bad one either. The film also included an appearance made by Tyrone Power Sr. The next big wetsern was a 1939 film entitled 'Jesse James', whcih also starred Tyrone Power. Aside from Power, the film also included in it's large cast - Henry Fonda, John Carradine, Henry Hull and Randolph Scott.
The film was visually spectacular due to it's phenomenal set design and it's magnificant Technicolour. The film also boosted the career of director Henry King who did a marvellous directional job. Between 1940 and 1960 actor John Wayne (1907 - 1979) was just emerging out of his caccoon and quickly rising to the top as a fan favourite. Some of his most memorable and sucessful films between those years include 3 Godfathers, Angel and the Badman, Red River, Rio Grande, The Searchers, Legend of the Lost, North to Alaska, The Alamo (later remade starring Billy Bob Thronton) and The Conqueror. By 1943, John Wayne was the most popular star of the wetsern film genre, recognisable for his tallness and limping walk.
Some more stars that followed Wayne and jined in on the Western ban - wagon included James Stewart (1908 - 1997), Henry Fonda (1905 - 1982), Charles Bronson (1921 - 2003) and Yul Brynner (1920 - 2985). Some of the most notable westerns from each of these four stars including John Wayne and other wetsern stars include:

* The Shootist (1976 - John Wayne, his last film)
* The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962 - James Stewart)
* Jesse James (1939 - Henry Fonda)
* Once Upon A Time in the West (1969 - Charles Bronson)
* The Magnificant Seven (1960 - Yul Brynner)
* The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (1966 - Clint Eastwood)
* The Missouri Traveler (1961 - Lee Marvin)
* High Noon (1952 - Gary Cooper)


In 1960 a film came along that would change the western film industry for ever. The film was 'The Magnificant Seven'. This particular film helped popularize The Mirsch - Company. 'The Magnificant Seven included an all - star cast of Yul Brynner, Eli Wallach, Steve McQueen, James Coburn, Charles Bronson, Robert Vaughn, Brad Dexter and Horst Buchholz in his american film debut. Produced by none other than Walter Mirsch (Mr. Majestyk) with an enourmous budget of three million US dollars. Another film of significance was Sergio Leone's 1969 Spagehtti Western masterpiece 'Once Upon A Time in the West', which also had an all star cast consisting of Claudia Cardinale, Henry Fonda, Jason Robards, Charles Bronson and Gabriele Ferzetti. In 2009, the National Film Registry bought the rights to the film and said it will be preserved for all time due to it's cultural significance, historically and aesethically. But, the one film that is quite possibly the greatest wetsern ever made would hands down be 'The Shootist'. 'The Shootist' was a 1976 film directed by Don Siegel (Dirty Harry) and produced by M.J. Frankovich (FromNoon 'Til Three) and starred John Wayne as the last gunfghter who learns from his doctor (James Stewart) that he has surcumbed an terminal and advanced form of cancer. In knowing this John Wayne's character, J.B. Books settles down in the countryside with a landlady (Lauren Bacall) and her teenage son (Ron Howard). But Books knows he cannot escape his destiny, so, inturn he returns to the 'Achney Saloon' for one last valiant battle against three men (Richard Boone, Hugh O' Brian and Bill McKinny). Some more modern westerns include The Long Riders (1980 - starring David Carradine), The Assassination of Jesse James (2007 - Starring Brad Pitt), 3:10 to Yuma (2007 - Starring Russel Crowe), The Alamo (2004 - Starring Billy Bob Thornton), Ned Kelly (2003 - Starring Heath Ledger), Young Guns (1988 - Starring Emilio Estavez), Lonesome Dove (1989 - Starring Robert Duvall) Unforgiven (1992 - Starring Clint Eastwood) and Appaloosa (2008 - Starring Ed Harris).

THE FOLLOWING ARE A SERIES OF CONDENSED BRIOGRAPHIES OF SOME OF THE WESTERN FILMS MOST POPULAR STARS

JOHN WAYNE
John Wayne was born Marion Robert Morison on the 26th of May 1907 in Winterset, Iowa, U.S.A. His father, Clyde Leonard Morrison, was the son of a noted Civial War veteran (Marion Mitchel Morrison). Wayne's mother was Mary Alberta Brown. After completing acting classes, JohnWayne recieved his first motion picture role in 1926 for Metro - Goldwyn - Mayer Pictures. The films title was 'Brown of Harvard'. John Wayne had only a minor role as a Yale football player. His first sound motion picture was 'Mother Machree' which was released to the public in 1928 and distributed by the Fox Film Coporation. Before Wayne did 'Mother Machree', he starred in a number of silent films mainly that of John Ford, although he was usually a bit character or extra and unbiled (not paid). But, in 1930, Wayne got his first big motion picture role, in Raoul Walsh's western epic 'The Big Trail', which also starred Tyrone Power. Unfortunately for Wayne and Walsh, the film was a flop (unsucessful). Taking this into consideration, this film helped establish John Wayne as an actor. The film that really got Wayne going was a republic television serial 'The Three Musketeers' (1933). The film also starred a young Lon Chaney Jr. From 'The Three Musketeers', Wayne had established himself as a first class actor and made dozens of now famous pictures including; 'Angel and the Badman' (1947), Red River (1948), Rio Grande (1950 - which includes the now infamous scene in which an unidentified flying object (UFO) circles behind Wayne's head as the film was entirely shot on location), 3 Godfathers (1948) and many more. Durig that time he ofrmed his own film company 'Batjac Productions', his son Michael Wayne produced the film and he and his two other sons Patric and John Ethan would star in them. But, in 1964 Wayne was diagnosed with Lung Cancer, for, Wayne had been a chain smoker since his early adulthood. He underwent specific and sucessfull surgery, but, despite this, the cancer remained. After completeing this final film 'The Shootist' (1976 - also starring Lauren Bacall, Ron Howard and James Stewart), he lost his fifteen year battle with cancer. John Wayne shall be remembered as a cinematic gem as well as a pariot of the times.
CHARLES BRONSON
Charles Bronson was born Charles Dennis Buchinsky on Novmeber the 3rd 1921, in Pennsylvania, USA. Buckinsky comes from his heritage (Lithuwanian). He begun his acting career in 1951 starring alongside Lee Marvin (also his first motion picture) in the film 'Your in the Navy Now', which also starred Gary Cooper in the lead role. He and Marvin were unacredited and unbiled. His first big break was in Warner Bros. 1953 remake of the 1933 classic, 'House of Wax'. Bronson played Henry Jarrod's (Vincent Price) deaf - mute sculpturing assistant Igor. Bronson also appaered in small roles across America between 1954 and 1959 including 'Vera Cruz' (1954) and 'When Hell Broke Loose' (1958). But it was in 1960 that Bronson got the part that had long awaited for. The film was 'The Magnificant Seven', a big budget, lavish sucess. The film allowed bronson to get loads of leading roles in other big budget productions such as 'Guns of Diablo' (1964), 'Hot Lead' (1973). Aside from 'Hot Lead' Bronson was getting a heap of violent action films such as 'The Mechanic' (1972) and 'Mr. Majestyk' (1974). But, it wasn't until mid 1974, that Bronson starred in his most memorable film which would span four more sequels, 'Death Wish'. In this film Bronson wonderfully portrays Paul Kersey who quickly becomes a vigilante proceeding the murder and sexual assault of his wife and daughter. Kersey then decides to wipe the city clean. As mentioned before, Death Wish spanned four more sequels, 'Death Wish II' (1982), 'Death Wish 3' (1985), 'Death Wish 4: The Crackdown (1987) and Bronson's final film, Death Wish V: The Face of Death (1994). As said, 'Death Wish V: The Face of Death' was Charles Bronson's last film. Although his last screen appearence was 'Family of Cops 3' (1999) the final sequel in the 'Family of Cops' television trilogy. On August the 30th of 2003 Charles Bronson died of pnuemonia whilst suffering from an Alzheimers disease. Charles Bronson will be fondly remembered as a visionary in the film industry and one of themost memorable character actors of all time.
JAMES STEWART
James Stewart was born on the 20th of May 1908. He begun his film career starring in small budget wetsern films until starring in 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington' (1939), the film that established James Stewart as a notable actor. Stewart was instantly recognisable even without image due to his shaky voice. Due to interest, James Stewart became a Bridgadiar General for the U.S. Air Force, active from 1941 through to 1968, a faithful twenty seven years of service. Between those years,
James Stewart was a mainsteam sucess in the film industry. His first sucessful film following 'Mr. Smith' was 1953's 'The Glen Miller Story', which was filmed on the same set as 'The Phantom of the Opera' (1925 - starring Lon Chaney Sr.) and 'The Phantom of the Opera (1943 - starring Claude Rains as well as 'The Climax' (1944 - starring Boris Karloff). His first sucessful western film was 'Winchester '73' (1950). Alongside Stewart was a cast consisting of a Rock Hudson (Horizon's West)and Tony Curtis (The Great Race, Houdini). Stewart also appeared alongside John Wayne for first time in 1962 with 'The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance'. He would also appear with him in 1976 in John Wayne's last screen appearance, 'The Shootist' as Dr. Hostetler. James Stewart's last motion picture role was in fact an animation, the sequel to the film 'An American Tail' (1986) named 'An American Tail: Fieval Goest West!' (1991) in the role of Wylie Burp. On July the 2nd of 1997, James Stewart passed away as a result of a blod clot located in his lung. Shortly before he died he was questioned about how he wanted to be remembered and he replied: "As someone who believed in hard work and love of country, love of family and love of community". James Stewart shall be deeply missed, but not forgotten, remembering his classic films such as his thrillers with Alfred Hitchcock (Rear Window, Rope, Vertigo, The Man Who Knew Too Much) as well as his classic westerns (Shenandoah, The Far Country, The Shootist and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance). May we remember James Stewart as a fine actor and man of love, hope and faith.
HENRY FONDA
The father of Jane and Peter Fonda, now both highly sucessful actors, Henry Fonda was born in Grand Island, Nebraska in 1905 on May the 16th. He begun his long film carrer with the 1935 'The Farmer Takes a Wife'. Alongside Fonda starring as Dan Harrow was, among others, Betty Grable and Dale Robertson. This film was also remade in 1953 in the form of a musical. Following this film rave reviews and sucess, Henry Fonda went mainstream unlike many other western film stars such as John Wayne (with the exepetion of Charles Bronson). Between 1939 and 1969, a long 60 years, Fonda was almost incomparable, putting forth such legendary films as 'Jesse James' (1939), 'Slim' (1937), '12 Angry Men', 'The Longest Day' (1962) and Sergio Leone's western masterpiece which is to be preserved for all time due to it's cultural and aesthetic significance, 'Once Upon The Time In The West (1969 - also starring Charles Bronson, Claudia Cardinale and Jason Robards). This film was also the inspiration for a number of films, most notbaly, 'Once Upon A Time In Mexico (2003 - Starring Antonio Banderas and Johnny Depp). Henry Fonda ended his film career in 1981 with the film 'Summer Solstice'. Following this in 1982, in his Los Angeles home, Henry Fonda passed away from a heart disease whilst simultaneously battling Prostate Cancer. Henry Fonda shall be fondly remembered as one of the finest actors of all generations.