Clint Eastwood: Actor & Director

[Avadi to America]

Dear Rakesh,
I too am happy to be amidst this thread, because during mid 60-s, English films meant mostly westerners, occasionally films like Cleopatra and other war and historic films filling the gap. We were mostly be present either at the Shanthi Theatre or Casino. Most memorable films were screened there, being in partner with Paramount Pictures. Once Upon a Time in the West was one among them, which was among the best western films (of course they were based on Mexico or Italy as you said). It impressed that generation very much that Karnan took charge of it to give them in Tamil (though they were on the border of soft porn). His cinematography though jerking at times, were extraordinary for Tamil film audience, particularly the black and white master pieces like Kalam Vellum, Ganga, etc.
There was another westerner that was released at the Pilot, The Ballad of Cable Hogue, which too was publicised for wrong reasons. It had excellent cinematography.
The genre of Western films, definitely owe a lot to Clint Eastwood. But it was Gregory Peck and Omar Shariff starred McKenna's Gold which created a craze for westerners among all sections of Tamil audience.
Thank you for giving an opportunity for a journey down memory lane.
Raghavendran

Thanks for giving interesting and valuable points. I am eagerly waiting for the chance to watch the (good, bad & ugly) and Once Up on a time in west in big screen. Though i have seen numerous times in DVD, I still wanted to watch it big screen. I am really happy that there is one more person agreed the greatness of the movie "Once Upon a Time in the West". I strongly believe that Sergio Leone movies redefined the western movies in 1960'. To certain extent, we could classify western movies before Sergio Leone and after Sergio Leone. Hope I am not exaggerating it.

Groucho,

The music in “Irumbukkottai Murattu Singam” seems or similar to Ennio Morricone…. G.V.Prakash copy adikaratha niruthuda….

[groucho070]

Raghavendra-sar, as A2A said, very enlightening. Please share more with us.

Karnan's work was mentioned by Saradha madam in the other thread as you yourself have read and commented.

The Ballad of Cable Hogue was mentioned and analysed by brother Thilak (kid glove) somewhere here and glad to know that it was screened here.

You mentioned partnership with Paramount Pictures, which company did it partner with?

Interesting that you mentioned McKena's Gold. The film didn't do that well back in states, but garnered following here. I know that because my father used to rave about it. And the film is good too.

And an interesting trivia - McKenna's Gold was offered to Eastwood, who was tired of big budget westerns and refused it. It started his own company, Malpaso, and did a small budget hit film, Hang 'Em High.

A2A, Morricone-ai copy adichathu ithu muthal murai alla

[Avadi to America]

Raghavendra-sar, as A2A said, very enlightening. Please share more with us.

Karnan's work was mentioned by Saradha madam in the other thread as you yourself have read and commented.

The Ballad of Cable Hogue was mentioned and analysed by brother Thilak (kid glove) somewhere here and glad to know that it was screened here.

You mentioned partnership with Paramount Pictures, which company did it partner with?

Interesting that you mentioned McKena's Gold. The film didn't do that well back in states, but garnered following here. I know that because my father used to rave about it. And the film is good too.
And an interesting trivia - McKenna's Gold was offered to Eastwood, who was tired of big budget westerns and refused it. It started his own company, Malpaso, and did a small budget hit film, Hang 'Em High.

A2A, Morricone-ai copy adichathu ithu muthal murai alla

I tried watching McKenna’s gold few months back..... I miserably failed to sit through it.... thank god, thala did not accept the movie…. I think clint would be very good in harmonica character in OUTW.

Ragavendra Sir,

How “the (good,bad & ugly) and “once up on a time in west “ did in Indian box office?

[Avadi to America]

Dear Rakesh,
I too am happy to be amidst this thread, because during mid 60-s, English films meant mostly westerners, occasionally films like Cleopatra and other war and historic films filling the gap. We were mostly be present either at the Shanthi Theatre or Casino. Most memorable films were screened there, being in partner with Paramount Pictures. Once Upon a Time in the West was one among them, which was among the best western films (of course they were based on Mexico or Italy as you said). It impressed that generation very much that Karnan took charge of it to give them in Tamil (though they were on the border of soft porn). His cinematography though jerking at times, were extraordinary for Tamil film audience, particularly the black and white master pieces like Kalam Vellum, Ganga, etc.
There was another westerner that was released at the Pilot, The Ballad of Cable Hogue, which too was publicised for wrong reasons. It had excellent cinematography.
The genre of Western films, definitely owe a lot to Clint Eastwood. But it was Gregory Peck and Omar Shariff starred McKenna's Gold which created a craze for westerners among all sections of Tamil audience.
Thank you for giving an opportunity for a journey down memory lane.
Raghavendran

i am planning to see "The Ballad of Cable Hogue". I like shyanne charecter in OUTW.....i hope jason roberds did good role.....BRAVO!!

[RAGHAVENDRA]

Good Bad Ugly ... became a hit among the fans of western movies only after it was removed from screening ... and there was no initial crowd... Almost all the westerns got the same kind of reception. The first one to get a big and rousing reception was of course McKenna's Gold... From my perception, the success of this movie was mainly due to the acoustic appeal it made in the Devi Theatre, Chennai, for its stereophonic sound. Even today, after so much of evolution in sound systems - be it dolby digital/ dts/ whatever it be, Chennai still would welcome McKenna's Gold with the same zeal, of course only at the same venue ... Devi Theatre, because, it was the first film with stereo sound in Madras. And another reason is the climax horse rides among the grand canyon... These were the main reasons...
For my personal self, Morricone still rules..
And Sergio Leone ... definitely the western movies ought to be distinuished before or after him.
Jason Robards was at his best in the film Ballad of Cable Hogue. It was released in Pilot Theatre, Chennai, which was a craze then, with its cinerama screen. We virtually felt we were at the location. Though the majority of the audience were fans of western movies, there were some who came for the skin shows. But besides this, it is really a memorable film taking you deep into the subject and made you involve. Similar is the case of Once Upon a Time in the West. Particularly those scenes of where conversations will be going on, while the train passes by just like a bus or tram.
A really nostalgic moment for the likes of the previous generation

Raghavendran

[groucho070]

Thanks again, Rhagavendra sar. We hardly get news about these films receptions back here, we only know how it did over there. I hope your visit here will also inspire others, especially those with knowledge of the theatre circuits of yesteryears to come here (yes, I'd love to see Murali-sar or Saradha mdm, but it's too much to ask, I guess )

Anyway, I coaxed my wife into revisiting The Good, The Bad & The Ugly.

Again, it's a film you never get bored revisiting. One of the critics those days (I've told this before) interpreted the title for The cinematography, The dubbing and The violence. Yes, the violence is still ugly - guy getting shot in the face through pillow, Tuco's punishment in the prison.

The best thing is, however, the cinematography. Like a beautiful painting. Every inch of the frame is utilised to full glory. Breathlessly beautiful. Ovoru scene-um rasichi, rasichi paarkalam.

And the editing. How can one forget the climax shootout. The shooting itself would have taken 0.0007 seconds. But the buildup to it...yabaaaa.....my wife gripped my hand in suspense!

Finally, Eli Wallach was bloody awesome as Tuco. While Eastwood and Van Cleef just stood, walked and squinted, Wallach did all the heavy duty acting here...true to this Actor's Studio alumni.

Ettana murai paartalum salikkatthu. While this is not Leone's best (Once Upon A Time In West takes the cake), it is certainly his most popular and it should be.

Oh, the DVD included deleted scenes with Eastwood and Wallach returning to dub. Wallach's voice is clearly different, really sounds old not suitable to the youthful Tuco. Eastwood was okay, you don't really notice it.

[rangan_08]

Dear friends
I want to know if "Irumbukkottai Murattu Singam" is a remake of "Good, Bad, Ugly"

Raghavendran

Good to see you here, Raghavendra sir.

I think we should not get deceived by the ad which says, " Oru Nallavan, Oru kettavan, Oru vinodhan ". Like groucho said, it could be a parody. Any way, it's been a long time since tamil audience had a cow boy film. More over, we can count on Chimbudevan.

[rangan_08]

Good Bad Ugly ... became a hit among the fans of western movies only after it was removed from screening ... and there was no initial crowd... Almost all the westerns got the same kind of reception. The first one to get a big and rousing reception was of course McKenna's Gold... From my perception, the success of this movie was mainly due to the acoustic appeal it made in the Devi Theatre, Chennai, for its stereophonic sound. Even today, after so much of evolution in sound systems - be it dolby digital/ dts/ whatever it be, Chennai still would welcome McKenna's Gold with the same zeal, of course only at the same venue ... Devi Theatre, because, it was the first film with stereo sound in Madras.

I too watched it in the same theatre, re-release of course. Thanks for sharing those wonderful past memories of yours sir.

[RAGHAVENDRA]

Dear Rakesh and Rangan,
Thank you for your kind words. There was one more actor who played crucial roles in many western movies. He was none other than Ernest Borgnaine (pls pardon me for the spelling mistake, if any). ஊறுகாய் மாதிரி, அள்ளிப் போட்டுக் கொள்ளவும் முடியாது, ஒதுக்கித் தள்ளவும் முடியாது. அப்படிப்பட்ட பாத்திரங்களில் அவர் நிறைய சோபித்திருக்கிறார். He too became more famous with McKenna's Gold. Pls forgive me for quoting this film too often, but can't help it.

Unfortunately cowboy films did not give enough scope for heroines! So not much popular artistes.

Raghavendran

[great]

Dear friends
I want to know if "Irumbukkottai Murattu Singam" is a remake of "Good, Bad, Ugly"

Raghavendran

Good to see you here, Raghavendra sir.

I think we should not get deceived by the ad which says, " Oru Nallavan, Oru kettavan, Oru vinodhan ". Like groucho said, it could be a parody. Any way, it's been a long time since tamil audience had a cow boy film. More over, we can count on Chimbudevan.

if i am not wrong, the ad which says, oru nallavan, oru kettavan, oru vinodhan. Its a dubbed version of a korean movie The good , THe bad , the weird.