MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ME!!! That's right, Hookin' Pickers! It was a proud day today when Cheekies gave me my Christmas presents. That's right, TODAY. July 8th. But scoff not a whit because it was certainly worth it; owing very much to the observant thoughtfulness of his better half: the fair Faere as well. For it was SHE that apparently crystalized the idea for the presents. And what presents, you may well ask. Well, a little while ago I posted my list of shame which included some major films that your truly (the movie buff) had never yet seen. Well, the spectacularly good idea for my present was for Cheekies & Faere to buy me five of 'em on DVD. Now, wasn't that a fanfriggintastic idea for a gift?!?!?!? I think so.

And those five movies are: Stagecoach (which, if you'll look over there to the right, you'll see I've already managed to watch before beddy-bye tonight), One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Casino, The Thomas Crown Affair and Cape Fear. Oh yes, Cheekies also gave me two new DVDCerpts (don't ask if you don't know). Of course, it would be nice if they played in my DVDplayer but they don't. . .um, didja forget to FINALIZE the discs, Alexandre Dumbass?!?! But I digress. The points are still yours.

But yes, as for finally seeing STAGECOACH. . .I pretty much like every John Ford movie I've ever seen and this is no different. Rightly considered a classic (and I'm not what you'd call a "Western Fan"). I'm also not what you'd consider a John Wayne fan; but put him in the hands of John Ford (or Howard Hawks, for that matter) and I just might consider it. The beginning of the film was fine but didn't really grab me as anything special. The weird thing about the movie, though, is that it slowly creeps up on you until, before you know it, you're riveted. Ford handles the quiet, character-driven moments with just as much expertise as the action sequences (and let me tell you the action scenes are white-knuckle impressive even after all these years). But what REALLY sells the movie is the incredible ensemble cast. STAGECOACH made John Wayne a star but he's surrounded with expert character players all. Claire Trevor as the (ahem) fallen woman Dallas is absolutely fantastic; I think I like her more in THIS role even than her Oscar-winning turn in KEY LARGO!!! And perennial king of the character actors Thomas Mitchell also well-deserves his Oscar for this performance as a drunken doctor who still manages to function when called upon to do so. Add in southern gambler John Carradine, stagecoach driver Andy Devine and milquetoast hooch salesman Donald Meek and all the stock, potentially-stereotypical characters take on a depth and emotional weight that's surprising for 1939; there's not a cardboard character among 'em. In fact, even the cameos are first rate with Tim Holt (of THE TREASURE OF SIERRA MADRE) as a Cavalry lieutenant and Tom Tyler (Kharis the Mummy of Universal's THE MUMMY'S HAND) as black-hatted killer hombre Luke Plummer.

So round one is a resounding success for STAGECOACH. And for Cheekies and Faere for such a well-thought-out gift.