Here's a movie that I really don't get. There's some good for me to mention, but the net value... well, read on.
As everyone has said, Stumpy is a regular hoot. Walter Brennan seems like he's having a lot of fun, which translates to Stumpy really being the highlight of the movie. John Wayne suffers from his own determination to choose boring roles for himself, but his talky love interest provides a unique counter to his smarmy roughness. The three leads bounce off of each other very well. You see why Tarantino called it his favourite movie (either that or he said it was the greatest; I cannot recall which), as a lot of his trademark strengths and weaknesses are found here: great dialogue and characters, with a weak plot.
Perhaps that's an unfair way to put it. The plot is fine, although the movie is subject to pointless tangents, but the pacing is atrocious. It's not even so much on a technical level, because it's so terrible that it really impacted my experience. The whole thing just trudges along, without any sense of urgency or stakes. Not just in the main story, that being a murderer's rich brother trying to bust him out, but in the side plots. Even the final gunfight is far too jovial, which I would blame on Howard Hawks. Nothing really progresses at all. The romantic side-plot comes somewhere close, but it's really just a beginning and an end. It's a movie made up mostly of filler. And, in an ordinary movie, it'd be the greatest movie ever, but you can't make a movie out of Dude flatly relapsing into alcoholism over and over. One could easily cut almost an hour of footage, and present the world with a real masterpiece. A factoid I found interesting is that it was written by the same duo behind The Big Sleep, another movie oft referred to as a classic that I found dull and light on stakes.
Maybe there's something I'm missing. I really have no idea how somebody could be engaged by this movie. I would love, however, to discuss it with someone. I'm always ready for movie talk, except when I ain't.
Loved the characters. Stumpy steals every scene. John Wayne seemed a little off, though. Dean Martin was better than I'd ever seen him. I've never cared for Angie Dickenson but her performance her was good.
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Comments 1 - 15 of 26
Paulo Martins
S T U M P Y!George Bailey
I love the scene where they're singing!!Henry K Hurtin
That was a nice picture. All the good characters are just lovable, even grumpy old John T.Dickinson was hot!
GrooveRemote
Here's a movie that I really don't get. There's some good for me to mention, but the net value... well, read on.As everyone has said, Stumpy is a regular hoot. Walter Brennan seems like he's having a lot of fun, which translates to Stumpy really being the highlight of the movie. John Wayne suffers from his own determination to choose boring roles for himself, but his talky love interest provides a unique counter to his smarmy roughness. The three leads bounce off of each other very well. You see why Tarantino called it his favourite movie (either that or he said it was the greatest; I cannot recall which), as a lot of his trademark strengths and weaknesses are found here: great dialogue and characters, with a weak plot.
Perhaps that's an unfair way to put it. The plot is fine, although the movie is subject to pointless tangents, but the pacing is atrocious. It's not even so much on a technical level, because it's so terrible that it really impacted my experience. The whole thing just trudges along, without any sense of urgency or stakes. Not just in the main story, that being a murderer's rich brother trying to bust him out, but in the side plots. Even the final gunfight is far too jovial, which I would blame on Howard Hawks. Nothing really progresses at all. The romantic side-plot comes somewhere close, but it's really just a beginning and an end. It's a movie made up mostly of filler. And, in an ordinary movie, it'd be the greatest movie ever, but you can't make a movie out of Dude flatly relapsing into alcoholism over and over. One could easily cut almost an hour of footage, and present the world with a real masterpiece. A factoid I found interesting is that it was written by the same duo behind The Big Sleep, another movie oft referred to as a classic that I found dull and light on stakes.
Maybe there's something I'm missing. I really have no idea how somebody could be engaged by this movie. I would love, however, to discuss it with someone. I'm always ready for movie talk, except when I ain't.
I give Stumpy a score of 4 Tucos out of 5.
safeeuropeanhome
This movie is so much fun to watch, Walter Brennan who plays Stumpy just steals every scene he is in.Earring72
Classic old fashioned western. Good stuff!Karmacarroll
Stumpy made me laugh every time he came on the screen.Lord X
Stumpy is an awesome character!nizarp
I can practical' guarantee that!ClassicLady
Loved the characters. Stumpy steals every scene. John Wayne seemed a little off, though. Dean Martin was better than I'd ever seen him. I've never cared for Angie Dickenson but her performance her was good.Everran
Agreed, didn't enjoy this one at all. The never-ending bore[y].Hippiemans
One of the best classic westerns. Great performances by the main cast, especially Brennan.johnnyg
Wow, all these performances were so aggravating and amateurish. This one did not connect with me at all, although I seem to be the only one.iCheckFilms
Enjoyed it thoroughly. Loved the characters, Stumpy especially :)Hank Quinlan
Great in every way. Never gets old.Showing items 1 – 15 of 26