Month: April 2022

SUMMARY:                        RUNNING TIME: 1 Hour, 38 Min.

Released to widescreen DVD by Paramount Pictures in 2005, Don Siegel directed this 1976 film.  The film’s script is adapted from Glendon Swarthout’s same-named 1975 novel.  Starring John Wayne in his final movie, the ensemble includes several actors that Wayne himself chose, including Lauren Bacall, Jimmy Stewart, & John Carradine. 

The film’s prologue is a brief black-and-white montage of Wayne’s legacy of big-screen Western exploits (now attributed to his character: legendary Old West gunman and ex-law enforcement officer John Bernard “J.B.” Books).  Ron Howard’s voiceover narrates this sequence.

Set in Carson City, Nevada, in late January 1901, “The Shootist” depicts the last week in the life of world-weary gunman J.B. Books.  Upon confirming a diagnosis of terminal cancer with his former physician (Stewart), the 58-year old Books is content to spend his remaining days quietly lodging with widower Bond Rogers (Bacall) and her impressionable son (Howard). 

Still, word of Books’ imminent demise spreads throughout town.  Among others, the sheriff, the undertaker, the local press, glory-seeking assassins, and even a former flame selfishly wish to take advantage of the publicity, as Books is scornfully aware of. 

Left with the prospect of an excruciating, drawn-out death or resorting to suicide, Books opts for an alternate means of making peace with his legacy.  Leaving word for three of the town’s worst hardcases where to find him the following Monday, Books celebrates his last birthday the only way the outside world insists on remembering him.  Yet, Books’ destiny is intertwined with the future of a young man, who sees him as a surrogate father figure. 

John Bernard “J.B.” Books: John Wayne

Bond Rogers: Lauren Bacall

Gillom Rogers: Ron Howard

Dr. E.W. Hostetler: Jimmy Stewart

Moses: Scatman Crothers

Dobkins: Richard Lenz

Marshal Thibido: Harry Morgan

Beckum: John Carradine

Cobb: Bill McKinney

Jack Pulford: Hugh O’Brian

Sweeney: Richard Boone

Serepta: Sheree North

REVIEW:

Unsurprisingly, the film can’t meet its trailer’s exaggeration hyping it as possibly the “greatest” Western ever.  Still, “The Shootist” earns its reputation among Wayne’s best-ever and most poignant roles.  Impressively, his dignified portrayal of Books exudes a master class in accepting mortality with the same grace and courage one should face the risks of everyday life with. 

Along with wonderful efforts from Bacall, Stewart, and Howard, Wayne receives reliable support from TV Western veterans O’Brian, Boone, and Morgan in small roles impacting the tragically violent finale.  The film also boasts an excellent score from composer Elmer Bernstein, as well as Bruce Surtees’ high-caliber on-location cinematography.  Not wasting its efficient running time, “The Shootist” delivers John Wayne at the top of his game in a worthy curtain call.    

BONUS FEATURES:

The DVD can be viewed in either English or French, with English subtitles.  Aside from the theatrical trailer, there is the 2001 documentary featurette: “The Shootist: The Legend Live On.”  Its participants include O’Brian, producer William Self, and Swarthout’s son, Miles Hood Swarthout. 

PACKAGING:

The DVD is solidly encased.  Its contents are mostly accurate, though there aren’t cast and crew interviews outside of the featurette.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                          7 Stars

SUMMARY:                       RUNNING TIME: 2 Hours, 11 Min.

Premiering in 1987, Timothy Dalton’s first James Bond adventure co-stars Maryam d’Abo; Jeroen Krabbé; John Rhys-Davies; Joe Don Baker; Art Malik; Thomas Wheatley; Andrews Wisniewski; Desmond Llewelyn (as “Q”); Caroline Bliss (as “Moneypenny”) Walter Gotell (as “General Gogol”); & Robert Brown (as “M”).  Director John Glen helms his fourth of five Bond films of the decade. 

In the pre-credits teaser at Gibraltar, Bond pursues an assassin who has left an ominous message taunting that open season has been declared on spies, starting with MI-6.  Soon after, Agent 007 realizes that General Georgi Koskov’s covert defection into British custody coincides with this Russian counter-strike targeting spies.  Despite Bond’s skepticism, evidence points to his nemesis (and Koskov’s rival), KGB head General Leonid Pushkin, as the conspiracy’s nefarious mastermind. 

With Koskov forcibly abducted, a suspicious Bond seeks answers starting in Vienna with Koskov’s girlfriend/accomplice, celloist Kara Milovy.  The question becomes: where (and with whom) does this elaborate and increasingly deadly ruse end? Subsequently,  Bond & Kara are drawn to the Middle East, as a crazed American arms merchant’s scheme becomes intertwined with Bond’s endgame. 

With time running out, a steely Bond is intent on scaring the ‘living daylights’ out of his shadowy foes.    

This widescreen DVD edition was released in 2000.

REVIEW:

Timothy Dalton’s no-nonsense style presents a welcome upgrade over Roger Moore’s sluggish last two Bonds.  Dalton, in that sense, is the closest equivalent translating Ian Fleming’s literary Bond to screen.  Taking this assessment further, one could readily deem The Living Daylights as the 80’s tasteful answer to 1963’s From Russia, With Love. 

The flip side, though, depends on what Bond template viewers prefer:

• For classic Bond, we all know his name, no matter now awful 1971’s Diamonds Are Forever is;
• For ultra-slick glamour, Pierce Brosnan wins.  Roger Moore’s seven Bonds are impacted by an uneven track record – some films are high-caliber and others notoriously reek;
• The low-key George Lazenby is most comparable to Dalton, but he lacks Dalton’s world-weary detachment as a plausible super-spy.  Imagining a seasoned Dalton (let alone Sean Connery) replacing Lazenby in 1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service is one of those great cinematic what-if’s;     
• and, for any ultra-serious espionage capers, then either Dalton or Daniel Craig is ideal.  By that reckoning, The Living Daylights surpasses Licence to Kill as Dalton’s better Bond for adhering to the franchise’s traditional formula.  The revenge-flavored Licence to Kill, in contrast, treads closer to Miami Vice and even grisly Stallone/Schwarzenegger-style action flicks.

Ultimately, Dalton’s Bond is an acquired taste, considering The Living Daylights is, apart from its opening credits, among the least risqué of the Bond franchise.  The film surrounds him with a classy supporting cast to help compensate for a convoluted and not necessarily captivating plot.  Along with its surplus of DVD goodies, The Living Daylights will justify multiple viewings for Bond aficionados.  The simple reality, however, is that it’s not necessarily a must-see Bond.  

BONUS FEATURES:

Including screen selection, the menu options are excellent.  The DVD is viewable in either English or Spanish, with French and Spanish among the available subtitles. 

The insert booklet effectively introduces viewers to this 007 adventure, along with trivia and a scene selection list.  Included on the DVD are director, cast, and crew audio commentaries; the film’s theatrical trailers; the “Inside the Living Daylights” documentary featurette; the “Ian Fleming – 007’s Creator” documentary featurette; a-ha’s “Living Daylights” MTV music video and a making-of featurette; and the ‘magic flying carpet’ deleted scene, which was rightfully scratched prior to the theatrical release. 

Aside from the mediocre deleted sequence, one may find a-ha’s then-hip music video unintentionally laughable.  Suffice to say, the video’s ‘cheese factor’ is high-octane.     

PACKAGING:

The DVD has a solid casing.  All of the DVD’s contents are accurately advertised.    

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                       6 Stars