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Reviews
Buffalo Bill (1944)
Factual Errors
I enjoyed watching the film "Buffalo Bill." Unfortunately close blood relations of Buffalo Bill were still living at that time, and they should have made an effort not to make errors.
Louisa Frederici met Cody in Saint Louis, and served out the end of the war there planning on making her his bride. They were married in her father's home (John Frederici) on South 8th Street in Saint Louis. They left right away for a steamboat to Kansas. Her father did not go along, and was NOT a Senator.
It is a fine film, and entertaining. When Bill Cody returned to the West in 1866 he was married! There was no Linda Darnell's character. Just once I would like for Hollywood to do an exact biography without changing the facts!
I am a Frederici descendant. Terry Alan Klasek Saint Louis, Missouri
Snow Falling on Cedars (1999)
For the Romantic in Me!
This is a fine film! It is a little quirky with the frequent flashbacks from Ismail's memory, and they lack consistency and continuity of thought. In short, the plot unfolds in a very jumpy manner. The subject matter is great, and is in the mold of "To Kill a Mockingbird." People forget (or choose to ignore) the racism and severe prejudice leveled at Asians, Asian-Americans and especially Americans of Japanese decent. The courtroom scenes are terrific! People testifying on the stand that the "Jap" is guilty! The Prosecuter, Coroner, Sheriff and many townspeople are extremely prejudiced!! The Sheriff is also ignorant of police work. Max von Sydow is great as usual. I cried many tears when the Japanese turned to face Ismail bowing with honor and respect when his evidence caused the jury to be dismissed. That hit me hard. I have seen it three times now, and I am purchasing a DVD copy of my own. My hat is off for those who brought this great film to me!!!!
Victory at Sea (1952)
Victory at Sea TOPS!
I watched the series "Victory at Sea" when it was first aired in 1952 and 1953. My dad had me sit with him to watch the documentary week after week. I loved it! Even when my brother was born 10 January 1953. The doctor said my mom would be in labor quite a while, but dad said she would have the baby and he would be home to watch Victory at Sea. He was!
I viewed this several times over the years on PBS, and eventually purchased the VHS copies. I cannot watch this without recalling my dad telling me the places shown where he was stationed, and the events he witnessed. I totally associate this set with my father.
Now I have the DVD set, and just watched it again between Vet's day and my father's 85th birthday in 2005. I miss him all the more since his passing in 2002 watching this set. I LOVE the music!While my dad told me about the war my mom told me about the music. Much of the music is from musicals composed by Richard Rodgers in collaboration with hart. The music for all planes flying is in F sharp, and many other specific key usages. You really need a musical ear to fully appreciate Victory at Sea!!!!
Watching this series is overwhelming to say the least. I once watched the first eight episodes in one day straight through. THat was hard to take, but I sure appreciated this being recorded!
Terry Klasek Saint Louis, Missouri
The Greatest American Hero (1981)
Dark Side is a FOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Greeting.
The Greatest American Hero is hysterical! I enjoyed watching the original
airings, and was angry when it was cancelled!!! I taped every episode when
they were rerun on FX before that channel went to the dark side.
Aliens choose a crusader for justice (Ralph) and an FBI agent who is way too
honest, and put them together to save the world. The super suit went to Ralph, and he promptly lost the book of instructions! This alone makes the series!!!! He can't fly straight, and usually crash lands! Ralph is given a second instruction book which gets lost too when Ralph shrinks and leaves the book shrunk on a
grain of sand!
The 200 mph fastball is incredibily funny! Dr. No (Joseph Wiseman) appears as a former super suit hero who turned to
evil for personal gain. I love Bill Maxwell (Robert Culp) eating dog bisquets visiting Ralph, and many other sight gags, and they must be enjoyed!
I am GLAD I taped every episode!! I will use them as back ups IF a DVD version of all episodes ever appears!
A great show, and so is the A-Team!!!!! No sex or foul nasty language to make jokes! I LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Searchers (1956)
Beyond Great!!!!!!!
I cannot recall how many times I have seen "The Searchers." In fact TCM has
just aired it, and I viewed it again. It is beyond great!!!!!!!
John Wayne does not play himself nor his usual characters here. This one
seems to have several underlying seething currents. He already hates Indians
before the story unfolds, but after he finds Lucy, and buries her in his
Confederate coat, his character becomes much darker!
Ethan Edwards (John Wayne) feels violated at the deaths of his brother, and the rape and death of his sister in law. He determines to take the captive back from the Commanchees, and kill as many as possible. Hopefully all of them. Hmmm.
An eye for an eye???
Wayne's character does not want to tell Bard and Martin what really happened
to Lucy as he found her. He is eventually provoked into telling something that disturbs him, and that he is obviously trying to forget.
Unlike the first comment on this film I feel The Searchers is very special and beyond great!!!!!! It is John Wayne's BEST performance on film (In My Opinion), and it was Wayne's favorite role. I can see the seething cauldren of warring
emotions cross his face and expressions. The Searchers is one of the finest
films, and one of my all time favorites!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Terry Klasek Saint Louis, Missouri
La grande illusion (1937)
Viewer Comment
Greeting.
I saw this film first on TV in the 1950s over an independant station in Saint Louis. I have seen it a dozen times since on TV and video. I did a report on it in my University Film Appreciation course.
I love history, well I obsess over it actually. I am a high functional autistic, and we all have some obsession. Military history, and that of wars, has fascinated me since I was seven years old.
I enjoyed the film for all the historical accuracy in costumes, miliary, war, and class distiction. Later I was engrossed over the severe class distinction. Men of equal rank were treated differently as one was aristocracy, and the other a
worker class.. privilaged birth yields privelaged treatment!
Erich von Stroheim laments that the class distiction as they knew it was ending because of WW I. I liked the German military music from the film too, and the line, "I forgot how much I hate fifes," from an allied prisoner hearing German musicians doing drill.
The film is fantastic!!!! Great acting! Von Stroheim fluent in three languages. The lessons in history and sociology, and one fine story!
Ten Stars from me! I own two VHS copies (one for back up). I am seeking a DVD copy as I now have a DVD player.
Terry Alan Klasek
Adventure Inc. (2002)
Cancellation a great disappointment!
I really enjoyed Adventure, Inc.! I am obsessed with History, and this series had many historical themes, which provided me many hours of thought and entertainment.
I put Adventure Inc. on an even level with Indiana Jones and his female counterpart (modern) Sydney in Relic Hunter. Basically, IF I enjoy a program it is sure to be cancelled. Drat and double DRAT!!!
I would like to obtain all episodes of Adventure Inc. and Relic Hunter on DVD or VHS.
GREAT SERIES!!!!!!
Terry Klasek Hazelwood, MO
Westbound (1958)
My Comment
Greeting.
I cannot recall exactly how many times I have watched the film, "Westbound." I saw it in the theaters with my dad in 1959, and on TV many, many times since then. I have always enjoyed Randolph Scott, and Virginia Mayo (from St. Louis)! I liked the story of gold shipments from Julesburg, Colorado to the Federal Treasury. Confederates are waylaying the gold, and Randolph Scott returns to Julesburg to fix the problem.
Great story. Great story within a story of the one armed Federal veteran running a relay station. The color was good too. HOWEVER, what grabbed my attention, and still does, is the musical score! The music, especially the theme for traveling stagecoaches, is perfect, and very melodic!
Music is for me one of the major elements in a film. It must all be taken in together. I want desperately to purchase a VHS or DVD of Westbound so I can view it sans commercials, with great enjoyability!!! One of my very favorite Westerns!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Terry Klasek