Movie: McLintock!

 

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8.5

Genre: Western, adventure

Primary actors: John Wayne, Mareen O’Hara

Length: A little over two hours – since I was expecting it to be one, this was a surprise! 

Time period: 1800s, I suppose

Year it came out: 1963

My overall opinion: Interesting! Wow, yeah, interesting pretty much says it all. There are prolonged and comical fight and chase scenes, which didn’t quite fit in for me…guess I expected it to be a little more truly Western as opposed to slightly comedic. I felt they were a little too long, but not oppressively so. There is also some immodesty, the kind of thing that might have been scandalous back in the 1800s…but really, it wasn’t much, if any, worse than what you’ll see in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. 

The dramatic scene...:

Brionne

Author: Louis L’Amour

Genre: Western, adventure

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 9

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 151

Time period: 1800’s

My overall opinion: I really enjoyed this Louis L’Amour! I’ve read a lot by him, and enjoyed most of them, but this one was extra good, I thought. :) When reading any book by him, be warned that there are usually a few mild swear words. Other than that, good clean fun!

Movie: The Man from Snowy River

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Genre: Adventure, classic, touch of romance, western (in Australia)

Series or set: It does have a sequel: Return to Snowy River

Primary actor: Kirk Douglas

Length: An hour and forty minutes or so.

Time period: 1800’s

Exciting events: A death, a fight, wild horses, and more!

Year it came out: 1982

My overall opinion: I didn’t enjoy it as much as I’d hoped to. My problems with it were as follow: 1. I felt almost like it was over-cliched. Does that make any sense? :P I guess I found it pretty predictable. Not completely, but quite. Now, I realize that it’s old, and maybe all those classic story things are based on it…that may be, I don’t know. J 2. There were a few suggestive comments…which, I admit, were pretty hilarious, but still suggestive. They weren’t awful, but not constructive either, so to speak. 3. Finally, the music. It was either there, or it wasn’t. I didn’t feel it at all remarkable, and it seemed to me like it didn’t really blend in…I don’t recall noticing this much on other movies. When it was there, I realized it. When it wasn’t, that stood out too.

SO, those were my things against it. Oh, and the female heroine’s hairstyle was totally inaccurate for the time period. It was just romantic. ;)

However, it was a fun story, and while I certainly won’t buy the DVD, it was worth a one-time watch, and I’m glad I saw it.

Shooting Star

Author: Bodie Thoene

Genre: Western, adventure

Series: Saga of the Sierras

Number in series: 7th

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 206

Time period: 1800’s

Main characters: Andrew Jackson Sinnickson and others

Exciting events: A cattle drive, a killer on the loose, and much more!

Passage from book: {{Sorry, no passage here, but it starts with a chapter from A Thousand Shall Fall, one of the “Shiloh Legacy” books}}

My overall opinion: Wow. The way these are tied to together with each other…all these books by the Thoenes…is amazing. Maybe I’ll do a post on it someday. Like I said, though, this one begins with a passage from A Thousand Shall Fall – which was really cool because I just finished the ”Shiloh Legacy” series. I suppose that makes no sense to you…once you read these books, it will. J As usual, I’d say if you actually want an awesome western, read Louis L’Amour’s books. However, this one had a good story.

The Virginian



Author: Owen Wister

Genre: Western, adventure, life, light romance

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 6.5

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 367

Time period: 1800's

Main characters: The Virginian, others

Exciting events: Gun battles, etc.

My overall opinion: It was okay. I believe that it is considered something of a classic, but I hadn't heard of it before. I had to work to read it, though that may certainly be because I had more interesting things to read. A good story, a little long-winded. At the end I read that Mr. Wister had originally written several shorter stories and combined them into this one big one. Looking back, yeah, it was a little dis-connected in places, where a story would have no pertinence to the rest of the story. Make sense?

Movie: Grand Canyon Trail

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Main characters: Roy Rogers, Trigger (the horse), Carol, Regan

Genre: Western

Primary actors: Roy Rogers

Length: Slightly over an hour

Time period: 1800's

Exciting events: Wait, there were things in there that weren't exciting? I don't think so. :)

Year it came out: 1948

My overall opinion: It was fun. :)

Borden Chantry

Author: Louis L'Amour

Genre: Western

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8.5

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 170

Time period: 1800's

Main characters: Borden Chantry, others

Exciting events: Classic Louis: gun-fights, fist-fights, etc

Passage from book: "I ain't in no hurry." The cowboy straddled a chair, accepting the coffee. "Dead man out in the street." "Again? Third this week. You just wait until Saturday. Saturday night's when they let the wolves howl. You stick around." "I seen it here and yonder. Ain't figurin' on it. I'm ridin' over to Carson an' the steam cars." He jerked his head toward the street. "You seen him?"

My overall opinion: Pretty much a classic Louis L'Amour. :)

Cannons of the Comstock

Author: Brock and Bodie Thoene

Genre: Western, adventure

Series: Saga of the Sierras

Number in series: 5th

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 203

Time period: 1800's

Main characters: Tom, Mont

Exciting events: Mont (age 9) is captured, Tom is shot at, much more!

Passage from book: From the shadows at the sides of the room, two more blackshirts rushed forward. They seized Mont and carried him suspended by the arms out of the room through a door behind the platform. Once in another dim passage, they opened a heavy oak door and threw him in.

My overall opinion: This one was definitely better than the last one! It had some very unique twists to it. :)

Sequoia Scout

Author: Brock and Bodie Thoene

Genre: Western, adventure

Series: Saga of the Sierras

Number in series: 4th

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 7.5

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 239

Time period: 1800's

Main characters: Will

Exciting events: Tons!

Passage from book: When Will Reed came to his senses, he looked up into the low ceiling of the tiny brush shelter and knew immediately where he was. But when he tried to leap to his feet, he discovered that both his hands and legs were bound with rawhide thongs. His lunge upward accomplished only a clumsy lurch, and he fell forward on another man. "Get off me," screamed Aubrey, "my leg's broke!"

My overall opinion: I'll say it up front: I was disappointed in this book. Most of the Thoene's books I have loved, as y'all know, but this one...there was some weird stuff in it. Don't get me wrong, there wasn't immorality or anything, but some of the phrasing was a little hard to understand. And, what's worse (almost), the picture on the front is SO unnatural. No real Western man would ever sit on his horse like that. Just sayin'. :)

Lando

Author: Louis L'Amour

Genre: Western

Series: Well, it's not exactly in a series. Unless....I'll say it's in The Sacketts series.

Number in series: 5th

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 156

Time period: 1800's

Main characters: Lando, the Tinker, Caffrey, Marsha

Exciting events: Gun fights, fist fights, all the "normal" Louis things

Passage from book: His lips curled from his teeth and the whip drew back for a mighty blow at my face. Those wire-twisted whipends would tear at my eyes. His own hatred had mastered him -- I saw it in his face...

My overall opinion: Louis L'Amour writes the most amazing western fiction. And there's usually a VERY light romance in each book too. ;) But his writing style is fantastic, though there are fairly frequent editing errors. Still a worth-while read!

Gold Rush Prodigal

Author: Brock and Bodie Thoene

Genre: Adventure, western

Series: Saga of the Sierras

Number in series: 3rd

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8.5

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 223

Time period: 1800's, Gold Rush

Main characters: David, Keo, Strawfoot

Exciting events: Capture!!!!

Passage from book: His hands tied together, David was placed back on the black horse and his feet bound underneath its belly. If he slid off, he could certainly be trampled to death......The black horse fell over on its side and lay still for a moment. Its corpse then began a slow slide down into the canyon, dragging David's bound form along with it...ahead lay the lip of a dropoff into a hundred foot crevice....Gunshots tore into the ground near him, and one struck him in the thigh, making him cry out.

My overall opinion: Such an exciting story this was! I had the genre as western, but I changed it to adventure, though I suppose it is part western. Okay, both. :) The main character is part of the gold rush, sails on a whale ship, and encounters a terrible and insane captain. Very exciting.

Riders of the Silver Rim

Author: Brock and Bodie Thoene

Genre: Western

Series: Saga of the Sierras

Number in series: 2nd

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 204

Time period: 1800's

Main characters: Callie, Joshua

Exciting events: Many!

Passage from book: Josh didn't wait for his assailant to fire, but blasted off the second barrel, immediately rolling to the other side of the road as he did. His fire was met with an agonized scream and a wild return shot that ricocheted off a rock beside the road and went singing off into the dark. An instant searing pain, like a hot iron, leaped across Josh's forehead. A second later, Josh heard the sounds of feet running clumsily and a continuous string of curses.

My overall opinion: I enjoyed this book! It was a great read.

The Rider of Lost Creek

Author: Louis L'Amour

Genre: Western

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8.5

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 153

Time period: 1800's

Main characters: Kilkenny

Exciting events: Gun fights, fist fights, etc.

Passage from book: [Kilkenny] went around the bend at a dead run, drew up sharply and hit the ground, Winchester in hand, running all out. Flattening himself behind a hummock of sand and sagebrush, he peered through. He moved, trying to see better and a bullet kicked sand into his eyes. He slid back into the wash.

My overall opinion: A good one!

Shalako

Author: Louis L'Amour

Genre: Western. :) Of course.

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8.5

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 169

Time period: 1800's

Main characters: Shalako, Tats-ah-das-ay-go, Irina, von Halstatt

Exciting events: Gun fights, escapes, more

Passage from book: Shalako rolled to his knees. Unable to judge the position of the Indian in the darkness, he risked everything and slashed across in front of him, and felt the tip of the blade catch flesh. There was a muffled gasp and an iron grip seized his wrist. Using the powerful muscles of his bent legs, Shalako straightened sharply, jerking the arm up and tearing it free. Instantly he smashed down with a closed fist and felt it thud against flesh....

My overall opinion: A thrilling Louis. I should mention that in pretty much any book by Louis L'Amour, there is some mild swearing. D---, and occasionally God's name in vain. And often a kiss or two, though not really graphically described. Just sayin'.

The Man From Shadow Ridge

Author: Brock and Bodie Thoene

Genre: Western, adventure

Series: Saga of the Sierras

Number in series: 1st

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8.5

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 239

Time period: Civil War

Main characters: Jesse, Tom, Emily, Nathan, Byrd Guidett, Mullins

Exciting events: Kidnapping, caves (always exciting. ;)

Passage from book: Down the boys plunged, on a steeply slanted narrow rock path. Here the floor was slick with moisture coming from the nearby underground stream. With no time to pick their way, the boys skidded around corners and slammed into rocks. From behind them they could hear a keening sound: "I'll found 'em for ya. Just you wait here a spell. I'll bring 'em back."

My overall opinion: This was a good one! I really enjoy the Thoenes' writing style. Isn't it funny I'm reading two series at once that have the word "saga" in the series name AND are around the Civil War? Very interesting. This one was very good.

Bowdrie's Law

Author: Louis L'Amour

Genre: Western

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8.5

Type: Fiction, short stories

Number of pages: 214

Time period: 1800's

Main characters: Chick Bowdrie

Exciting events: Gun fights, fist fights, etc.

Passage from book: The heavy rifle leaped in his hands, firing right into the false front of the building. A pistol bullet would penetrate several inches of pine at that distance, and the .56 caliber Spencer would not be impeded by the half-inch boards on the front opposite.

My overall opinion: Mmm...this was a good one. A collection of short stories, featuring Chick Bowdrie.

Movie: Billy the Kid Returns

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8.5

Main characters: Roy Rogers

Genre: Western

Series or set: It's on my DVD of "Roy Rogers: 5 Episodes"

Primary actors: Roy Rogers

Length: Little over an hour.

Time period: 1930's

Exciting events: Chases, fights, etc.

Year it came out: 1938

My overall opinion: A good one! Again, some unique fun twists. :)

Movie: Hands Across the Border

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8.5

Main characters: Roy Rogers, Kim, Denvers

Genre: Western

Series or set: On a Roy Rogers, 5 episodes DVD.

Primary actors: Roy Rogers

Time period: 1940's

Exciting events: Classic: cowboy chases, etc. There is a big horse race that's pretty amazing.

Year it came out: 1944

My overall opinion: Mine didn't include "Colorado", just "Hands Across the Border." No, actually, mine included four movies beside HAtB, but I haven't seen them all yet. Oh dear, that makes no sense. What I meant was that mine has five movies on it, including HAtB, but not Colorado. Okay, there we go. :) An interesting thing about this one was that it included a show at the end of dancing, celebration, that kind of thing. Probably 10 minutes! So that was unique. For more Roy Rogers pictures, click here.

Movie: The Bells of Rosarita

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8.5

Main characters: Roy Rogers, Sue Farnham, Gabby

Genre: Western

Series or set: It's on a DVD called Roy Rogers: 5 Episodes. So...I'm not sure what to put here.

Primary actors: Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Gabby Hayes

Time period: 1940's

Exciting events: A land-hungry man, a desperate woman, a handsome actor...:)

Year it came out: Out in 1945

My overall opinion: This was a pretty good one. I'm a fan of any Roy Rogers movies anyway, but this one was very good and I recommend it. :)

Little Britches

Author: Ralph Moody

Genre: Life, western, growing up

Series: Little Britches series

Number in series: First

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Type: Non-fiction

Number of pages: 260

Time period: Early 1900's

Main characters: Ralph, his father, Hi, Grace, his mother

Exciting events: Rodeos, wolves

My overall opinion: Ralph Moody writes about his life in the early 1900's in this exciting book! A good read, couple of uses of words that I don't use myself.