jabeita

Ya know, I really don't give a damn what all the cinema afficiados, including Scorsese, have to say about 'Johnny Guitar.' Yes, it has some mild entertainment value...but only because it is so absolutely weird. If there were a 'Mystery Theater 3000' for westerns, this would be an ideal candidate. The writing is terrible, the story-line is ludicrous, directing is sporadic at best. And, performances are limited by all the above. There's not a single sympathetic character in the whole script. If, as Scorsese indicates in his introduction, that Europeans 'get' this film, then I pity the Europeans because they clearly have zero idea of what an "A" list western film should be about. Yes, I'll probably watch 'Johnny Guitar' again, but only because it is so very bazzare. However, if I want to watch a real western, and one that exhibits real artistic endeavor, I'll stick to the works of John Ford, Anthony Mann, Howard Hawks, John Sturges, or Budd Boetticher. These were real men who understood the importance of the genre. 'Johnny Guitar' is exactly what I'd expect from deviant character like Nick Ray. The only film that Ray ever made that had any appeal to me, was perhaps 'Flying Leathernecks'.

"American Cinema" is dated material ONLY in the sense that it was produced in 1995. The series has been used successfully in CPB Annenberg online courses for many years now. The instructional content is as contemporary and current as if it were made today...minus references to cinematic endeavors after 1995, and minus interviews with industry names that have risen to a higher profile in the last 10 years. Specific parts deserve repeated viewings as there is a tremendous amount of detail and history throughout the series. As in other comments, I highly recommend this series for anyone who wishes a deeper understanding of specific American film genre and the American film industry. It is a great teaching tool, and could be used in secondary through college level film and film history classes.