willieboyd2

This film is a sequel to the 1931 version of "Riders of the Purple Sage" and is a pretty good Western movie.

John Shefford comes to Arizona in 1885 looking for Fay Larkin, a girl who he has only heard of. He knows the story of the gunman Lassiter and Jane Withersteen living in a hidden valley in the mountains, as told in "Riders".

John takes a pack train to an outlaw encampment, there he rescues an Indian girl from an attempted rape by a white outlaw and is befriended by the chief Lone Eagle. He meets a young girl named "Sago Lily" who is living with the outlaw leader and his wife.

What follows are gunfights, romance, and more Zane Grey action, along with a comical stuttering cowboy who plays the harmonica.

I watched the film "The Monuments Men" today at a local theater.

I thought it was an excellent film overall.

I am probably more familiar with the subject than most viewers as I read Robert Edsel's book on the subject, which is the basis for the film.

Also I knew about the US Army art recovery groups from Upton Sinclair's Lanny Budd novels, and Thomas Carr Howe's 1946 book "Salt Mines and Castles".

The film did take liberties with the true stories to shorten the number of characters, and there were some scenes which turn up in most World War II films now, such as finding gold rings and dental work.

There is a stock Nazi SS Colonel who murders one of the Americans and later orders his men to use flamethrowers to destroy a room full of paintings,

The only woman in the film is a French art museum official who records art being stolen by the Nazis. She also distrusts the Americans and one of the Monuments group has to convince her to turn over her list of stolen art.

Some of the film is humorous, such as middle-aged men going through military training.

One recurring theme is the leader of the group trying to convince combat officers of the need to protect art for future generations.

A funny scene occurs when some of the men find a salt mine where the Nazis have stored some stolen art. One man digs through a wall and finds not art but a huge amount of gold. The gold brings a visit by the top generals including Eisenhower and Patton.

I didn't see any obvious anachronisms.

There are some scenes of Nazis stealing the art, and scenes of Hitler planning his "Fuhrer Museum". The actor who plays Hitler really looks like him.

The film is rated PG-13, but the rating is supposedly because some of the men smoke cigarettes, otherwise it would probably be PG or even G. There are a few nude women, but only on several hundred year old paintings and sculptures.

George Clooney produced and directed this film, and there is a scene at the end where an older version of George's character is played by George's father Nick Clooney, who used to host the AMC cable channel films.

Johnny Bolton is a wild 17 year old boy who stole some money. Hoppy has brought him back into town and thinks he can be reformed. Johnny read about and idealizes an outlaw from 30 years ago named the Sundown Kid. Hoppy turns Johnny over to Reverend Edward Adams hoping that the reverend can set him on the right path in life. At first, Johnny appears to be leading a good life until he hears that a friend of the reverend will be carrying $15,000. Johnny and a local lowlife plan to rob the man, and carry off the robbery. Johnny's partner then double crosses him and keeps most of the money. Hoppy and the reverend locate the outlaw pair and a gunfight ensues. Doesn't take much to see where this is going and where the Sundown Kid is now.

This film was previewed by several US generals before being shown to the troops. Most of the generals approved of it. However, General George Patton didn't like the film and gave it a one word review, "Bull....".

See "General Patton, A Soldier's Life" by Stanley Hirshson, published 2002.

I have seen the film but have not seen the similar film for Japan, which I understand is even more strident.

It is interesting that Dr. Seuss (Theodore Geisel) made Army training films that received academy awards (Oscars).