The one, the ONLY, 'Duke'!!!

A while back I promised I'd get around to putting up a post about my nearly LIFE-long fandom of the legendary Mr. John Wayne. Well.... no better time I guess, then here and now!!!

Unlike other actors / entertainers I've grown to be all geeky about over the years, there was NEVER a point, part or any other segment in my life where the 'ol Duke wasn't there!! In other words.... as far back as I can remember, John Wayne has been part of the fabric of the Loydster's life!!!

Sounds kinda corny, I know!!! But, my parents watched his movies when I was a wee little tot, and over the years, this big, over-sized, truly 'bigger-than-life' actor, became almost like a part of the Ferrell family. A fixture. Like a giant old oak tree out in the front yard. He was just always around!!

But slowly, over the years.... the Duke has grown into pretty much my favorite actor / movie personality for my own reasons. Over time, I've come to realize John Wayne is indeed one of the greats in movie history!! Also one of the most underrated and under-appreciated--- especially by high-brow, movie-critic-types!!! But.... as I often say to friends & family about movie critics.... 'what do movie critics REALLY know anyway!!??!!?'

Let's take a look at some of the trailers from my own list of 'big John' favorites!! First up, the one that put him on the map!! This was his first big 'breakout' role, in 'Stagecoach'--- the movie that, even though he'd been toiling away in low-budget 'cowpoke-flicks' for a decade, made him a TRUE star!!!---

For it's place in Duke's movie-career, as well as it being a TRUE western classic, 'Stagecoach' has always been one of my favorites. I mean, I can't even imagine ANY other actor that was a contemporary of Duke being able to pull off that CLASSIC scene where his character first appears!!

Then, nearly a decade later, Duke took on the role of the hard-driving cattle baron in 'Red River'. I can't think of very many other actors of his generation, who would've had the guts to take on a role like the one he plays here!!!----

Another role Duke bravely took on, was Ethan Edwards in 'The Searchers'. Another character that has his share of some truly scary moments!!! His dark, complex portrayal in this movie really should have won him an Oscar!!!-----

Another personal favorite of mine, is 'Rio Bravo'. It's also evidence that Duke wasn't bothered by being part of an ensemble of actors that worked together to make a movie something special!! I can't think of ANYBODY in this movie who wasn't EXACTLY right in the part they were cast in!!!----

This next one is a personal favorite for some different reasons than a number of the others on my 'Duke-movie-list'!!! Mainly because I've learned so much about how it was a LONG time (nearly a decade and a half!!!) ambition of Duke's to get this movie made.He ended up throwing a LOT of his personal finances into this project, along with a TON of  energy and concentration (he was producer, director AND star, after all!!)

The end result turned out to be a real mixed bag of a movie. I'd be the last one to say it's a 'perfect' movie, or even one of his best. But.... 'The Alamo' will ALWAYS be one of my 'sentimental Duke favorites', mostly for the journey the man took to get it to the screen!!!----

Now, these next couple of films are some of Mr. Wayne's, that I refer to as my 'dependable' or 'go-to' movies!!! Along with 'The War Wagon', another one in this category, these are flicks that I've lost count of exactly how many times I've actually watched!!

Whenever I need a time to kind of regroup, relax, or just forget life's trials and troubles--- outside of the usual cartoons and 'Stooges shorts, there's NOTHING like sitting back with a bag of popcorn,and enjoying a good adventure / action yarn!! 'The Comancheros' and 'El Dorado' fit the bill perfectly!!---

This is a just a small sample of the Duke's movies that I've grown to love and enjoy over the years. There are a couple DOZEN others in the Loydster's collection that would've made fine examples in this post as well as the ones I've just used!! These are just my 'top half-dozen'!!

Like I've said before here at the bloggy-thang-a-ma-jang, I make NO apologies for any thing that I love and enjoy--- and my love for the Duke and his films is somewhere near the top, if I were to sit down and make a list of those things!! Like I said at the start of this post..... he's ALWAYS been a part of my life, always will be. To quote from his character in 'The Searchers'---- 'Sure as the turnin' of the earth'!!!


                                           ----- See you NEXT time, gang!!!----- 

Loyd's BONUS video-clip--- # 9!!!---The 'King of COOL' sells Mustangs!!!---

Normally, I'm one of those types that either mutes the TV when commercials come on during a program I'm watching, or switch channels while they're on!! But once in a great while, a TRUE CLASSIC comes through and stands out, among all the 'noise & nonsense' that MOST commercials are!!

This one features TWO of my FAVORITE things!!! Well, one isn't a 'thing' at all, but another of my favorite actors of ALL time, Steve McQueen!! (more on him, in-- of COURSE-- a near-future post!!!) The other is the then-new-for 2005 Ford Mustang!! If you are also a fan of the ULTRA-cool McQueen movie 'Bullitt' (ALWAYS a favorite flick of the 'ol Loydster!!), you can understand just how much I flipped-out when this ad first hit the airwaves!!!----

I said it then, I'll say it again right now---- sometimes digital technology can be EXTREMELY COOL!!! The melding of the classic 'McQueen footage' into the modern Mustang ad, is as smooth as silk!! I've also ALWAYS been a major fan of the Mustang, so to me, this is INDEED.... 'a marriage made in heaven'!!!


                                           ------See you NEXT time, gang!!!------

'BOGIE'!!!!

Once again here on the 'ol blog-a-wog-a-rang-thang, I'm sharing my love and admiration for something (or--- in THIS case, someone!!) that I really didn't discover until young adulthood!!

Oh I had caught glimpses of this actor's work as a kid growing up... seen his image around!! After all, 'ol 'Bogie's image / likeness has been used in SO much advertising, his voice imitated SO much over the nearly 6 decades since his death (including in a number of my ALSO beloved 'Looney Tunes' shorts!!), it would be pretty much impossible for the young Loydster NOT to at least have SOME idea that this 'Bogart guy'--- this guy with the unique first name (Humphrey?? Quick, can ANYONE reading this right now think of ANYBODY with a first name like that???), just MAY have been some kind of famous actor, a long time ago!!!

But, it wasn't until my 19th year on this earth, that I actually SAW my first 'Bogart movie'!!! And.... MAN-ALIVE, what a movie!!!! It was shown on the 'late movie',on WGN, channel 9 (one of the first 'cable super-stations'). Here's the trailer for the CLASSIC film that blew the soon-to-be-out-of-his-teens young Loydster's mind!!!----

Now, this 'mind-expanding' experience of seeing 'The Maltese Falcon' (that 'machine-gun-fast' dialogue, that plot, Bogie's character--Sam Spade, and his 'take-no-guff-from-NOBODY' attitude!!) happened back before even VCRs were readily available and in nearly EVERY household!!! So, it would take me a number of years to be able to see several of this TRULY unique actor's other classic films!! The following would eventually not ONLY be seen by me  over the years.... they would also become treasured favorites in 'the Loydster movie-library'!!!---

And---- here's the trailers for three more of the above classics!!! Holly-weird not ONLY  doesn't make'em like these movies any more, it doesn't do trailers like these any more either!! I kinda wish they would, don't you???!!??-----

So----- just WHAT was it / is it, about Bogie and his movies that have become SO loved and treasured by me over the years??? Bogie was NOT the stereotype of a 'leading man'!!! He wasn't very handsome (not that it would matter much to me!!), he wasn't big & broad-shouldered, like one of my other favorites, John Wayne!! In fact he was kind of a little, 'wiry-built'-type of guy!!

Oh, much like the Duke, during his life time, Bogie wasn't appreciated much as an actor!! He wouldn't take home an Oscar, until his performance in 'The African Queen' in 1951--- just 6 years before his death!! His role in 'Treasure of the Sierra Madre' should've earned him a trophy-- by the end of THAT movie, Bogie's performance is down right SCARY!! A lot of 'leading man ', 'matinee idol'-types would have NEVER had the GUTS to even come near a role like the one Bogie pulls off in that film!!!

I think, it's that very thing.... that he was NOT  a glamorous-looking leading-man-type, that helps me hold on to, and treasure 'ol Bogie in my mind!!! All these years, since first being SO blown away by his portrayal of the tough private-eye, Sam Spade--- I still root for the 'little guy' that pushed on through and fought against the odds!! In real life, as well as on film---Mr. Humphrey Bogart!!



                                       ------See you NEXT time, gang!!!-----

Back to new postings SOON!!!--- I promise!!!--

The above doodle is pretty much what life's been leaving me feeling like, lately!!!! It's been an EXTREMELY hectic past few weeks for the 'ol Loydster!!! Including being involved in an (THANKFULLY  non-injury---- except for my poor little 'putt-putt' work-car, it's TOTALED!!!) accident late last week!!

Anyhoo-doo-roo, I plan on getting back to posting here on my usual 'every-couple-weeks-or-so' basis SOON!!! Hopefully by the upcoming weekend!! Just wanted the 'faithful few' of you--- all 1 or 2 of you--- to know the Loyd-man is STILL around & kicking!!!



                                  barring any OTHER minor disasters / and-or-accidents-----

                                                       See you NEXT time gang!!!

Loyd's BONUS video-clip--- # 8!!!

MORE great music!!! This time, it's 'The King' himself, Elvis--- doing the title-tune from the CLASSIC (SO classic that it's basic plot and formula was REPEATED in several OTHER Elvis flicks!!!), 'Viva Las Vegas'!!-----

 Yes..... the 'ol  Loydster freely and openly admits--- with NO SHAME whatsoever--- that I have a soft spot for a LOT of  the music from a number of the King's movies (especially his 'post-army' flicks) !!! AND... even several of the movies themselves!!! I've been a HUGE 'Elvis-geek' most of my life, so it shouldn't be a surprise!!

Were ALL his movies 'masterpieces'??? Of course not!!! Now, his 'pre-army' films,I realize, are considered by most movie-critic-types to be the 'better' ones.But a good number of the ones he made after his hitch in the service,were actually pretty fun and entertaining too (in a  light-weight, 'Archie comics'-kind of way!!!)!!

 Go ahead-- seek out a few yourself!! I recommend MOST of the movies he made from around 1960, 'til around 1966---even a couple of the ones that repeat that 'singing race-car-driver' formula!! All good, clean, GOOFY fun!! Pop some popcorn, plop into a comfy chair. An evening with an 'Elvis flick' is a fun way to pass the time, I promise!!!


                                               -----See you NEXT time, gang!!!!-----

Tex Avery and his CRAZY 'toons!!! (or---'how some INSANE humor SAVED the Loydster's SANITY!!!')

Since we so often visit the subject of humor and things that make us laugh here at this little corner of the universe we call 'Loyd Stuff'---- we might as well visit one of my favorite spots!!! That is the wonderful, wacky, and just plain WIGGED-OUT world of one the greats in the history of animation--- Mr. Tex Avery!!!---

 What's that you say? Don't know (or maybe remember!!) the above pictured, average-looking fellow??? Or... maybe just a picture of this guy, who I'll admit, looks like he might work in an insurance office---just doesn't ring any bells??? How about we take a peek at what he's MOST known for then???----

 Ahhhh, yes!!!! I can see that 'glazed-over' look disappearing from your eyes now!!! NOW you realize the fellow in the above picture, who SO looks like he should've been peddling auto-coverage for 'Allstate', was actually the creative GENIUS who gave us the 'toons that made us LAUGH until we either had tears in our eyes, OR-- we accidentally peed ourselves!!! YES--- his 'toons were THAT FUNNY!!! Especially after he went to work for MGM,in 1942. 

He got his start at Warner Brothers, where he helped develop the personalities of BOTH Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny, into the CLASSIC characters that they're STILL known as today. After a falling out with studio big-wigs, Tex got a 'better offer' from MGM. And THAT is when he REALLY cut-loose!!! 

In Tex Avery's classic MGM 'toons, things roll along at a breathless,break-neck pace!!! The gags come at you one after another!!! Until you can barely breathe, you've been laughing SO hard!!! At least, that's how it's always worked with me!!!

The REALLY crazy thing is, I didn't discover these little 7-minute-bursts of insanity, until I was a young adult!!! AND--- as is usually the case, the discovery came at a time in my life when I desperately NEEDED to BOTH laugh, AND temporarily forget life's troubles, griefs, and woes!!!

As I have said here before----- laughter is (I believe) God's GIFT to us!!! It uplifts us when we're down, helps heal us when we're hurting the most, and just generally is all-around GOOD for the SOUL!!! The folks who have that SPECIAL gift---being able to make others laugh--- have that extra little something that's been placed into them... and Tex Avery had an extra dose of that gift!!! 

STILL don't quite believe me??? Alrighty then..... let's have a look-see at some highlights from one of Tex's all-time CLASSICS!! The 'hero' of the story, 'Droopy' (a VERY unlikely North West Mounted Policeman!) is after the wolf, an escaped crook..... and... well, see for yourself what happens pretty much throughout!!!-----

Like many of the things that bring a smile to the 'ol  Loydster's face-- or in the case of the Tex Avery 'toons, makes me laugh (long & loud!!!)--- I've watched these animated-bits of craziness OVER and OVER!!! They NEVER fail to at least put me in a better mood!!! Seek out a collection of this stuff at your earliest opportunity!!! TRUST me, you will  be GLAD that you did!!

                                                            See you NEXT time gang!!!!