tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141014462966058399.post5619209914078827508..comments2023-06-14T05:36:15.460-04:00Comments on The Skeins: The Raid (1954)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141014462966058399.post-30648463712153803802015-06-23T22:30:25.623-04:002015-06-23T22:30:25.623-04:00'Ruthless Four' also features another West... 'Ruthless Four' also features another Western veteran late in his career, Gilbert Roland, who played a very good part. In fact, Roland and Heflin's performances were about the only thing that saved that low budget Spaghetti Western and made it thoroughly enjoyable. <br /><br />As far as The Civil War not getting much attention in the old days of Hollywood, I would have to agree. The ones that were made, like John Ford's 'The Horse Soldiers', were very historically inaccurate and contained many anachronisms like Colt 45 pistols and Winchester repeating rifles. In the 1960s a few Civil War movies were produced mainly to illustrate the futility of war or the evils of prejudice. They seemed to have more in common with the 1960's than the 1860's.<br /><br />One of these I remember most distinctly from my childhood was 'Journey To Shiloh'. It featured a band of Texans from out West, far removed from the Antebellum South riding east to fight for Texas. Although unknowns at the time, the band included James Caan, Harrison Ford, Jan-Michael Vincent, Don Stroud, Michael Burns, and the two most well-known at the time, Michael Sarraizin, and Paul Peterson, who was known from his role on The Donna Reed Show.<br /><br />These young actors were portrayed as a rag-tag, long-haired, buckskin-wearing bunch of rowdies similar to the Hippies of 1968, when the movie came out. They were treated with contempt and prejudice from the Southerners they were to fight for, They had an abrupt introduction to slavery and the treatment of runaways, and they were finally disillusioned by the realities of the 'grand cause' they came to fight for.Blankendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16886699927636820368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141014462966058399.post-79788836455474365952010-12-01T23:23:50.842-05:002010-12-01T23:23:50.842-05:00Thanks for those kind words. Coming from you, I...Thanks for those kind words. Coming from you, I'm really flattered.<br /><br />Now that you pulled the cork out of the Van Heflin jug...<br /><br />Never seen "The Ruthless Four," but am dying to. I'm in love with the very idea of Heflin in a spaghetti Western!<br /><br />To me, Heflin seems like the link between the classic, 40s and 50s type film acting, and the 60s guys like Gene Hackman and Robert Duvall. What a loss that he died at just 60.<br /><br />Have you seen "Gunman's Walk?"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141014462966058399.post-26187161933920140912010-12-01T22:08:18.482-05:002010-12-01T22:08:18.482-05:00I'm very pleased that you enjoyed this post ab...I'm very pleased that you enjoyed this post about a fascinating topic if a less than perfect film. Van Heflin may be so compelling in part because he looked less and less like an actor as his career went on. The difference between him and other actors? He never got much recognition as he grew more naturalistic in crafting his characters. One film I must get around to posting about soon is a late career piece with Heflin in a spaghetti Western called "The Ruthless Four" (1968). Playing a grizzled prospector, he barely speaks throughout the first half hour, but he creates a believable, desperate individual on screen whose sweat and determination are almost palpable. <br /><br />In case any readers don't know this generous commentator, he is the mainstay of the one of the most consistently well written blogs about the cinema,<b> <a href="http://fiftieswesterns.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow">50 Westerns From the '50s</a></b>. I am hoping that the blog lasts far longer than fifty films! Thanks again.<br />Cheers, <br />MoiraMoira Finniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12626493736940699514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141014462966058399.post-47224806021889844172010-12-01T21:24:29.729-05:002010-12-01T21:24:29.729-05:00Great post. Like you, I find it hard to place this...Great post. Like you, I find it hard to place this film in a particular genre, and I find it more interesting than good.<br /><br />But I'd watch Van Heflin in anything.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com