I saw Tall in the Saddle a few days ago, and I haven't seen it for a while. This is the first time I seen it on DVD, and what a movie! I didn't remember what took place but it was a great story line.

Duke arriving in Santa Inez to take over as a foreman of a ranch. He learns that the man who had hired him has been murdered. He meets the heiress of the murdered man and her aunt. The classic George "Gabby: Hayes os fantastic as Dave the stage driver. Since the girl (Audrey Long) and her aunt are in charge of the ranch, Rocklin (Duke) refuses the job because he dislikes working for women. Rocklin has a prompt run-in with a young hot dog, Clint Harolday (Russell Wade), and Clews (Paul Fix), the sheriff's furtive assistant, causing trouble with Arly (Ella Raines), Clint's sister, a spitfire herself who insists of his stepfather Harolday (Don Douglas) to hire Rocklin so she can have the pleasure of firing him. Arly is fascinated by Rocklin, is furiously jealous of Clara. (Sound like a soap opera) Rocklin receives a letter from Clara over to the doubtful Judge Garvey (Ward Bond). She wants to recover a letter which proves her to be of age and privileged to handle her own affairs.

In searching for the letter during Garvey's absence, Rocklin finds marked cards. He confronts the judge with the discovery, and in a brawl leaves Garvey unconscious. Rocklin then has Clint come to his room for questions. A hand reaches through the window, takes Rocklin's gun from his holster, shoots and kills Clint, tosses the gun back in the room, disappears. Found with the body of a man shot with his gun, things look bad for Rocklin who refuses to surrender to the sheriff, and makes his getaway pursued by a posse. He gets to the KC Ranch where he overhears Miss Martin (Elisabeth Risdon) telling Clara that Rocklin is the lawful owner of the ranch because he was the nephew of Cardell, the murdered owner.

That's why she and Garvey destroyed the missing letter, which incidentally revealed these facts.

Arly arrives reveals that Harolday killed both Cardell and Clint; the former because he wanted his land, the latter because he knew too much, and that Garvey was working for Harolday to capture the KC from Clara. Even Miss Martin was in on part of the plot. Harolday is killed by Juan, Arly's devoted bodyguard (where did he come from). Rocklin, despite evidences of her temper, decides that Arly had thought so, too.

See the movie! It has a lot of plots in 87 minutes, and is definitely a classic John Wayne movie.

Cheers B)

Yeah , theres the BIG TRAIL and STAGECOACH, but this is the beginning of the Duke as we know him.

When he walks away from the poker table only to return with his gun and says " I 've come for my money"

And then the showdown in the street......
"Touch that gun and I'll kill ya."
"You hit that man ! " " Yes mam....... just as hard as I could".


Yep, from TALL IN THE SADDLE on we had JOHN WAYNE


Rick

I havent seen this movie but I have heard lots of positive reports regarding it and I look forward to viewing it in the future.

:agent:

Great film,
The first
Wayne/Fellows Production,
with the script written by Paul Fix.
I agree with you totally Hondo.

Robbie, drop what you are doing and go see this film! I have long contended that this one is under-rated. I believe that this is the first film where Wayne really cemented the "loner" aspect to his personna. Gabby Hayes was terrific in this film, and the stage-coach ride at the beginning was great. Warned about riding the coach with the "ornery old cus" driver, Wayne replies "I like ornery old cusses. Hope to live long enough to be one."

This film is a gem.

Originally posted by Hondo Duke Lane@Jun 12 2005, 01:29 PM
Since the girl (Audrey Long) and her aunt are in charge of the ranch, Rocklin (Duke) refuses the job because he dislikes working for women.17488
Hondo,

I feel compelled to correct on this point - Rocklin doesn't necessarily dislike working for women, but he absolutely has NO desire to work for the aunt, who is an "ornery old cuss" in her own right :angry: (and gets a much deserved come-uppance in the end :D ).

We have really enjoyed Tall in the Saddle. We got it last year, on VHS, at a rummage sale, and were pleasantly surprised - really engaging plot, and (as we have mentioned in previous posts) it is especially interesting to see Ward Bond in a "bad guy" role, when we are so accustomed to seeing him as a buddy most of the time. The real telling aspect of the film is that a friend was visiting who does NOT watch movies at all, and he actually stayed and watched it through to the end, and said that he really enjoyed it - the only time we have seen that happen :o .

BTW, what special features are available on the DVD?

Mrs. C :angel1:

Mrs. Chester :angel1: ,

I will concede but Rocklin throughout the movie talks about his problems with women, and it only concludes that his main reason for not working at the ranch was it was run by women when he thought it was run by a man who was murdered. So what he thinks didn't exactly come out in the movie.

The special features only give the John Wayne Trailer Gallery. The movies include Tall in the Saddle (1944), Fort Apache (1948), Blood Alley (1955), The Sea Chase (1955), The Train Robbers (1972), Cahill: United States Marshal (1973), and McQ (1974)

Cheers B)

It's been mentioned several times, but it's also very true - this is the movie where John Wayne became JOHN WAYNE.

As noted a few posts above it was two specific scenes that forever cemented The Duke's screen image...

When he comes back to the poker table with his guns to collect his money, and when he meets the guy in the street and says, "Touch that gun and I'll kill ya." Simply classic John Wayne, or should I say JOHN WAYNE!

Another scene that was very memorable was when JW refused to be intimidated by the sister of the guy whose money he collected at the poker table. She's firing shots at him and he keeps on walking into the saloon. He's relatively calm and cool - until he gets inside and breathes a huge sigh of relief. Great stuff!

Beyond those classic moments the movie is simply fantastic! I am so glad that I got the recent box set - I really liked all of those movies!

I had this movie on VHS before i bought the legendary heros collection, although i really had forgotten what a great movie it was.Exellent plots and acting. I think Gabby Hayes did an awsome job, great comedy relief.

I especially loved how he went on with " uh huhhhh,uh huhhhh, yeaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh" :D .

-IHW

and then Gabby says, "oh Saloon....SALOOOOON!!!!"

There is also an interesting parallel in Tall in the Saddle with Hondo. First, in SADDLE, after punching out the bad guy in the famous confrontation on the street, Wayne is walking away and the crabby old woman says, "I saw you! I saw you strike that poor man!" to which he responds, "Yes Ma'am, just as hard as I could."

In Hondo, when Mrs. Lowe learned that he was famous gunman Hondo Lane she exclaimed as to all the men he had killed, and he replied, "Yes, Ma'am, just as fast as I could."

These kind of parallels illustrate what everyone has been saying above that Tall in the Saddle is the foundation of the John Wayne personna that we have come to love in these western roles.

GSP

That's interesting GSP. I didn't think of that. I wonder if there are any other parallels that come from that movie? I'll have to put on my thinking cap for this one.

Cheers B)

With all this talk about Tall in the Saddle, we decided to watch it tonight. We have the Turner 1989 colorized version. I have to say that as colorized versions go, this one is pretty good. Flesh tones are not too bad. I think that they were careful to not try to make the colors too bold and thereby artificial. If you don't have the colorized version, I highly recommend that you try to pick it up on e-bay or somewhere.

After watching it tonight, I am all the more convinced that this is a great film. As Gabby said of Wayne, "boy has somebody come to town!"

Man, I just wanted to say. This movie is awesome!! It was the 1st movie I chose to watch last night after I received my package from DDDVD( Legendary Heroes Collection) and I could not have been more happy choosing that one first. It has great action, acting, and the humor!! I was rolling on the floor practically everytime "Gabby" was talking!! I will have to watch it again because of the parts I missed while laughing :lol: And the one liners from Duke, they could fill a book. I wonder why this movie doesn't get much publicity like his others? It truly is a fun movie that would not disappoint any western movie fan.

If anybody is on the fence about this movie, get off the fence and watch it, you will like it allot!!

You guys got us fired up to watch Tall In The Saddle tonight, for about the tenth time. :D
We also have the colorized verson, and while not perfect, I feel it adds alot to the film.

I know i've mentioned in the past, that this is one of our favorite JW films.

Chester :newyear:

Chester...one of our favorites too...its a cool plot, and just a lot of fun to watch. GSP

Originally posted by Hondo Duke Lane@Jun 13 2005, 09:37 PM
Mrs. Chester :angel1:* ,

I will concede but Rocklin throughout the movie talks about his problems with women, and it only concludes that his main reason for not working at the ranch was it was run by women when he thought it was run by a man who was murdered.* So what he thinks didn't exactly come out in the movie.
17547

OK, having watched it just a few nights ago, here's what Rocklin says regarding working for the KC ranch now that it's owner is murdered. His remark is directed to "the crabby old woman" (Miss Martin) and he says, "Lady, I'd rather walk for somebody else than ride for you." If it was just Clara, I don't think he would have had a problem with it.

However, later, when he's discussing working for the Haroldays, he does make a remark (speaking to the step-father, but knowing that Arly is involved), "I'm not jumping at this offer of yours, either, 'cause I don't hold with working for women."

I wouldn't say it was a recurring theme throughout the film, but the attitude played a part in his actions.

Here's an interesting little tidbit - when Rocklin is on his way to Tabletop, and has just spoken with Talo (who offered him a cigarette) - right after Talo rides off, Rocklin looks at the cigarette and . . . throws it away without smoking it. Our nine-year-old remarked, "That's something you don't see too often, John Wayne throwing away a cigarette." Out of the mouths of babes . . . . :rolleyes:

Mrs. C :angel1:

I LIKED THIS MOVIE FOR AWHILE BUT I REALLY LEARNED ALOT FROM THIS THREAD THANKS!!!!!

Originally posted by chester7777@Jun 29 2005, 09:25 AM
I wouldn't say it was a recurring theme throughout the film, but the attitude played a part in his actions.
18325


Mrs. C,

That was what I was talking about, and I appreciate your opinion.

Cheers B)