Last night I dedicated 164 of my rare, non-working minutes to expanding my knowledge of the cultural landmarks our society has been built on. That's right - I watched "Paint Your Wagon", the western musical extravaganza that features Lee Marvin and Clint Eastwood singing their tough-guy hearts out.
I'd heard tell of this movie, mostly as the butt of jokes about box-office flops and cinematic bad ideas. It was, to say the least, very strange, but also strangely entertaining (Believe it or not, Clint's a damn fine singer). What I'm surprised I've never heard mentioned before was that it was released in 1969 and, based on the theatrical trailer included on the DVD, its target-market was hippies!
The trailer voice over invites you to:
"Come along with Lee Marvin, Clint Eastwood and Jean Seberg as they bring the free-living, free-loving, California gold rush days to life"
And to enjoy this story about:
"...a lusty group of people who one day looked civilization in the eye... and spit!"
Alas, I am well past my days in Film Historiography lectures, but if anyone out there is looking for a topic to surprise your prof with, consider jumping aboard this wagon train to wackiness.
Writing News: "A Warmer World" receives a Toronto Arts Council Playwrights
Grant
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[image: Toronto Arts Council logo with text funded by the City of Toronto]
I'm pleased to announce that one of my works-in-progress has been chosen
for...
4 years ago
One of the finest cinematic pieces ever! I grew up on it. (imagine what offspring such a thing must produce)
ReplyDeleteIt is an environmentalist (I mean that in the broadest sense possible) movie before it's time. The whole thing is about self-destruction in the human species.
The critics will pay penance in hell for panning such a masterpiece!
Hi Raingull, and welcome!
ReplyDeleteIt certainly does seem like it was ahead of its time, but I can also see why a lot of people just don't know what to make of it.
One thing's for sure - it's one of a kind. :)