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This is my old blog, which I no longer update. Feel free to browse around old posts and such, but the much more recent version of my ramblings are to be found at MarilynAnneCampbell.com

Sunday, November 19, 2006

Can you tie-dye the canvas for a covered wagon?

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.

2 comments:

  1. One of the finest cinematic pieces ever! I grew up on it. (imagine what offspring such a thing must produce)

    It 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!

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  2. Hi Raingull, and welcome!

    It 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. :)

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