dual personalities

Yes, it’s John Wayne–around 1930 when he made The Big Trail. Adorable.

Since I did not make a Friday recommendation (although some of you no doubt ran out to rent Kingdom of the Spiders), I recommend watching a John Wayne movie (any John Wayne movie) tonight. For myself, I think I will watch one of my favorites: The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. John Wayne (at his very best) dominates this movie, despite Jimmy Stewart having a lot more screen time. It’s also John Ford’s last great movie. And there are lots of the usual character actors doing their best as well: Strother Martin, Edmund O’Brien, John Qualen, Andy Devine, and the impressive Woody Strode. Lee Marvin is very scary. This is the movie that even mentions the Picketwire River (The Purgatoire) in Las Animas County, southeastern Colorado, pioneered by our own ancestors. I can’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday evening.

And, yes, that is a picture of John Wayne (from Liberty Valance) on my kitchen wall. On occasion people have asked why I have a picture of John Wayne on my kitchen wall. I always say, “Doesn’t everyone?”