WESTERN MUSIC WESTERN Dvds
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WESTERN MUSIC WESTERN DVDs JIM OWEN. Six Guns and Trail Songs. Jim Owen Music, McCabe & Mrs. Miller. Criterion. Blu-Ray, $39.95; DVD, $10, [email protected]. $29.95, Criterion.com. I’d had one of the toughest weeks Within Westerns, cameramen and directors seemed forever in my life. And when you consider joined by their collaborative visuals, the images I’m 68, you know that’s saying they painted, for more than a century, mold- something. I was feeling pretty ing the genre into what it is. John Ford’s deep- beat down and disappointed shadowed landscapes, captured by Bert Glennon in myself. But leaving home and, later, William Clothier, are now the stuff of one morning at the end of that legend. Lucien Ballard’s vivid Technicolor palette miserable week, I put this CD in for Henry Hathaway became naturalistic when my car’s player. As Jim Owen’s he shot for Budd Boetticher version of “Back in the Saddle and Sam Peckinpah, while Again” spilled out, I felt myself shed- Bruce Surtees split the dark- ding the blues like a snake losing old skin. ness of Clint Eastwood’s scenes like the Cowboy songs – especially favorites such as “Ghost Rid- flame of a single candle. ers in the Sky,” “Don’t Fence Me In” and “Big Iron,” all In 1970, cinematographer Vilmos Zsig- on this CD – affect me like that when sung by a voice as mond traveled to the Pacific Northwest to fine as Owen’s. Owen is a superlative writer, too. His stack make, in director Robert Altman’s words, C. COURTNEY of country hits includes “Louisiana JOYNER a “sort-of-a-western.” It was the perfect Woman, Mississippi Man,” the classic time for their collaboration. The genre version of which was performed by was pumping, energized by the success of The Wild Bunch and Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. But this story of mumbling He penned three of the songs on this gambler Warren Beatty, who comes to the dogtrot known as record. Of those, my pick is “Pisto- Presbyterian Church, then teams with madam Julie Christie to lero,” the story of an old Ranger who build it into a bustling town, wasn’t going to play out as a usual OLLIE tracks down and deals with a nephew Western. McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971) was to find its own tone REED JR. gone bad. and rhythms in its naturalistic performance, setting and stark violence, as well as in the beating heart of its characters, all JAMES MICHAEL. Meadowlark. James Michael Music, captured by Zsigmond’s photography which set a new standard $15, [email protected]. for use of color and light in American film. Many songs written by James Michael come from his Altman’s tale is a study in naturalism, as eccentric as a man own life. Since he is the working cowboy son of a cowboy of the wilderness and romantic as a lonesome cowboy. The father, that makes for Western records that are as authentic warm, yellow light of Zsigmond’s interiors sneaks into rooms as they are pleasing. “All- through wall slats and dirty windows. Outside, the bitter cold American Cowboy” and is a cloudless sky, hanging like a shroud over these men and “Store-Bought Buckle” are women. drawn from his dad’s life, the Death comes, as in any Western, but for Altman, a gunfight is love song “Meadowlark” is just another aspect of this hard life. Keith Carradine’s hot-shot about his mom and dad, and meets his maker in slow-motion that’s not fanciful, but rather an “Turn to Die” was inspired icy vision created by director and cinematographer that can’t be by the time a horse fell on shaken. Michael. All good stuff. But McCabe & Mrs. Miller’s other glories are many: wonderful sup- one of the best cuts here is porting performances, Gene Callahan’s production design and “Lizzy Knight,” a song that the brave choice of Leonard Cohen’s songs for the soundtrack. tells the true story of a woman who emigrated from Eng- Criterion’s Blu-Ray presents this “sort-of-a-western” in its fin- land to Colorado in 1875 and worked hard to make a place est form. Ever. The Blu-Ray extras include a new documentary, for herself and her family. I also like “Gaishena,” a mysti- original location featurette, an interview with Zsigmond, and cal poem about a girl of long-ago Chaco Canyon. Michael two episodes of The Dick Cavett Show, with Altman and critic is a man of many talents. But he only wears one hat – and Pauline Kael discussing the film’s original critical reception. that’s cowboy. *** *** C. Courtney Joyner writes in many formats, including E-mail Ollie at [email protected] and send CDs to screenplays, fiction and nonfiction. E-mail him at olcourt@ him at P.O. Box 2381, Corrales, NM 87048. yahoo.com. 12 ROUNDUP MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2017 BOOK REVIEWS Sacred. South Dakota Historical Society and American Indians from the 1860s JUVENILE Press. Trade paperback, 102 pages, to Wounded Knee in 1890. Yes, this $16.95, SDHSPress.com. is the story Dee Brown told in the ALICE V. BROCK. The River of A prolific writer of books for young groundbreaking Bury My Heart at Cattle. Pen-L. Trade paperback, 225 adults, Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve Wounded Knee (1970), but Cozzens pages, $13.97, Pen-L.com. offers this one based on the untold seeks to “bring historical balance to Will Whitaker and his beloved stories of women in her native culture. the story of the Indian Wars.” Even so, stallion, Buck, leave their Texas ranch She reminds us that values such as The Earth Is Weeping is poignant and with Will’s father, Dan, to join a cattle those taught by the White Buffalo Calf disheartening, a well-written, concise drive bound for the New Mexico Woman still hold a place of high honor treatise of the West’s darkest chapter. It Territory. But 11-year-old Will has to in the modern world. This book, a might not replace Brown’s masterpiece find a way to cope with crushing loss product of her study of winter counts in your hearts, but The Earth Is Weep- – not only the sale of the family ranch (calendar of events, originally painted ing is among the best-written Western but the death of his mother. Struggling on animal hides) and oral histories, histories of 2016. with his anger and grief on the grueling illustrates the quality of her work drive, Will also works to prove himself for which she has been awarded the DONALD L. CUTLER. “Hang a real cowboy. As the drovers traverse National Humanities Medal. As one of Them All”: George Wright and the Plateau Comanche country, Will faces another the judges said, “She has brought the Indian War. University of Oklahoma challenge when a homeless 12-year-old, richness of Native American culture Press. Hardcover, 392 pages, $29.95, Two Feathers, tries to steal Buck. What and heritage to thousands.” OUpress.com. begins in hatred between the two boys – Lynn Bueling George Wright, “a hero with a turns ultimately into trust and friendship now-unsteady legacy” according to the as they rescue each other from life- author, commanded Army troops in threatening dangers. This middle-grade NONFICTION Washington and Oregon territories in novel paints a vivid picture of hardship, the late 1850s. His campaign against perseverance, and prejudice overcome in TOM CLAVIN. Dodge City: Wyatt various tribes on the Columbia Pla- the post-Civil War Southwest. Earp, Bat Masterson, and the Wickedest teau terrorized Indians by hoisting up – Nancy Plain Town in the American West. St. Mar- hostages to strangle, burning villages, tin’s. Hardcover, 400 pages, $29.99, destroying food supplies and slaughter- CANDACE FLEMING. Presenting us.macmillan.com. ing some 700 horses. Donald Cutler Buffalo Bill: The Man Who Invented the Tom Clavin, a 2014 Spur finalist as details Wright’s career before and after Wild West. Roaring Book. Hardcover, co-author (with Bob Drury) of The his assignment to the Pacific North- 259 pages, $19.99, us.macmillan.com. Heart of Everything That Is: The Untold west, including a period of despair over Using sources such as William Story of Red Cloud, An American Legend, lack of advancement, and examines his F. Cody’s autobiography as well turns to a lighter, more rollicking story legacy in this valuable contribution to as respected biographers, Candace in this entertaining look at two Western the history of our nation’s 19th Century Fleming tells Cody’s story in a fashion icons and one legendary town. Dodge Indian policies. that will appeal to young adults. City, Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson – Rod Miller Occasional interruptions to the text get their due – again – and while – “Panning for the Truth” – integrate Clavin mixes documented history with MICHAEL R. GRAUER. Rounded questions about Cody’s veracity or tales some historians question if not Up in Glory: Frank Reaugh, Texas Renais- cite historical facts substantiating outright discredit, the author keeps sance Man. University of North Texas or refuting his claims. Several readers engaged by telling his story Press. Hardcover, 403 pages, $39.95, photographs of Cody, his children with zest and a great deal of humor. UNTPress.unt.edu. and his Wild West show supplement Not only does this book present the the text. I can see it being the first in PETER COZZENS. The Earth Is complexities of artist Frank Reaugh, a series about remarkable historical Weeping: The Epic Story of the Indian it offers an overview of art during the characters.