WEEK 28, 2021

COURTESY OF CODY SWANSON

American sculptor Cody Swanson stands next to his sculpture of Saint John. The sculpture is one of the Four Evangelists he’s creating in clay, in preparation for it to be cast in plaster for the Chapel of the Holy Cross, Jesuit High School, Tampa, Fla.

SACRED ART LORRAINE FERRIER After he graduated, Swanson taught at The Florence Academy of Art and also at the Sa- ome 18 years ago, Minnesota-born cred Art School in Florence, which focuses Cody Swanson arrived in on exclusively on serving the Catholic Church. a two-way ticket as a fresh-faced Now, Swanson concentrates solely on cre- Serving God, 18-year-old keen to discover more ating sublime sacred art in clay, bronze, about traditional art. That he did. marble, and plaster in his private studio. SBut his trip wasn’t quite what he had envi- With each and every one of his sculptures, sioned. He’s lived in Italy ever since, having he has one aim: to serve God. To that end, never used his return flight. he sincerely hopes that each sculpture Sculpture by Swanson settled in Florence, where he brings people closer to God. learned sculpture at The Florence Acad- His sculptures in Europe can be found in emy of Art. While there, he fell in love with Florence, Madrid, Rome, and , to the city—and a fellow student, whom he name a few cities. Among his major works later married. in Italy are a silver processional cross for Sculpture His Roman Catholic faith and family are the Florence Cathedral and a 13-foot sculp- most important to Swanson (the couple ture of St. Emygdius for Foligno Cathedral The sacred art of Florence-based have five children), and his wife is one of in the Umbria region of central Italy. a number of artists who help him in his American sculptor Cody Swanson studio, he said in a telephone interview. Continued on Page 4 2B2 | ARTS & CULTURE TUESDAY,Week JULY 28, 13, 2021 TUESDAY,Week 28, 2021JULY 13, 2021 ARTS & CULTURE |B3 3

PuBliC DoMAiN MArTiN TrABAliK/ShuTTerSToCK TradiTional CulTure vank, for example, we find ourselves visiting a church “believed to have been founded at the end of the first century.” Here in the main church are frescoes from the 13th century, intricately carved khachkars in the bell tower that left me wondering how Still Under anyone ever crafted such marvels, and beautiful illuminated pages from the Bible. During your visit here, be sure to watch the video of the teenagers pro- ducing 3D images of the monastery. Siege Or take in the village of Tsar, “once home to a fortress, a vaulted cathe- dral, churches, cemeteries, and a and the Churches medieval bridge.” Over time, vandals CriSPiN SeMMeNS/CC BY-SA 2.0 damaged many of these monuments. past, the Khmer Rouge’s wholesale at- (Above) The During the Soviet period, stones from tempt at demolishing ancient Cambo- ruins of of Nagorno-Karabakh some churches and headstones from dian arts: Modern totalitarianism is as Monastery in the graveyards were stripped for use in capable of inflicting cultural ruination Kalbajar District of Jeff Minick Armenians managed to practice their new buildings, including a school in as any ancient warlord. Even in the . faith, surviving all of these assaults on which many of the tombstones em- United States, the last few years have (Above right) In 1965, I was an eighth grader at their traditions. bedded in the walls can still be read. seen statues of those we once regard- Ghazanchetsots Virginia’s Staunton Military Academy, Then the 20th century arrived. Our tour of the cathedral of Gha- ed as heroes toppled or removed from Cathedral, a a school now long defunct. zanchetsots introduces us to a newer the public square. cathedral in the One day a classmate, Thomas A., told The Slate Wiped Clean building, once a gem in the city until The rage behind some of this dese- city of Shushi in me the story of his Armenian grand- From 1915 to 1922, the Armenian the bombing two years ago. The accom- cration is understandable. During the Nagorno-Karabakh. mother, how some Turkish troops had genocide and the destruction of panying video gives us an introduction American Revolution, for example, (Right) A beautiful entered her village, how she had hid- many buildings and artifacts wiped to the beauty of the land, but, even New Yorkers tore down a statue of “khachkar” or “cross den away either in a cellar or under a out much of Armenian culture and more, grants us a glimpse of the culture George III. And during the collapse stone” in , bed (that detail has vanished from my religious practices. Later, in those when we meet a young couple married of the Soviet Union, mobs tore down . memory) while neighbors and family areas under the thumb of the Soviet in the cathedral just days after missiles statues of Stalin. members were either shot or bayonet- Union, authorities clamped down on hit the church. In the words and faces of But when some indulge in cultural ed, and how she and a few others had Armenian Christianity, imprisoned the bride and groom, we find the tenac- genocide, seeking to wipe out an escaped and eventually made their some priests, and closed many of the ity that has so long sustained the Arme- entire culture, they are destroying way to the United States. remaining churches, allowing them to nians through their many ordeals. not just that culture but also a part of I was too young and ignorant at the fall into disrepair. humanity’s historical record, its great time to understand that Thomas was The collapse of the Soviet Union A Cultural Impoverishment art, its books, and even its music. relating to me a detail of the Arme- in 1991 brought new conflicts to Human beings have a long history Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and nian genocide, when in World War I the region. The Armenians living in of iconoclasm, the destruction for Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic and afterward the Ottoman Empire Nagorno-Karabakh held a referendum political or religious reasons of monu- Church, recently issued this plea to the PRELIMINARY SEMI-FINAL FINAL murdered around 1.5 million Ar- and declared that tiny country an in- ments, libraries, houses of worship, world: “I pray that the world will awaken The Sept. 2–3 Sept. 4 Sept. 5 menians. The reasons behind this dependent state, breaking away from statues, and shrines. The loss of the to this call, standing up to protect this destruction genocide were both religious—the Azerbaijan. A bloody war ensued, ancient library of Alexandria with small piece of land and its significant con- Turks were Muslims, the Armenians leaving the Armenians in control of its tens of thousands of scrolls, the tribution to universal human culture.” of many Christians—and political. In the latter the region and holding parts of Azer- sack of Constantinople in 1204 by the Agreed. Gold Award $10,000 case, the Turks feared that the Arme- baijan. In 2020, war again erupted Crusaders and later by the Muslims buildings nians might attempt to rebel against between the two countries, which re- in 1453, the attacks on artwork and Jeff Minick has four children and a and artifacts the empire as had some of its other sulted in the Azeris controlling about statues during the time of the Prot- growing platoon of grandchildren. For SEMI-FINAL & FINAL Tickets on Sale $30 subject peoples. By means of mass ex- half of the Karabakh territory. estant Reformation: These and many 20 years, he taught history, literature, wiped out ecutions, death marches, and forced As the team of scholars who contrib- other assaults in the past have left our and Latin to seminars of homeschool- Hotline 1-888-477-9228 emigration, the Turks obliterated their uted to “Ancient Faith: The Churches culture poorer. ing students in Asheville, N.C. He is the much of Armenian subjects. of Nagorno-Karabakh” point out, Modernity has also wreaked havoc author of two novels, “Amanda Bell” Arminian They also erased Armenian culture. this conflict has brought additional on art and culture. The Nazi book and “Dust On Their Wings,” and two Tribeca Performing Arts Center Several thousand churches, schools, destruction of churches, monasteries, burnings, the Soviet Union’s destruc- works of non-fiction, “Learning As I Go” culture and 199 Chambers Street New York, NY 10007 and libraries were destroyed—either and religious shrines, with the Az- tion of churches, Mao’s Cultural Revo- and “Movies Make The Man.” Today, religious leveled to the ground or converted to eris apparently intent on eradicating lution in which the communists tried he lives and writes in Front Royal, Va. some extraneous use. The remains of all signs of Armenian culture. Holy to sweep away all evidence of China’s See JeffMinick.com to follow his blog. practices. the ancient monastery of , Savior , for for example, are now used as a shed instance, though meaningless as a for fodder for domestic animals. military target, was heavily damaged And this destruction continues by missiles fired by the Azeris, as was today. Tigranakert, a city dating back to the Hellenistic period, where the ancient A Brief History ruins were also targeted. In late June, the Museum of the Bible, Meanwhile, in Azerbaijan itself, from an outfit with 430,000 square feet of 1997 to 2006, exhibition researchers exhibits and various collections in have “documented the destruction Washington, D.C., began featuring a of 89 medieval churches, 5,840 cross virtual exhibition titled Ancient Faith: stones, and 22,000 tombstones. The SUMMERTIME STYLE The Churches of Nagorno-Karabakh. American Association for the Ad- Here we learn that Armenians have vancement of Science, using satellite SEASONAL PIECES YOU’LL LOVE long claimed that two apostles of images to track the destruction of the Jesus—Bartholomew and Jude Thad- sites, showed the phased disappear- deus—were the first to introduce ance of Christian monuments in the Christianity in this region. The people Djlufa cemetery of Nakhchivan.” fervently embraced this new reli- gion, and in A.D. 301, Armenia under Worthwhile Visits the rule of King Tiridates the Great When we take the virtual tour offered became the first country to adopt by the Museum of the Bible, looking Christianity as its state religion. at these buildings, many of them now Over the next millennia, Armenians tumble-down and broken by the rav- built thousands of churches, monas- ages of time and war, we may experi- teries, schools, and scriptoria, which ence several emotions: a wonder rising produced beautiful illuminated man- from the beauty of these structures uscripts. Sacred sites and khachkars, and those long-departed men and or “cross stones,” dotted the cities and women who gave their treasure and the countryside. toil to create them, a sadness that the Because Armenia was a crossroads violence and turmoil of the last century between Europe and Asia, the land has damaged or even eliminated them suffered from wars and invasions, entirely, and anger that some people with the most significant being the intend to continue this destruction. Muslim conquests of the seventh If we open the link to the ancient and eighth centuries. Even then, the monastery and cathedral at Dadi-

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Original artworks, canvas wraps, art posters, and framed prints of Award-winning oil paintings now available for purchase at InspiredOriginal.Org

ShenYunDancer.com Khachkars of Noratus, an old cemetery. The oldest khachkars (Armenian cross stones) are from the ninth and tenth centuries, but most of them are from the 13th to the 17th centuries. B44 | ARTS & CULTURE TUESDAY,Week JULY 28, 13, 2021 TUESDAY,Week 28, 2021JULY 13, 2021 ARTS & CULTURE |B5 5

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF CODY SWANSON “Saint Matthew,” one of the Four Evangelists, 2021, by Cody Swanson. Clay in progress. Chapel of the Holy Cross, Jesuit High School, Tampa, Fla.

“Saint Mark,” one of the Four Evangelists, 2021, by Cody Swanson. Clay in progress. “Saint Luke,” one of the Four Evangelists, 2021, by Cody Swanson. Plaster. Chapel of the Chapel of the Holy Cross, Jesuit High School, Tampa, Fla. Holy Cross, Jesuit High School, Tampa, Fla.

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SACRED ART figure-drawing sessions at an art center. Moving Closer to Christ others in 2012. The two became friends, 1. ample. But he believes it’s by looking at the Catholic Church and was astounded by Initially, he looked to study art at a Swanson has always been interested in and Swanson became a principal instruc- “Saint Michael, the great masters of the past that you learn a the spiritual aspects of Bernini’s work, so U.S. university but found there were no serving God. “I was interested in Chris- tor at the school. Archangel,” 2014, by lot about yourself and develop taste: “Taste much so that he sees Bernini as “a huge, options available for studying classical tian subject matter. But I became very Of the school, he said: “It was very sim- Cody Swanson. Bronze is something that’s very important, and huge inspiration.” figurative art. Disappointed, he began interested in sacred art and much more ple. Our mission was to serve the church.” with marble pedestal. St. you’re not going to develop taste unless “It’s not just the aesthetic of Bernini The school maintained the academic Patrick’s Church, New you’re really, really well-informed about but also what it’s connected to as well. looking at learning opportunities over- interested in how I could serve God, as Orleans, La. Serving God, seas. “I thought that maybe the Ecole des well, with my work,” he said. standards of The Florence Academy of what kind of art has been produced for As much as his work is so different from Beaux-Arts in still maintained the “With my art, I would hope that I can Art, while introducing drapery, iconog- 2. many centuries.” Michelangelo’s, he was very much con- traditions of the 19th century.” The school uplift people, bring them closer to God, raphy, and of course, theological studies “Madonna of Divine “Following in the footsteps of the mas- nected to it,” he said. For instance, Bernini did still exist, but it wasn’t offering any and inspire them. I think beauty is inspi- to the teaching repertoire, Swanson ex- Love,” 2018, by Cody ters requires a whole lot of blood, sweat, was one of the principal architects of St. classes that were traditional. “It was clear rational. I think that beauty is synony- plained. Swanson. Bianco P and tears. A lot of very hard work, and ded- Peter’s Basilica in Rome, a role Michel- Sculpture by that I had to avoid the university system,” mous with truth. Truth and tradition are Swanson also taught idealization at the marble. University of ication,” he said. For instance, it can take angelo once held in the 16th century. So Itsmo, Guatemala. he said. synonymous, and I think that tradition school, something that artists have done him between eight and twelve months to Swanson said that Bernini’s work per se Then he discovered The Florence Acad- should be upheld. Beauty is synonymous for centuries but that he believes is lacking 3. complete a monumental statue with the was a continuation of what happened in emy of Art, a private school in Italy, which with truth, and beauty has an origin; It in art education. Deities, for example, were “Angel in Prayer,” 2020, help of his assistants. the Renaissance, of looking to the past for was founded by fellow American artist doesn’t exist for its own sake,” he said. normally idealized figures in the Greco- by Cody Swanson. Swanson’s artistic goal is continuity with inspiration, and therefore his work was a Sculpture Roman tradition, he explained. “There Marble. Church of the past. He’s extensively studied the prac- continuation of 16th-century artists Ra- Daniel Graves in 1991. According to The Florence Academy website, the school was a theological reason, … which in the Saint Mary of Mercy, tices of past masters, and he’s specifically phael and Caravaggio, for instance. specializes in teaching “the classical-re- light of the incarnation in the Catholic Benedictine monastery in drawn to 17th-century art, because of its “He brought it to another height. … He The sacred art of Florence-based Norcia, Italy. alist tradition rooted in the 19th century” I became very interested Church is very important, because Christ universal appeal. “I’m trying to not re- certainly loved Christ and he wanted to American sculptor Cody Swanson as exemplified by three French Academy is the son of God, Our Lady was preserved 4. produce, but follow their process. Just as serve the church as well. ... These artists teachers and master painters Jean-Léon in sacred art and much from original sin. They shouldn’t look like “Our Lady of Cana,” Bernini followed the processes of Raphael were men of faith. These were things that Gérôme, Léon Joseph Florentin Bonnat, any ordinary individual,” he said. 2019, by Cody Swanson. and Michelangelo, I’m trying to do the they believed.” “Saint Continued from Page 1 and Charles Auguste Émile Durand, also more interested in how “Personally, I find it quite lazy that peo- Stoneware. Our Lady same and maintain that continuity, ... and Swanson finds the Counter-Reformation Emygdius known as Carolus-Duran. I could serve God, as well, ple don’t attempt idealization,” he said. of the Rosary and Saint continue their legacy,” he said. period fascinating. Of the artists during Baptizing In America, his work can be found in the The school suited Swanson, so he ap- Artists need to apply themselves to create Dominic, London. “I think that the Greco-Roman language, that time, he said: “They fought hard to Polisia,” Cathedral of St. Joseph in Sioux Falls, plied to the academy’s painting program, with my work. idealized images. Swanson explains that 5. which has been really prevalent in Europe defend their faith, and they were very good 2012, by Cody South Dakota; the Cathedral of St. Paul only to be told there was a long waiting it is not a case of replicating past masters, “The Transverberation for many centuries, is the most universal. at it. And they did it with beauty. They did Swanson. in Minneapolis; and the Basilica of the list. While waiting, he took the opportu- Cody Swanson, sculptor “because you can see in any museum or of Saint Teresa of Avila,” ... It has a lot to offer all cultures. I think it with great, beautiful works of art.” Plaster. Saint National Shrine of Mary, Help of Chris- nity to travel to Italy with his high school, church where there is classical art that 2013, by Cody Swanson. it’s very approachable. And certainly I find He finds the counter-reformation period Felician, tians at Holy Hill, Wisconsin. which offered educational tours to Italy A School to Serve God everybody idealized differently. It was ac- Bronze. Basilica and it beautiful. I find it very moving, very in- similar to our current day—essentially Cathedral of National Shrine of Mary, Foligno, Italy. and Greece. While in Florence, he said, he After the three-year program, The Flor- tually very personal; it was very liberating spiring,” he said. the fight against atheism and secularism. A Classical Art Training Quest “just showed up at The Florence Academy ence Academy invited Swanson to become for an artist to make aesthetic choices in Help of Christians at Holy Essentially, art “should uplift people and “And looking at people tearing down Hill in Wisconsin. Swanson grew up on Maui, Hawaii, where [of Art].” Again, the academy staff told him a principal sculpting instructor, where that regard,” he said. take them beyond the fleeting superfici- statues everywhere nowadays, ... I look his father worked as a pilot. In high school, there was a long waiting list—about a year he taught students for five years. All Flor- Swanson was involved with the Sacred ality of one period of time, and it should at Bernini, and my response to that is I just he became interested in the Renaissance for the painting program. ence Academy teachers are graduates of Art School up until late last year, when he be something that is relevant and speaks want to use beauty to fight,” he said. “Just and also classical French academic art, Swanson was interested in both painting the academy, which allows the school to decided to concentrate on his private art to people in all periods of time,” he said. make beautiful statues, keep putting out that is, realist art defined by the traditions and sculpture, so when the academy told maintain unity in its standards, Swanson studio work. beautiful statues, and just make as many established by the Ecole des Beaux-Arts him that he could circumvent the waiting explained. The Enduring Strength beautiful statues as I can.” in Paris. list by entering the sculpture program, he Through the academy he met Irish sculp- Upholding Traditional Art of Divine Beauty Keen to become a professional artist, applied straight away. “Well, once I started tor Dony Mac Manus, the creator behind Swanson said that artists need the foun- Swanson has been immensely influenced To find out more about sculptor Swanson first began drawing figures dur- sculpting, I realized that’s what I wanted the Sacred Art School in Florence, which dational basics of art such as observing by 17th-century artist Gian Lorenzo Ber- Cody Swanson’s work, visit ing high school, occasionally attending to pursue,” he said. Mac Manus founded with Swanson and nature and setting up a live model, for ex- nini. He was studying the history of the CodySwansonSculpture.com B66 | ARTS & CULTURE TUESDAY,Week JULY 28, 13, 2021 TUESDAY,Week 28, 2021JULY 13, 2021 ARTS & CULTURE |B7 7

ALL PHOTOS BY COLUMBIA PICTURES TRADITIONAL MUSIC ‘A Few Good Men’ D i r e c t o r Rob Reiner Starring The Enduring Songs of America’s Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore, Kevin Bacon, Kiefer Sutherland, Kevin Pollak Rated First Songwriter, Stephen Foster R Running Time STOCKSNAPPER/SHUTTERSTOCK 2 hours, 18 minutes KENNETH LAFAVE Tellingly, it is Foster’s most personal song, written in 1854 for his estranged wife. (The Release Date omposer George M. Cohan two never reconciled, and Foster died alone.) Dec. 11, 1992 bragged in a song that he was Most of his output was written for com- “born on the Fourth of July,” mercial use, often by the Christy Minstrels, though in truth he missed that a popular blackface show of the 1840s and date by 24 hours. His most il- 1850s. Blackface is now, understandably, Clustrious predecessor, however, was indeed condemned as racist in its mockery of born on that date in 1826. Stephen Foster, African-American slave culture. But Fos- the USA’s first popular songwriter, and by ter’s songs transcend their origins. The most standards the first professional popu- so-called woke would call them “cultural lar songwriter the world has known, was appropriation,” but are they appropriation, as American as his birthday. or elevation? (Top) Navy Lt. Mark Jackson grew up in Spring Val- j.g. Daniel Kaffee Noncancelable? A Feeling for ‘The Other’ ley, N.Y., where he attended a Waldorf (Tom Cruise) FILM INSIGHTS school. At Williams College, his pro- So it is surprising that, except for the re- The statue removed in Pennsylvania learns about honor, fessors all suggested he write pro- while (Left) Col. moval of a Stephen Foster statue in his showed Foster next to and slightly above fessionally. He acted professionally hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the figure of a black slave with a banjo. The WITH MARK for 20 years instead. Now he Nathan Jessep (Jack Nicholson), a little has been done to “cancel” him. woke saw this and thought, “white superi- writes professionally about acting. In the movies. seasoned officer, is And how would one go about can- ority.” The truly awake might rather think, JACKSON taken to task, in “A “Beautiful celing songs woven into the “lifting up.” Foster visited the South only Few Good Men.” Dreamer” alone very fabric of American life— once, during his honeymoon, but a natu- has been recorded songs such as “Oh! Susanna,” ral empathy compelled him to represent a by singers as “Camptown Races,” and “My people who had no representation in the POPCORN AND INSPIRATION disparate as Bing Old Kentucky Home”? outside world. Foster came from an aboli- Crosby and Jerry To cancel Foster, one would tionist family, and his “My Old Kentucky Lee Lewis. have to scour the films and re- Home” is explicitly antislavery. cordings of the last century and Critical theorists complain that white The Marines do some serious scrubbing. “Beauti- culture lacks regard for “The Other,” yet ful Dreamer” alone has been recorded by this is precisely what Foster’s “blackface” singers as disparate as Bing Crosby and songs such as “Camptown Races” contain: megawatt-smiling, arrogant Navy Lt. j.g. challenger against a seasoned silverback Jerry Lee Lewis, and its luxuriant strains a regard for the enslaved and the disen- Who Stand Guard (junior grade) Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise) gorilla. As Col. Jessep relates, he doesn’t show up in the films “Gone With the Wind,” “Old Folks at Home,” known as “Way Down franchised, embodied by stylized musical is assigned the case. Just out of law school get nervous about a lawsuit because he “Picnic,” “Shane,” “Duel in the Sun” and, Upon the Swanee River,” and the decidedly American expression. and far more interested in plea bargain- eats breakfast every morning eyeball to unlikely as it seems, the 1989 “Batman.” un-folksy measures of what is arguably one songwriter Foster’s nonblackface songs, the best- on the Wall ing than in defending anyone, he figures eyeball with armed Cubans who’d love In other words, practicalities are against of the 10 or 20 most perfect songs ever writ- Stephen Col- known of which are “Jeanie” and “Beau- this case won’t be too severe a drain on his to eat him for breakfast. If you missed the ridding American music of Stephen Foster, ten, “Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair.” lins Foster tiful Dreamer,” presage the popular love softball commitments. fireworks this Fourth of July, the Cruise- no matter how many woke folk might ob- (1826–1864). songs of coming eras. Before Foster, songs MARK JACKSON But Lt. Cmdr. Galloway, caring very much Nicholson courtroom scene is not to be ject to him. That’s lucky for us, because it The Music Matches the Lyrics Engraving came either from the classical tradition or about the well-being of all involved, rigs missed. That showdown immediately lit up means we get to keep the folksy strains of “Jeanie,” according to music professor Kurt by unknown the world of “folk” music. Foster, though, “A Few Good Men” is a court-martial dra- The movie things so as to be allowed to accompany our American cinematic archive of great artist from PUBLIC DOMAIN Poterack, in Christendom College’s publi- was paid to write, making his songs the ma based on a true story: At the U.S. naval Kaffee (and his assistant, Lt. Sam Weinberg lines, with Nicholson’s “You can’t handle Harper’s New pits Tom cation Principles, “approaches the level of headwaters of modern popular music. base at Guantanamo Bay, a Marine named (Kevin Pollak) to Cuba. Ultimately, it’s a the truth!!” still reverberating all these Monthly Mag- William Alvarado informed on a fellow Ma- crack team. Better-on-paper Galloway’s years later. a Schubert art song.” Its spacious, arching azine printed Alas, for him, the lack of intellectual prop- Cruise up melody prompted no less than Pulitzer in 1880. erty laws meant that his songs were easily rine who apparently fired shots into Cuba. got the compassionate heart, and rising It’s interesting that director Rob Reiner, Prize-winning American composer Ned and lawfully pirated. Foster died not only This ratting-out was responded to with a against Jack legal star Kaffee’s got the sheer talent for who played Archie Bunker’s over-the-top Rorem to shape his own arrangement, a alone but also in poverty. “Code Red,” which is Marine jargon for the Nicholson courtroom fireworks. liberal son-in-law “Meathead” in the 1970s version of “Jeanie” sung by classical sing- It might be argued that the artist’s job is time-honored military disciplinary ritual Upon arriving at the Marine base, Gal- popular sitcom “All in the Family,” strikes ers side-by-side with those Schubert lieder to express an eternal truth in the particu- of hazing. In the traditional military, any and lets loway and Kaffee find out about the issue of a balance here. His portrayal of the spit- referenced by Poterack. lar mode of his time and place. Foster did situation involving wall-to-wall, natural- Code Red. Word is, the base’s top dog, Col. shined patriots who live by the Marine The song’s music emulates its lyrics, which exactly that, turning the feeling of hopeless leader alpha males—each one of whom is them go at it. Nathan Jessep (Jack Nicholson), instead of culture of honor, Bible, and violence is concern the beauty of a young woman’s hair love into “Beautiful Dreamer” or the urge highly confident that he could take over conveniently transferring “substandard honored by Galloway, who, when asked floating “on the summer breeze.” The range to travel into “Oh! Susanna,” his first hit in and run the show at any time—there needs Marine” Santiago elsewhere, decided to why she cares so much for these two young, is wide and airy—and octave and a fourth— 1848 and a song that became the unofficial to be painful, memorable hazing incidents whip Santiago into shape. Jessep gave the accused Marines, says, compassionately, and from note to note, the melody moves as anthem of the California Gold Rush. No to knock sense into the men’s heads and en- order to a subordinate, 2nd Lt. Jonathan “They stand on the wall.” She wants to see (Below left) (L–R) James if buoyed by the very breeze of the lyrics. matter how many statues are removed, Ste- sure they put team and country first. This Marshall, Kevin Bacon, Kendrick (Kiefer Sutherland at his mean, justice honored. The release or bridge, starting on the words phen Foster’s songs will never be canceled. is very enjoyable for all involved except the and Tom Cruise. fanatical best), who in turn ordered the Watching all these years later, I have a Stephen “Many were the wild notes” and ending with “hazee,” of course (until such time when he two defendants to carry out the command. new appreciation of Nicholson’s blend of Foster wrote “that warbled them o’er,” takes the listener Former music critic for the Arizona Re- becomes the “hazer”). This is Man-World. (Below right) Lt. Cmdr. humor and menace. His character’s a man the wistful to a new place, both musically and lyrically, public and The Kansas City Star, Kenneth Current wokeism would call it bullying. JoAnne Galloway (Demi Honor who knows how to forge Marines and hold “Jeanie With leading to a fresh return of the main melody LaFave recently earned a doctorate in phi- Let’s not go there. Moore) talks to hotshot The primary lesson embedded in “A Few the line against communist Cuba. Yes, it’s the Light lawyer Navy Lt. j.g. (junior Brown Hair” but with a twist at the end, known as an losophy, art, and critical thought from the In the movie (and the play from whence Good Men” is that of the directionless, wrong that he lied about the death of San- the movie came), the hazee, William San- grade) Daniel Kaffee missionless young man (Kaffee) finally tiago. But this is truly the man you want when he was “extension.” Foster used it to take the tune European Graduate School. He is the au- (Tom Cruise), who’s more estranged to its highest pitch, magically underlining thor of three books, including “Experiencing tiago, dies from choking on his own blood, interested in baseball growing into his attorney father’s shoes, on that wall, or in his own words: “Deep from his wife. the words “floating like a vapor.” Film Music” (2017, Rowman & Littlefield). to escalate the dramatic tension. In the real than justice. becoming a man, and discovering that ul- down, in places you don’t like to talk about story, they whacked him a bunch of times timately, his heart resonates with the no- at parties—you want me on that wall, you and shaved his head, but noticed he was (Bottom left) 2nd Lt. bility of honor. But it’s a struggle: Though need me on that wall.” Yessir we do. And turning blue. So they quickly unbound and Jonathan Kendrick a plea could get the accused a piddling six the real-world William Alvarado didn’t die, ungagged him, and tragedy was avoided. (Kiefer Sutherland, far R) months’ jail time, Lance Cpl. Dawson re- and there wasn’t a cover-up. chauffering the law team: fuses to do anything other than stand up Overall, “A Few Good Men” besmirches WHAT GOOD IS POETRY? (L–R) Navy Lt. j.g. Daniel Movie Version Kaffee (Tom Cruise), Lt. for the fact that he simply followed orders. the U.S. military a bit, and while indirectly After hazed Marine Pfc. William Santiago Sam Weinberg (Kevin Pol- At first Kaffee has a fit that this cockama- accusatory of Bible-thumping Marines like Robert Burns’s Immortal ‘A Red, Red Rose’ (Michael DeLorenzo) dies, the two Ma- lak), and Lt. Cmdr. JoAnne mie, unwavering sense of honor precludes Kendrick, it ultimately makes the connec- rines accused—Lance Cpl. Harold Daw- Galloway (Demi Moore). the easy way out, but Galloway soon mo- tion that those who thump that Bible also son (Wolfgang Bodison) and Pfc. Louden tivates him to go all out with a full-on, full tend to be those with the courage and (Bottom right) Lance Cpl. SEAN FITZPATRICK etic praise with terms of undying And I will luve thee still, my dear, with all its glorious infatuation, not Downey (James Marshall)—are badly in trial and do justice, justice. honor to stand guard on the wall sepa- need of a lawyer. At the Judge Advocate Harold Dawson (Wolf- “A Few Good Men” is probably riveting rating America’s freedoms from the evils endearment and eternal passion. Till a’ the seas gang dry. only emphasizes and celebrates gang Bodison, L) and Pfc. So long as there are lovers in the As the philosopher Josef Pieper’s The poet’s authentic affection but also points General’s Corps in Washington, internal Louden Downey (James to watch onstage. One could go so far as of communism (in this case, Cuban). “A world, there will be poetry. In fact, essay collection is titled, “Only the heart is a Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear, out that the body and the heart are affairs lawyer Lt. Cmdr. JoAnne Galloway Marshall, R) are accused to say that the movie version boils down Few Good Men” is suspenseful, powerful, it might be argued that if lovers do Lover Sings,” the lover makes his And the rocks melt wi’ the sun; good that lead to the Good. (Demi Moore) recommends herself to be of murder. Lawyer Dan- to one thing: Its raison d’être is to put Tom and thought provoking, which landed it not produce poetry, they are not or her love immortal in the poetic vehicle to I will love thee still, my dear, Beautiful amateur poems like “A in charge of the litigation. iel Kaffee (Tom Cruise) is Cruise up against Jack Nicholson and let both Oscar and Golden Globe Best Picture really in love. And it is absolutely power of the love song. And it is the While the sands o’ life shall run. Red, Red Rose” not only shimmer To her horror, insolent, charmy-smarmy, assigned to defend them. them go at it. It’s the brash, hungry young nominations. the case that poetry rejoices even immortal, the ideal, that poetry immortalize, with the excitement of young love, in the earnest, ham-fisted poems seeks to gain, making life—or at to grant never- And fare thee weel, my only luve! but they also reach out toward the written by smitten folks who are least love—eternal. And fare thee weel awhile! enduring immortality that all yearn not gifted poets. One need not be ending life And I will come again, my luve, for. The basis of all poetry—and all Bill Shakespeare to write a sonnet The Ploughman Poet Though it were ten thousand mile. philosophy and theology, for that of true love and true importance or Though the ploughman poet of to a beloved matter—is the inherent human a “woeful ballad to his mistress’s Scotland, Robbie (or Rabbie) Burns creature. But, despite the dramatic vows and desire to live and love forever, till eyebrow.” (1759–1796) is a master, the Bard of seemingly limitless energy of the a’ the seas gang dry and the rocks As G.K. Chesterton, a fine poet Ayrshire was ever careful to give lover, life is as fleeting as a red, red melt wi’ the sun. himself, wrote in his famous vein his poetry an amateur quality, rose. But love, on the other hand, The lover only finds comfort and of anything worth doing is worth infused with the colloquial Scot- will never die, being the power some sighing satisfaction in mak- doing badly, “It is too often forgot- tish burr (as opposed to the Irish that moves the stars, according ing the ephemeral eternal. That ten that just as a bad man is nev- brogue), the love of the land, and to Dante. It is in that immor- attempt at expressing the inex- ertheless a man, so a bad poet is the happy rustic life where po- tal, unearthly life of love that pressible is called poetry—which nevertheless a poet.” There is noth- etry finds its truest, tenderest poetry seeks to participate in, is precisely what makes poetry the ing wrong with poetry that is born tones. This is crystal clear in his giving poor mortals a taste and language of love. of love alone, for there is profound poem of immortal love, promis- transport into a realm on high reason why the word “amateur” is ing eternity in the same breath that is untouched by the ravages Sean Fitzpatrick serves on the rooted in the Latin word for love. as it longs for it. of time. faculty of Gregory the Great Poetry has shown us through the At its best, poetry celebrates Academy, a boarding school in ages that love poetry has a special O my Luve is like a red, red rose the earthy ability to draw folks to Elmhurst, Pa., where he teaches place in the poetic canon and the That’s newly sprung in June; realms beyond this earth. The pure, humanities. His writings on poet’s heart as a vehicle to immor- O my Luve is like the melody innocent love poetry of Robbie education, literature, and culture talize, to grant never-ending life to That’s sweetly played in tune. “O my Luve is like a red, Burns, together with his bawdier have appeared in a number of a beloved creature. And, as it ever red rose ...” — Scottish pieces, is a happy rebellion against journals including Crisis Maga- has been, it is more often than not So fair art thou, my bonnie lass, poet Robert Burns. both puritanical fears and promis- zine, Catholic Exchange, and The that lovers take up the pen of po- So deep in luve am I; GRAEME DAWES/SHUTTERSTOCK cuous perversity. The love poem, Imaginative Conservative. B68 | ARTS & CULTURE WEDNESDAY,Week JULY 28, 14, 2021 WEDNESDAY,Week 28, 2021 JULY 14, 2021 ARTS & CULTURE |B7 9 Faith and Freedom: One Shen Yun Dancer’s Escape From China SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS His family was torn apart by the Chinese communist The hours passed, and the journey contin- and filled with hope.” ued. Zhao’s family and several others made “Traditional culture fosters a compassion- regime because of their spiritual beliefs it across the border and then into Thailand, ate heart, and I believe these arts rooted in ready to begin life anew. traditional culture do the same,” he said. CATHERINE YANG “And this is also good for society.”

COURTESY OF NTD A Mission Today, Zhao is one of the dancers in Shen hao Jiheng’s life turned upside In Thailand, Zhao would regularly go to the Yun’s seven touring companies, and he gets down when he was just 8 years old. tourist attractions with fliers containing in- to perform all around the world, except in “One day, I came home, and my formation about Falun Dafa, and tell visit- China, where Shen Yun and Falun Dafa are parents had disappeared,” Zhao ing mainland Chinese the truth about the still banned. said. His parents, like tens of mil- persecution taking place. He wanted them He has even played a part in one of the sto- Zlions of others in China, had been targeted to know “Falun Dafa is good,” Zhao said, rytelling dances that touches on the persecu- by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and every person who showed a spark of tion of Falun Dafa practitioners in China— because of their religious faith. Overnight, understanding gave him more hope. but not in a role resembling his own life. the estimated 70 million to 100 million ad- It was in Thailand that Zhao had his first “Actually, I played one of the bad police herents of Falun Gong, also known as Fa- encounter with Shen Yun Performing Arts, officers,” Zhao said lightly. The ones in Shen lun Dafa, would go from being known to the world’s premiere classical Chinese dance Yun portrayals are stock antagonists, he ex- the general public as kind people who prac- company, through a special New Year’s plained, and not nearly as evil as those he ticed meditation and followed “truthfulness, program of classical Chinese dance. There, encountered in real life. By the time the role compassion, tolerance” to being branded he saw a storytelling dance about modern came around, he had long stopped harbor- enemies of the state in 1999. China. ing any ill will toward them. He talked about Zhao’s father would be subjected to torture Imagine the emotions Zhao felt when he being able to help the female dancer portray and then spend the next several years on saw a tale that could have been his own a young girl who would lose a parent to the the run, and his mother would be illegally played out onstage. brutal persecution, sharing his own experi- arrested and detained for varying lengths of In the story of a family who believed in ence in hopes of contributing to the team. time, randomly and frequently. This meant Zhao Jiheng is a dancer with truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance, There was a time when he did hate the Zhao could come home from school one day Shen Yun Performing Arts. and were torn apart by the CCP, the child was police and CCP agents who tore his family and find the door locked, only then realizing left without parents. Zhao wasn’t shocked at apart, Zhao said. But the principles of truth- that the police had taken his mother again. the similarities—he knew that the cruelty of fulness, compassion, and tolerance, and his Home life had been upended; Zhao stayed the communist regime extended to families encounter with Shen Yun turned that hate with his disabled grandmother at times and across China—but he was deeply moved that into something else, something beyond for- also, at other times, with any relative who others were using art to tell the world the giveness. Zhao said he realized that these po- could take him in. truth about this brutal persecution. To be licemen who tried to pit him and his mother The 8-year-old Zhao would ask, “Why is part of this effort became Zhao’s goal. against each other, who ransacked his home A performance my mother gone? Why is my father gone?” by Shen Yun Based in New York, Shen Yun is filled with and stole the money he carefully saved, and “They didn’t tell me because I was so young Performing artists whose stories are similar to Zhao’s. who harassed the family on holidays were and couldn’t understand,” Zhao said. “But Arts classical Many of them left China and made their way themselves deceived. They’d been drowned slowly, I began to understand. It was because Chinese to America, pursuing the freedom to practice in CCP propaganda and were just following they stood up for the truth and dared to say dancers. their faith and express their beliefs in life and orders, not knowing the truth of their situ- ‘Falun Dafa is good’ that they were targeted art. And contrary to what one might expect, ation. Zhao hopes deeply that these people by the state.” system within just a couple of years. But the principles of “truthfulness, compassion, tol- mon for people in China to know someone Thailand, seeking their chance at freedom. Shen Yun’s mission is not political. It is one of can still encounter the truth. And if he could, Those who are unfamiliar with communist truth and the kindness of the human heart erance,” and when it was introduced to the killed by the CCP for practicing Falun Dafa, “I knew it would be dangerous, but I don’t restoring traditional culture. The principles he would invite them to see Shen Yun. societies find Zhao’s story incomprehensible I knew it would has prevailed. Chinese public in the early 1990s, it caught he added. Eleven of his mother’s friends have think I could have imagined what the ex- of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance “Everyone has a good side in their hearts, and shocking—that a nation’s supposed gov- on like wildfire. There were mental, spiritual, died this way. perience would be like,” Zhao said. In the guide the artists, and the dances and stories which is just covered up by the evil CCP. ernment could turn an entire people against be dangerous, 2nd Chance at Life and physical health benefits, and Zhao was “The CCP is an atheistic regime, and its dead of night, dozens of people packed into on the stage show China’s authentic culture, When they understand the truth, I think a particular group of good citizens at the You wouldn’t know it today, but Zhao was one of many who reported that the illnesses motto is to struggle against heaven, struggle the back of a truck, lying flat under cargo, from back when the civilization was believed they will wake up. They will not choose to drop of a hat. As society started to repeat but I don't think a very sickly young boy. He was frequently that long plagued him all but disappeared. against the earth, and struggle against your and would be dropped off in the middle of to be divinely inspired and society centered do this kind of thing [the CCP’s bidding],” the CCP’s slander about Falun Dafa, Zhao I could have ill, and he had a recurring condition of ran- It certainly hadn’t been an easy life back fellow man,” Zhao explained. From its be- nowhere to wait for who knows how long for around the idea of harmony between heav- Zhao said. started to face bullying and abuse in school, dom seizures and blackouts that resulted when he knew that he could black out and ginning, the CCP has tried to root out reli- the next vehicle to pick them up. He should en, earth, and humankind. “Audiences leave our performances with and the police began ransacking his house. imagined what in emergency room visits. At the hospital, hit his head on the ground at any moment. gion and spiritual belief. “It wants people to have been scared, Zhao acknowledged in It was a culture with a saying that there joy and an uplifted heart, because this di- The times when his mother was home, po- confounded doctors suggested a lobotomy. With sincerity, Zhao said, “Falun Dafa gave be materialistic and only self-interested. As retrospect, but he felt, somehow, that he was are gods three feet above one’s head, Zhao vinely inspired culture shows something lice would try to manipulate him into telling the experience When modern medicine failed to provide me a second chance at life.” a result, it’s made the morality of modern being protected by God. Even when he was said, meaning that the heavens are always upright and full of beauty.” her that she was being cruel to him by not would be like. answers, Zhao’s mother turned to physicians When his parents took up the spiritual China very bad,” he said. waiting in the dark out in the wilderness, not watching, and thus people strove toward a giving up her faith so that he could have an of traditional Chinese medicine, who proved practice, he did too, because the three prin- Because of their faith, Zhao’s family mem- knowing whether the next person he met high moral standard. NTD contributed to this report. easier life. Zhao Jiheng, dancer, equally stymied. ciples of Falun Dafa made it clear to him that bers were blacklisted and weren’t able to ob- would be the police or the smugglers, or if “From the music, to the style of dance and The CCP utilized the entire state apparatus Shen Yun Performing Arts Zhao’s miraculous turn toward health was this was teaching people how to be good and tain passports. But in 2007, when he was 16, the next leg of the journey would proceed movements, to even the backdrops, the color The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor toward its goal of ruining the reputations, one of his first encounters with Falun Dafa. kind. It made the sudden persecution of Fa- an opportunity to leave the country arose. His at all, he thought the risk was worth it. Life coordination, the costumes—the production of Shen Yun Performing Arts. For lives, and livelihoods of these spiritual be- The spiritual practice includes five medita- lun Dafa practitioners all the more confusing family followed a group of other people trying without the freedom to practice your faith is rooted in traditional culture’s aesthetics,” more information, please visit lievers, thinking it could eradicate a belief tive exercises in addition to adhering to the and heartbreaking for Zhao. It’s not uncom- to get out of China and make their way into is not life at all, he said. Zhao said. “We present something bright ShenYunPerformingArts.org

PUBLIC DOMAIN THE STORY OF ART: WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM THE LIVES OF ARTISTS convinced the pope to have Michelangelo his brothers, family illness, and, of course, seem meaningless; our hardships can be so paint instead of sculpt. money problems. overwhelming that we want to find a hole in Bramante swayed the pope in the hopes Wallace suggests that the pope’s payments which to hide from pain. But, if we take any Michelangelo’s Perseverance: A Lesson in Achieving Greatness of preventing Michelangelo from creating for Michelangelo’s work were very irregu- wisdom from Michelangelo’s story, maybe more great sculptures. He also hoped that lar, and most of the money he received he our “greatness” depends on confronting life’s

ANTOINE TAVENEAUX/CC SA-BY 3.0 Michelangelo would fail at painting and sent to his family. He described himself as hardships with “eternal patience.” ERIC BESS that Michelangelo would go through for the show that Raphael was a superior painter “barefoot and naked.” Perhaps each hardship is an opportunity to sake of his craft: and artist. Michelangelo described the whole event learn about ourselves and our true potential. Michelangelo Buonarroti is undeniably one Michelangelo protested and claimed that in multiple letters, which Wallace quotes of the greatest artists in history. He was “Michelangelo told me that in his youth he he was a sculptor and not a painter, but Bra- and that can be summed up: Art history is a story that forever unfolds. born in 1475 and lived until the ripe age often slept with his clothes on, just like a mante had already convinced the pope. Ac- It is also our story, the story of the human of 88. He considered himself primarily a man who, exhausted by his work, does not cording to “Michelangelo: The Artist, the “I am living here in a state of great anxi- race. Each generation of artists affects their sculptor, but he also produced some of the bother to undress, since later on he must Man, and His Times” by William Wallace, ety and of the greatest physical fatigue: I respective cultures with their works of art greatest paintings, architecture, and get dressed once again. … As he grew old, Michelangelo expressed his discomfort have no friends of any sort and want none. and their decisions in life. This series will poetry of the Italian Renaissance. he constantly wore boots fashioned from with the paintings when the project was I haven’t time enough to eat as I should. So share stories from art history that encour- What made Michelangelo great? What dogs’ skins on his bare feet for months at completed, signing the bottom of a sonnet you mustn’t bother me with anything else, age us to ask ourselves how we may be more was his secret to creating so many great a time, so that when he later wanted to re- expressing his displeasure with: “I’m not in for I could not bear another thing. … And sincere, caring, and patient human beings. works of art? I’m sure the answer to this move them his skin would peel off as well.” a good place, and I’m no painter.” thus have I lived for some fifteen years now question is quite complex, but we will look The fresco itself also had its issues. Mi- and never an hour’s happiness have I had.” Detail of “Michelangelo Buonarroti,” circa Eric Bess is a practicing representational at an episode from Michelangelo’s life along chelangelo didn’t know how to paint fresco 1545, by Daniele da Volterra. Oil on panel; artist and is a doctoral candidate at the with his own response to the question. correctly, so he requested other artists to Enduring What Is Unendurable 34.75 inches by 25.25 inches. Metropolitan Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Michelangelo suggested come and help him. Mold grew on one of Can you imagine living like this? Can you Museum of Art, New York. Arts (IDSVA). Michelangelo’s Work Ethic the frescoed areas, and Michelangelo had imagine being assigned a project at work, and Michelangelo is quoted as saying the fol- that his mastery was not to repaint it. before you even get started, one of your co- PUBLIC DOMAIN lowing about his work ethic: indicative of the type of To possibly sabotage the project again, Bra- workers tries to sabotage you by having your mante suggested that Michelangelo should employer put you on a project on which you’re “If people knew how hard I had to genius based solely on hang scaffolding from the ceiling. Michelan- more likely to fail? Can you imagine, despite work to gain my mastery, it would gelo protested, claiming that the holes in the your protests, being assigned to this project not seem so wonderful at all. … If you innate talent. Instead, he wall would have to be covered later. He had for which you have no experience, and dur- knew how much work went into it, referred to his ‘genius’ as to invent a new type of scaffolding. ing the project, your coworker tries to suggest you wouldn’t call it genius.” According to Vasari, the act of painting things that will compromise your success? ‘eternal patience.’ the ceiling was a very painful experience, That’s not all. You work on the project so Michelangelo suggested that his mastery to say the least: much that your body aches when you go was not indicative of the type of genius Vasari’s story about Michelangelo is ex- home. And when you do go home, your based solely on innate talent. Instead, treme and may even be apocryphal. Yet it “These were done with the great- spouse complains about money, your par- he referred to his “genius” as “eternal pa- shows that we must be willing to sacrifice est discomfort, for he had to stand there ents are sick and need your help, and your tience.” Genius is the ability to practice pa- our comforts and endure hardship if we working with his head tilted backwards, kids are disrespectful at school. You work tience during the unavoidable difficulties wish to push ourselves to greatness. and it damaged his eyesight so much that such late hours that you barely have time that arise in working hard at one’s craft. In he could no longer read or look at drawings to change clothes. other words, the idea of genius appears to Overcoming the Difficulties if his head was not tilted backwards; his con- Such daily hardship is overwhelming to be synonymous with one’s ability to endure of the Sistine Ceiling dition lasted for several months afterward.” just imagine it, let alone live it. hardship for love of the art. One of the works of art that reaffirms -Mi But Michelangelo did live it and perse- Giorgio Vasari, Italian Renaissance artist chelangelo’s greatness is the ceiling of the Not only did Michelangelo have to deal vered through it. And this is why, at least in and author of “The Lives of the Artists,” was Sistine Chapel. with the difficulties of painting and with part, he was great. Because of his persever- the first to write a biography of Michelange- Michelangelo was working on sculptures his rivals trying to sully his name, but he ance, he created some of the greatest works lo and did so while Michelangelo was still for Pope Julius II’s future tomb when the also had family issues that never seemed of art known to the world. He could’ve quit at Painting the living. In fact, Michelangelo is considered pope decided that he wanted him to paint to stop. According to Wallace, Michel- any time, but he didn’t. He was only 37 years ceiling of the the first artist to have a biography written the ceiling instead. Vasari suggests that angelo had to deal with the death of his old when he completed the Sistine ceiling Sistine Chapel The Sistine Chapel ceiling, from 1508 until 1512 by Michelangelo. Fresco; 44.7 while still alive. the artist and architect Donato Braman- brother, his brother’s wife suing for the re- and would live another 51 years. was a trial for yards by 14.7 yards. Sistine Chapel. Vasari wrote about some of the extremes te, a friend of the young painter Raphael, turn of her dowry, the disrespect of one of Sometimes, our struggles can make life Michelangelo. B810 | ARTS & CULTURE TUESDAY,Week JULY 28, 13, 2021

ALL PHOTOS BY METRO-GOLdWYn-MAYER Rewind, Review, and Re-Rate A Stirring Tribute to a Lesser-Known Theater of World War II

Ian Kane time I’m afraid I’d prefer something more substantial.” In other words, although s an Army vet, I’ve watched quite they’re fast, they’re too small to engage a few war movies. But as a land- larger ships. As the admiral departs with lubber, I’ve never known much his driver, Brickley and Ryan stand in the about the PT boats I’ve seen car’s dust, utterly dejected. snaking through jungle rivers Ryan prefers larger craft, such as destroy- Ain movies about the Vietnam War. Direc- ers, and believes that the general lack of tor John Ford sheds light on their impact approval for the PT boats will cause him to The stars of “They Were Expendable” are Robert Montgomery (L) and John Wayne. in one of his lesser-known movies, long miss out on any potential action that could before the Vietnam era. break out in the region. After all, Japanese ‘They Were expendable’ “They Were Expendable” (1945) is one of forces have been spotted in the area. Sud- Director Ford’s many collaborations with actor John denly, the men get the word: The Japanese John Ford, Robert Montgomery (Uncredited) Wayne. Although the two usually worked have successfully launched a devastating Starring together on Westerns, they occasionally did attack on Pearl Harbor, and they’re offi- Robert Montgomery, John Wayne, Donna Reed other genres, such as this fine war drama. cially at war. Running Time At first, Blackwell assigns the squadron to 2 hours, 15 minutes light, noncombat duties, such as ferrying messages back and forth. But as the Japa- Not Rated Interestingly, both nese ramp up their assaults, the unit gets Release Date to show off some of its capabilities. 1945 director John Ford and When a detachment of Japanese planes (L–R) John Wayne, Charles Trowbridge, attacks their base, Brickley’s squadron and Robert Montgomery in “They Were actor Robert Montgomery scrambles out to sea to face them. In one Expendable.” served in the U.S. Navy. of the better naval warfare scenes I’ve ever witnessed, Brickley, Ryan, and their men prepares for battle, Brickley discovers that they lend authenticity to the way the film duel a contingent of Japanese planes with Ryan’s hand injury has led to blood poi- is shot and paced. This was Montgomery’s The film begins with a U.S. Navy unit their machine guns. Utilizing the scatter soning and sends a testy Ryan off to the first film after returning from action in stationed in Cavite, Philippines. Lt. John maneuver witnessed earlier in the demon- local hospital. There, Lt. Sandy Davyss both Europe and the Pacific theaters. He is “Brick” Brickley (Robert Montgomery) and stration, they manage to avoid taking dam- (Donna Reed), an Army nurse assigned to especially convincing as a stoic, reserved his direct subordinate, Lt. “Rusty” Ryan age and destroy the enemy’s planes. Dur- him, eventually manages to melt away his Navy hero in contrast to Wayne’s more (Wayne), lead newly founded Motor Tor- ing the exchange, Ryan’s hand gets injured crankiness, and the two soon develop ro- braggadocious energy. The rest of the cast pedo Boat Squadron Three. Brickley hopes by shrapnel. mantic feelings for each other. Meanwhile, is excellent. to show the value of his squadron, which After showing some of the fighting ca- Brickley’s boats destroy the cruiser. It’s odd that “They Were Expendable” consists of a number of PT boats, to a cadre pabilities of the PT boats, Brickley and his When Ryan returns, the unit is assigned didn’t seem to garner as much fanfare as of top brass, including overall commander men are soon tasked with a difficult mis- to more combat missions and succeeds in many other war films of the era. This is per- Adm. Blackwell (Charles Trowbridge). A sion—a torpedo run on a Japanese cruiser sinking many Japanese naval targets. The haps because of the film’s more somber naval demonstration he performs cul- that has been shelling U.S. coastal targets Japanese war machine revs up, and Ryan tone that honors some who have been little minates in a clever dispersal maneuver in the area. Going up against a cruiser is a is ordered to embark on a dangerous, top- acknowledged yet gave their lives for our whereby the PT boats split up and become daunting task, but this is Brickley’s chance secret mission. magnificent country. more difficult to be targeted. to prove his boats’ effectiveness, and Ryan Blackwell voices his opinion of the newly and his unit finally get to see the battle ac- An Authentic Film Ian Kane is a filmmaker and author designed vessels to Brickley: “Those boats tion they crave. Interestingly, both John Ford and Robert based out of . To learn more, of yours maneuver beautifully, but in war- As Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Three Montgomery served in the U.S. Navy, and visit DreamFlightEnt.com

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