Neil Bahadur
17Apr12
you're the fucking man kyle
Wall
Displaying all 30 wall posts
Karthik
25Apr12
So many amazing scenes. The mourning veil falling off from Mercedes' head, Crawford at the piano with her gauzy white dress after lighting the chandelier which will burn down her place, the dialogues between Hayden and Crawford, the lynching of Turkey. It's not possible to be too rational for too long under the crazy hypnotism of this film. Aaah Joan...
Siksinaaq
16Apr12
That moment where Emma Small smiles maniacally while the saloon burns in the background always sticks with me.
Neil Bahadur likes this
Ciprian Ailenei
8Feb12
Damn, Joan Crawford and Mercedes McCambridge's place is definitely NOT in the kitchen, but in front of the camera. Nice performances and nice outfits. Oh, and Mercedes, you're such a bitch.
Klaus Capra likes this
Howard Orr
14Jan12
A film dominated by womb-like interior spaces and bold colours as a means of conveying its glorious and flagrant inversion of Western films' generally open spaces and muted and careworn tones.
Trevor
3Jan12
An extraordinarily unique western in which almost all genre conventions are reversed and subverted in exhilarating fashion. Tough-guy shootouts are traded for passionate lovers spats, wide open vistas are replaced by stunning interior spaces and everything natural becomes heightened, on the verge of operatic explosion. This is an intense, beautiful and unforgettable movie by one of the greatest directors of all time.
Howard Orr and Greg S. like this
Marcelo Pereira
26Dec11
There are only two characters in this film: Emma and Vienna. The other ones are just irrelevant, including Johnny Guitar, whose name made the title without reason.
Jaspar Lamar Crabb
16Oct11
Nicholas Ray's demented western is like a grotesque opera with all villains...and Joan Crawford in full-on Kabuki make-up
a Smith likes this
msmichel
19Aug11
Nicholas Ray's subversive take on western archetypes. The eye popping use of colour (have you ever seen redder lips), the sexuality of performance and text and the play on gender add up to one bizzare little classic. The homoerotic subtext within is divine especially between Joan Crawford (giving it all she's got) and Mercedes McCambridge. Lack of spark between Hayden and Crawford just adds more to the mix. Wow.
Sudipto Basu
31Jul11
Is there any other western that is so conscious that the cinematic medium is make-believe? The Western elements are nearly absent, there are more sharp words thrown about than bullets, the tension is more sexual than anything. The political allegory is perfect - in fact, knowing it beforehand makes the film more effective.
catch_33
6Jul11
A film that revels in its ludicrous melodrama and heightened Western conventions. Every word Jane Crawford spits is acid and the insane caricatures and sound/image manipulation is inspired. Everything is over the top here, the colours just leap off the screen and every god damn moment is pure visual joy.
ruby stevens
26Apr11
is it just me or does sterling hayden look like he wants to hurl during every love scene?
Michael Gildea likes this
shaun alleman
5Nov10
I am into weird cinema but I really thought what people said about this must have been overstated until I actually saw it. I would love more of the same but I am guessing this is too much to ask for. Is there anything out there like this? I would say the elements I would like more of are the acting, the characters and the colours. This is really one of the most interesting films I've seen in a while.
danhofstra
10Sep10
I really, really liked this movie. Sure, there's something odd about Sterling Hayden as a guitar-toting, gun-wielding cowboy and Joan Crawford and Mercedes McCambridge having this weird catfight, but it's great. If TCM can offer this for free OnDemand, there's no excuse why someone can't release this on DVD.
Hideous Bitch Princess
21Jul10
Johnny Guitar is what a Mothers of Invention album would feel like if it were converted into a 1950's western. Absurd camp with a lot more going on than most people realize. However the ridiculousness of it all can be too much to bear for some. The dancing challenge in the beginning sets the tone for a film that can not be taken 100% seriously. Regardless, it is very much worth the watch for fans of eccentric cinema.
Alex Delarge
3Jul10
I just imported (I live in the US) the Spanish Steelbook DVD (subs aren't forced) and can't wait to finally share with friends on the big screen. Now we need Criterion to remaster for a blu-ray release.
Matt Kovar
14Mar10
This film really needs to be released in a Region 1 format. I saw it a couple years back at a western festival in Charlotte, NC and ever since have been amazed at its lack of accessibility. It's story is so unique in the genre of westerns (what other western centers around two gun toting grudge holding bad ass women?). The talent behind and in the scenes is terrific, too, to say the least.
Orlando
7Feb10
Stylish melodramatic western masterpiece. that scene with Crawford in that dress playing the piano is unforgettable.
Diogo S. likes this
Mark Ayala
18Dec09
For a film with some of the most beautiful and unreal color, it doesn't make sense to me that the photo for this film is in black and white.
Hideous Bitch Princess
20Nov09
As we dive deeper into cinema we seem to lose our sense of humor about our passion. I've done my best to avoid this, and furthmore have no problem acknowledging not only this film's genius but it's utter goofiness as well. It was Ray's indifference for what the audience and critics thought that made his films so authentic (I think you can say the same thing about Herzog too.) Johnny Guitar is just that - authentic.
