A very good friend of mine a non hunting, it no longer anti hunting PHD gifted to me the following titles:

I married Adventure: OSA Johnson

Out of Africa: Karen Blixen

Wayne and Ford: Nan A Talese: A bio on Duke Wayne and Ford. It has an interesting thesis that while no one questions Duke needed Ford to do his best work, Ford needed Duke to perform his best work. What I find interesting with this is that Ford never won the Oscar for best director or film for a fil he made with Duke.

While most folks today think of Duke films and characters as cookie cutter and shallow. The author agrees that Duke the character brought to his films for its time was complex and real. The good guy quit being a saint in White bc of Duke, and the bad guy started to have humanity.

F note Harry Carry’s wife/widow was on set when the closing frames of The Searchers was shot. When Duke grabbed his arm in tribute to Carry, she was moved to tears. I knew of Duke’s salute. I did not know the widow was present.

If you enjoy Karen Blixens book you will most likely enjoy Beryl Markham's book "West into The Night".Same contemporaries in the same time.Among other things in an exciting life (being the 1st woman/person to fly the Atlantic)was that she would fly over + find the elephant herds for Bror Blixen to shoot.She wrote another called "Splendid Outcast" that is good as well.Start with west into the night

I love and finished West with the Night in July.

My favorite chapter was Blood of the Bull. I was crying and had to read the next chapter to see if Buller lived.

You might also enjoy the biography of Denis Lyell (portrayed by Redford in the movie). If memory serves the title was "Too close to the Sun". I gave my copy to a friend years ago so am dealing on memory.Best of reading my friend.

Too Close to the Sun is the bio on Denis Hatton.

I have got a lot of reading to do, but that is one I need to get.

I finished the”new”WMD Bell collections released by Safari Press.

I stated with the Wayne-Ford book bc it is shooter/faster given my work.

I am over half way thru the Wayne-Ford book.

I also need to get around to Hunter by JA Humter. His legend is far reaching and the chapter on him in Safari by Bull (I think. Vicking Press) made an impression upon me.

...although Denis Lyell’s book Memories of an African Hunter is good too.

Finch-Hatton is my all-time favorite hunter of old...Errol Trzbenzki’s book Silence Will Speak is great. Had hunters/admins followed his attention to conservation throughout Africa, we’d not be in the mess we are. Many people (including Wheeler) kind of like to infer he was turning completely away from hunting (ala Syd Downey), but I don’t think that was the case. I think he was a hunter to the core, but was never the killer like many others (like Paul Rainey) were. It was either done “proper” or not at all. The fact he was an admirer of my favorite epic poem, the Ancient Mariner, only adds to my regard.

Just finished the Wayne-Ford book my only real complaints is that the author could not resist the need to address Ford’s sexuality. She does it fairly even handed, but I guess when trying to define morality, heroism and American masculinity she simply could not stay away.

My other issue is how do you write a book examining Wayne-Ford and mention the Quite Man only twice.

The book is ultimately sad not only bc it tracks Wayne-Ford thru failing health and death. But I got a strange feeling that what was being cataloged was really a brief supernova in American culture that burned out almost as quickly as it ignited. The end by that I mean Wayne-Ford’s career and the American model they created began as soon as the men were established. Ford wins his first Oscar for a late Silent Film the Iron Horse for example. Wayne is the highest paid box office actor come 1960 but The Alamo damages his brand and brings him to financial restart only to be besigned by cancer. These are a few examples about what I mean the end was before we would think the end came. This feeling may be vcreated by the pacing of the book.

I bought + finished the "new" Bell book as well. Also have all of Hunters books as well as Bartle Bull's 'Safari'.I really enjoyed his trilogy,White Rhino Hotel,Cafe On the Nile,+ Devils oasis.

I stand corrected by the winds of time.Now that you have jogged my memory of books read long ago.I believe that he was Denis Finch-Hatton. A life well lived BTW.The loves of all these that lived in Africa in the 30's I find fascenating in their life. (
Don't forget that Papa was there as well)That was truly "The lost generation" even for them that did not go to France,they carried the same burden.

There are parts of Green Hils I really like. Then there are parts I do not like. Such as Hemmingway’s competition over Kudu. Reporting that his kudu made his friends a nothing. I really did not like.

But overall I enjoy it.

I noticed when describing hunting and killing big game particularly dangerous game folks got into to the trend of calling it anti climatic from Hemmingway’s description of killing his first lion.

Look at his face in the picture of that black maned lion. Folks to this out of context, and miss use the quote.

True;Green Hills was a very good book + also as we all know that Papa's ego was up there as well.But then he was good + knew it,so that's debatable as a fault,although by current standards,the "girlie men" find his behavior 'aboriginal!'We are talking about 1934 + times were much more different than today.Hopefully not starting an issue my friend,only commenting on ideas as you have as well. Enjoy your posts.

No issue at all. I love Hemmingway. Just wish he could have checked the competition. I think if he would have taken the Kudu first The for lack f a better word bitterness would not have arised

Just good conversation about good hunting books. Like I said I loved the chapter on lion. And Hemmingway and Percival following up the rhino. Hemmingway reporting Percival, “We bring up couple of heavy guns, and he goes in with one less article of clothin.” This is not a perfect quote p, but almost perfect.

My favorite Hemmingway hunting is the description of bear hunting in For Whom the Bell Tolls.

But I do love his short story about duck hunting in Italy. Even if he does through narration give the guide the business. We have all been there trying to enjoy something we enjoy are passionate about, and only get so many days to engage in it. Only tone have someone dragging it down. To Hemmingway’s credit like he says in the story, “Don’t let him ruin it.”

Hemmingway showers praise on !markahm for her book. A woman who did his profession according to him better than he did. So, folks need to be more nuanced when addressing Hemmingway from both sides.

Folks hate his character Pilar in For Whom the Bell Tolls. However, if they knew he loved his fishing yacht Pilar and named her for his boat they would know Hemmingway wrote her as a character of respect.

I told one of my law professors, Hemmingway stood down a charging rhino, and you (he) would run.

Most of our heros would likely turn out to be assholes;we will never know.As to "For Whom The Bell Tolls" if you recall,the opening paragraph + the ending were damned near the same;where Robert Jordan lie w' the machina + waiting for them to come. I think one of my most favorites of his lines is in "Islands In The Stream" in the Bimini part,where he has the boys swimming + he sees the shark coming. At this point he goes into great descriptive detail on the 'little Mannlicher with the 18" barrel that they don't sell anymore'.That prargragh should be read + enjoyed. Same rifle BTW that Margot McComber shot her husband with + was also Mary's favorite when they did Africa in 54.That still remains my favorite rifle + I know in no part was his influence not a major part of that.

Not hunting related it in College I read My Life by General Lettow Von Vorbeck. The University of Keisha an English publication in the library. When Safari Press released it a coupe of years ago, I bought it for one of my history professors who has been an Uncle to me.

I have not read Island in the Streams, but in Hemmingway on Hunting they reprinted the elephant hunting story, I think found in Islands In the Stream, now that I think of it. That is my favorite hunting story.

My favorite Hemmingway short story is Three Day Blow. I read it as soon as we get a good cold rain of fall with Van Winkle 12 year.

I never connected the mirroring of the beginning and end of For Whom the Bell Tolls. Anyway the book should be required reading at the both parties national conventions. At least the chapter when the socialist kill everyone in the town.

I just bought Lettow Von Vorbeck's book as well when Safari Press 1st put it up for sale.The 3 day blow + the 3 big hearted river are also good reads. In his short story collection I would recommend "The Short Happy Life Of Francis Macomber";written later but still damned good.You might be interested in his volume "By-line" about his newspaper posts in the 30's.Particularily when he and several jourenalists were asked to intervue Benito Mussolini. Hem says in his article."We went into that room,myself + all the other reporters + we saw this fat man not giving us notice (like he was deep in thought)poring over a great volume of literature as one of the other reporters said. Now as for me,I went behind El Duce + looked over his shoulder + saw that he had an English/Italian dictionary UPSIDE DOWN. That man is a fool + if I'm taken out + shot I will die knowing that I was killed by a fool.

Can any of us remember when men had balls + the lawyers were non existent ;to deprive them of that as well as every thing else.

quote:

Originally posted by NormanConquest:
Most of our heros would likely turn out to be assholes;we will never know.As to "For Whom The Bell Tolls" if you recall,the opening paragraph + the ending were damned near the same;where Robert Jordan lie w' the machina + waiting for them to come. I think one of my most favorites of his lines is in "Islands In The Stream" in the Bimini part,where he has the boys swimming + he sees the shark coming. At this point he goes into great descriptive detail on the 'little Mannlicher with the 18" barrel that they don't sell anymore'.That prargragh should be read + enjoyed. Same rifle BTW that Margot McComber shot her husband with + was also Mary's favorite when they did Africa in 54.That still remains my favorite rifle + I know in no part was his influence not a major part of that.

My favorite part of FWTBT is chapter 10, which is when Pilar is describing the massacre at Ronda. That is one of the best chapters in all of literature. It reads like a symphony, has texture, tension, crescendo, climax, and release. It’s one of his best.

The circular opening and closing of the book is great too...did you notice the slightly different way he used the words “pine” and “needle?” Not sure if that was intentional, he probably would have said it was. A damn good book.

I totally agree; although I had never considered it a symphony now that you mention it I agree.I remember the other tragedy part of the opera when the men were trapped on the mesa + just waiting for anialation.

quote:

Originally posted by LHeym500:
A very good friend of mine a non hunting, it no longer anti hunting PHD gifted to me the following titles:

I married Adventure: OSA Johnson

Out of Africa: Karen Blixen

Wayne and Ford: Nan A Talese: A bio on Duke Wayne and Ford. It has an interesting thesis that while no one questions Duke needed Ford to do his best work, Ford needed Duke to perform his best work. What I find interesting with this is that Ford never won the Oscar for best director or film for a fil he made with Duke.

While most folks today think of Duke films and characters as cookie cutter and shallow. The author agrees that Duke the character brought to his films for its time was complex and real. The good guy quit being a saint in White bc of Duke, and the bad guy started to have humanity.

F note Harry Carry’s wife/widow was on set when the closing frames of The Searchers was shot. When Duke grabbed his arm in tribute to Carry, she was moved to tears. I knew of Duke’s salute. I did not know the widow was present.

What did it mean when the Duke grabbed his arm and how was it a tribute to Harry? I've seen the movie several times but didn't know it meant something. Thanks

Enquiring minds want to know. Seriously,me too.Any info is appreciated;this is history, folks + when those that were there are gone the plaudits write what they think.I like the REAL story;guess I'm just funny that way.

Duke’s mentor was Harry Carry Senior both Ford and Duke lived with Harry and his family at different times.

Ford had a huge falling out with Harry and would not work with him. But Harry Carry Jr became part of the Ford Stock Company.

Anyway, Carry grabin his arm and holding it was a trademark of Harry Carry Senior like Dukes eyes or walk.

What you see Duke do at the end of The Seachers as he is being torn between leaving, family, and no longer being needed grabs his arm. That was all Duke in respect/tribute to Harry Carry Sr.

I knew about that tribute Duke performed from other sources. What I did not know was that Harry Carry’s widow was on set for shooting and seeped at the gesture.

Also one common some say critique of The Searchers is the abrupt ending at the climax. My best friend the lit PHD says the film is diminished.

By that I am Duke about face with a shot of his face and ’”Let’s go home Debbie.” After walking her down with hate in is eyes.

Well, the reason for that ending is John Ford rewrote the day of shooting.

The script called Duke to walk her down the push pull shot and say, “I am sorry. Close your eyes.” Point revolbpbpver at her head, “You look just like your mother.”

Then take Debbie in his arms.

What everyone forgets is that John Ford was a silent film director who made the transition to talkies. He did not have a high regard for dialogue. He often brow beat Duke that one acts with their eyes not their mouth.

Maybe it is Ford’s disregard for dialogue that makes his use of dialogue so tight and pointing when he does use it.

Ford believed the Saul on the road to Damascus, revlevation almost salvation like moment inspired by his Catholicism was more powerful than the unnecessary dialogue. This is conjecture on the religious inspiration on my part is of why Ford rewrote the scene. Without script notes or a letter we will never know for sure if I am right about this. If any documentation exists no one has ever cited it. But I believe it strongly based on what I know of Ford.

However, that dialogue and accompanying action would have taken away this criticism.

I love the scene as Ford shot it for the reasons above I believe he changed it.

In the spirit of what if, I suggested to my friend the scene below to reconcile what was written originally and what was shot to make him shut up.

I would have liked that push pull close up on Ethan then the wind come up and Debbie off shot whisper,“Uncle Ethan.” Then Duke subtlety change his expression flowed by the pull out and,”Let’s go home Debbie.”

Thanks