A revival of the patriotic film genre?
Young Washington sounds like a good movie. I might even go see it:
They used to make a lot of patriotic movies, and I think it’s high time the genre got a revival. The title of the new film about Washington reminds me of the old chestnut Young Mr. Lincoln, one of my favorites from childhood when I saw it several times on TV. Here’s a scene; you’ll see they made up Henry Fonda to look a tiny bit more like Lincoln, whom he resembled not at all:
Speaking of Fonda and patriotic movies, here’s another one I saw on TV many many times as a child. This one is set in Revolutionary times, when the Mohawk Valley in New York was considered the western frontier: Drums Along the Mohawk. I notice now that both films not only starred Henry Fonda but they were both directed by John Ford and both were released in the magical year for movies, 1939. A busy time for both.
As a very young child I fell in love with Henry Fonda in these films. Do you think children can’t fall in love? I submit that they certainly can. At any rate, if you want to remember what a good actor Fonda was, watch this scene from Drums Along the Mohawk:
Henry Fonda
Around 70 some years ago in Manhattan, NYC where I grew up I had my tonsils removed. I had two older half sisters who liked me but pretty much ignored me. In the hospital/clinic I was at we were two to a room.
When I was recovering from my tonsilectomy my sisters wouldn’t leave me alone in my room. My room mate was Henry Fonda.
I mean they were there for me, right?
I haven’t been to a movie theater in years but I had decided to see Young Washington. Until I checked & learned that it would cost $12.50 to do so. Plus of course a drink & popcorn. Yeah, no. I’ll stream it & possibly buy the DVD. It would fit well with my copy of “The Crossing” w/Jeff Daniels as Washington and his crossing the Delaware river to attack the Hessian mercenaries.
I haven’t gone to the movies much at all in the last 10 years or so but I saw Project Hail Mary in the theater and I’m going to see Young Washington on Wednesday with some members of my local Republican club.
I haven’t seen those two films, but there are so many great Henry Fonda films. Grapes of Wrath, 12 Angry Men, Mister Roberts, The Wrong Man (a more minor Hitchcock film), The Longest Day, Fail Safe, Battle of the Bulge, Once Upon a Time in the West, and Midway.
Drums Along the Mohawk was and remains one of my favorites.
The only Henry Fonda movie I remember is ‘The Rounders’, co-starring Fonda and Glenn Ford. I really liked Ford.
Fonda spawned Jane Fonda.
I suppose that I am among a distinct minority who consider that a failed life.
That does not bother me.
When I was recovering from my tonsilectomy my sisters wouldn’t leave me alone in my room. My room mate was Henry Fonda.
I mean they were there for me, right?
John Galt III:
Absolutely!
I mainly remember Henry Fonda as the American president in the sixties nuclear war film, “Fail-Safe.” Haunted me.
Tonight I watched “American Sniper” (2014), the Clint Eastwood film about Chris Kyle, the Navy SEAL and the deadliest marksman in American military history.
I tried to watch it not long after it came out in DVD, but I was in a bad mood and the beginning put me off. However, now … Wow. A deep film about our warriors. Though I had read about it, I had forgotten the ending.
By all means see it. Bradley Cooper exceeded my expectations. It’s also the most un-Eastwood film I know, perhaps because he wasn’t in it.
I’m used to Eastwood’s straightforward one-take Cut! Print! style where he gets the job done without perfectionism. This seemed like a real labor of love.
All catholic boys wanted to be priests until they met girls.
Oh yes children can fall in love. But I was in love with all of them – Barbara Eden, Elizabeth Montgomery, Ginger and Mary Ann, and of course 99 from Get Smart. She was my favorite I think. Something about her voice.
Mike Plaiss,
You have very good taste in women. I concur 100% with your choices.
Re: Barbara Feldon — Agent 99
Mike Plaiss:
She was a hit with me too! The sitcom, “Mad About You,” had an episode in which Feldon shows up as a former TV star who had played “Spy Girl” — clearly a nod to her role in “Get Smart.”
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Paul finds out that Jamie has a former TV star as a client. Paul and Ira still adore the former spy girl from the show. At a dinner, Ira takes spy girl back to the apartment, but spy girl does not remember Ira the next day.
–“The Spy Girl Who Loved Me”
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0638974/
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“Mad About You” wasn’t as good as “Seinfeld” but it was pretty good. The show had a couple fun crossovers with “Seinfeld.”
Highly recommend Young Washington. Beautiful cinematography and fine acting. I live in southwestern PA, where many of the battles in the French and Indian war took place, and I’ve always thought that era had great storytelling potential long neglected by Hollywood. It was great to see it on the big screen at last (even though it was apparently filmed in Virginia and Ireland). I concur with Salena Zito:
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columnists/4637825/young-washington-history-ultimate-gritty-origin-story/