Keeping Political Polar Opposite Friends

Above, I found out recently that Jessica Tseang is opposite politically
 to me. We haven't ever discussed politics and I have plans to do so. 

In this polarized era where conservatives and liberals are practically at each other's throats over this election campaign and politics in general, one wonders how friends who are polar opposites politically can remain friends.

Everyone is entitled to their opinions, of course. 

One can look back at actors James Stewart and Henry Fonda. Stewart was a conservative and Fonda a liberal. They both came from the same era of movies and were great friends, yet were very opposite politically. They managed to remain friends over the decades until death took them.

How did they manage to accomplish this? 

It was simple. They did not discuss politics at all. Each knew where the other stood but did not raise the subject of politics. 

I have some left-leaning friends. We manage to remain so because we don't discuss politics. We confine our conversations strictly to subjects that are shared interests such as movies, ECV, Godzilla, comic books, travel, etc.

So if one wants to keep the peace with friends who don't share one's views politically, just don't discuss politics. 

"Cheyenne Autumn" Filming Locations

The last western directed by the legendary John Ford was Cheyenne Autumn in 1964.

The movie was partly filmed in one of Ford's favorite locations, Monument Valley. It starred James Stewart, Sal Mineo, Richard Widmark, Karl Malden, Carroll Baker, Ricardo Montalban, Elizabeth Allen, Edward G. Robinson and Patrick Wayne.

OtakuKart has posted an article on locations in Monument Valley and other places used for Cheyenne Autumn.

They begin it with:

Fans of Cheyenne autumn, this article is for you! After watching the vivid art representation of this film, one must be thinking that where was Cheyenne autumn filmed? Well, not to worry because this article would help you to know everything related to Cheyenne autumn, including the location where it was filmed. So, Cheyenne Autumn is a 1964 American epic Western film. And to everyone’s interest, it is based on a true story narrated in a traditional Hollywood style.

This film was the last western directed by John Ford. He had proclaimed it an elegy for basically the Native Americans who had been abused by the U.S. government and also misrepresented by many of the director’s films. And surprisingly, it had a budget of more than $4 million. But unfortunately, neither their money nor work was able to return a profit at the box office. It was a sure tragedy! Moreover, it had failed to earn a profit for its distributor Warner Bros. John Ford was willing to make a movie about the Cheyenne exodus. And the result of that longing was this film- “Cheyenne autumn.”

Above, John Ford's director's chair on display at Monument Valley. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read the full article, go here.

Flu Season and a Jogged Memory

Above, John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart in The Shootist.

My "honorary sister" sent me this article on an unusual type of flu virus that is dominating this flu season.

Thank goodness I've already had my flu and pneumonia shots

While reading the article, it mentioned the B/Victoria flu. Although it has been a while since I heard of any kind of Victoria flu, it jogged a memory from 1976.

I emailed this reply to her:

Funny, they mentioned B/Victoria flu. Whenever I hear about a Victoria flu, it reminds me of 1976 when Paul Bannai's office told me they were trying to get John Wayne for a fundraising dinner. It was about the time he made "The Shootist" and he had to decline as he was down with A/Victoria flu. They had to shoot around him until he recovered.

It is interesting that some things bring back dormant memories.

Movies!

A package arrived from Amazon today of three John Wayne/John Ford classics in Blu-ray (since moving here, I've been in a John Wayne kick): The Quiet Man (with Maureen O'Hara), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (with Lee Marvin, James Stewart and Vera Miles) and Rio Grande (with Maureen O'Hara).

These will keep me occupied for three evenings (at least, not counting repeat viewings).

40 Years Ago: "The Shootist" Released

From the John Wayne Facebook page:

July 19, 1975 ~ "The Shootist" was released to movie theaters 40 years ago today. A dying gunfighter spends his last days looking for a way to die with a minimum of pain and a maximum of dignity. 

"Put it in a nutshell? You couldn't put it in a barrel without a bottom. You're the longest winded bastard I've ever known. " ~ John Bernard Books/JOHN WAYNE 

This film was released by Paramount Pictures on DVD and can be found at many retail outlets.

The Shootist ended up being Wayne's final movie. He died of stomach cancer on June 11, 1979.