JohnDoe
Bryn
Brenton
McCabe & Mrs Miller (1971) - Footage Included
Mccabe and Mrs Miller
Writer/Director:Robert Altman
Music:Leonard Cohen
Starring:Warren Beatty, Julie Christie, Rene Auberjonois, Shelley Duvall, Keith Carradine,
“I got poetry in me.” - McCabe
In honour of Warren Beatty collecting the Cecil b DeMille award at last nights Golden Globes. In salute of a master Writer/Director Robert Altman passing on recently, today seems like an ideal time to revisit this often ignored gem.
Click below to see Warren Beatty's Golden Globes acceptance speech from last night.
Mccabe and Mrs Miller is a melancholy journey, emotionally rich and historically authentic, this is not a cowboy film. Instead the mythology of the wild-west is abandoned in favour of examining the violent, lawless frontier mentality of yesteryear.
At the time of its release many saw the Western as a dead horse, including the Director. So instead of making a traditional film, Altman injected his unmistakable sensibilities on every frame and the result was a revisionist work of individuality and bitter realism.
As he would do later with M.A.S.H, he took Hollywood staples, burned them at the stake and from the ashes created something totally unique within an established framework.
Loner John McCabe (Warren Beatty) is a gambler and when he arrives in the isolated town of Presbyterian Church there is the assumption that he is a gunfighter. Ignoring speculation he decides to build a brothel and earn his fortune.
“You boys gotta make up your minds if you want to get your cookies. Cause if you want to get your cookies, I've got girls up here that'll do more tricks than a goddamn monkey on a hundred yards of grapevine.” - McCabe
McCabe partners up with seasoned whore Constance Miller (Julie Christie) to run the stable of women. A tender and complex relationship develops that is far more beautiful than the bloodthirsty, greedy, male dominated society that surrounds them.
“All you've cost me so far is money and pain...pain, pain, pain” – McCabe
John Doe says:
Poetic and tragic, this poignant film is told organically so the viewer can soak up the dense atmosphere and study the characters and very real feeling fictional history.
Having the courage to bring his vision to life, Robert Altman’s (Nashville, The Long Goodbye, the Player, Short Cuts) now trademark over lapping dialogue and heavily populated scenes, often improvised and always natural allow for magical celluloid moments.
Actors are seldom seen in close up, framed with care and shot with a minimum of artificial light to give a rough around the edges appearance that adds to the illusion of realism.
The now notorious muffled audio of the master track forces you to strain to hear some of the dialogue and observe the actors body language in order to comprehend the meaning of certain scenes.
The haunting ballads of Leonard Cohen act as a musical guide adding a great deal to the non conformist tone of the film.
Now onto the stars, as much of a drawing card as the Director himself, Warren Beatty (Reds, Bulworth, The Parrallax View, Bonnie and Clyde) serves up a multi layered and involving interpretation of the role that is the antithesis of the John Wayne/Gary Cooper style iconic hero.
Beatty and the director had completely different work methods. Altman flew by the seat of his pants hoping to find moments during shooting and purposefully went against the grain of established filmmaking methods. Warren meticulously plans everything and couldn’t understand how the film would cut together, demanding he do excessive takes.
Real life lovers onscreen and off Beatty and Julie Christie (Harry Potter and The prisoner of Azkaban, Shampoo, Dr Zchivago, darling, Billy Liar)have an undeniable chemistry that elevates the attention you pay to every nuance of their scenes together.
Christie is an exceptional actress who never wanted fame and often had to be manipulated in order to accept parts. She did not let her profession define her and I think that is why there is a sincerity and lack of self conciousness in her performance that is rare.
Keep an eye out for Rene Auberjonois (Odo from Star Trek: DS9). He blends in perfectly and like all the supporting cast makes you forget that they are acting.
HBO’s brilliant Deadwood series owes a serious debt to this film and highlights just how ahead of its time and influential it now is. This is a western for people who don't like westerns, but enjoy seeing where we came from and the early pioneers that built a country.
The DVD:
Transfer: Widescreen 2:35:1/ Dolby Digital 2.0
Extras: An exceptional Directors commentary rich in detail and an informative making of Documentary.
The only place I could find some footage for McCabe and Mrs Miller was in this Robert Altman montage, hope you enjoy it.
DVD Cover
Writer/Director:Robert Altman
Music:Leonard Cohen
“I got poetry in me.” - McCabe
In honour of Warren Beatty collecting the Cecil b DeMille award at last nights Golden Globes. In salute of a master Writer/Director Robert Altman passing on recently, today seems like an ideal time to revisit this often ignored gem.
Click below to see Warren Beatty's Golden Globes acceptance speech from last night.
Mccabe and Mrs Miller is a melancholy journey, emotionally rich and historically authentic, this is not a cowboy film. Instead the mythology of the wild-west is abandoned in favour of examining the violent, lawless frontier mentality of yesteryear.
At the time of its release many saw the Western as a dead horse, including the Director. So instead of making a traditional film, Altman injected his unmistakable sensibilities on every frame and the result was a revisionist work of individuality and bitter realism.
As he would do later with M.A.S.H, he took Hollywood staples, burned them at the stake and from the ashes created something totally unique within an established framework.
Loner John McCabe (Warren Beatty) is a gambler and when he arrives in the isolated town of Presbyterian Church there is the assumption that he is a gunfighter. Ignoring speculation he decides to build a brothel and earn his fortune.
“You boys gotta make up your minds if you want to get your cookies. Cause if you want to get your cookies, I've got girls up here that'll do more tricks than a goddamn monkey on a hundred yards of grapevine.” - McCabe
McCabe partners up with seasoned whore Constance Miller (Julie Christie) to run the stable of women. A tender and complex relationship develops that is far more beautiful than the bloodthirsty, greedy, male dominated society that surrounds them.
“All you've cost me so far is money and pain...pain, pain, pain” – McCabe
I have always been loved for my keen sense of fashion
Poetic and tragic, this poignant film is told organically so the viewer can soak up the dense atmosphere and study the characters and very real feeling fictional history.
Having the courage to bring his vision to life, Robert Altman’s (Nashville, The Long Goodbye, the Player, Short Cuts) now trademark over lapping dialogue and heavily populated scenes, often improvised and always natural allow for magical celluloid moments.
Actors are seldom seen in close up, framed with care and shot with a minimum of artificial light to give a rough around the edges appearance that adds to the illusion of realism.
The now notorious muffled audio of the master track forces you to strain to hear some of the dialogue and observe the actors body language in order to comprehend the meaning of certain scenes.
The haunting ballads of Leonard Cohen act as a musical guide adding a great deal to the non conformist tone of the film.
Now onto the stars, as much of a drawing card as the Director himself, Warren Beatty (Reds, Bulworth, The Parrallax View, Bonnie and Clyde) serves up a multi layered and involving interpretation of the role that is the antithesis of the John Wayne/Gary Cooper style iconic hero.
Beatty and the director had completely different work methods. Altman flew by the seat of his pants hoping to find moments during shooting and purposefully went against the grain of established filmmaking methods. Warren meticulously plans everything and couldn’t understand how the film would cut together, demanding he do excessive takes.
Real life lovers onscreen and off Beatty and Julie Christie (Harry Potter and The prisoner of Azkaban, Shampoo, Dr Zchivago, darling, Billy Liar)have an undeniable chemistry that elevates the attention you pay to every nuance of their scenes together.
Christie is an exceptional actress who never wanted fame and often had to be manipulated in order to accept parts. She did not let her profession define her and I think that is why there is a sincerity and lack of self conciousness in her performance that is rare.
Keep an eye out for Rene Auberjonois (Odo from Star Trek: DS9). He blends in perfectly and like all the supporting cast makes you forget that they are acting.
HBO’s brilliant Deadwood series owes a serious debt to this film and highlights just how ahead of its time and influential it now is. This is a western for people who don't like westerns, but enjoy seeing where we came from and the early pioneers that built a country.
The DVD:
Transfer: Widescreen 2:35:1/ Dolby Digital 2.0
Extras: An exceptional Directors commentary rich in detail and an informative making of Documentary.
The only place I could find some footage for McCabe and Mrs Miller was in this Robert Altman montage, hope you enjoy it.
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Film & TV on DVD