Featuring six free classic westerns over four days, the Bosque Film Society hosts the 2nd Annual Wild Western Weekend Free Film Festival July 27-30 at The Cliftex Theatre in Clifton
By E. BRETT VOSS
Bosque Film Society Founding Board President
The Bosque Film Society will be hosting its 2nd Annual WILD WESTERN WEEKEND Free Film Festival featuring six free classic westerns in four days July 27-30 at The Cliftex Theatre in Clifton. Although admission will be free to the public courtesy of the Bosque Film Society, seating will be limited to 150 moviegoers on a first-come, first serve basis, thanks to the generous donations by our sponsors.
Offering an air-conditioned break from the harsh Texas summer just before returning to school, the Bosque Film Society will open the festival with John Wayne delivering his Academy Award-winning role in “TRUE GRIT” (1969) on Thursday, July 27 at 7 p.m. Featuring an all-star cast including Kevin Costner and Kevin Kline, “SILVERADO” (1985) will be Friday’s matinee at 4 p.m., followed by “JEREMIAH JOHNSON” (1972) starring Robert Redford and directed by Sydney Pollack at 7 p.m.
Offering a family day at the movies on Saturday, Johnny Depp is “RANGO” (2011) in the animated comedy at 4 p.m., followed by the original western classic “THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN” (1960) starring Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, James Coburn and Eli Wallach at 7 p.m. The festival will conclude Sunday with a 4 p.m. matinee showing of Sergio Leone’s epic spaghetti western “ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST” (1968) starring Henry Fonda, Charles Bronson and Claudia Cardinale.
TRUE GRIT (1969)
sponsored by Joanne Freeman & Thomas Blossom and Herbert Haschke
Directed by Henry Hathaway, starring John Wayne, Glen Campbell, Kim Darby, Robert Duvall and Dennis Hopper
A drunken, hard-nosed U.S. Marshal and a Texas Ranger help a stubborn teenager track down her father’s murderer in 1880, venturing into the Indian Territory of Yell County, Arkansas. With revenge etched on her mind, plucky Mattie Ross rides to Fort Smith.
Now, nothing else matters, and while aching to bring his killer to justice, Mattie enlists the help of the aging U.S. Marshal Reuben “Rooster” J. Cogburn – a rugged, one-eyed lawman. And before long, La Boeuf, a young Texas Ranger thirsty for bounty money, joins in.
However, as the unlikely trio embarks on a dangerous journey into the heart of Indian Territory, the odds are against them. But rabid vengeance keeps determined Mattie going. Is true grit enough to see justice served?
SILVERADO (1985)
sponsored by Amy & Kenon Perry of Loblolli and Ves & Sally Box
Produced, directed and written by Lawrence Kasdan, starring Kevin Kline, Scott Glenn, Danny Glover and Kevin Costner
In the spirit of the classic Hollywood western, “SILVERADO” tells the story of four cowboys who join up together, ride into town, refuse to knuckle under to the corrupt sheriff and end up fighting for justice.
Set in 1880, four misfit bunch of friends travel together to the city of Silverado to right the injustices which exist in the small town. They come across many dangers before they finally engage the “bad guys” and bring peace and equality back to the city.
Following the Friday matinee, the free film festival will feature Robert Redford in the mountain man adventure “JEREMIAH JOHNSON” at 7 p.m.
JEREMIAH JOHNSON (1972)
sponsored by Anita Diebenow and Clifton Main Street
Directed by Sydney Pollack and starring Robert Redford and Will Geer
A Mexican-American War veteran, Jeremiah Johnson (Robert Redford), heads to the mountains to live in isolation. Woefully unequipped for the task at hand, Johnson is fortunate to come across a seasoned mountain man (Will Geer) willing to teach him the necessary survival tactics.
As life continues in the mountains, Johnson finds himself a native bride (Delle Bolton) and an adopted son (Josh Albee). However, their peaceful existence is threatened when Johnson incurs the ire of the Crow Indians.
RANGO (2011)
sponsored by Phyllis Gamble & Mechelle Slaughter and Don Spitzenberger
Directed by Gore Verbinski, starring the voices of Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Ned Beatty, Alfred Molina, Bill Nighy, Stephen Root, Harry Dean Stanton, Ray Winstone and Timothy Olyphant
Johnny Depp delivers spectacularly as Rango, a kooky pet chameleon who gets tossed into a wild and raucous town in desperate need of a hero sheriff – and water. Refreshingly original with eye-popping animation, Rango is “loads of fun and genuinely funny” (Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times), and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film in 2011.
A chameleon who has lived as a sheltered family pet finds himself in the grip of an identity crisis. Rango wonders how to stand out when it is his nature to blend in. When he accidentally winds up in a frontier town called Dirt, he takes the first step on a transformational journey as the town’s new sheriff.
Following the Saturday matinee, the free film festival will feature an all-star ensemble cast including Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, Robert Vaughn and James Coburn in “THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN” at 7 p.m.
THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (1960)
sponsored by Punky & Wally Penberthy, Jay LaRue & Kathleen Jones
Directed by John Sturges, starring an ensemble cast includes Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, Robert Vaughn and James Coburn
Although admission will be free to the public courtesy of the Bosque Film Society, seating will be limited to 150 moviegoers on a first-come, first serve basis, thanks to the generous donations by our sponsors.
Based on Akira Kurosawa’s Japanese classic “SEVEN SAMARAI,” Seven gunfighters are hired by Mexican peasants to liberate their village from oppressive bandits. They must prepare the town to repulse an army of 30 bandits who will arrive wanting food.
Anticipating a bandit who terrorizes a small Mexican farming village each year, several of the village elders send three of the farmers into the United States to search for gunmen to defend them. They end up with seven, each arriving with his own reason.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST (1969)
sponsored by Ves & Sally Box and Laurie & Wayne Johnson
Directed by Sergio Leone, starring Henry Fonda, Charles Bronson, Jason Robards and Claudia Cardinale
A mysterious stranger with a harmonica joins forces with a notorious desperado to protect a beautiful widow from a ruthless assassin working for the railroad. Featuring the stunning and groundbreaking widescreen cinematography by Tonino Delli Colli, and the acclaimed film score by Ennio Morricone, the film remains regarded as one of the greatest westerns of all time and one of the greatest films of all time
“Once Upon A Time In The West” tells the story of a young woman, Mrs. McBain, who moves from New Orleans to frontier Utah, on the very edge of the American West. She arrives to find her new husband and family slaughtered, but by whom?
The prime suspect, coffee-lover Cheyenne, befriends her and offers to go after the real killer, assassin gang leader Frank, in her honor. He is accompanied by Harmonica, a man already on a quest to get even.