James Coburn Was Right

I was watching the special features to the Major Dundee DVD yesterday, and James Coburn was making some intesteresting statements about the films we have today.  He said that few in today's movies were actually actors.  They were mainly in it due to their physiques, saying that today's movies were 't & a' pictures.  Coburn went on to point out that a film star today will spend about three hours a day in a gym, while he had it on good authority from Charlton Heston's stunt man that Heston's exercise was 300 pushups a day.  That was it, and there were plenty who would have killed for Heston's build.

Coburn went on to state that they used to make films with action and now they make action movies.  You have to have car crashes and explosions.  Remember Bullitt?  The ulitmate car chase.  But Frank Bullit also used his brains, as he figured out the intricate plot that to this day, many of the moviegoers haven't.

If you compare many of the films of yesteryear to today's films, it's easy to see that Coburn had an extremely valid point.  Now, there are thousands, if not millions, of people who refuse to watch a classic film as "it's old."  Tell me . . do we not pay attention to a person as they're old?  Do we toss a painting or a statue as it's old?  Do we get rid of a classic piece of literature as it's old?  Of course not.  (Although when we was making the 1993 version of The Three Musketeers, actor Chris O'Donnell admitted the only verson of The Three Musketeers he had ever heard of was the candy bar.)  So why are 'old' movies chastised so? We don't like black and white?  Then why are family photos saved?  What it boils down to is that people are merely looking for an excuse still, and have yet to come up with a reasonable one.

If you are tolerant with people and give them another chance - - - good for you.  But do the same with classic movies.  Start out with His Girl Friday or My Man Godfrey.  If you want to see what a real adventure is like, try Gunga Din or The Lives of A Bengal Lancer.  Maybe The Real Glory.  For drama, try Executive Suite or From Here to Eternity.  You'll see acting then.

You may not believe me, but would Derek Flint (James Coburn to those of you who don't follow movies) lie to you?