Okay, I am probably gong to show some of my gray hairs (nobody gave them to me, I earned 'em), but here goes:
JIMMY STEWART: No one ever typlified the average American so well on screen but was so un average in real life. If the marquee said "Jimmy Stewart", you knew it would be a good movie. And yes, he was strongly pro-Second Amendment.
AUDIE MURPHY: I have run into a lot of boys lately that do not know who Audie Murphy was. Mine do, and they still get out my copy of "To Hell And Back" and watch it on occasion. A man's man who proved that physical size does not matter when one has a lot of heart. You are missed, "Little Texas".
CLARK GABLE: Mostly before my time but stories abound of his love for fine firearms and automoibles. Flew combat missions with the Eighth during World War II, as did Stewart. A very decent man who could do more with a glance than others could with the whole blasted script. Frankly Rhett, we DO still give a d---.
ROY ROGERS: Personal philosophy of mine: "Don't ever trust a man who don't like Roy Rogers". He wore a white hat in grand style both on and off screen. An avid shooter, hunter and horseman. They say that he was a reserve deputy who filled in for regular officers during Christimas and such. He carried a .45 Government that was given to him by Audie Murphy. Does anybody really think of themselves seriously enough to buck that combination? Besides, Dale was born in my hometown.
JAMES ARNESS: Another World War II vet who went to Hollywood. Ever wonder why he limped? Machine gun bullet took away part of his leg at a little garden spot called Anzio. I will wager that a couple of thousand cops out there on patrol right now first got the idea from watching Matt Dillon in "Gunsmoke". And you know what? They are the kind of officers communities are proud of. And he was a very nice guy in person. I hear that he is still with us, barely.
JOEL MCCRAE and RANDOLPH SCOTT: I put the two together mainly because I run short of time and one movie that they made together was unforgetable; "Ride The High Country". I think that this was Milius' first big picture, right? They both would have you on the edge of your seats with your trusty cap pistol handy without a couple of billion dollars worth of special effects, weird religions, and names no one can pronounce. That was back when you could order guns through the mail and no one ever heard of a "school shooting".
I could go on but the hour grows late with another day on the way. So many pundits wonder what is wrong with our kids these days, I would venture that a lack of good role models in the movies might have something to do with it. I wish that these guys listed above were still around for my boys. I guess things could be worse though, I still have that VCR in the corner and a lot of memories. Oh, and by the way; "They went thataways, pardner".
Take care and God bless to all,
Paladin
[This message has been edited by Paladin (edited October 21, 1999).]