After my last post you may have guessed something like this was coming!
It's Music Monday and I'm in that kind of mood.
And a movie I've seen and enjoyed many times!
(Per Wikipedia)
The film was shot at Old Tucson Studios, just outside Tucson, Arizona and is generally regarded as one of Hawks' best pictures. The film received favorable reviews, and was financially successful, earning over 5.5 million. The film stars, John Wayne, Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson and Walter Brennan. The musical score was composed by Dimitri Tiomkin. His score contains the haunting tune "El Degüello," which is played several times to build tension. A character (Colorado, played by Nelson) identifies the tune as "The Cutthroat Song". He relates the song's historical playing on the orders of Antonio López de Santa Anna to the Texans holed up in the Alamo to signify that no quarter would be given. The tune was used in the following year, over the opening credits of Wayne's film, The Alamo.
Capitalizing off of the appearances of Martin, and a teen idol Nelson, Hawks included three songs in the soundtrack. Before the big showdown, in the jail house, Martin sings "My Rifle, My Pony, and Me" (which contained new lyrics to a Tiomkin tune that appeared in Red River) accompanied by Nelson, after which Nelson sings a brief version of "Get Along Home, Cindy," accompanied by Martin and Brennan. Over the closing credits, Martin, backed by the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, sings a specially composed song, "Rio Bravo." Nelson later paid homage to both the film and his character, Colorado, by including the song "Restless Kid" on his 1959 LP, Ricky Sings Again.
I'm displaying the lyrics in case you want to sing a long!
My Rifle Pony and Me Duet w/ Dean Martin
Sun is sinking in the west The cattle go down to the stream
The red wing settles in the nest It's time for a cowboy to dream
Purple light in the canyon that is where I long to be
Purple light in the canyon that is where I long to be
With my three good companions just my rifle pony and me
Gonna hang my sombrero on the limb of a tree
Coming home sweet my darling just my rifle pony and me
Whippoorwill in the willow
sings a sweet melody
Riding to Amarillo
just my rifle pony and me
No more cows to be ropin' No more strays will I see'
round the bend she'll be waitin'
For my rifle pony and me
For my rifle my pony and me
The movie features a great duet with Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson....
(Sing Louder)
Here's my pick for the week:
2 comments:
I guess you spent your youth watching all them old movies too eh Mr I??
It's a sweet little tune that. I like the way they just sang in the old movies - just a guitar and a vocal. They don't really do that these days - it's a bit hard to find an impromptu 10 piece band and a synth and make it look natural!
You're so right. There was something refreshing about the simplicity of the older movies. Thanks.
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