Don’t Fence Me In is a particularly good Roy Rogers picture. Directed by John English, who with William Witney directed more than 20 fantastic serials for Republic Pictures, it’s a well-paced, exciting, and thoroughly enjoyable B western.

The film opens with a western montage, accompanied by the famous song by Cole Porter from which the film gets its title. After the credits roll, we’re treated to a cheap-looking Boot Hill set with a matte painting background that looks as if it’s about two feet away. A narrator tells us that “Once upon a time, as a matter of fact nearly 40 years ago, there was a notorious western outlaw named Wildcat Kelly. He didn’t want to be fenced in either. But they stuffed him into a pine box and buried him six feet under the sod, on Boot Hill.” A masked man rises from behind Kelly’s tombstone, carrying a gun and a Wells Fargo case. The narrator, sounding surprised, says, “Wait a minute, that looks like Wildcat Kelly. It is Wildcat Kelly. There’s something mighty strange about this. I think we’d better investigate the story of Mr. Wildcat Kelly.”

And investigate we shall, but the job will fall on the pretty shoulders of a girl reporter named Toni Ames (Dale Evans). Toni has enough moxie to make an 800-pound gorilla stop dead in his tracks. When we first meet her, she’s performing the song “A Kiss Goodnight” while dancing on the table at a hot party in a big city, displaying her shapely gams to maximum effect. She’s doing it all for a story, though. A reporter for a tabloid called Spread magazine, Toni is undercover, secretly snapping shots of the party’s guest of honor, a dirty old cad named Cartwright (Andrew Tombes) who’s running for mayor as an incumbent.

The plot eventually takes Toni out west to the R Barr Dude Ranch to investigate the legend of Wildcat Kelly, who it turns out faked his own death nearly 40 years ago and has been living as a regular western Joe named “Gabby Whittaker.” He’s played by George “Gabby” Hayes, and it’s a good part for him. In a lot of these pictures, Hayes was able to just coast on his ornery persona, but Don’t Fence Me In actually gives him something to do.

Rogers plays that charming and likable singing cowpoke character called “Roy Rogers” that he played in dozens of movies. Roy is Gabby’s friend, and the only person who knows his secret. He tries to convince Toni not to publish what she knows about Wildcat Kelly, but she goes ahead with her story, and that’s when things get interesting.

There are a group of gangsters whose motives are shadowy, but who clearly want Kelly dead once it’s revealed he is still alive. One of them is played by the great character actor Marc Lawrence, who had a very long career as a sinister-looking hood.

This is a fine showcase for all of the regulars from the ’40s Roy Rogers pictures. Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers back Rogers up both musically and when it’s time for fisticuffs. And the wonder horse Trigger does a high-stepping dance, with Rogers astride him, to an instrumental version of “Don’t Fence Me In,” and even takes a bow when he’s finished.

Roy and Dale’s relationship is more antagonistic than in many of their other pictures, but it’s still fun to watch. When she first shows up and tries to stow away in the boot of a coach, Roy tosses a hunk of stinky Limburger cheese in the back with her and takes her on a bumpy ride. She later pays him back by pushing him into a swimming pool.

Don’t Fence Me In ends with a delightful rendition of the song performed by Roy, Dale, and the Sons of the Pioneers, with a few lines added at the beginning about Wildcat Kelly to tie the whole thing together.

Lexington
Grab your hat and boots and head out to Austin City Saloon in Woodhill, Lexington’s original country bar and home of John Michael Montgomery. Long time southern rocker and country crooner Larry Redmon has his own place (Redmon’s) downstairs at the corner of Main and Cheapside. New on the scene: the Silver Spur Saloon for a foot-stompin’ good time. If you are looking for a line dancing, bull-riding kind of place, check out Cadillac Ranch on Palumbo Drive. Kenny Whalen and the Travelers play regularly at Music Land in Paris….smoke and alcohol free. For more information, visit the Lexington Destination Guide.

Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people. ~W.C. Fields

So you want to buy a horse or pony…it’s easy to get carried away looking into those big brown eyes!

• Learn to avoid the top mistakes that new horse buyers make.
• Horse Readiness Quiz and find out!

We don’t want to burst your bubble…we love taking care of our horses but we’ve been doing it for a long, long time.

Maybe, you should just make a reservation for a trail ride and keep it simple!

If the world was truly a rational place, men would ride sidesaddle.  ~Rita Mae Brown

Praying in the Desert.

Tänkte bjuda på ett uppsamlingsinlägg för filmer jag nyligen sett. Det är ovanligt för mig, men ibland får man prova nya grepp.

The Haunting in Connecticut

Inte speciellt läskig, men har ändå en rätt intressant story. Intressant är självklart inte lika med trovärdig, men det gäller att vara förlåtande i filmens värld. Jag hade inte tråkigt och slutet var till och med spännande. Helt klart sevärd. Jag fick en rejäl crush i Amanda Crew dessutom. Vilken vacker tjej!

Betyg: Tre hyfsade pladd

Mean Streets

Känns mest som en provfilmning inför någon av Scorseses senare verk, för den har samtliga hans kännetecken. Däremot märks det att han provar sig fram. Resultatet här blir blandat. Skådespelarna är riktigt bra, musiken är som vanligt i Scorsesefilmer fantastisk och själva NY-känslan finns där. Men det saknas en riktig handling, en röd tråd, vilket gör att den blir lite seg emellanåt. Trots sina brister finner jag den ändå sevärd.

Betyg: Tre instabila pladd

Magnificent Seven

Börjar riktigt bra. McQueen, Brynner och Bronsons karaktärer är stencoola medan Wallach är en lagom sliskig antagonist. Dock känner jag mig lite avtrubbad ju längre in i filmen jag kommer. Speciellt i byn blir det rent av tråkigt stundtals. Men den har sina stunder. Däremot går det inte frånse att The Great Escape med nästan samma manskap är några klasser bättre.

Betyg: Tre stabila pladd

Sex Drive

Jag är svag för just tonårskomedier som faktiskt är rätt roliga. Amanda Crew, som jag tyckte var snygg i Haunting, var väldigt snygg även här, vilket inte direkt gjorde filmen tråkigare.

Betyg: Tre avslappnade pladd

Haunting in Connecticut

Central Florida Future – http://bit.ly/8KleHL

By Cassie Turner

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Published: Friday, November 20, 2009

Updated: Friday, November 20, 2009

Caitlin Bush

"Most Americans do not know slavery not only exists in the world today, it flourishes," said Ron Soodalter, co-author of The Slave Next Door, in his presentation in the Pegasus Ballroom Monday morning.

"Somewhere around 27 million people are in bondage in the world today. Now, that’s over twice the number as were trafficked in chains in the entire 350 years of the African slave trade."

Soodalter, an active abolitionist and historian, kicked off International Education Week at UCF as the keynote speaker for the Second Annual International Breakfast. The Slave Next Door presentation concluded the three-part series on "Slavery’s Resurgence" facilitated by the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Global Perspectives and the International Services Center.

The series began with Somaly Mam, a Cambodian human rights activist, former slave and author of The Road of Lost Innocence: The True Story of a Cambodian Heroine, when she shared her experiences in September.

In October, Micheline Slattery, a human-rights activist and former restavek, or domestic child slave, in both Haiti and the United States, addressed about 300 attendees.

Modern-day slavery includes around 800,000 men, women and children trafficked each year around the world. According to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Web site, about 17,500 of them end up in the United States, with a high percentage received in Florida.

Soodalter suggests a simple Google search on human trafficking for astounding results.

In spite of major federal legislation and anti-trafficking laws passed in 43 states, 103 human-trafficking convictions have resulted, Soodalter said.

Trafficking remains hidden, is largely unreported and difficult to identify. According to the 2009 Trafficking in Persons, or TIP, report, published by the U.S. Department of State, forced labor/involuntary servitude represents the majority of human-trafficking cases in the world. The co-author of Soodalter’s book,  Kevin Bales, wrote the original 156-page TIP report, titled “Trafficking Persons in the United States — A Report to the National Institute of Justice.”

“The whole thing is disserving and extending,” said retired UCF foreign language professor David Gurney. “It contributes to the antagonism from people in underdeveloped countries to Western civilizations or Western countries.”

In the 1850s, purchasing a slave ran roughly $1,200, the equivalent of around $40,000 in today’s money. The reality is purchasing a slave today costs as little as $100, which makes them affordable and disposable, Soodalter said.

A trafficking victim lives in fear of violence or the threat of violence daily, he said.

Shawn Cox, victim witness coordinator and licensed clinical social worker with the United States Attorney’s Office, advocates that trafficking is a crime of absolute power over someone. According to the report Cox co-authored, “Victims of Human Trafficking and Trauma,” the psychological consequences of a victim are similar to the consequences of severe or chronic child abuse or experiencing acts of terrorism.

"In case you thought slavery doesn’t touch you, guess again," Soodalter said. "Chances are, the clothes you wear, the food you eat, has been touched by slavery."

The good news is there have been some inroads made recently in the area of agricultural servitude, Soodalter said. When Taco Bell refused to stop buying produce picked by enslaved workers in an effort known as the "Ban the Bell" campaign, it set a precedent that several other companies, including McDonalds, A&W, Long John Silver’s, Pizza Hut, Whole Foods, Chipotle and Burger King, have followed, Soodalter said.

"The message is clear," Soodalter said. "Slavery and worker abuse will not be tolerated. Not here, not now, not ever."

Mark Freeman, public affairs coordinator for the Global Perspectives Office, said they are hoping to continue the series next spring since response has been incredible. Because of the series last spring, students on campus were so spurred into action they formed the unofficial student group “Students Against Slavery @ UCF,” Freeman said. “Students Against Slavery @ UCF” has a Facebook page, and Harry Coverston serves as the faculty advisor for the group.

"Spreading the word is the most important thing," said Frank Hegedus, a senior political science and international relations major. "There is only right now."

http://www.centralfloridafuture.com/abolitionist-historian-wraps-up-global-perspectives-series-1.2093273

New Writers of the Purple Sage, edited by Russell Martin

This anthology of “Contemporary Western Writing,” consisting of short stories, excerpts from novels, and essays, contains some good work, but I don’t like to read pieces of novels which, if they are novels I have already read, is repetitive, and if I haven’t, well, I’d rather read the whole novel.

The anthology starts with a poem by David Lee, who wrote some wonderful poems about pig farming, and has some other great pieces of writing, but the book as a whole doesn’t leave me with much. Although containing work by authors such as  Ron Carlson, Barbara Kingsolver. Thomas McGuane, and James Welch,  it is still a limited compilation of regional literatures.

And I always thought it a bit egoistic to edit an anthology and include your own work, as Russell Martin does here.

Grade: C-

Duel in the Sun by Niven Busch

This gritty western was first published in 1944, and this Popular Library and this 1947 4th printing was probably originally sold to someone who had seen the popular 1946 film starring Jennifer Jones and Gregory Peck.  Author Niven Busch is an author and screenwriter, he wrote the screenplay for The Postman Always Rings Twice, and Duel in the Sun is written with that in mind.

A whole cast of characters gets involved when the pretty lady comes to live out in the Wild West. Hijinks ensue, as they tend to do in situations such as this, and there’s romance, a bandit chase, a jail break, a trial, and lots of thundering hooves. Thoroughly enjoyable, albeit a little silly. Grade C+.

Having said that, I’m sitting here last night playing channel jockey because I’ve managed to have the most wicked case of insomnia on the fucking planet in the last four days, and have watched everything I’ve TIVO’d… pffft.  Anyway, I’m flipping through the channels and lo and behold, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN is on, which is one of my favorite movies, not because of the man candy, but because it’s really very well done, and it’s a poignant love story, and not being a homophobe, I can get totally behind anything that is a poignant love story no matter what, and the man candy is just gravy.  So I flip to the channel and being about as punchy as a one legged man in an ass kickin’ contest I start to reminisce about the truly fuckin’ spectacularly fucked up and funny shit I did to me ex-fucktard when he was around, in that last year, and I had nothin’ better to occupy my time with than thinking of truly spectacularly fucked up shit to do to him, because by this time I was waaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyy over it and him and wicked resentful that I had been the only responsible, adult in the relationship for the better part of who knows how long.   Anyway, this particular incident is really just a very well played misunderstanding (snort) but I thought it was hysterically amusing…

So, he leaves it to me to choose a movie, right around the time that Brokeback Mountain came out, and I of course wanted to go see this movie having read the short story.  In my defense, truly the fucktard, knowing me like he did, shoulda really known better than to leave the movie picking to me, at that point was probably not a wise move, but what can I tell ya’, stupid is as stupid does… so I buy the tickets online, and over dinner at the restaurant right before the movie the conversation plays out a little like this:

FUCKTARD:   So what are we seeing?

ME:   Well - WAIT FOR IT – we’re seein’ a western… (snort).

FUCKTARD:  Okay, cool.

ME:  Yeah, it should be (snort).

FUCKTARD:  Are you ready to go?

ME:  Yep.

FUCKTARD: Let’s go.

So, we get to the theater and as I expected and hoped there are enough people in line that the fact that a good portion of them are MY GAYS is not really obvious if you don’t know why or what you’re lookin’ for.

So, you’re probably thinking why is this funny?  Well, if you had known my ex-Fucktard, you’d know he was extremely homophobic, and if you know anything about Brokeback Mountain you know it’s rather explicit in certain scenes, although tastefully done by two amazing actors, who just happened to be straight and man candy, but I digress.  If you read up, you should get the joke about the movie being a western (snort) and the fact he had no idea what he was in for…

Anyway, we’re watching the movie, and the heated, whispered conversation goes something like this:

FUCKTARD:  What kind of movie did you say this was?

ME:  It’s a western (snort) – also, the entire row behind us just about had a baby when they heard that crack, and it was everything I could do to not fall over into the aisle rolling around laughin’, and then even more heated…

FUCKTARD:  This is not a western.

ME:  Do you NOT see the two cowboys on the screen doing the dirty (snort)?  DUH! (snort)

FUCKTARD:  (A noise that sounded something like someone had grabbed his junk and pulled the whole thing up over his forehead) No fucking way!! Fuck this shit, I’ll be in the lobby.

ROW BEHIND US OF VERY WELL DRESSED GAY YOUNG MEN:   (snort) (apoplectic laughter)  Snap, oh no he didn’t (snort) (apoplectic laughter)!

ME:  I was pretty much crying’ at this point I was laughin’ so hard…

Anyway, I thought we were all gonna stroke out… I LOVE MY GAYS…

Anyway, I finally composed myself after about 20 minutes or so, and started to collect my shit to leave, and one of the young men leans forward and the conversation goes something like this:

NICE GAY YOUNG MAN:   Oh, honey, that was too much, you’re absolutely fabulous and he’s sooooo not…

ME:  Well, thank you, I am fabulous and I’m pretty much done… enjoy the rest of the movie boys…

You know, I know it was a pretty awful thing to do, but in my defense, you really don’t know the back story and exactly why I was so pissed and resentful at that point, but suffice it to say I had spent the better part of the last 24 months of the relationship playing mother to his midlife crises that was manifesting itself in a second fuckin’ childhood, complete with long board shorts, van sneakers and dirty shirties (t-shirts with dirty sayings – I mean come on, you’re fucking 40 years old), add to that his wicked bad ADD which went in to warp speed (hormonal????) and the fact that I was convinced he was now suffering from bipolar, and you do the math what I was dealing with.   I took care of him as long as I could, to the very best of my ability, but even those most benevolent among us, has her limits, and he took advantage at every opportunity, pushed me right to the limit, and then pushed me over  – I was done…

Anyway, some people just can’t appreciate a good western…

• Title: Cowboy Cravings
• Author: Morgan Ashbury
• Type: Contemporary erotic romance
• Genre: Western; ménage;
• Sub-genre: Wounded dove from NYC finds cowboy love
• My Grade: B- (3.7*)
• Rating: NC-17 to x
• Length & price: 52,000 words – Short novel for $5.99
• Where Available: ebook available at Siren
• FTC Disclosure: ebook bought from publisher’s website

Here’s the thing with this m/f/m ménage, its sold as a Siren Ménage book and listed as ’sextreme’, but it doesn’t read like their usual ’sextreme’  book, which undoubtedly will disappoint some.  I thought Cowboy Cravings was well above average for character development, believability, plot, and overall writing quality for a contemporary ménage story, especially one from Siren, where sex scenes usually overwhelms the slight plots.  Others will find the book to mild for the ’sextreme’ rating that Siren gave it and be disappointed.

Annie Rutherford went from the home of her verbally abusive father to a marriage to a verbally abusive husband, Jim Rutherford.  Jim dies in a store burglary while she’s in the hospital recovering from a coma caused by his punching her, causing her to fall down the stairs resulting in a miscarriage and her inability to have children.  But his death set her free – and his unexpected insurance gave her the money she needed to go start over, as the owner of a small dry goods store in Branchton, Wyoming.  The book opens on the day of her first anniversary of arrival in Branchton.

Jessie Conrad and Grant Douglas have been friends their whole life.  When Jessie’s parents died in car accident, it was Grant’s parents who took him in and finished raising him as their own.  Now Grant and Jessie run the combined ranches of the Conrad and Douglas families as a single operation – and both have fallen in love with the shy Annie.  When neither was willing to back off, and unwilling to risk their friendship, they had decided to just be friends Annie.  That hasn’t worked for them, so after a lot of talk, they decide to do something they never did, share Annie – if they can convince her to give them a chance.

A year in Branchton has allowed Annie time to heal and begin gaining some self-confidence.  She’s just starting to really live, thanks in part to Jessie and Grant who have become good friends of hers.  She’s also just barely discovering her sexual self, hoping her late husbands claim that she was frigid was wrong.  She even made friends with Veronica, the sophisticated manager at the bank who looks and talks like she hates Branchton even though she transferred here from the NY home office.  Another New Yorker in town is Billy, the owner of the local repair shop that does everything from motorcycles to toasters.  Odd that three New Yorkers all ended up in tiny Branchton with months of each other.  Odder still, they all stayed.

Annie doesn’t realize that she’s about to become the epicenter of several kinds of action.  Jessie and Grant are ready to make their move to lay claim to her, Rick Rutherford, Annie’s violent brother-in-law, is let out of prison.  Three people are coming after Annie for something she doesn’t know she has just as she’s finally getting a chance at a little happiness.  Her very first horse ride with Grant and Jessie turns into an intriguing proposition she finds she wants to accept.  Fulfilling the desire of the three is interrupted – so is the second chance they have a few days later.  Grant and Jessie accept this with humor and grace, but are damn glad to finally get Annie where they want her – in bed with them.  While the lovers are tentatively feeling their way into this nontraditional romance, the people after Annie are rapidly losing patience and going after what they want.

Cowboy Cravings isn’t the typical Siren Ménage raunchy sexfest.  It is warm, rather gentle love story with a good dose of suspense, a sense of humor, and a little hot sex.  It has a well developed plot, although the storyline does a stutter step in unraveling the backstory details that can be annoying at times.  As a character, Annie is far more believable than the usual ‘wounded dove’.  Annie doesn’t suddenly become a whole different person.  Her pain and insecurities are still a part of her.  Neither does it troll the pathos of emotional turmoil.  The suspense is supplied by the secondary characters stories as they play out in the background and only involves the main characters directly at the end.  The writing is mature and, aside from the choppy historical backstory, well developed.  The ending is clever, but the final sex scene seemed more obligatory than natural.  Grant and Jessie are pretty much too good to be true nice guys, but overall, still believable enough to work.

At $5.99 for a short novel, is it worth it?  I’d say yes, barely, but qualify that with a reminder this is very much an atypical Siren Ménage book, so keep the style and content in mind.  The price should have been $5.50 tops.

For women who have been looking for a great look in western footwear, you might find it worth your time to check out Lucky Cowboy Boots for women.  These boots from Lucky Brand are practically “hot off the presses” and are already winning the hearts of fashion conscious women everywhere.

There are a couple of styles of boots for women from Lucky Brand that have a “cowboy boot” look and feel to them – here is a bit of info on each:

Chantel – This is an ankle cut boot with some serious style.  For women who like the look of a western ankle boot, this will likely be right up their alley.  It has studding embellishments on the shaft portion of the boot, around the seam areas and is available in Black, Dark Green or “Tobacco” shades.

Hilary – Although this boot is not necessarily pronounced in the collection as being a western boot, it has the unmistakable look of a “cowboy” boot with a slightly squared toe and western cut – but with some added features to set it apart from the crowd.  It is constructed of soft suede and has a slouchy upper with layered straps and a buckle around the ankle area.  This boot is versatile enough to go with just about anything – and is available in both a tall (just below the knee) and a mid-calf height version. 

All of the boots from Lucky Brand are well known for not only their stylish looks, but for their impressive quality construction for long-lasting wear.  If you are a “western” sort of a gal, you will likely love the Lucky Cowboy Boots for women – they are some seriously gorgeous footwear, following in the tradition of Lucky Brand apparel and accessories.

© Tonya Brisnehan

Tonya researches various “corners” of women’s fashion, and is a writer online.

Find a great selection with low, competitive pricing – compare prices on Lucky Cowboy Boots for women: Lucky Cowboy Boots – fun new resource @ Squidoo Shopping!

Wondering what to do during Thanksgiving weekend? Ready for some shopping but don’t really want to fight the Black Friday crowds? Why not come to the Palm Deserts Art Show?

I’ll be there with all of my favorite artwork, including a new piece of artwork especially for this show. Can’t say much about it because I would love for it to be a surprise, but I will say it has color in it. That in itself is HUGE!!! I don’t do color, and not sure I will continue with color, but I thought it would be challenging to do something so different that I would have something new and exciting to showcase.

If you’re in the area, come by and visit! I would love to meet you and show you my artwork face-to-face!!!

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Available versions:

HD Ready:720p (Super Quality)

Actors: Duvall Robert,Jones Tommy Lee,Glover Danny,Urich Robert,Forrest Frederic,Sweeney D.B.,Schroder Rick,Cooper Chris,Scott Timothy,Corbin Barry,Sanderson William,Tubb Barry,Adventure,Drama,Western,

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LONESOME DOVE: Is there a movie that follows Lonesome Dove?
I am aware of the prequel: Comanche Moon.

Is there a movie that follows LONESOME DOVE?

Streets of Laredo (1995)

it follows the adventures of Captain Woodrow F. Call as he tracks a Mexican bandit who is preying on the railroad.

| Oct 25, 2009