I go to Blockbuster to get a John Wayne picture. Any John Wayne picture. Their set-up SUCKS. They no longer put the classics in their own section – they mix them in – which, in theory, is cool – but it does make it hard to find things. Because … you have to get into the Blockbuster mindset in order to figure out what THEY think a certain movie is. Oh, so they think THIS is a drama … ooooookay. <\/p>\n
They need to have a Western section. Sorry. I know they’re action films, but they’re WESTERNS. THEY ARE THEIR OWN GENRE.<\/p>\n
But here’s what was beautiful (although frustrating for me, in my impatient state):<\/p>\n
EVERY John Wayne movie was out. They had quite a few films in stock – but ALL of them were rented.<\/p>\n
I went to find Stagecoach<\/i>. Already out. Okay. Let’s try Rio Bravo<\/i>. Out. Hmmm. Plan C. Went to go find The Searchers<\/i>. Out. Went to go find Man who shot Liberty Valance<\/i>. Out. Sands of Iwo Jima<\/i>. Out. She wore a yellow ribbon<\/i>. Out. Quiet Man<\/i>. Out. True Grit<\/i>. Out.<\/p>\n
GodDAMMIT. I was so KEEN on seeing John Wayne that I stood there, in the grimy blue-carpeted space of my local Blockbuster, frustrated, feeling completely helpless. For a moment. I thought: “But … but … I want to see him NOW …”<\/p>\n
And then in the next second, another feeling washed over me – a deeper realization of what had just happened … and how it completely validated the sensations that Peter Bogdonavich’s gorgeous essay had awoken in me … not only that, but it confirmed the points Bogdonavich had made:<\/p>\n
Every John Wayne film in that store was rented.<\/p>\n
It hit me again.<\/p>\n
Every John Wayne film in that store was rented.<\/p>\n
Yeah, they have 50 copies of Herbie the Love Bug Unplugged<\/i>, yeah, they have 800 copies of Troy <\/i> placed right by the door because THAT IS WHAT THE PUBLIC WANTS … and that’s fine …<\/p>\n
but every John Wayne film in that store was rented.<\/p>\n
I felt this sweep of emotion go over me … overpowering really … my throat clogged up … and standing there, in that glaringly-lit inartistic horribly set-up Blockbuster: I felt that actor’s enduring greatness all around me.<\/p>\n
They just don’t make ’em like that anymore.<\/p>\n
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I go to Blockbuster to get a John Wayne picture. Any John Wayne picture. Their set-up SUCKS. They no longer put the classics in their own section – they mix them in – which, in theory, is cool – but … Continue reading