Western Movie Wit & Wisdom: A Book Review

For the past few days I and my husband have been visiting friends in Kerrville, Texas, about 200 miles southwest of our home in Fort Worth. With a population of around 21,000, Kerrville is a jewel set in the heart of the beautiful Texas hill country. It’s home to a number of retirees in search of a warm climate, including our transplanted Minnesota friends.

Guadalupe River dam in Kerrville Shriners Park 

Pretty in pink along river bank; Photos courtesy of Chuck Russell

Kerrville and neighboring Ingram boast three playhouses, my favorite used book store, “Books to Share” and the Museum of Western Art. Yesterday, we spent a couple hours viewing the museum’s fabulous collection of paintings, prints, bronzes and a delightful children’s exhibit. I also found a book I simply had to add to my personal library. Today, I'll share a few quotes from:

Authored by Jim Kane, a longtime lover of the western movie genre, this book offers over “2,000 quotations from more than 1,100 western movies ranging from the 1920s to present-day films. In addition to traditional movies, it includes silent films (via title cards), serials, miniseries, and even a few cowboy cartoons.” ~~quoted from dust jacket, front flap

Arranged in alphabetical order by topic, the quotations deal with every topic under the sun. Here are a few examples.

ACCIDENTS

Gus: It’s an accident she’s even on this trip!

Clara: Well, I never noticed you having accidents with ulgy girl.
Gus McCrae played by Robert Duvall and Clara Allen played by Angelica Huston in Lonesome Dove (1989)

DANCING

Captain: The lady and I were trying to dance.
Alejandro: Your were trying. She was succeeding.
Captain Harrison Love played by Matt Letscher and Alejandro Murrieta played by Antonio Banderas in The Mask of Zorro (1998)

DRINKING

You're not going to solve anything by turning yourself into a whiskey bottle.
Dr. Jonathan Mark played by Walter Brennen in Singing Guns (1950)

FLOWERS

Calem: And how is the flower of the west this morning?
Molly: Gone to seed.
Calem Ware played by Randolph Scott and Molly Higgins played by Ruth Donnelly in   A Lawless Street (1955)

GRIM REAPER

Cornelius: I could see death looking right at me, the Grim Reaper staring me right in the face.
Veronica: My, it must have been pretty horrible for both of you.
Cornelius J. Courtney played by Jimmy Durante and Veronica Whipple played by Barbara Jo Allen in Melody Ranch (1940)

GUNS

God may have created man but Sam Colt made him equal.
Davis Healy played by Bruce Boxleitner in Gunsmoke: One Man's Justice (1994)

IMITATION

That was a one-hundred-percent genuine imitation.
Gabby Whitaker played by George "Gabby" Hayes in Don't Fence Me In (1945)

LAND

Ramona: You speak of the earth as if it were a woman.
Alessandro: Well, isn't it always a woman who gives life?
Ramona played by Loretta Young and Alessandro played by Don Ameche in Ramona (1936)

Wherever they get to, all good stories begin and end in the same place. and that's the heart of a man or a woman.
Narration by Wilford Brimley in Last of the Dogmen (1995)

That pretty much captures the spirit of Western Movie Wit & Wisdom. I highly recommend this wonderful collection of movie quotes! For any western lover they will bring back memories of great movies and television series.

http://www.amazon.com/Western-Movie-Wit-Wisdom-Kane/dp/1931721971