As another Lame Cherry exclusive in matter anti matter.
I just finished watching the most wonderful performance of John Carradine, and will admit that I have never been a fan of his over the top theatrics, such as in The Man who shot Liberty Valance.
In that though, I have always enjoyed the performances of his sons in David, Keith and Robert. I consider Robert the best actor of the entire Carradine family group, and have always wanted to have the money to do a movie which would feature this gifted actor's abilities. Too many people think of him as Revenge of the Nerds which was a hard image to create, but if you ever watched him on the NBC cop show, Law and Order, he appeared there in all his abilities.
John Carradine's best performance was on ABC's Kung Fu, which his son David starred in. The episode was Blood Brother, and Robert actually is featured along with his father, and Keith plays a young David.
The writing is wonderful and the directing as perfect. Most do not know that John was a trained sculptor who apprenticed with the man who carved Abraham Lincoln. He went to Hollywood and was fired by the studios for his artwork, but hired back for his baritone voice in voice overs.
That is what is unique about Blood Brothers, in the character that plays David's Grandfather is someone who sculpts tombstones. It was a nice touch as much of the cinematography melding John as his Grandfather in China, in the blind priest and John plays a preacher.
Kung Fu was lost on so many in it's intricacies as there was more going on in that series than just action. I can see why John Carradine was lured out to perform with his sons, as the writing was superb. The one scene which is epic is Carradine was blinded, crucified by Indians while after gold to build a church, with his eyes sown open, so he taps on the picket fence with a stick to find his way, while the grandfather is tapping on the tombstone carving it. You simply do not see this kind of directing in television or movies of that ear or anymore.
John Carradine died in Milan, after completing the steps of that city. His son David was there, reading Shakespeare to him when he died, David closed his father's eyes, and noted it is not as easy as they show in the movies.
I have always wanted to direct a movie, and studied the techniques, not of cinema creators, but what impressed me more in the directors of successful series like Hogan's Heroes, Star Trek, Simon and Simon, and then discovering the work in this episode of Kung Fu which surpassed all the snobs like Speilberg, Opie Taylor and whatever who were never inspired and only cookie cutter overlaying what geniuses like Sam Peckinpah would create, like the enveloping and encompassing work of Mel Gibson.
George Sherman in Big Jake created the Mount Everest of introductions to the biggest star of movies ever in John Wayne. Harry Julian Fink did the screenplay on that movie, and he ties into Richard Boone, who also starred with Wayne, and Fink would write Have Gun Will Travel which Boone starred in, and was a series which produced the most memorable television and casts for a generation.
I get sidetracked, but when these professional have the opportunity to create, they produce a force which picks the soul up, 50 years later, and still carries it on a wind of inspiration.
It really does not matter what the movie or series is, if I see the Carradine's featured, I will stop and watch it, whether it was Keith in Dexter, Robert in Law and Order or David in Kung Fu.
Nuff Said
agtG
