Rockets' Red Glare: Space Race Classics

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(Courtesy: moma.org)

Remember the space race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.?  Remember Sputnik, the U.S. Mercury astronauts and "The Right Stuff?"

In "Rockets Red Glare:  Space Race Classics," a  presentation enhanced with PowerPoint images and film clips and lasting a little over an hour, we'll focus on movies that reflected a generation or two of movies dreaming big and looking skyward.

 

Expect us to explore films like "October Sky," "Apollo 13" and an oddball (but wonderful) entry titled "The Astronaut Farmer" among others.

 

For availability and speaking fees, call 214-364-7364 or email lrratliff@verizon.net.

Marion or The Duke: It's all John Wayne

John Wayne about to hitch a ride to fame as The Ringo Kid in "Stagecoach" (1939).

So what's your favorite Marion Robert Morrison movie?

We're talking the late, great "everyman" movie star John Wayne, of course.

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance starring The Duke, Jimmy Stewart, Vera Miles and Lee Marvin as the title character is my favorite, Pilgrim.   That heartfelt-yet-hard hitting Western of love, unrequited and otherwise, giant pan-fried steaks and Marvin as quite possibly one of the Top 5 big screen baddies of all time, only edges out True Grit by an eyepatch or two.