Leadership Ideas from a Movie: You’ll Never Guess Which One

Peace and Freedom ^ | October 16, 2006 | John E. Carey

[Dixie Yooper]

Several of John Wayne's lines are legendary, but written and directed by others. My favorite was in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, "You're teaching her to read and write, so give her something to read and write about". Aside from great lines in movies, his acting was one dimensional. Very similar to Keanu Reeves who also gets great lines in movies that are fun to watch.

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

John Wayne had a presence that was special. I disagree about the "arrogance." As a person, Wayne was not an arrogant as-----. My deceased Mother-in-Law worked in Tuscon, AZ on a couple of movies that included John Wayne. She got to know John very well. She was a cook and he treated her very well. She thought Wayne was as down to earth as they come.

[Alkhin]

Western values and Courage Bump!

[Alkhin]

Western values and Courage Bump!

[blau993]

I read the whole Aubrey/Maturin series years ago and absolutely loved them. Then, two years ago, I decided to give my mother, who is in her 80s and suffers from macular degeneration, one of the A/M books in "books on tape" format. She is a great reader, and I thought she'd love it. However, just to be sure, I decided to re-read "Master and Commander" and of course wound up re-reading the whole series. BTW, my mother loved the books and has "read" on tape about half the series.

[dighton]

And I don't care whether he passes the "can he drag a woman by the hair across Ireland" test.

Of course they did live happily ever after.

“The subject of endless speculation, according to O’Hara, only Wayne, Ford and herself know what she whispered.  Ford and Wayne are both deceased, and O’Hara says she’s not telling.”

[Alkhin]

Were those the audio books by Patrick Tull? I SO WANT those, but my measly budget never quite seems to get there...I have requested at least one audio-book each Christmas but everyone acts like they dont know what to get me. I bought the audio for my FIL, because he is a Korean War Marine, thinking he would enjoy it, but I havent heard much from him about it. Have learned being a POB fan is a lonely thing indeed, so I always get excited when someone brings the subject up!

"The lesser of two weevils!"

[blau993]

I think Tull narrated some of the earlier ones. Most of the later ones were narrated by Simon Vance.

Try your local library. Although I gave some of them to my mother as Christmas presents, she has gotten most of those she has read at the library. I think she is their best customer for books on tape and CD.

[blau993]

One last thought. If you liked O'Brian so much, you would probably also like Richard Woodman's Nathaniel Drinkwater series. Woodman is an elegant writer, and while Drinkwater is a darker character than Jack Aubrey, the books really work. They lack the Jane Austen country life aspect of the POB books and some (not all) of the social commentary on early 19th century English life, but the "at sea" portions and the naval battles rank right up there. The first in the series is "Eye of the Fleet."

[jmcenanly]

"the world is a dangerous and tough place" You bet it is. You bet it is. Literally. You bet your survival and that of your children on your ability to comprehend this basic fact. Do not trust your security, that of your family, or that of your nation to those who do not understand just how dangerous and tough the world is. It is all too easy to forget from the comfort of one's soft bed, well stocked kitchen, luxurious movie theaters, or lavish cocktail parties. Those lounging in the baths of the decadent Leftist enclaves of America are having fun, no doubt, but they are deep in the delusion that, through their example, they can convert the world from a dangerous and tough place into one that is safe and gentle, where everyone accepts their ideals, where the fun of decadence will eradicate the danger and toughness of the world. Such people are the greatest danger of all in a dangerous and tough world. It is such decadence that will surrender the safety and gentleness that is also a part of the world to the dangerous and tough.

I remember that one of the powder monkeys, 10 year-old boys who carried the shot and gunpowder onto the gun-decks, during the course of the film lost an arm, witnessed a junior officer commit suicide, and was generally in the thick of things during battles. the only form of 'grief counseling' he got was when Capitan Aubrey showed him a book about Admiral Horatio Nelson, who had also lost an arm at an early age. That and assisting Doctor Maturin in reconnaissance of one of the Galapagos islands

[Alkhin]

No that wasnt the Powder Monkey - the character of Blakeney was not only a Lord, but an officer in the Royal Navy - remember that Jack Aubrey gave Blakeney (played by Max Pirkis) the command of the Surprise when they attacked the Acheron in the final battle.

[Ciexyz]

...he may be a colossal jerk

Sigh. Please understand that Russell is only a human being, albeit flawed, and he still has many good points. I'll forgive him his mistakes, since he's trying hard to improve his deficiencies and move on.

[Ciexyz]

Here's hoping that Ioan Gruffudd and A&E film a fourth installment of the Hornblower saga. (Not holding my breath, since A&E seems more concerned with buying reruns of The Sopranos than developing new programming.)

[Ciexyz]

Ah yes, that was a cute little leer, wasn't it?! :-)

[jalisco555]

Here's hoping that Ioan Gruffudd and A&E film a fourth installment of the Hornblower saga.

I'll second that sentiment.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

And I don't care whether he passes the "can he drag a woman by the hair across Ireland" test.

My favourite bit from The Quiet Man:

While Wayne was dragging O'Hara across Ireland, an old woman comes up and says; "Here's a good stick to beat the lovely lady!"

:-P

Ireland Ping...

[SuziQ]

There is a whole series of "Jack Aubry and "Stephen Maturin" books, so there is a lot of material from which to choose to do another movie. I loved the movie, Master and Commander. The Jack Aubry books are, IMO, the naval equivalent of Bernard Cornell's "Richard Sharpe" books, about the British Army in Europe during the Napoleanic Wars.

[BeHoldAPaleHorse]

My niece is a sailor on the Reagan; she raved to me about this movie, so I saw it. It's outstanding--I really got the feel of being on a Royal Navy man-o'-war.

[najida]

I like him because he likes older chicks. :)

[SuziQ]

I read an article abou Keanu recently. He actually seemed like a pretty grounded young man who's dealt with some tragedy in his life, but doesn't seem to have gone off the deep end. I like his movies; he may not be the best actor in the world, but he's not the worst either. I really enjoyed his movie, Constantine.