Posted on 08/17/2005 7:29:42 PM PDT by Libloather
Inside the Beltway
By John McCaslin
August 17, 2005
B-grade Gipper
We're here to report a rather bizarre, if not disturbing incident combining Hollywood and Washington, specifically this month's special film-industry screening of "The Killers," a 1964 movie starring Ronald Reagan in his final big-screen role.
On hand in Hollywood for the Aug. 4 event was a prestigious crowd of actors, actresses, writers, reviewers, scholars, researchers and film preservationists -- including "L.A. Confidential" director Curtis Hanson -- that actually erupted in cheers when Mr. Reagan "the actor" was shot and killed.
Absent the applause, it was already an eerie scene to relive, considering Mr. Reagan, later as president, was shot and nearly killed in 1981 by John Hinckley Jr.
But that's not all. The audience also broke into "malicious cheers," one man in attendance tells Inside the Beltway, when Mr. Reagan was threatened at gunpoint and pushed out of a speeding car.
Then again, was it any surprise? Consider that when the words "Also Starring Ronald Reagan" appeared on the screen during the opening credits, many in the audience booed. (There were supporters of Mr. Reagan in the crowd, given some scattered applause.)
The recent screening was part of an industry retrospective salute to director Don Siegel, who made two pictures with Mr. Reagan. The event at which the jeering took place was sponsored by the UCLA Film and Television Archive and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Mr. Hanson, who is chairman of the UCLA Film and Television Archive, introduced the film and then took a seat in the audience. Afterward, he led a discussion about the movie, joined by actor Clu Gulager, who also appeared in the film.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
"So anyway, they show a movie, 1964, starring Ronald Reagan, called The Killers. The audience of Hollywood scholars, reviewers, actors, actresses, writers and so forth, film preservationists cheer when Reagan is shot on screen. Now, this is not the kooks, the squatters in the ditch at Crawford, Texas. This is not MoveOn.org. Or is it? That's right, what would be the difference? Because these are the people who have assumed the mantle of mainstream Democrats. These are the people that comprise the Democrat base. And since this is a Washington Times story, I don't know how many of the left will hear about this. I wanted to make sure that you all did, because it's just classic. I mean, here we have all of these people who for the longest time have told us they're the ones with the big hearts, they're the ones with the compassion, they're the ones that care about the killing of innocent people and so forth. Here is a man who was shot as president, and they laugh at a 1964 movie when he is shot and killed. They laugh and they cheer. So that's why I ask if these people have any soul left. I guess it's tough to have soul when you're losing and losing big."
Duplicate thread.
Armada Room Ping
I had intended for the inaugural Armada Thread to be a call for reflections on the Gipper. This thread made me change plans and ask for your responses to this.
Personally, I am sickened.
I no longer support Hollwood.
Absolutely disgusting
Well, that's bad, but it's not as bad as what I do. One of the few saving graces of movies is being able to cheer the death of a bad guy. When it happens, I tend to yell out my favorite rhyme: (bleep) that Democrat!
No true Conservative should support Hollywood in any way shape or form. I know people will say lighten up but at some point any rational person must see them for what they are.
" Now, this is not the kooks, the squatters in the ditch at Crawford, Texas. This is not MoveOn.org. Or is it? "
Yes it is. The left, Hollywood, the so called MSM, the so called anti-war crowd, the so called pro peace sychophants and the Islamofascists are all of a piece and all birds of a feather.
America and Western civilization is fighting for it's life against these fascists, terrorists and traitors. There's a war going on for the future of the planet. It's serious.
If this is the film I think it is, Ronald Reagan was playing a bad guy... a really bad guy... and him getting shot is the climax of the movie.
No surprise these people who screech about wanting peace and tolerance are really full of hate for people on the right.
I suspect if President Reagan were here he would just laugh off the reaction of the people who jeered him. Like President Bush, he was very thick skinned and never let his enemies get to him. I think GWB needs to start hitting back harder though.
Yeah, but I laugh extra hard when I see OJ get beaten up in the Naked Gun movies.
Reagan was one of the largest souls to ever walk this earth. When people cheer his suffering (either on screen, during the assassination attempt, or during his actual death), I'm sure it had no effect on him.
I read that he wanted to meet with his assassin Hinckley, not to chastise him, but to forgive him.
Not that any of this excuses these Hollywood snots for laughing at him. None of them are could shine his boots.
And tio think I almost felt bad for pirating movies.
/25 gigs of crap available
Is that the movie with John Casavetes?
Sounds like using a movie scene out-of-context for gratuitous pandering effect....
One of the highlights of my life was shaking Ronald Reagan's hand when he was campaigning for President. God Bless his legacy!
And protect us from a certain other wannabe legacy!
It's things like this why I don't go to movies, I don't rent movies, and I stopped buying movies unless they come second-hand (i.e. no money goes to Hollywood). I've had it with them. I record them from cable and burn to DVD (I'm not at the stage of cancelling cable, but this gives them pennies on the dollar compared to anything else). I have a dream (grin) -- one day their precious studios will begin to file Chapter 11, and I'll be there cheering.
Reagan shaped my young mind and explained why conservatism works. Even as a kid, I could see that libs like Mondale had nothing new or dynamic to offer. Also, I rememer the Carter years - dismal, depressing, and lacking in drive. Reagn took the reins and reinvigorated the country. My childhood friends and I gave to Reagan the status of a superhero; he was, to us, the real Captain America.
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