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

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

[John Carey]

A film that came and went in 2003 deserves another viewing if you saw it then and if you missed it you might pick it up for a family viewing. The film “Master and Commander” with Russell Crowe gives new insight into the at-sea culture of 1805 Britain; and sadly, speaks volumes about the degenerated world we occupy in 21st century America. “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World” strikes viewers as an old-fashioned sea saga that few thought Hollywood could still produce. This is not just a war movie but a lesson in leadership, teamwork and character.

Most movies today offer us pabulum and fantasy. They don’t encourage us to greater good but instead emphasize the darker side of human conduct. Drug abuse, homosexuality and fantasy often fill the screen. Computer graphics so sophisticated they remove us from reality have enthralled Hollywood and thrilled viewers. Many of our “leading men” are pretty-boy weak sisters who may have a certain appeal to 14-year-old girls but have none of the raw manliness and power of John Wayne. Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Keanu Reeves come to mind, but they are not alone.

It seems Hollywood and television producers want us to worship the gay, lighthearted and without-depth in our culture today. Powerful men are largely taboo.

[sergeantdave]

"John Wayne was a great institution and person, but not much of an actor."

I disagree with you. Wayne was masterful at delivering the quip at the right moment.

I don't recall the movie, but he and Rock Hudson rode out on horseback to parlay with a gang of villians about to attack a wagon train.

They're talking, the parlay isn't going well so Wayne pulls out his revolver and shoots the bad guy. They ride back with the gang right behind them shooting at the wagon train.

All these bandits are attacking and this woman is standing there holding a rifle. She asks why he shot the bad guy. He says: "Well, ma'am, we just ran out of things to talk about."

Maybe I just like well-delivered quips.

[metesky]

When you're excerpting your own blog, sir, shouldn't you post it under Bloggers and personal and not news?

[B-Chan]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Master and Commander was the best Star Trek movie since The Wrath of Khan.

[zook]

I teach a course at Penn State called "Leadership Studies in Popular Film." I haven't seen (all of) Master and Commander, but here's a link to one of my course pages that includes a partial list of the films I've used in class:

http:\\www.personal.psu.edu\rcs8\filmlist.htm

[zook]

oops: make that

http://www.personal.psu.edu/rcs8/filmlist.htm

[Fairview]

I don't WANT John Wayne. I want THIS. And I don't care whether he passes the "can he drag a woman by the hair across Ireland" test. Leave my Keanu alone.

You surprise me. I thought it was fairly well established that Keanu was a gay blade. You want a gay? Very well. . .

[Darnright]

>Pictures, please. Any picture of Russell Crowe would suffice...<

Ok, he may be a colossal jerk, but he's an attractive jerk.

[Joe 6-pack]

There was something about Bogie's screen presence that few if, any ever came close to. In my hometown in PA, there's an old WWII-era theater buidling, the upper floors of which, have always been offices, but the ground floor theater was essentially sealed when the plexes appeared at the malls. When I was in High School, a local charity held a fundraiser in the theater and I was able to see "Casablanca on a big screen in a real movie house, packed from basement to balcony.

After all the establishing scenes, when the camera first went to Bogart, seated at his desk in that immaculate white dinner jacket, his aura filled not only the screen, but the entire theater. Every female in the place, regardless of age, let out an audible gasp, and at that moment I thought to myself, "I want what he's got."

[Fairview]

All is not lost. There is a Swedish ship that sails out of Baltimore and I believe you can crew her sometimes. There is also a replica of Cook's vessel that comes to America sometimes and permits people to crew on her. There are a few other opportunities; google can help.

[jalisco555]

Thanks. I'll do that.

[B-Chan]

I disagree. The character Wayne portrayed in Liberty Valance was neither arrogant nor a jerk. Don't forget the scene in which the bartender at the local saloon refuses to serve Wayne's (Negro) servant Pompey a drink, and Wayne's character angrily confronts him by saying, "If he doesn't drink here, neither do I."

[Mad Dawgg]

"LOL, practice makes perfect. Washington did that a lot. But it turned out OK in the end. "

A couple of hundred years later a guy by the name of Muhamed Ali gave that maneuver/tactic a name: "Rope-a-Dope" ;-)

[sgtbono2002]

That movie was called the Defeated I think. Its one of the only two John Wayne movies I dont like. Cant stand to see Rock Hudson trying to act like a man when he was a Poofer.

The other movie I dont like is True Grit. The acting of Glen Campbell was so bad it destroyed the whole film. Actually it wasn acting , he just read some lines and read them badly. It was a disgrace that Wayne got an Oscar for that movie when he made so many in which he was deserving.
His last movie the Shootist was one of the best he ever made and he knew it was his last when he was making it. It took courage to make that movie when it portrayed a dying man and he was dying himself.

John Wayne made many movies where he had to carry the incompetence of actors who couldnt act. He did a good job in them all , but those particular movies I couldnt overlook the incompetence of those acting with him.

[Fairview]

Ok, [Crowe} may be a colossal jerk, but he's an attractive jerk.

But he usually plays men who are the opposite of jerks: men of honor, pride, love, and devotion to duty. His great screen successes have come from portraying real heroes. You'd think they would inspire a person to better behavior, as seeing them briefly on the screen inspires and instructs us. But no.

We are all in love with the characters Crowe portrays, not Crowe himself, who seems to be a bumbling fool.

Meanwhile I'm going to ask Mr. Fairview if he will get his hair cut like Maximus's and grow a little beard like that. Oh, and buy some armor.

[Cheburashka]

Really, they do have "fake teeth" that can give you that "British Born and Bred" look.

And you would be an extra. Pehaps they'd just tell you to keep your mouth shut at all times.

[uglybiker]

I'll still always see him travelling through time in a phone booth looking for "So-crates".

[A_perfect_lady]

You surprise me. I thought it was fairly well established that Keanu was a gay blade. You want a gay? Very well. . .

Let's see... he wears the same ratty old shoes until they have to be held together with tape, he can't be pried away from his Harley collection, and he has horrid taste in music. He sounds like a straight guy to me.

[WhiteGuy]

Most movies today offer us pabulum and fantasy.

I guess this guy didn't see Jackass - Number Two

[dfwgator]

Probably my favorite movie made this decade so far. Say what you will about Russell Crowe, but he's an excellent actor.

[jalisco555]

And you would be an extra. Pehaps they'd just tell you to keep your mouth shut at all times.

Well, I did play an Egyptian soldier in a production of the opera Aida once so I guess this might work. Of course, no director in his right mind would give me a speaking role.