A New One to Add To The Top 20

[John Peterson]

Hey Friends,

For My new book on Virility I have a section on 'role models' and how important they are to us as we are growing up and defining our personalities and coming to grips with why what is right is right, and what it means to be a Man. Some people may think this is a joke. But I assure you it's not. I'm deadly serious. Role Models like Charles Atlas and John Wayne (among others when I was growing up) are critical in helping us to define our culture and the expectations we should have for ourselves. And because I believe that movies have been and will continue to be a source of "role Models" and inspiration for American boys as they mature and become men I think it's important that some of us leave a trail of what we believe to be worthwhile films, books, and men that have inspired us and have helped us in defining what it means to be a real man.

So for this section of the book I have compiled a list of what I believe are the "Top 20 Most Manly Films of All time." At least up to this point. Naturally, Spartacus is at the top of the list, as is Ben Hur, Casablanca, Papillon, The Magnificent Seven, and The Great Escape. But if you want to see a film that really celebrates American Manhood and makes no excuses for it, then I would recommend that each of you see Clint Eastwood's New Film "Gran Torino". Believe me, Clint has never been better. This is one of those rare films where a man is a man and makes NO apologies or excuses for it. That's why I added it to " The Top 20 Most Manly Films of All Time" . I hope each of you will see it. And I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

---John Peterson

P.S. And yes, how could 'Dirty Harry' not be on the list? Believe me, He's there.

[JoeJustice]

Looking forward to this film, John. It looks like a modern version of Death Wish, am I far off?

-Joe

[gs300tx]

I loved the movie Gran Torino. John what did you think about the ending?

[Aaron Hoot]

Great list I will have to watch Gran Torino. I have a question. Do any of you have any suggestions for some more good movies like this? We rent some movies every once in awhile and some of the ones that you mentioned are some of our favorites. I really like the Lonesome Dove series. You would help me out a lot with some suggestions because the kids think that I am a caveman because we don't have cable. I am not against cable it is just down here you get package deals and you don't have any kind of control over what comes with it even if you pay for the family package. Some of the stuff on the family packages here would be X rated in the states. Thanks for any suggestions!

Aaron

[gruntbrain]

Although I don't like the idea of having indiviiduals as role models, I cherish some of the principles that the individuals have displayed.
Clint's character in the Gran Torino's trailers reminded me of the one in Heatbreak Ridge incl. the grizzled, gruff voice . The Sarge in Heartbreak Ridge had admirable qualities but also had serious flaws & hence could not be a role model

[TimK]

I am really going out on a limb here, and agreeing with John, that Gran Torino is an excellent movie. Clint breaks any and all previous records for political incorrectness and even at 78 he does come off as a manly man.
Gran Torino standsout like a beacon against the pussification of American films.

tim

[tom]

Gran Torino was sold out the other day, so it will wait.

Two more that are all time hero movies for me are Cool Hand Luke with Paul Newman, and The Longest Yard, the first one, with Burt Reynolds.

Hmmm . . . two incarcerated men.

Oh well. They are cooler than cool.

Clint Eastwood is also a long-time favorite. He works out, he plays jazz, what else is there.

Tom

[JoeJustice]

Clint Eastwood is also a long-time favorite. He works out, he plays jazz, what else is there.


Shooting guns.

But it's cool cuz he does that too.

-Joe

[John Peterson]

Hey Tom,

Cool Hand Luke made the list as did Les Miserable (Jean Paul Belmondo version from 1995). So let's see that's 1)Spartacus, 2) Ben Hur, 3) The Great Escape,4) Papillon, 5) Cool Hand Luke, and 6) Les Miserable all of which are about men escaping prison and all of which are in the top 20 of the manliest movies of all time.

And TimK, I'm glad you chimed in on this. I agree wholeheartedly. I'm totally sick of the pussification of American men in films today. It's about time that we have a man that is a man and makes no apologies or excuses for being what he is. I appreciated seeing the fierce loyalty this man showed to those whom he befriended and protected.

And Joe, I would not really compare this film to Death Wish. This is one film that connects on multiple levels.

---John Peterson

[gruntbrain]

I'd be interested in finding out about Clint's health/ fitness regime. I wonder if he still follows Durk Pearson's supplement regime; Clint was the Mr Smith in Pearson's Life Extension book.

[Bill_Meyer]

Re : Clint's fitness/health program. I know for a fact that in the early 1960's
he worked out at Vince Gironda's gym. In the 70's and 80's he was a runner,
even put it in some of his movies. I read somewhere that while making Million Dollar
Baby he had a set of dipping bars on the set and used them daily.....in fact he said in the interview
that he held the cast record for reps. It would be interesting to know exactly what he
does now at 78 years of age.

Bill

[John Peterson]

Hey Bill,

I have no idea what Clint does for his training but I will say this, I have no doubt that Clint could kick some serious butt anytime that he would feel like it.

--John Peterson

[kenpopaul]

Wow just watched the trailer for Gran Torino, looks fantastic. Can't wait to watch it. Clint is the greatest!! Get's better with age I think.

[JoeJustice]

Here is an interview Clint did about his exercise routine. Some interesting stuff. Apparently he's a golf club owner himself and does a lot of golfing.

http://cms.ihrsa.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.viewPage&pageId=15698&nodeID=15

-Joe

[gruntbrain]

It's obvious from Joe's link that Clint has abandoned the Pearson/Shaw mega-dosing approach.

[Big Bear]

Hi Tom,

That is a great movie! I loved it! Just saw Gran Torino yesterday-WOW!

It truly is the best movie I have seen in a long,long time.So much depth and humor and redemption-WOW.Wasn't sure what to expect but it was powerfui!

peace,
jason

[b38]

I would add the Professionals with Woody Strode, Burt Lancaster, Lee Marvin, Robert Ryan. And The Magnificent Seven with Yul Brynner. Both are classics when it comes to working as a team.


B38.

[Bookman]

How about Daniel Craig as the new James Bond? Now that's a manly man!!

[Andy62]

Sean Connery as James Bond in From Russia With Love.

[GB]

Times change – right and wrong remain the same.

[Greg Newton]

There are so many good movies out there. Anything directed by John Ford I'd recommend. The Searchers with John Wayne is my favorite. John plays a hardcase who at the end of the movie redeems himself. There is a lot of racism towards Indians in the movie, but Ford being a historical purist, didn't sugarcoat cultures in conflict like people do today.

The Wind and the Lion where Sean Connery plays a Berber chieftan opposite Candice Bergman is another good movie with many great, great lines. "Oh great Rasuli, we have lost all!" "Sheriff, is there nothing in your existance that is worth losing all for?"

Last, a fairly modern movie I've grown to love for it's historical accuracy and it's storyline of a young man coming of age during the Missouri Border Wars is Toby McGuire's, Ride with the Devil.

[cliffa74]

I was thinking about this thread the other day:
What about Brave Heart? Come on!!

Also, To Kill A Mockingbird. Atticus Finch is definitely a fantastic male role model.


Side note: I ordered Sparticus and BenHur for myself for father's day. Never seen `em, but I am looking forward to watching them.

Cliff

[isorez]

Haven't posted for quite some time.....

I HOPE that Gladiator is on the list. Just a fantastic film throughout and on all levels.

A very overlooked film also...is Open Range with Kevin Costner and Robert Duvall.
What a good film.

Nice call on To Kill A Mockingbird.

[JoeJustice]

What about Sleepless in Seattle????!!!

-Joe

[Andy62]

"Within everyone of us is an evolutionary success mechanism that has been placed there by the creator to help us survive and succeed in an ever changing universe."

Alois P. Swoboda

[CharlesMartel]

Dude, a big thumbs up on Secondhand Lions, every boy should receive the "what it means to be a man" speech from Robert Duvall,

"We may pass on in the night, so, if you need something, you'll have to find it yourself."
"Or better yet, learn to do without."

[MikeNY]

You guys mentioned some great films, classics.

My favorite film of all time was Bladerunner with Harrison Ford, Sean Young, Rutger Hauer and Daryl Hanna; you can not go wrong with Film Noir Science Fiction. The Threepenny Opera a 1931 German Classic with limited sound for songs and the rest a silent film. All Quiet on the Western Front 1930 based on the book by Erich Maria Remarque. A recent comdey the Brothers Bloom http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HPXfmqIy-4

[Andy62]

" Eagles don't flock you have to find them one at a time"

Ross Perot

[J_W1978]

How about Dark of the Sun with Rod Taylor? If anyone on here has not seen it go and get a copy now.
A gritty action film. Rod is truly great in this and is pretty much the definition of mans man.

[jlee]

My First post.
John Wayne is a great role model in too many films. Besides those listed, Red River. Hatari, The Cowboys, The Quiet Man. The cavalry Triolgy. Different Ages, genres etc. He covered all the ages we were or will be as men. Gran Torino was great! Burt Lancaster in a little known film the Kentuckian, great as a father and man. And many more.

Joe

[Kevin Nickerson]

Sargent York -Gary Cooper

[gruntbrain]

Woody Allen - his biceps put mine to shame but mine put Mia Farrow's to shame