Posted by Mike Jackson on August 15, 2003
PatrickI just returned from watching the new Costner movie "Open Range". I really enjoyed the movie and would suggest everyone go see it. The movie studio did a great job on the signs in the old west town. They resembled many of the signs I have seen in historic photos of western towns...not great lettering technique but it fit the times.
There were quite a few window signs and most of the buildings had some sort of lettering.
Have fun!
Mike Jackson
Don CoplenI also saw Open Range last night. The signs where cool as well as all the "wavy" glass in the buildings. The camera took excellent advantage of shooting thru these distorted glass panes as well as using them to reflect buildings across the street. Very cool!! Loved the dry brush / faded signs on the rough wooden buildings. The only sign that distracted me in the movie was the sandblasted redwood sign to the right of the doctor's door. I could'nt help but see it raw, in a sandblast cabinet stenciled with Buttercut! Otherwise I enjoyed myself and offered to see it again with my friends. The gun fights were impressive as well. They were portrayed more realistically to the usual Hollywood films. I read that they occurred at much closer range as
the accuracy of the weapons were not all that great, probably why they employed the scatter guns.
So far, Tombstone is still my favorite, loved Val Kilmer.
Pat
BobI just got back from seeing the movie, too. I had seen this thread but didn't read any of the posts until after watching....I wanted to be surprised by the cool signs I guessed this thread was about.
And...that sandblasted sign sure did stand out like a sore thumb. I suppose they just sat the boards out in the desert and waited for a good sandstorm?
Though I agree there was some nice signwork, and maybe a little rough like Mike suggested...they still seemed too refined for an old west town. More observation than complaint, because I enjoyed the movie.
Mike JacksonHey Patrick, "I'm your Huckelberry "!
It's my favorite also, great sign work.
Look at the gun fight scene at OK corral, right above the Cowboy's head it says, Sign Company.
Bob
Hi Patrick,
I was a little hesitant to make a post about a movie here, but the signs were an important element in the character of the town and worth mentioning.
I offered to take my wife to see the show anytime she wanted, so I will probably get to take a second look at the Doctor's sign. I didn't catch any grains in the background. I thought it was just a well done sign, intended for a professional service. It had a raised frame border, but I thought the background was flat. It was in evening shade or early morning light almost every time we see it, so it is hard to say for certain.
I kept an eye out for letterstyles that might not have been appropriate for the times, but it appears the art director did his job well. I also noticed the wavy glass. They used it well, too. A lot of the movie was shot early in the morning or late in the evening for some really dramatic scenery and lighting. Thumbs up here.
Mike Jackson
Danny Baronian
Mike,
Did you take the family, and did they enjoy the signs as much as you did?
Returning home from a trip to Disney World one year, I overheard my daughter say I was taking more pictures of the signs than of them.
Was the movie good, or was it just the signs that got your attention?
Mike Jackson
No, not just the signs, the movie was really good. It is supposed to rival the best Western movies. Duvall and Costner have a great relationship, bordering on getting on each others nerves, causing quite a few laughs throughout the movie. They reminded me a bit of the chemistry between Redfor and Newman in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
Go see it!
Mike
Kimberly Zanetti
Bob"Returning home from a trip to Disney World one year, I overheard my daughter say I was taking more pictures of the signs than of them."
Danny,
That's what I remember most about going to DisneyWorld when I was young...my father drove us NUTS - all he did was take pictures of the signs.
When I went to Disneyland this past April with my family, I caught myself doing the same thing. I looked at my husband and said - "0h, sh*t, I've turned into my father!"
Kimberly,
You say that like thats a bad thing!!!! lol Bob
Denver Chapter of the Letterheads