BACK

WESTERN RELATED PROJECTS CURRENTLY IN PRODUCTION

I add information as it becomes available

If you're aware of an update, let me know and I'll add or will track down and confirm.

RIN TIN TIN HEADED BACK TO THE SILVER SCREEN

Sept. 04 -- According to Daily Varitey, the legendary canine's real-life story will become a feature film produced by Randall Emmett and George Furta, who acquired the rights from James Tierney and Kirk Hallam.

The original puppy was rescued from a German trench next to the ruins of a bombed-out kennel during World War 1 by American soldier Lee Duncan, who trained him and took him to Hollywood.  The German shepherd grew up to become Rin Tin Tin, star of 22 films.  The dog not only saved humans in his films, but the canine also saved Warner Bros. in the 1920's with his boxoffice draw.  "Without him, the studio would have gone down," said Steve Leggett, staff coordinator for the National Film Preservation Board.  Rin Tin Tin joined other film industry icons such as Charlton Heston, Elvis Presley and Clint Eastwood in 2004 when the animal actor was selected for the National Film Registry. The Registry lists films that are important to the culture of the country. 

Off spring of the canine star went on to appear in numerous movies and TV series over an 80-year span.

FLICKA COMES GALLOPING BACK TOO !

Oct. '04 - The Hollywood Reporter published that Mary O'Hara's classic novel, My Friend Flicka is making a comeback of sorts.  20th's indie division, Fox 2000, will saddled up the Goose Bar Ranch for filmmaker Michael Mayer with a spring production start in New Zealand with a modern theme. 

The book centers on a determined teenage girl whose father gives her the horse of her dreams and is set against the backdrop of a working ranch in the American West at the turn of the twentieth century.  It was adapted for the big screen in 1943 with a young Roddy McDowall playing the wild horse's friend instead of a girl. It also had a two-year run as a television series starting in 1956.  The half-hour Western was the first color filmed series from 20th Century-Fox and starred Johnny Washbrook as Ken McLaughlin and Gene Evans as the boy's father.  The equine star was played by an Arabian sorrel named Wahama.

Old Men Back in the Saddle

Dec. '04 -- It was announced in The Hollywood Reporter that "All the Pretty Horses" author Cormac McCarthy's latest novel, "No Country for Old Men" will be headed to the big screen via prolific producer Scott Rudin.

"Old Men," a noir thriller set in West Texas, tells the blood-soaked tale of a man on the run with a suitcase full of money being pursued by a number of individuals.  The book is scheduled to hit the shelves in August of 2005.