Questions about this movie...

I have never heared Dennehy, claiming to be a combat vet. Maybe that person who told you this is confusing it with Dennehy's character in First Blood, in which in the novel was a Korean War veteran, but is not depicted that way in the film.

With Paden, I always see him as a confused character, he doesn't know what he wants in life, and doesn't know until the very end. And if you notice he is really lost from the beginning of the film, and has to slowly recollect himself. And since Cobb and Paden shared a past together, and notices he and Stella are getting along, he uses her to keep Paden in his place. He threatens to hurt her if Paden get's involved in the scuffle. And I think Cobb is kind of afraid of Paden in a way, that he may not be as fast as Paden is. And when Paden kills Cobb, you can kind of see a sigh of relief, his troubled past is finaly behind him. At least that's how I see it.

"Don't mind me, man, I'm just effen with ya…" - Janis Joplin

by - Mccadoo on Thu Feb 15 2007 06:35:22

I've never understood what was up with Kevin Kline's character and the vertically challenged saloon woman, was he really enamored of her, and if so, why? Or did he just like her because they shared an interest in saloons? It was kind of a bizarre subplot in the movie and even a little disturbing. They just didn't fit together at all. And they tried to explain it in the movie when the sheriff said that you could never tell what Kline's character was going to care about....still didn't sell me.

My impression was that they were kindred spirits. They could have made the Stella character an old man instead and he and Paden would still have been pals.

STELLA: The world is what you make of it, friend. If it doesn't fit, you make alterations.

PADEN: I'll drink to that.



PADEN: My compliments to you, Miss Stella. This is what I call a saloon.

STELLA: Thanks. That's what I call it too.

PADEN: And I know what I'm talking about.

STELLA: You like a good saloon?

PADEN: It's the only place I'm happy.

STELLA: Me too. What's wrong with us?


I think Paden cared about Stella as a friend. I'd like to throw in "motherly figure" as well, but she didn't seem that much older than him, so I don't know if that would be a good adjective. And keep in mind the kinds of jobs available to women in that time period. The fact that Stella ran the saloon was a big deal (not just worked in the saloon, but ran it.)


[Cobb gives Paden his first amount of wages from the saloon]
Paden: This is a lot of money.
Cobb: Told you this was a sweet setup.
Paden: It is that.
Cobb: Maybe you could run it without Stella.
Paden: This is her life. I'll go before she does.
Cobb: Easy, boy. Just a suggestion.
Paden: Yeah, well, thanks but forget it.



The following, however, was a little disturbing for me, since Stella is bascially suggesting the same thing about Cobb that Cobb suggested about her:

STELLA
Cobb's using me to stop you. So good
people are being hurt because of me.
(a beat)
That makes me mad.


STELLA
Some people think because they're
stronger -- or meaner -- they can
push you around. I've seen a lot of
that. But it's only true if you let
it be. The world is what you make of
it.

PADEN
I like your attitude. But it can be
risky.

STELLA
I'm ready for that. How about you?

PADEN
I don't want you to get hurt.

STELLA
He can't hurt me if he's dead.

I've never understood what was up with Kevin Kline's character and the vertically challenged saloon woman, was he really enamored of her, and if so, why? Or did he just like her because they shared an interest in saloons? It was kind of a bizarre subplot in the movie and even a little disturbing. They just didn't fit together at all. And they tried to explain it in the movie when the sheriff said that you could never tell what Kline's character was going to care about....still didn't sell me.

I think the story about Paden and the dog was meant to show more than simply 'You never know what Paden will care about' quote from the Sheriff. It was supposed (IMHO) to show that Paden would try to take care of people (or things) that needed his help. He first took to Stella because they both liked saloons, but was loyal to her as he saw Cobb as a threat to her.

The other was that I was talking about this movie with a Viet Nam vet that I work with and he made the comment that Brian Dennehey had claimed to be a combat vet when he really wasn't and because of that he wouldn't watch anything he appeared in. IMBD only states that press releases stating this were incorrect...well did Dennehey himself say it? Or did someone else? If he made the claim and it was untrue then my opinion of him is totally shot. Anyone hear anything about this?

I found this quote (from http://www.roanoke.com/roatimes/news/story158445.html):

Actor Brian Dennehy, one of the stars of the Rambo movie "First Blood," said he served five years in Vietnam. He'd been hit by shrapnel. Combat, he told Playboy magazine, was "absolute f---ing chaos."

The truth: Dennehy had been a Marine, but his only overseas assignment had been as a football player on a service team in Okinawa.

After a long delay, Dennehy admitted his lies.

The only question I have is why Rosanna Arquette got third billing for saying like 10 lines and having little to do with the story.

Let's follow basic English composition protocol...when you quote a person, you need to annotate the quote. Look up the exact protocal but if I remember correctly, provide the source of the quote and that doesn't mean your dad or Vet friend it means (magazine, book, interview, etc.)and publisher and date of the quote you are speaking of. Otherwise what you have to say about another person is just gossip!


None of you did this when saying Brian Dennehy said this or that.