TOH mag. and movie reviews (Not OT!)

and book

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>I can't remember if I've recommended this or not: "Folly," by Laurie King. It's not one I'd recommend for a teenager, because the main theme is pretty heavy, but a sub-theme is a building project. You can tell the author is a shavings-maker, because she captures the feel and emotions of working wood by hand.

Available (probably) at your friendly local bookstore or library, though probably not your local Lowe's.

Re: Folly

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>This was a great read. I think Rae will be an enduring character. Laurie King is a very good writer, love her Sherlock Holmes based stuff with Mary Russell as Holme's brilliant young wife.

Pam

Re: TOH mag. and movie reviews (Not OT!)

Ron in Kokomo

>See article on Norm in Popular Woodworking. Norm is much more into old tolls than we Luddites give him credit for. He runs a TV show with a half hour time limit ans most of his audience is decidedly power tool oriented. I have met him a few times and he is really a nice guy ans almost still "embarrased" by his success

Hand tools in the movies

Luke Herzberg

>I recently saw the new movie "Must Love Dogs" (Hey!! It was my wife's choice!!)...and, anyhow, John Cusack's character is a wooden boat builder. At the beginning there is a brief scene of him using a block plane on the hull of a boat. I couldn't identify it, but saw the glint of brass (LN?). An unbelievably clean shop and amazingly devoid of tools as well. In Hollywood, apparently one can build a boat with a block plane and a socket set. : )

- Luke

Re: Hand tools in the movies

Bob Hackett

>One of my good friends(and an excellent joiner)served as tech consultant for "Message in a bottle",the film that Kevin Costner starred in.

The hollywood types were always asking Jack to do some stupid thing of other rather than listen to his advice.The scene with Costner testing a steamed plank by pushing on it with his foot is an example.

In one scene you see someone with gloves on planing a plank,those are Jack`s hands.He demonstrated planing and then handed the plane to the star after warning him that it was sharp with a capital "S".The star promptly cut himself thus holding up production.In the end they put the gloves on Jack.

The boat was a rented from folks in the area.They rented it with the provision that they would repair any damage and return it in it`s original condition.I ended up making adapter plates for the winches so they could shoot the storm scene with the particular winch they had in mind rather that use the original.I guess it wasn`t shiney enough.

If you think anything you see on the big screen(or the little one for that matter)reflects real life then you really need to get out more.

Mainely,Bob

Re: TOH mag. and movie reviews (Not OT!)

Rob in Peoria

>I meant to post about "The Notebook" when we first saw it. Not only does the guy use handtools, he's a galoot! I mean, he's using a wooden jointer after WWII, for crying out loud!

Re: TOH mag. and movie reviews (Not OT!)

Dean in Burlington

>Don't forget "High Crimes" with Ashley Judd. I beleive there is a scene at the beginning with her husband, James Caviezel in his workshop using a hand plane.

And Then There's "The Witness" ...

Hank Knight from SC

>Where Harrison Ford takes apparent delight in making shavings with a hand plane in an Amish barn in PA, and, in another scene, he along with a couple dozen others build a barn with neander carpenter tools.

Wellnot movie, book or mag but TV

Doug Littlejohn

>How about Mark Harmon's lead role in NCIS? He is steadily working on building a wooden boat with only hand tools. THis has progressed through the seasons starting with the cross members and now the hull is on and he is working on that.

It has shown the use of block planes, wooden smothers, brace to drill and brace to drive screws, handsaw, are all the tools I remember seeing him use.

One funny thing, it shows him in what looks to be a basment as we never get to see if there are any other entrances/exits other than the door and stairs into the shop. How is he going to get the boat out when (if ever) he gets done??

Sherwood

PS: There is also this chick flick SWMBO and I wathced within the last several weeks where a local boy meets and falls in love with a visiting for the summer girl. They go separate ways and finally many years later get together. In the movie, his dream is to buy a run down plantation and restore the main house. With his father's help, he does get the plantation and then the two of them set about rebuilding. It shows several scenes where he is working with jsut handtools either restoring the home or building furniture.

You got there first

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>I think the name was just "Witness," though I could easily be wrong since it's midday and I haven't reached my quota of being wrong yet.

Ford was a carpenter before he became a fabulous movie star, and I think it shows in those scenes. I've always been particularly impressed by the way he uses his hammer during the barn-raising - only someone who's swung one would know to choke up and use the cheek for certain operations, as he does.

Since we've gone this direction...

Steve Kubien

>Take the time to check out Ken Follett's book "Pillars of the Earth." It is about the building of a cathedral in 14th or 15th century England. A great read as you follow the life of one man and his dream. Not Follett's normal kind of thing but there is lots of good "trades" sections with masons, carpenters etc. Well worth it.

Thanks,

Steve Kubien

Re: You got there first

john jesseph

>I remember a few years ago Harrison Ford was rumored to be an active member on the Oldtools list under a peudonym. I don't think he was definitively I.D.'d. I kind of thought it was an urban myth, but can't swear to it...

That chick flick is the Notebook....

Doug

>I wish I had watched old Rockford Files reruns instead.

I agree. Good book -worth the read.

Hank Knight from SC

>

Who could forget "The Patriot"

John K in Hastings, MN

>with the chairmaking scene? He had a scrap pile that was pretty good, too.