Part VI  Silverado     Paden Undressed Under Duress

Arguably one of the best, most exciting and entertaining Westerns of all time was the 1985 film, “Silverado.” You've seen it. Nearly everyone has. It's a classic, don't you think? The Columbia Pictures, Delphi IV Productions, movie was produced and directed by Lawrence Kasdan. He and his brother, Mark, wrote the script. The film was shot on location at the Cook Ranch in New Mexico. In its first eleven weeks “Silverado” grossed over $32 million, having been made for $23 million. Not bad. 

Shortly after the movie begins, Emmett (Scott Glenn) discovers Paden (Kevin Kline) lying in the desert sun in a faded red union suit and socks. He had been robbed and left for dead. Paden delivers a memorable line after Emmett raises his head, giving him a small sip of water from his canteen. “Please to Meet You,” he hoarsely whispers in Emmet's ear with a slight wry smile.

 After a night of resting and recounting his predicament, Paden, still in his long underwear, rides into an army settlement on a spare horse Emmet had been leading. Paden dismounts and looks up at Emmett who tosses him a coin for buying clothes. And in another memorable line (heard again later in the film) says to Emmet, “I'm good for it.”

In the first of at least three classic scenes in western movie history, we find Paden standing in the middle of the settlement in his union suit. Forgetting he is in his underwear, he tips an imaginary hat to a mother and daughter who just happen to stroll by. Aghast, the mother grabs the arm of her daughter and the pair hustle away from the crusty unclad madman.

In another great scene Paden sees one of the outlaws who had stolen his horse and stripped him of his clothes. Still standing in the middle of the street, Paden attempts to draw his gun slapping the side of his union suit. But he comes up empty handed. He has no gun because it had been stolen too. No gun, no hat, no boots, no clothes, only his union suit: undressed duress!

He frantically looks around and spots the town's general store. He immediately runs over and once inside locates the gun counter. Selecting a pistol and placing the coin Emmett had given him for clothes on the counter, he starts to hurry back outside. But not before the proprietor stops him saying the gun he had chosen cost $20. After tense negotiating, Paden settles for a old, dilapidated firearm and finally returns to the street to confront the scoundrel before he can ride out of town.

In the third classic instance and my favorite scene of the film, Paden with legs apart stands in the middle of the street while the thief jumps on Paden's horse, turns and races towards him at break neck speed. Meanwhile, Paden is desperately trying to load his pistol while the thief bears down on him, aims and shoots! 

It's a good thing Paden was wearing long baggy underwear because the bullet travels between his legs just missing his torso's lower extremities. The back of Paden's union suit blows out where the bullet exits his rear flap and leaves his underwear smokin'. Classic!

Wow! That was close!

 Paden finally shoots the desperado who tumbles off the stolen horse. 

Paden reunites with his horse but is soon confronted by the U.S. Army. Why is it a cowboy clad only in his long underwear has ridden into their settlement and raised such havoc, they want to know?  And just who is he?

Paden is able to prove his ownership of his horse since his name is printed on the underside of the saddle. He then meets up with an old buddy (nemesis-?), Cobb (Brian Dennehy) and the other boys he rode with in the past. He gets a loan of clothes from Cobb. 

And with this film's union suit introduction, trouble really gets started. If you are one of the few who have not seen this western or if it has been awhile, get your hands on this film and enjoy! For Union Suit Fans, this movie is a Limelight Classic!

Part V  Undressed Under Duress
             Long John by D. Bethel

Are you by chance familiar with the web comic, “Long John?” If not, let me introduce you to a twenty-first century version comic book for adults. “Long John,” published on the internet, is a western created, written and illustrated by D. Bethel. As I understand it, Bethel is not only a superb (web) comic book writer / illustrator but is also a speaker and a professor at Cal State Sacramento teaching Composition and Rhetoric. In his spare time he produces a podcast and can be found on facebook. A very busy man. His passion, however, is a gunfighter who runs around in his long underwear. The protagonist is a rather large, intimidating gunslinger whose clothes are stolen as he slept. He is forced to roam eastern California and western Nevada in only his union suit. Here's Bethel in his own words: “Long John is a western webcomic about Long John, a famous gunslinger, who wakes up one morning with no friends, no clothes, no weapons, and no explanation.

"Losing every thing...
...changes everything.

"Illustrated in a style that could best be described as a cartoonish Picasso painting with drifting facial features and chaotic proportions. But that was it; Long John was just a cowboy in his underwear.” ...D. Bethel.

As "Long John" developed, however, it has become more than “a cowboy in his underwear.” The underlying themes of Bethel's comic for me is much more. He adroitly establishes his character's union suit as his armor. This knight must now go through life, puzzled but determined. Yes, a knight. Maybe not one in shining armor but a type of armor none the less. Instead of a lance, he utilizes a fast gun and his fists. His quest is not a dragon or a damsel in distress but a desire to find out who he is, what's to become of him. Don't we sometimes go through life "undressed under duress?"

Bethel says the development of his protagonist was a “surprising and rewarding experience.” He first met Long John in a 2002 dream.

For me "Long John" is like my dream where I appear in public in just my underwear or, horrors, naked. Enjoy Bethel's "Long John" and see if you don't relate. Bethel not only draws a great web comic, he takes pains to explain to the reader his thoughts behind the frames. “Long John” is now in a Fourth Book you can purchase. Information about this entertaining gunfighter who goes through life in his union suit, defying great odds, and overcoming a bunch of ornery bad guys can be found on facebook and at: http://www.longjohncomic.com

Photos and illustrations used with permission of the author.


On April 8th, D. Bethel wrote in his webcomic:

In a bit of fun, unexpected news, Long John was highlighted the other day on a union suit appreciation blog, “Union Suit Fans in the Limelight.”

Chris commented on the sight awhile ago and brought to my attention his blogs and asked if he could feature the comic at some point. There was, of course, no reason to deny that and I found his write up particularly thoughtful and interesting. Though I don’t consider myself an enthusiast of union suits (long johns, for those confused by the term), I am happy with the knowledge that those who are can find much to appreciate in the comic. 

Thanks again for the feature, Chris!