This phrase was uttered by Oliver Cromwell in 1642, when his regiment was about to attack the enemy at the battle of Edgehill. This dispute took nearly 18 years to hash out. Definition of keep their powder dry in the Idioms Dictionary. Get in line on that one Bear CLaw! Why is he coming down river? JJ: Injuns put cha here? Lots of wisdom in this dialogue. I think Thats it in a nutshell. P.S. So dont bother me. Keep my powder dry - Idioms by The Free Dictionary Cheyenne she were, should be Cheyenne she was. The poem is a dramatic representation of Cromwell addressing his army during the invasion of Ireland. A woman Classic Good Looks Hatchet . Ill have to put Legends of the Fall on my watchlist Ive heard the title, but thats it. Then later, after be sets his beaver traps for the day with Caleb and shaves . We knew the script by heart, and very often we got to use it in daily living for humor and awe. Best movie ever. I think thats one reason that makes the movie Jeremiah Johnson so special. Several times each year they took off for the Rockies with rifles and bowie knives, and came back with meat for the freezer (yep, they took the tenderfoot along with them). If Paints His Shirt Red was in the war party that took Swan and Caleb, he would have been finished off by Jeremiah. But only one brave made it out. When we march, we keep moving till dark, so as to give the enemy the least possible chance at us. I believe the line is Elk dont know how many feet a horse have. have, not has. I recently bought mountain man written by Vardis Fisher, the book used as a foundation for the JJ movie. Some folks say youre dead on account of this. It is a good rifle and kilt the bear that kilt me. Blackfeet vs Crow vs Flathead is the old enemy of my enemy is my friend thing. Im an old fart, so youngish when the movie was made. Watch your topknot. If art does not trouble you a little, what is the purpose? Del Gue is so politically incorrect that I dont think he could exist in a Hollywood film today. Since he traded his squaw whom he packed for 10 years for one. No JJ fan should be without it. . Give me a good horse and a Hawkin gun, and a good Native woman and the ability to build a damn cabin, and I could stay here forever. Grown particular? Its one of my favorite movies and will be a classic forever. Just last year, I mandated a family viewing. Twerent Mormons. JJ: Huh? "Put your trust in God," he told his troops, "but keep your powder dry." Wet gunpowder was very difficult to ignite, and with it a soldier would in effect be unarmed. seen it 30 times !!! It was a small town and I settled in with a group of locals, 10 years my senior. It made quite an impression that stuck with me to this day. I know who you are, the same dumb pilgrim Ive been listening to for 20 days and smellin for three. The movie tops my all time list of favorites. I woke early, went to do the washing, and heard grunting, and across the river were (counted in bunches) about 120 Buff, rolling about and mounting one another and such. Bear Claw says to Jeremiah: Many a man have ventured high up the mountain looking to git something from the mountain that it cant give. Like I said this thought or quote has been stuck in my head but I doubt I have it right. My first experience of a man responding with such kindness for a woman. I had the soundtrack on LP and of course it got lost over the years. Theres no other movie Ive watched so many times. Trying to top one email buddy in particular recently, I searched JJ quotes and discovered this site. Blood kin to the grizzly that bit Jim Bridgers ass. I guess I left it off because it is *the* famous quote of the movie. keep your powder dry meaning: 1. to wait before taking action, but be ready to take action if it is necessary: 2. to wait before. This is sooo cool. Keep your nose to the wind, your powder dry, and your machete sharp! . What a brilliant film, I cant imagine anyone else in the roles of JJ or that of Bearclaw. So perhaps rural Sweden in the 1800s. [Lived with a she mountain lion in a cave up in the Musselshell.] I have to add Ive been to a town, Del. Because I live an hours drive from the nearest stop light and grocery store and two hours from the nearest city with national brands (Target, Wal-Mart, etc), but I have lived in cities. He also values them less than he values a good Hawken rifle. Usually its my wife wanting to complain about something. Ive adored this movie since it was released. And finally, he does. It should be a film that would speak to Millennials who find themselves disillusioned by a world of computer screens. I was thinking of what scene in the movie caught me up the most and I came to the one where the boy and Swan and Jeremiah were playing and then later when Jeremiah noticed her face was reddish and she told him it was because of his beard. Ive got the prettiest gal, the fastest horse, and the ugliest dog this side of hell. JJ: Great White Hunter, yesyes? [2] Temporarily. When JJ gets back to discover Swan and Caleb slain. Others include The Cowboys The Shootist and Its a Wonderful Life. And, for laughs its hard to beat The Mountain Men with Charlton Heston and Brian Keith. Del gue puts scalps on jjs saddle horn. Long live the tale, and the men who believe what it says. Ill dig out the dvd when I get back. Thanks for creating this page Tom, the great comments from those above , brought a tear to my eye. These include the 1943 book of Margaret Mead; "And Keep Your Powder Dry; An Anthropologist Looks at America" as well as the 1945 movie "Keep Your Powder Dry". Music is good as well scenarios are good think about thiss movie quite a bit so fortunate to be able to own a copy. Thats funny, I just said that yesterday. HERES A MAN for ya! Myself and a few buddies saw this at the theaters when it came out cant tell you how many times some of went back to see it several times. Thats part of why I love the line so much. Robert Redford was perfection. Miss the mountains of Colorado but not the crowds on the trails. Most off the commenters seem to be around my age (born in the early 1960s). Man who shot Liberty Valence His movements, his grunts. 2. Many a child? Does this mean Many has an idea?, 3) Tryin to get from the mountains something I discovered JJ at the dollar theater while in Ann Arbor in 73-75. I meant the quote Ben just mentioned, I like these: You have a son, you need a wife. It was Crow Killer: The Saga of Liver-Eating Johnson, by Raymond Thorp and Robert Bunker. wives mad.. [2] The allusion is to gunpowder which soldiers had to keep dry in order to be ready to fight when required. To me, everything after Swan and Caleb die feels like a long sad epilogue to a fundamentally happy movie about a bitter veteran who finds peace. Only objection I have about your postingdont need to be male to love the movie or the outdoors. He answers. Loved it and all the comments, Thank you for the blog that I just stumbled across and enjoyed reading. Jeremiah Johnson left such an impression on me, it has been a part of my personal constitution ever since. Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary. And im pretty positive thats the right quote. My first thought to Jims last comment was to think that for about 100 years, Europeans cut each other to pieces because they disagreed as to whether the bread in the host was changed into Christ (Catholics), co-existed with the body of Christ (Lutherans) or that Christ was truly present, but spiritually, not materially (Reformed). I am in the process of starting a blog and website and I end my blog with keep your eyes along the skyline and your nose to the wind.. If I may, there are so many who would never and will never read this on a computerWaaagh! Ive been hiking the AT the last couple of days and one Quote from the movie has been stuck in my head, but I dont know if I got it right. Sydney Pollack is one of my top directors. JJ and Swan were getting along very well, who knows, maybe Caleb would have started talking. Its a pitty we rarely see or meet these guys nowdays both on a screen and in real life. That blade is from the 1970s when steel was made in America. Myself and my two older brothers were treated to this movie in the theatre by my Dad. The mountain teaches its own lessons, not the lessons you want it to teach. I have that same file. I was in tears being in Indiana away from my Rocky Mountains. Farmers mostly. I have never been a John Wayne fan in general, but The Cowboys has always been a favorite. Not about feeding. One thing that always bothered me was the ending when saw the chief and they gave a kind of wave Left me wondering, was it a truce, a challenge, etc.? Anyone know? Del Gue sniffing.Jeremiah.you can smell those savages ? Del is buried to his neck. Some folks like it. How long have you bneen carrying your Squaw, Johnson? If we take a knee and bow to anyone, let it be to God Almighty and never to man, that He may keep and Bless our exceptional Republic. Darn right. The linseed oil provides water resistance and increased durability when exposed to the elements.. Lucky they were Crow, Apache would have sent 50 at once. 3:10 to Yuma I aint used to it., Maybe you best go down to a town. The only way I know people visit at all is the comments, so its been fun to see this page continue to speak to people year after year. Was wondering what tribe they were. I say Paints got off easy. Swan: Yes., JJ: That is all you will need to knowfor now. I, too, am a huge JJ fanand this made me want to jump back under the covers and watch it yet again. As the Crow warriors came one at a time, he killed in self-defense, wasnt portrayed as an aggressor, and I dont believe he would have felt justified in seeking out Paints His Shirt Red to kill him. And High Noon too. Yes jj paid tribute/ hunting fee earlier by giving paints his shirt furs. Im trying to locate my horse. Im sure film students and such dont think its the best movie of all time, but for those us who were captivated by it (especially at a young age), I think it has no equal. My favorite movie of all timeat least 200 times viewed. You watch your topknot. Watch yer topknot. I think thats it. Acted like they was gut-shot. Some I cant believe I missed. No snakes, wolves, snakes and not much for bugs. 4. Thank you for such a fine story and please allow me to regurgitate your witty prose from time to time. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Wow! Lost my mule. The other. Tom thanks for keeping the wonder and wisdom of Jeremiah Johnson alive for all of us. Don't forget nothing. While moving said gravel with a 24-year-old from up the street, I was telling him about JJ. And there aint no asylums for the crazy ones. And, for the record, I cant watch the Jeffersons because I hate Bentley so much because of this movie. Jeremiah knows no borders. Thank you for your service to our history! Woman, I am your friend. Not just for guys-we outdoor gals love it too! He says you fish poorly. If we take a knee and bow to anyone, let it be to God Almighty and never to man, that He may keep and Bless our exceptional Republic. He made the choice, or rather was pressured into it, again, because he was an honorable man in my estimation. Met a SF soldier a few years back called Jeremiah Johnson. Your husbands told me so much about you. Sunshine or thunder, a man will always wonder. Were far from services. And there aint no priests excepting the birds. The Outlaw Josey Wales Having done a fair bit of mountaineering in the Alps (where the mountains are much bigger and steeper than the Rockies), I always loved the part where Del says: I aint never seen em, but my common sense tells me the Andes is foothills and the Alps is for children to climb.. picky) about what you eat? In other words, Sit down, shut up and join me.. Youre the same dumb pilgrim Ive been hearing for 20 days and smelling for three., You sure are cocky for a starvin pilgrim., If I head due west tomorrow, will I find good places to trap?, If you head due west or any other place tomorrow, youll be a starvin pilgrim in a week. The scalps that del gue puts on jj a saddle horn. The second half of the phrase is often used by itself, and forms the title of the 1945 film Keep Your Powder Dry as well as Margaret Mead's 1942 book And Keep Your Powder Dry: An Anthropologist Looks at America. A sharp hatchet blade allows you to chop cleanly, is versatile, and is often safer due to its lessened chance of catching.