The Far Country (1955)

HE CHALLENGED THE GOLD-RICH GLORY THAT WAS THE YUKON! white with snow... scarlet with sin... yellow with the dust... that lured him on!

I love the way Mann explores moral issues: here, whether we can be self-sufficient or whether we need other people.

Here, Stewart is presented in a very dark light, as a bitter cynical loner, who rejects help from others and who refuses to help others. There is some very nasty business along the way, really.

This is leavened with various lighter even comic turns, including Walter Brennan, and the girl.

• Rating: Full price
• When seen: 16 Jan 2011
• Where seen: Home, on iPad
• More information: IMDB | RottenTomatoes | Wikipedia

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Amendments: Added writer tag: "Borden Chase"; actor tags: "Ruth Roman, Corinne Calvet, Walter Brennan, Jay C. Flippen, John McIntire, Harry Morgan, Steve Brodie, Connie Gilchrist"; deleted 1st paragraph erroneously copied from another review. Removed link to Wikipedia-sourced image. Added ranking image.

Night Passage (1957)

Saga of the McLaine Brothers, who followed different trails, lived by different laws, but wanted the same woman!

Not an Anthony Mann / Jimmy Stewart western. Has a different emotional tone, much lighter. (Again, the comedy Irish characters, who worst of all start out the story.)

As with other westerns of the period, we get an insight into a part of the history of the West, which is a nice bonus. This time the context is the expansion of the railroad across the USA.

The best thing about the film is the chance to see Stewart play his accordion and sing, which I assume is authentic, at least the singing is. (I read later on Wikipedia or somewhere that the studio later over-dubbed Stewart's playing with that of a professional accordion player: for shame!)

The plot is a strange half and half affair, with the two supporting stars not appearing till the second half. Audie Murphy has a lot of screen presence, though I'm not sure he has enough of a dark side for his role as the 'evil' brother, apart from dressing all in black.

Duryea's performance is very disappointing after his excellent crazy villain in Winchester 73, as good as Richard Widmark's psychotic killer in Kiss of Death ten years earlier (1947). All he does in Night Passage is shout, as if playing a character who is hard of hearing.

• Rating: Matinee
• When seen: 21 Jan 2011
• Where seen: Home, on iPad
• More information: IMDB | RottenTomatoes | Wikipedia

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Amendments: Added writer tags: "Borden Chase, Norman A. Fox"; actor tags: "Dan Duryea, Dianne Foster, Elaine Stewart, Brandon De Wilde, Robert J. Wilke, Jack Elam". Removed link to Wikipedia-sourced image. Added ranking image.

Winchester '73 (1950)

Fantastic western with many adult themes and a large cast very well handled by the great Anthony Mann. Highly credible due to excellent script seemingly very authentic and well researched, realistic locations, and solid performances by all actors. No silly comedy characters or sub-plots.

Modern in its use of a protagonist whose morality is grey. Remarkable for the dark vengeful character of the protagonist, McAdam, a vigilante in modern terms, verging on the psychotic. Observe the wild conflicted delight on his face while shooting dead attacking Indians. And again, in the finale reel, the single-minded unswerving passion with which he pursues his mission of vengeance.

Also the excellent psycho gunman portrayal by Dan Duryea (like a reflection of a possible future Stewart), and the very fine portrayal of the coward by Charles Drake. Even Shelley Winters (an actress I normally find unappealing and annoying) is good.

The final shootout is very well orchestrated, clearly showing the action and tactics used, and drawing us in.

• Rating: Exceptional
• When seen: 5 Jan 2011
• Where seen: Home, on iPad
• More information: IMDB | RottenTomatoes | Wikipedia

Amendments: Added writer tags: "Robert L. Richards, Borden Chase, Stuart N. Lake"; actor tags: "Shelley Winters, Dan Duryea, Stephen McNally, Charles Drake". Removed link to Wikipedia-sourced image. Added ranking image.