A Fordian cavalry Western
At first sight this is just
a Civil War cavalry Western with William Holden, directed by John Sturges and
therefore solid, workmanlike and worth seeing. What elevates it to something
more, indeed into a work of art, is the quite stunning photography of Robert Surtees. I have commented elsewhere on the cinematographic talent of the
Surteeses, father and son. This was Surtees père’s
finest Western work.
The location scenes are shot in ‘Anso Color’ in New Mexico (you can tell because it’s so beautiful) and in Death Valley, and what could be more suitable - for this pitiless, arid landscape is entirely appropriate to the brutal struggle for survival that takes place there.
The location scenes are shot in ‘Anso Color’ in New Mexico (you can tell because it’s so beautiful) and in Death Valley, and what could be more suitable - for this pitiless, arid landscape is entirely appropriate to the brutal struggle for survival that takes place there.
Death Valley, in more ways than one
The story, credited to Phillip Rock and Michael
Pate, borrows a little from Fox’s Two Flags West of three years before, and tells of Confederate prisoners
breaking out of a Union fort in Arizona and pursued by Holden. The two sides
are united in the face of an implacable common enemy, Mescalero Apaches. The Apaches
are brave and skilled tacticians.
Real quality
Michael Pate was an interesting person. He was
Australian, only relocating to the US in the 1950s. For some odd reason, as an
actor he cornered the market in Indian chiefs. He was Vittorio in Hondo in 1953 and went on to be Chief
Four Horns, Watanka, Puma, Thin Elk, Sierra Charriba and heaven knows who all
else. But he also wrote, and the story of Escape
from Fort Bravo is both gripping and authentic.
The music, by Jeff Alexander, is very good, orchestral variations on a theme of cavalry tunes.
The music, by Jeff Alexander, is very good, orchestral variations on a theme of cavalry tunes.
Skilled tacticians
Holden is, as per usual, excellent as a martinet
with a human face. Eleanor Parker, the southern spy who falls for him, and he
for her, is very beautiful. There is a daringly hinted-at gay relationship
between the Southern officer, John Forsythe, and a lieutenant, John Lupton (he had
to be gay as his hair is floppy and he writes poetry). William Demarest is fine
as the crusty old Southern trooper who shows outstanding courage.
Fordian
The ending is gripping, violent and moving. This
is a very good Western, well directed and acted and above all shot by a master
photographer. The movie has a Fordian air to it – the cavalry environment, the
dance, the deadly Indians, the songs, the arid terrain, the Stout/Hoch/Glennon/Clothier
look of the picture. You need to see this one.
Although I am pretty sure you place The Magnificent Seven at the top, I think this one is his top westerns which would deserve from our preferred western lover an extended development, along with Bad Day at Black Rock, The Law and Jack Wade, OK Corral and The Hour of the gun. Joe Kidd is slightly a little below. JM
ReplyDeleteYes, I do love this Western and might write more about it. Thanks for the suggestion!
DeleteJeff
And Eleanor Parker handles a nice four barrel Sharps pepperbox, very close to a derringer so no more excuse...! JM
ReplyDelete