|
Rating:  -
A great story, it is a different kind of western. The photography is excellent, if you like black & white you will like this one. I have watched it many times & plan to watch it many more.
Rating: -
I don't like most Westerns , but I do think that they did provide much family entertainment 1n the 40's and 50's. The problem with the genre is that it is exceedingly formulaic and simplistic with many stereotypes that at the time mostly everyone accepted: The sub human portrayal of native American as a savage "INJUNS", the portrayal of women as a relatively insignificant submissive "little lady," or as a dance hall girl, often a code word for prostitution.
Probably the worst element is a shameless promotion of shameless "frontierism,' which was only a cover for American imperialism and exceptionalism at the pinnacle of post world war II patriotic optimism (how sweet it was. Often this was not intentional. This was a simpler, somewhat bucolic time, compared today with our moral relativism and a postmodern lack of and dominant narrative (e.g.,a black and white code to live).
This film is different. There are no subjugated native Americans, women are not so submissive (like Joan Crawford in Johnny Guitar) ... Mitchum, who you were never sure if he was a "black hat' kind or "white hat" kind of guy (The Preacher and Cape Fear were exceptions- he was bad to the bone in those), and it seemed he often didn't know himself, a precursor of the identity confusion of our age.
The film combines the dark insecurity of many, soon to be considered un-american film noir's, and the rugged individualism of the- "shoot first and ask questions later"- Western. This was no easy task. "Pursued" is different, and very good and complex.
The Freudian touches, a film noir hallmark, was everywhere in the shadowy dream like texture coupled with Mitchum coming to terms with his
primal scene. Teresa Wright was excellent and multi-dimensional as Mitchum's adopted sister and love interest with her own agenda. Dean
Jagger, who like many noir stars (e. g, Richard Widmark, Richard Basehart, Raymond Burr..), went from being a well played vengeful character here to a mainstream American- high school principal (I thought he was better bad guy) Alan Hale, later the captain in Gilligan's island, played a brother who's sibling rivalry with Mitchum lead to his demise with a burning, jealous, intensity.
The story itself is quite engrossing with an almost too complex plot: a credit to director's Raoul Walsh's mastery. There is a lot of mystery here as well. I would say this was a noir placed in a western setting
(saloon, horses, ranch) with a Hayes act happy ending tagged at the end. The Hayes act happy ending was the only weak part, also an affliction of some of Hitchcock's greatest films. The "white hatted" cowboy, like the later Perry Mason, always, like the pre-Vietnam America, had, and did, win. Mitchum won and did get the girl but he never wore a "white hat or sold out.
This is a hidden gem a for people like myself, who are noir addicts.
It is a rare find, worth every minute of your time. Mitchum, as often, dominates this fascinating film- even though it is a western.
Rating:  -
Interesting camera-work is the main attribute of this late 1940s western. It plays and looks more like a film noir than a western, but there is nothing wrong with that. I enjoyed that aspect, especially the noir-like cinematography. I say the latter because of all the stark black-and-white contrasts, night scenes and facial closeups.
At the same time, it reminded me of a John Ford western with the expansive skies and big rock formations.
I can't say the story is anything special. It's almost frustrating, seeing everyone chase after Robert Mitchum even though the man has done nothing wrong! Yes, it's a paranoid viewer's delight but it got to be a little much of a downe after awhile. However, Mitchum, Teresa Wright, Judith Anderson, Dean Jagger and company all acted well, and I appreciated their talents.
Rating:  -
I saw this film when it first came out, nearly fifty years ago, playing as usual in the neighborhood movie,in a double feature. The memory still lingers, so I got the DVD. The untypical script must be taken as a symbolic parable, for otherwise it would be somewhat unbelievable. What the parable was supposed to mean, if anything other than the obvious final suggestion, was probably lost in the cutting room floor. One's interest, however, is kept throughout. The actors all perform as expected, even if they maybe a replay of their other customary roles. Only Dean Jagger fails to come up with a credible performance, any one could do what little he does here.
The photography is absolutely gorgeous black and white, and it has sent me on a search for other James Wong Howe pictures.
In spite of minor reservations, it is worth seeing this high class film.
Rating: -
Here is Robert Mitchum right before he made his break thorugh film 'Out of the past' Co starring Kirk Douaglas. Mitchum is known to be an underated American actor who was mostly typecast in Film Noirs, normally as the fall guy who couldnt give a damn. His presence and charisma presents a certain dark electrcity, yet during his film career he was able to prove he was more then just an actor in Noir.
Pursued is a dark western filmed by Raoul Walsh who had also directed High Sierra with Bogart. Not much of a typical western, where this one has a darker side to it. Judith Anderson is also another underated actress who again boldley stands out with so much potential.
Television Show
Collectibles
Movie Searches
|
|
|
Search for posters,
art prints, photos, collectables, merchandise, toys, t-shirts
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TV Guide
Program listings, celebrity profiles, industry
gossip, movie reviews, puzzle.
More
Entertainment
& TV Magazines
This site is
Hosted
by Bluehost
Read
my Bluehost Review
Most Popular TV collectibles
|
|
Home
Articles
Images
Forum
Search
Shopping
TV Trivia
Watch TV
Wallpaper
