1952
Directed by Howard Hawks
I have about forty five minutes before I have to leave for the day and I am still in my pajamas. Instead of getting ready now and not feeling rushed, I am choosing to write this review and then run around in a rage because I will be late. Maybe I will take it out on fellow drivers. Who knows?
Anyway, I have mentioned this before but for some reason, early fifties films have been really hard to find. I could only find this one on xfinity on demand. I chose to watch this with my parents. Shut up; I know I do this a lot.
The Big Sky opens with this really weird narration about the events. I am still not sure who it was. Anyway, the film centers on Kirk Douglas and Dewey Martin as they travel a river with a bunch of misfits. Of course, a dame gets in the way of their camaraderie. Women suck.
I hated this film. It was extremely long and boring. I think we were supposed to grow really attached to the characters but I found myself wishing they would all drown. Sick, right?
Then, of course, the question is why a sucky western is listed in the top 1001 movies of all time. For one thing, the girl is Native American and is actually shown in a somewhat positive light, which is refreshing. Half the cast speaks French and the story is about a river trip, which I suppose is unusual for westerns. Still, totally not worth the $2.99 that my parents paid for it.
RATING: **---
Interesting Facts:
John Wayne was originally supposed to do the finger scene in one of his earlier films.
The part of Boone was originally supposed to go to Montgomery Clift but he turned it down. Instead, we were stuck with Dewey Martin. Ugh.
I think the real reason for including this movie is the presence of Kirk Douglass. There are no other valid reasons.
ReplyDeleteWell it is a pretty good reason.
DeleteClift, eh? I was watching it thinking that he would have been the obvious fit for the role.
ReplyDeleteI generally try to ignore outdated standards of political correctness, but there were a few bits here I was uncomfortable with. See for example the drunk Indian character who seems to have been played by Jar-Jar Binks in blackface. I think it was based on a book? In which case I can imagine that these issues would have had the space and format there to be explored with more subtlety, whereas in a film we just get a pair of good-looking cinema heroes barking "White people coming!!" when they demand a couple of dancing black guys get out of their path.
Well it's easier to ignore racist/sexist elements of these old movies when your race/sex is not the target. But I get what you mean , I try to be forgiving as well. I wish you weren't right about Jar-Jar Binks in blackface...but you nailed it.
Delete