BY DOUG OSWALD
Jack
Lemmon is cast against type with co-star Glenn Ford in “Cowboy,†a gritty
western available on Blu-ray by Twilight Time. The movie has a rousing start
with titles by Saul Bass accompanied by a title score composed by George Duning,
setting the mood for this western directed by Delmer Daves. No stranger to
westerns, Daves also directed Ford in “Jubal†and “3:10 to Yuma.†The drama in Daves’
westerns was atypical of the genre and unfolded in a more realistic way with no
clearly defined hero or villain in an era where the western followed a typical
story pattern with clearly defined depictions of heroism and masculinity. Daves
was part of a change which redefined the western in the 50s and in some ways
prepared us for the inside-out world of the spaghetti westerns to come in the 1960s.
Frank
Harris (Lemmon) is a Chicago hotel clerk seeking to make his fortune in the
cattle business when he meets Tom Reese (Ford) who just happens to arrive at
the hotel with his men after a two month cattle drive. Tom likes opera,
gambling, drinking and enjoys a hot bath. Frank is more introspect and in love,
but has just been informed by the wealthy Senor Vidal (Donald Randolph) that
his daughter, Maria (Anna Kashfi), will never be allowed to marry him. Maria
and her family return home to Mexico and Frank makes a deal with Tom to be his
partner on his next cattle drive which will take the men to Senor Vidal’s ranch
in Mexico. Tom initially rejects Frank, but takes him up on his offer after
losing most of his money gambling and also due to Frank’s persistence.
The
movie evokes, but only touches on, heroic mythology as the young wide-eyed
idealist Frank, eager to make his fortune and find the woman he loves, joins the
older and more experienced Tom who becomes his mentor and father figure. Tom
warns the young idealist Frank by telling him no woman is worth going after
when he should be focused on the quest for fortune. Along the way the cattle
men face several trials of near epic proportions resulting in death and near
death including the taming of a savage bull, an encounter with a deadly serpent,
an attack by a band of Indians who attempt to steal the cattle and an attempt
to rescue a friend who tempts fate in a Mexican border town. The sage advice of
the experienced Tom is often ignored by Frank in this Homeric journey starting
in Chicago by train to Texas and on horseback from Texas to Mexico and back
again to Chicago. Frank’s admiration of Tom turns to dislike as they tussle
with one another along the trail including a dramatic fight with a crowbar next
to the camp fire pit. Both men compliment each another in spite of their
struggles and come to a grudging admiration of one another after Frank takes
the lead in rounding up the cattle lost during a stampede.
There’s
more- a lot more- to enjoy in this unique and unconventional western. Stupid boyish
pranks turn deadly and men who know better tempt fate by placing themselves in
dangerous situations. There are no traditional heroes or villains in “Cowboy,â€
but rather men faced with a series of tasks and trials not unlike those which
could unfold for all of us as we make choices and move through life. Lemmon and
Ford are very good, especially Ford who gives a believable and effortless
performance. The movie also features a great cast of supporting actors
including Brian Donlevy, Dick York, Richard Jaeckel, Victor Manuel Mendoza, James
Westerfield and Strother Martin in an early uncredited role.
The
1958 Columbia release, written by Edmund H. North and an uncredited Dalton
Trumbo (who was blacklisted), is based on the 1930 book “My Reminiscences as a
Cowboy†by Frank Harris. Frank was an immigrant from Ireland who worked as a
general laborer, hotel clerk and manager, cowboy, lawyer, journalist, writer
and publisher. He attended the University of Kansas where he earned a law
degree and was the author of several popular books primarily inspired by his
life experiences.
The
movie clocks in at 92 minutes and sounds terrific with a great widescreen image
on this Blu-ray release which is an improvement over the previous 2002 DVD. The
region-free Blu-ray includes an interesting theatrical trailer where the virtues of
watching westerns on a big theater screen rather than on a small TV screen are
made clear. There’s also the option to watch the movie with the isolated score composed
by George Duning and conducted by Morris Stoloff. Finally, there’s an audio
commentary provided by Twilight Time film historians Julie Kirgo and Nick
Redman joined here by Paul Seymour. Watch the movie and then watch it again
with the commentary track by these three which is as entertaining as it is informative.
The disc also includes a booklet featuring an essay by Kirgo with stills from
the film. Highly recommended for fans of genre busting westerns.
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