Lonely are the Brave (Universal Backlot Series)
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Movie Reviews of Lonely are the Brave (Universal Backlot Series)
Movie Review: Worthy of multiple Oscars! But unfortunately was overlooked
Summary: 5 Stars
I've never written a review of a film before. But I consider this one of the finest films I've seen in my life.
Many things make this movie special on so many levels; the superb story, superstar actors including many that weren't superstars at time of this film's making, Walter Matthau and Carol O'Conner for example. Kirk Douglas was a superstar, and his performance in Lonely Are The Brave is an excellent example of why he was a superstar. I saw this movie first as a youth, and several times since as an adult. I enjoy it each and every time.
Kirk plays a likable free spirited range roaming cowboy whom the modern 1963 world is closing in on with fences and other restrictions. The story is brilliantly multi faceted with the many aspects and relationships of all the characters in the film. Of particular interest is the relationship that Kirk portrays between him and his horse named Whiskey. Kirk has stated that the horse stole the movie and the viewers were more sympathetic to the character's horse than they were to his character. There is some truth to what Kirk says, but not really. I have owned horses all of my life. And, having an interest in horses, I've always enjoyed Westerns and other films about horses or cowboys. The horse in this movie is a beautiful animal, but she didn't steal the movie. She was a great supporting actress in one of the best and most realistic portrayals in any film I've seen of the deep friendship that can develop between a horse and their owner. And at the end of the movie, Kirk's brilliant portrayal of this relationship and friendship with that horse draws the viewer in to love that horse as much as Kirk's character does. That's brilliant acting.
Walter Matthau's performance is brilliant as well in his supporting role with just a taste of humor, typical of Matthau as we would learn in later years. Also George Kennedy and Gena Rowland deliver excellent performances. I am still in awe of how this not so well known movie could have possibly escaped without academy recognition. Kirk Douglas has hinted that this is his favorite film. Well I'm no big time movie critic, but this movie is a jewel with some of the finest writing, acting and performances you will ever see. Kirk Douglas was a superstar. And this movie, while not one of his best known, is one of the finest examples of the raw talent that warrants that status.
Movie Review: The sad side of progress
Summary: 5 Stars
Modern civilization ain't gonna let no cowpoke live by his wits alone, but Kirk Douglas gives it a heckuva shot. Great film. I owned the VHS tape, then I got a Region 2 DVD in 2008. I wonder if the new Region 1 DVD will be any different from the widescreen Region 2 version?
UPDATE (1-9-10): I finally got the newly released Universal update of this great film, and was mildly disappointed to discover that the Spanish [PAL] edition has better picture quality; I would also note, though, that the Spanish edition is approximately four minutes shorter.
UPDATE (1-11-10): After doing some research (PAL vs. NTSC, at "[...]"), I discovered that the PAL film-to-dvd transfer process results in approximately 20% more pixilation ... ergo (I suppose), better picture quality. I also discovered that--because of the nature of the film-to-dvd transfer process--a PAL film-to-dvd transfer will be shorter by 4% than an NTSC transfer. Originally, I had assumed that the shorter (PAL) length version of "Lonely are the Brave" meant that there had been scene cuts. I now believe that the PAL (103 minutes) and the NTSC (107 minutes) editions of this film are (essentially) carbon copies of each other, although the PAL version is shown in four less minutes. [I'm not sure which version is truer to the actual original film length, but having watched both, I did not discern any ("speeded-like", or "slowed-like", speech or dialogue) differences between them, except that (somehow) the PAL version does finish four minutes sooner].
I would also note that the Spanish PAL edition does not have the extras (including an interview with Kirk Douglas) that the newly released Universal edition has. Assuming, however, that the viewer has a region-free dvd player (that plays PAL), along with an hdtv that is 50", or larger, (and cost is not a factor), the improved picture quality (of the Spanish edition) is--from my perspective--to be preferred over the Universal extras.
Movie Review: Ten Star Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
The opening scene in Lonely Are the Brave, contrasting jet aircraft soaring across the sky to that of Jack Burns (Kirk Douglas) inertly lying on the dessert floor, is surprising, metaphoric and portent of things to come. Unlike the airborne jet fighters, which are mesmeric because they know no boundaries in the vast openness of space above him, yet are still regimented, Jack's spirit for autonomy and independence that drives him, in actuality, restricts him to a life of confrontation and struggle. Nonconformity is Jack's fix. The battle grounds that lay before him are set in limited space and race against time. Still, his quench for self-rule heartens this rugged cowboy's risk taking while clashing with accord and conformity. His mode of transportation, an unruly horse named Whiskey, is a far cry from those jet fighters. In a sense, he is one of those pilots on a mission of his own. Whiskey represents Jack's uncultivated character. Like the jets that defy gravity, both man and animal are at odds with each other because of their self-determination, which proves to be their eventual collapse, despite their mutual respect in a world neither belongs. Ultimately, Sheriff Johnson (Walter Matthau), Jack's nemesis, determined to bring him in by any means he can marshal, including dismissing the Army General, may be the only person who truly understands Jack, aside from Jack's imprisoned friend's wife (classy Gena Rowlands) who clearly loves him. Johnson realizes, perhaps too late, that any man willing to die for liberty deserves to be set free. I first saw this film as a child when it was released in theatres during the early sixties. This is not only my favorite Kirk Douglas film, but my personal favorite unparalleled American film. It is a tender movie that must be experienced to value its natural poignancy. Watching it, I am right there with Jack Burns, tired, thirsty and down-trodden. It is incredible filmmaking and easily a ten-star movie on all levels!Movie Review: Kirk Douglas's best film beautifully remastered!
Summary: 5 Stars
When this classic film begins, and you see Kirk Douglas and his horse in the New Mexico mountains, you think you are going to get a western movie in the standard mould. But then Douglas looks up to the sky and jet Kirk Douglas's best film beautifully remastered!
airplanes are flying overhead. No, this is the 1950s and Douglas' character, Jack Burns, is an old style cowboy riding his horse in a modern world with cars and trucks speeding down the highway.
This film is a western as well as a prison and jail break film and then there's the cat-and-mouse chase through the mountains. If parts of it remind you of the TV show "the Fugitive" it's even more ironic, since the one-armed man who sets of Burns troubles, is played by the same actor who set Richard Kimmble on the run in the TV show.
Walter Matthau as the Sheriff is wonderful as well, with just enough humor to lighten the reason he is chasing Burns. Carroll O'Connor has very few speaking lines but is an important character in the scheme of things. William Schallert - who may best be remembered as playing Patty Duke's dad on her TV show, is the Deputy and is often a cross between Don Knotts' Barney Fife and Jim Nabors' Gomer Pyle on The Andy Griffith Show". The Black and white remastered Panavision print is crisp and sharp and the sound was the cleanest I've heard from my 30 year-old television's speakers.
The added bonus on the 2009 DVD release is a 29 minute "Tribute" film with comments from both Douglas and his son, Michael, as well as Director Steven Spielberg - which includes a discussion of Darton Trumbo's script - plus a 9-minute discussion of Jerry Goldsmith's film score.
Though I'd heard of the film over the years, this is the first time I've seen it. I'm glad I did.
Steve Ramm
"Anything Phonographic"
Movie Review: A Masterpiece
Summary: 5 Stars
I've always loved this film, but viewing this new DVD edition was a real mind-blower. The film, if anything, was much more powerful and emotional than I remembered. All of the performances were first rate, but Douglas clearly gave the best performance of his life. I'm not surprised that it is his favorite film. It's too bad he (and the film) got no recognition at the time. I like a lot of Douglas's films, but he never did anything as natural or convincing as this. I know he wasn't thrilled with the director, David Miller, but I can't fault his direction; some of the shots are beautifully framed and they used lenses that kept everything in focus, both what is close up and what is far away, which works beautifully in those sweeping scenes of the mountains and valleys during the getaway sequence. The script by Dalton Trumbo (whom Douglas got off the Hollywood blacklist on "Spartacus") is perfect, and Jerry Goldsmith's spare score is one of his best. A lot of the players were unknown at the time, but later became stars, like Carrol O'Connor, Walter Mathau, Gena Rowlands and George Kennedy. All played their roles to a "T". This film has often been praised as a "little gem," but there's nothing little about it. It is the bittersweet story of a man out of his time, but desperately fighting to preserve his way of life, even after it has clearly vanished. It is wonderfully understated, as is Douglas's grand peformance. If you haven't seen it, you are in for a real treat. It is also wonderful to see Goldsmith's score finally released on CD by Varese Sarabande.