Movie Reviews for Night Passage

Night Passage

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Movie Reviews of Night Passage

Movie Review: Western fanatic
Summary: 3 Stars

I found this movie pretty good considering when it was shot and the fact that none of the modern technology was available at the time. James Stewart, as always, was very good and Audie Murphy, although a quiet spoken man, was also good but such parts, because of his quietness when speaking, I feel do not really suit him. I am biased towards westerns so more often than not enjoy them.

Movie Review: Disappointing 50s western
Summary: 2 Stars

Together, actor James Stewart and director Anthony Mann made five westerns in the fifties that are now considered classics of the genre. Night Passage was scheduled to be the sixth collaboration, until Mann pulled out because he considered the script sucked. Stewart stayed on purely because he got the chance to play the piano accordian and sing - which he does ad nauseum throughout the film (even in the bad guys hideout - and to make matters worse they all cluster around him in classic movie musical style!). It's only about five minutes into the film when you can see why Mann pulled out. There's none of the same intensity of his other westerns. It meanders along, with too many comic/cute/miusical asides. The usually reliable Dan Duryea fumbles his role of the head of the outlaws (it's as if he was briefed that the film was a comedy), so there's no strong villain to offset the heroes and thereby create tension. On the plus side, there's some stunning mountain scenery beautifully captured in this widescreen print, and we do have those two villainous western stallwarts, Robert Wilkie and Jack Elam along for the ride. And the final lengthy shootout in the deserted mountain mining camp is fun, if not riveting.

Movie Review: I Would Pass On Night Passage
Summary: 2 Stars

I viewed this film for the first time and was very disappointed. The story is not very good and I wished James Stewart got rid of that stupid accordian. I like James Stewart in films like Wonderful Life, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington and Destry Rides Again with Marlene Dietrich. This film lacks many qualities and does not come across as a film destined to be classic. I think the main distraction is the constant singing by James Stewart (Who is not a singer by any stretch of the imagination) and the playing of the accordian. I didn't get any feeling for the characters. The film comes across as a 'B' film. Not one Jame's best I'm afraid. Some of the scenery is nice, but a film needs more than scenery.

Movie Review: Pretty silly 50's western
Summary: 2 Stars

You can see why Anthony Mann - originally signed to direct - walked out on this film. The script is pretty silly and the characters uncompelling. Perhaps this film would be better described as a musical as Jimmy Stewart finds every excuse to sing while playing his accordion - yes really! A footnote in western film history.