Pursued
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Movie Reviews of Pursued
Movie Review: Western Angst
Summary: 4 Stars
Looking at the other reviews for "Pursued", I don't think I have to repeat the plot summary for this dark, thoughtful 1947 western, directed by Raoul Walsh. While it may seem a bit dated in 2004, "Pursued" must have been considered very adult, compared to most westerns made in the 40s.By 1947, Robert Mitchum was well on his way to stardom, just a few short years after "Bob" Mitchum was playing small roles in Hopalong Cassidy movies. This may not be one of his best acting performances, but he already had great presence and was to remain one of the most watchable actors in film. Teresa Wright, Judith Anderson and--as Mitchum's nemesis--Dean Jagger are all top-notch.
James Wong Howe's black and white photography is very effective, especially the scenes of Mitchum riding across the rugged New Mexico terrain. The film is often bleak and foreboding, a reflection of the main protagonist's tortured soul.
Except for a few lines here and there, I found the picture quality of the DVD to be excellent.
If you like westerns that are full of action, with clearly defined heroes and villains, "Pursued" may not be for you. If, on the other hand, you would like to own a more cerebral, expertly crafted piece of cinema than the average "shoot-em-up", this film has much to offer.
Movie Review: Melodrama, pain, torment, and love
Summary: 4 Stars
Strangely, this black and white film lovingly restored through the auspices of Mr Martin Scorsese, is not your typical "western". Yes, there are shots fired and men ride horses, but the film is more dominated by two women with the concerns of love, family and hate than it is by the men, even though Mr Mitchum has never looked so dashing, and Dean Jagger is utterly wonderful as the vengeful evil scheming lawyer Uncle. Nor can one possibly ignore the score by Max Steiner who is in full orchestral flight, signalling every sigh, every moment of anger, or anguish. Freud gets a run, as does the legend of Cain and Abel, not to mention revenge tragedy. But above all CHANCE is the central motif - who should go to war, let's toss a coin to decide!!! Who should get the farm - let's toss a coin for it !!! And hero, put upon stepson and one of the characters PURSUED, Mr Mitchum, becomes a professional gambler. The photography too, gives visual expression to the haunted lives therein. Nevertheless, it is the wonderful Dame Judith Anderson and Teresa Wright who run away with the acting accolades. Every moment they are on, we cannot stop watching them.
In short, well written, beautifully directed work a pleasure to view.
Movie Review: Noir with Cowboy Boots
Summary: 4 Stars
Western noir, and it's pretty good. Angular, shadowy black and white photography (by James Wong Howe), the story told in flashbacks and flashbacks within flashbacks with the resigned narration of Robert Mitchum, a relentless villian, a hidden family mystery that might contain hints of incest...plus gunfights and New Mexico scenery.
Mitchum and Theresa Wright are very good as the possibly doomed couple. Wright seems to me to always have had a "nice girl next door" air about her that, I think, obscured what an excellent actress she was. Not just in Best Years of Our Lives, but look at her in The Little Foxes (where in her first movie she holds up very well with Bette Davis), The Men and Shadow of a Doubt. She knew how to deliver a line. Dean Jagger was almost as ubiquitous a character actor in the late Forties and Fifties as Thomas Mitchell had been in the Thirties and Forties. Jagger usually, it seemed to me, mostly played decent good guys or well intentioned weakings, and with deliberate speech. It was good to see him play so effectively a decisive-spoken out-and-out bad guy.
The DVD transfer is very good, but no extras
Movie Review: Excellent thriller...
Summary: 4 Stars
I wanted to watch this movie for one reason--Teresa Wright. I think she's one of the more pleasant actresses from the 40's, and when I saw she was in a thriller I was, well, thrilled!
I guess this would be classified as a western but only because it takes place in the west. It lacks all of the other markers of a traditional western. While I do like westerns, a break from the norm is very refreshing to me.
The premise is that Robert Mitchum is being "pursued" by a man out to kill him for revenge. WHY he is being pursued is the bigger question, though, and a question I will not answer lest I spoil the film. Just resign yourself to the fact that there is action and suspense throughout.
While I liked this film, it was not overwhelming to me, and that is why I am rating it only 4 stars. Wright is her typical pleasant self, Mitchum is a good hero, and Dean Jagger rounds out the stars as the sleazy bad guy. Had the cast been less with the same story this probably would have bombed. Fortunately for us, they picked the right folks!
If you like suspense, westerns or Teresa Wright you will like this film!
Movie Review: Western Drama and Thriller -
Summary: 4 Stars
"Pursued" is a tough psychological Western drama starring a young and handsome Robert Mitchum. Released in 1947, it tells the story of two families, the Rands and the Callums, who have a long-standing rivalry. A group of Callums kills a Rand family, except one young boy. He is rescued and adopted by a Callum widow who does not live too far from the Rand family property. She takes him in as one of her own and he becomes brother to her two children. He is the lone survivor of his family's massacre, but has flashbacks of the day his family was murdered. He remembers parts of the traumatic home invasion, but has blocked out much of it. He grows up not knowing his adopted family's role in the slaughter. Later in life he finds revenge and revelation.
Teresa Wright plays Thorley Callum, Mitchum's adoptive sister who may become his lover or his killer; Dean Jagger a jealous adoptive brother, and Judith Anderson his adoptive mother.