The Far Country
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Movie Reviews of The Far Country
Movie Review: I'm gonna hang you, but I'm gonna like you.
Summary: 5 Stars
Some time back Humphrey Bogart was selected the number one male screen legend by the A.F.I. (American Film Institute or Asinine Film Idiots, take your pick.) Cary Grant came in second and James Stewart third. Without taking away anything from any of these fine actors, I think this is outrageous. I mean, how many light comedies was Bogart in? How many westerns was Grant in? In my opinion James Stewart was the greatest male film actor ever, and I'd knock Bogart all the way down to ninth place (between James Cagney and Spencer Tracy.) Then again, I've never thought CASABLANCA was "The Movie," so I suppose I'll never understand. Now that I've got that out of my system.... James Stewart DID star in a number of westerns, and his best were made in collaboration with Anthony Mann. THE FAR COUNTRY may not be the best, but it's a strong entry. Stewart plays Jeff Webster, a loner who's only friend is Ben Tatum (Walter Brennan.) Mann works by throwing opposites in the air and watching what gravity does to them - Ben is domestic and social (he talks about settling down with Jeff on a small ranch in Utah), Jeff is anti-social and footloose.
THE FAR COUNTRY begins in the port of Seattle, where Jeff arrives with a herd of cattle intended for the beef hungry (and rich) gold country of Alaska. He also arrives with two fewer drivers than he began with - he shot them, we are told, because they left the drive and took his cattle with them. Watching Stewart's suspicious eyes narrow and his hand hover over his guns after he returns guns to the two remaining drivers ("Here. You've been waiting to use them for 500 miles.") you can tell that he's an effective enforcer of frontier justice.
Jeff and Ben meet an even more effective enforcer when they reach Skagway. Sheriff Gannon (John McIntire) is the only irredeemable character in the movie. Quick on the draw and cop, judge and jury in the wild frontier town of Skagway Gannon is totally corrupt. Stewart's two love interests, Good Girl Renee Vallon (Corinne Calvet) and Bad Girl Ronda Castle (Ruth Roman) round out the strong cast of major characters.
McIntire is delightfully wicked as the stove-pipe hat wearing hanging judge. Sheriff Gannon is motivated by greed and sadism, and McIntire plays him with gusto. Stewart explores the darker side with his customary intelligence and talent - Jeff Webster is a difficult role, and Stewart makes his journey from misanthropy to social consciousness utterly convincing. Roman is the beautiful saloon owner who may be redeemed by love. Calvet is the French gamin whose beauty (Calvet was a pin-up model in the late `40s and early `50s) is hidden beneath a wool stocking cap and behind a heavy flannel shirt.
Brennan, his upper dental plate out in this one, is the bridge between Jeff Webster and the rest of society. His sin is too much sociability. For my money, Brennan is a can't-miss actor. If he's in it, it's probably good.
The film was shot on location in Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada, and it looks magnificent.
If you're familiar only with the MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON/IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE/ HARVEY Jimmy Stewart, and you'd like to see him in an oater exploring the dark side, THE FAR COUNTRY is a good place to start. I recommended this one without qualifications.
Movie Review: Another great Mann and Stewart Western, with a strong supporting cast and outstanding scenery.
Summary: 5 Stars
The FAR COUNTRY (1954) Was the forth and penultimate Western from this director and star pairing of Anthony Mann and James Stewart and without doubt puts them second only to John Ford and John Wayne in making fine Western movies that have stood the test of time for over fifty years. Unlike Ford who almost exclusively returned time after time to Monument valley, Mann picked wonderful new locations for each of his Westerns, this time being the awesome landscape of Jasper National Park in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
The story (as with previous outings) is from a Borden Chase script and has tough cattleman Jeff Webster (James Stewart) and his sidekick Ben Tatum (Walter Brennan) meeting up in 1896 Seattle, hearing of the gold rush Jeff decides to take his cattle to Dawson City en-route he falls foul of no-good Skagway judge, sheriff Gannon (John McItire). Webster finds himself jailed. Gannon releases him but confiscates Jeff's cattle. Jeff agrees to lead a party of eager prospectors up to Dawson with eager support from saloon owner Rhonda Castle (Ruth Roman) and young French Canadian girl Renee Vallon (Connie Calvet) as they near the Canadian border Jeff and Ben slip back one night and steal the cattle back, returning to the border with Gannon and his cronies in hot pursuit, Jeff manages to delay the pursuers long enough to allow everyone to cross the border into Canada.
Delivering the cattle to Dawson and selling them to Rhonda Castle following an auction. Rhonda sets up a saloon along with new arrival Gannon. Meanwhile Jeff and Ben set off to do a little gold mining of their own. Trouble brews as Gannon and his motley band cheat the miners one by one from their claims. The miners and good town folk try to elect Jeff as marshal, but he refuses so local man Rube Morris (J C Flippen) is elected. After a killing in Rhonda's saloon Rude is left facing one of Gannon's hired guns, Jeff suggesting that he backs down to save his life. Rube loses face and resigns, and then follows more claim jumping until only a few are left. Jeff and Ben receive their visit in due course and are ambushed when leaving camp, both are badly shot up and left for dead, Jeff somehow drags himself out of the river recovers Ben's body and heads for town. Renee takes Jeff in and tends his wounds as he vows to get those responsible. After a partial recovery Jeff sets out for the final showdown with Gannon and his men holed up in the saloon.
This Universal DVD release 94 minutes running time has no special extras apart from the original Trailer, which is a pity as all these Mann / Stewart Westerns deserve to be preserved in the best possible way, good value for little money though! Last but not least to look out for in this series is THE MAN FROM LARAMIE (1955).
Movie Review: "The Far Country (1955) ... Anthony Mann ... Universal Studios (2003)"
Summary: 5 Stars
Universal Studios presents "THE FAR COUNTRY" (1955) (97 min/Color) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) -- Set in the Yukon, Jeff Webster (James Stewart) and his friends are driving cattle to market from Wyoming to Canada, where the boom towns pay top dollar for beef --- When they arrive in Skagway, the corrupt sheriff of the town, Gannon (John McIntire) steals the cattle and Webster is forced to fight for their herd --- Together with Ronda Castle (Ruth Roman), owner of The Skagway Castle & Dawson Castle saloons, they find themselves up against an evil they were not prepared for --- When Webster's friend is killed, he is forced to go up against the evil Gannon.
Good versus evil in incredible Yukon settings makes this a highly entertaining Western.
Written for the screen by Borden Chase who also scripted two other Stewart/Mann westerns: "Winchester '73" (1950) & "Bend of the River" (1952).
Under the production staff of:
Anthony Mann [Director]
Borden Chase [story and screenplay]
Aaron Rosenberg [Producer]
Henry Mancini [Original Music]
Hans J. Salter [Original Music]
Frank Skinner [Original Music]
Herman Stein [Original Music]
William H. Daniels [Cinematographer]
Russell F. Schoengarth [Film Editor]
BIOS:
1. Anthony Mann [aka: Emil Anton Bundesmann] - [Director]
Date of Birth: 30 June 1906 - San Diego, California
Date of Death: 29 April 1967 - Berlin, Germany
2. James Stewart
Date of Birth: 20 May 1908 - Indiana, Pennsylvania
Date of Death: 2 July 1997 - Los Angeles, California
the cast includes:
James Stewart - Jeff Webster
Ruth Roman - Ronda Castle
Corinne Calvet - Renee Vallon
Walter Brennan - Ben Tatum
John McIntire - Gannon
Jay C. Flippen - Rube
Harry Morgan - Ketchum
Steve Brodie - Ives
Connie Gilchrist - Hominy
Robert J. Wilke - Madden
Chubby Johnson - Dusty
Royal Dano - Luke
Jack Elam - Newberry
Kathleen Freeman - Grits
Connie Van - Molasses
Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 5 Stars
Performance: 5 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 5 Stars
Overall: 5 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]
Total Time: 97 min on DVD ~ Universal Studios ~ (05/06/2003)
Movie Review: Stunning location shots elevate this impressive cowboy movie above most!
Summary: 5 Stars
This review is for the 2003 Universal DVD.
The movie begins in Seattle in the spring of 1896 where Jeff Webster (James Stewart) leads a herd of cattle that are to be loaded on a paddleboat headed to Skagway, Alaska. At the dock, Webster meets up with his longtime sidekick Ben Tatum (Walter Brennan). Shortly afterward, it's revealed that while driving the cattle from Wyoming, Webster shot two of his cowhands for allegedly trying to rustle his cows. But due to conflicting accounts, he's a wanted man by the law and eludes the authorities while boarding the boat with the help of Ronda Castle (Ruth Roman) and arrives in Skagway with his cattle. While herding the cattle through the streets of Skagway, a small stampede ensues and interferes with a public hanging. Webster is arrested by a corrupt judge named Sheriff Gannon (John McIntire) and loses all of his valuable cattle as restitution for the minor damage and short interruption. This sets up the rest of the movie where Webster and Tatum have no choice but to look for gold in the lawless Yukon where greed, corruption, brutality and even fatal hostility run amuck.
The one thing that sets this film apart from other westerns is the absolutely beautiful location shots in and around the Canadian Rockies. The color cinematography is gorgeous although it's surprising and somewhat perplexing that Universal chose to present this film in a fullscreen format instead of widescreen. Jimmy Stewart plays one of the more complex and sometimes disturbing heroes as he at times chooses his own self-interests over moral decency. I also enjoyed Walter Brennen who gives a stellar performance as the venerable sidekick. Besides John McIntire, there are also many other recognizable Hollywood veterans in this film including Jack Elam, Harry Morgan and Steve Brodie. I can't say this is the greatest western ever, but its easily ranks within my Top 5.
The fullscreen technicolor presentation is very nice. It's not quite restored to perfection, but it comes close and sometimes the colors fade in and out. There aren't any bonuses except a trailer, which is a shame since the location shooting must have been an amazing adventure in itself.
Movie: A-
DVD Quality: A-
Movie Review: "I don't need other people. I don't need help. I can take care of me."
Summary: 5 Stars
The penultimate collaboration between director Anthony Mann and star James Stewart (excluding the few days Mann worked on Night Passage before parting company with the star under less than amicable circumstances), The Far Country belies its mainstream look to offer another portrait of an embittered man dragged unwillingly to his own redemption, fighting it every step of the way. This time he's a cattle driver whose response to labour problems - challenging troublesome cowhands to a gunfight at the end of the trail - results in his cattle being confiscated by John McIntire's larcenous judge of the Roy Bean school of law and order. Stealing them back and taking them across the Canadian border, he soon finds himself unwillingly drawn into the growing conflict between prospectors and the judge as he cheats or kills them out of their claims...
While it's no great surprise which way Stewart turns at the end, he's a surprisingly callous critter along the way, even using his desire to just be left alone to excuse not warning a group of prospectors of an impending avalanche when he has the chance because it's not his problem. For most of the film there's really only a hair's breadth between him and McIntire, something the judge recognises immediately, revelling in the company of a kindred spirit even as he's genially planning to lynch him. In many ways the townspeople who put their faith in him probably recognise it too - despite their appeals to his dead-and-buried better nature, there's an unspoken acknowledgement that the only person who can stand up to the judge is someone almost as bad as he is.
As usual with Mann there's an exceptional use of high country locations, though for once the final showdown takes place on level ground, and the film is almost perfectly cast with strong support from Walter Brennan, Harry Morgan and Ruth Roman (though Corinne Calvert's young romantic interest veers to the irritating). Sadly the great cinematography of the Canadian Rockies is done few favours by a distinctly average DVD transfer, with only the theatrical trailer as an extra.