I can't be the only one who noticed it, but I didn't see it mentioned by any other reviewers or find it in any of the trivia for this film, so here goes. Did you take a good look at the blaze faced roan each time it was ridden casually versus when it was a bucking bronco? I'm sure it was two different horses. The mild mannered horse was a solid brown color, and when it was going berserk, it always had a dusty gray look to it. At first I thought that was the idea, having him kick up enough dust to make it look like it was affecting his coloration. But then, about the middle of the story, Ben (Glenn Ford) and Howdy (Henry Fonda) are making their way up to the high country, and Howdy remarks how different the horse's disposition can be at different times, almost like two different animals. To which Ben replies "You could say that" with a wry smile. That's what clinched it for me.
Well as for the rest of the story, this was a bit of a slow mover for me. Having been long time partners, I didn't get a real good sense of Ben and Howdy being buddies very much, any charisma between Fonda and Ford just didn't seem to come across. A lot of it seemed tired to me, making it appear more like a B Western with big names rather than an A list production. In fact it wasn't much of a Western either come to think of it, but a story about aging horsemen who use their skill and experience to make a buck before blowing it at the end of each season.
Even more lamentable was that scene with the pair of valley girls the duo tries to help out when their car breaks down. I guess the script called for them to play it dumb because they sure played it dumb. Following that 'hats behind the behind' scene I'm kind of grateful the girls didn't get to do their Snakes of Love act; I can only imagine what that was all about.
Well far be it for me to suggest you shouldn't watch this flick, because if you're a Fonda or Ford fan I guess you could find this somewhat entertaining. This is where I get to paraphrase Fonda's character when he'd say something like 'Whatever suits you would just tickle me plum to death". I'll have to leave it at that.
Well as for the rest of the story, this was a bit of a slow mover for me. Having been long time partners, I didn't get a real good sense of Ben and Howdy being buddies very much, any charisma between Fonda and Ford just didn't seem to come across. A lot of it seemed tired to me, making it appear more like a B Western with big names rather than an A list production. In fact it wasn't much of a Western either come to think of it, but a story about aging horsemen who use their skill and experience to make a buck before blowing it at the end of each season.
Even more lamentable was that scene with the pair of valley girls the duo tries to help out when their car breaks down. I guess the script called for them to play it dumb because they sure played it dumb. Following that 'hats behind the behind' scene I'm kind of grateful the girls didn't get to do their Snakes of Love act; I can only imagine what that was all about.
Well far be it for me to suggest you shouldn't watch this flick, because if you're a Fonda or Ford fan I guess you could find this somewhat entertaining. This is where I get to paraphrase Fonda's character when he'd say something like 'Whatever suits you would just tickle me plum to death". I'll have to leave it at that.