Getting set for a friends birthday, I decided to look in a local store for some movies/music he would like. After picking up the debut Grime album by Dizzee Rascal (as you do!) I spotted a fun- looking Western starring Gary Cooper,which led to me and a pal getting set to welcome Jones.
View on the film:
Shining as the lone star produced by him, Gary Cooper gives a very good performance as Melody Jones,whose dry wit Cooper subtly uses to poke fun at his own Western image,whilst remaining a chiseled outlaw who always has Longpre's safety as the first thing on his mind.
Filmed whilst she was pregnant, Loretta Young gives a wonderful performance as Longpre,who is given a surprisingly modern feisty attitude by Young,as Young joyfully outguns all of the cowboys in sight.
Balancing the slingshots of Comedy and Western,director Stuart Heisler & cinematographer Milton R. Krasner (who was also the cinematographer on How The West Was Won) give the outdoor scenes a breezy lightness,as the baking hot sun covers the land,that causes Jones to have to run to the nearest building for cover.
Keeping the real Jones hidden under his hat,Heisler counters the relaxed mood of the outdoor scenes with sweaty Film Noir tension,dripping from Jones and Longpre stylishly hiding in the shadows of houses from the bullets of the outlaws. Saddling up to Alan Le May's book,the screenplay by Nunnally Johnson takes clever,underhanded shots at the genre,from the "Wanted" sign being of a half- remembered name,to Jones thinking women can't shoot,whilst being unable to hold a gun straight himself!
Centered round Jones mistaken identity,Johnson sadly never quite gets a perfect shot at all the excitement the scenario offers,as Jones comes along.
View on the film:
Shining as the lone star produced by him, Gary Cooper gives a very good performance as Melody Jones,whose dry wit Cooper subtly uses to poke fun at his own Western image,whilst remaining a chiseled outlaw who always has Longpre's safety as the first thing on his mind.
Filmed whilst she was pregnant, Loretta Young gives a wonderful performance as Longpre,who is given a surprisingly modern feisty attitude by Young,as Young joyfully outguns all of the cowboys in sight.
Balancing the slingshots of Comedy and Western,director Stuart Heisler & cinematographer Milton R. Krasner (who was also the cinematographer on How The West Was Won) give the outdoor scenes a breezy lightness,as the baking hot sun covers the land,that causes Jones to have to run to the nearest building for cover.
Keeping the real Jones hidden under his hat,Heisler counters the relaxed mood of the outdoor scenes with sweaty Film Noir tension,dripping from Jones and Longpre stylishly hiding in the shadows of houses from the bullets of the outlaws. Saddling up to Alan Le May's book,the screenplay by Nunnally Johnson takes clever,underhanded shots at the genre,from the "Wanted" sign being of a half- remembered name,to Jones thinking women can't shoot,whilst being unable to hold a gun straight himself!
Centered round Jones mistaken identity,Johnson sadly never quite gets a perfect shot at all the excitement the scenario offers,as Jones comes along.