It is unusual to see a beach and ocean scene in a western but maybe it took a first time director to incorporate these elements in a western set in Monterey, California.
One-Eyed Jacks is Marlon Brando's only film as a director. He was reportedly unhappy with the production company trimming the film down in post production. In turn they were also not happy that the film went over budget.
Brando plays Rio who hangs out with 'Dad' Longworth (Karl Malden) in Mexico. When they are trapped in the desert, surrounded by the Mexican police, Dad makes off with his liberty and the gold while Rio ends up in prison.
Five years later Rio escapes and arrives in a Monterey town where Dad is the sheriff. He has settled down with a wife and step daughter. Rio is looking for revenge despite saying the past is the past.
Rio and his gang want to rob a bank and Rio takes the opportunity to seduce the stepdaughter. After Rio shoots a bully in a bar in self defence, Dad publicly whips Rio and breaks his shooting hand.
There is an Oedipal relationship between Rio and 'Dad.' However both go about at a leisurely pace in taking their revenge. Dad knows he has done wrong by not coming for Rio. He now has a lot to lose after making a respectable life for himself. Rio remains a rogue, constantly lying, always fibbing to the ladies. I could not for a moment believe in his relationship with the step daughter after his mendacity.
The film benefits from nice cinematography, it was one of the last movies made in Vista Vision, it captures the desert landscape really well. Given Brando's view of American history, he does not have a misty eyed view of a golden age of the west. His vision is of liars, cynics and cheaters.
Dad and Rio are rogues, it is just that Dad is hiding it underneath the veneer of respectability. When goaded by Rio, Dad shows his true face.
The problem is that the film is too long even after being cut down by the production company. The story meanders too much in a leisurely way. Brando was astute enough to have those familiar western faces such as Slim Pickens, Ben Johnson and Elisha Cook jr in the picture.
One-Eyed Jacks is Marlon Brando's only film as a director. He was reportedly unhappy with the production company trimming the film down in post production. In turn they were also not happy that the film went over budget.
Brando plays Rio who hangs out with 'Dad' Longworth (Karl Malden) in Mexico. When they are trapped in the desert, surrounded by the Mexican police, Dad makes off with his liberty and the gold while Rio ends up in prison.
Five years later Rio escapes and arrives in a Monterey town where Dad is the sheriff. He has settled down with a wife and step daughter. Rio is looking for revenge despite saying the past is the past.
Rio and his gang want to rob a bank and Rio takes the opportunity to seduce the stepdaughter. After Rio shoots a bully in a bar in self defence, Dad publicly whips Rio and breaks his shooting hand.
There is an Oedipal relationship between Rio and 'Dad.' However both go about at a leisurely pace in taking their revenge. Dad knows he has done wrong by not coming for Rio. He now has a lot to lose after making a respectable life for himself. Rio remains a rogue, constantly lying, always fibbing to the ladies. I could not for a moment believe in his relationship with the step daughter after his mendacity.
The film benefits from nice cinematography, it was one of the last movies made in Vista Vision, it captures the desert landscape really well. Given Brando's view of American history, he does not have a misty eyed view of a golden age of the west. His vision is of liars, cynics and cheaters.
Dad and Rio are rogues, it is just that Dad is hiding it underneath the veneer of respectability. When goaded by Rio, Dad shows his true face.
The problem is that the film is too long even after being cut down by the production company. The story meanders too much in a leisurely way. Brando was astute enough to have those familiar western faces such as Slim Pickens, Ben Johnson and Elisha Cook jr in the picture.