Wait, are you sure I haven't seen this film before?
Intro.
November was going to be my month dedicated to Westerns, though with my time constraints lately, it's quickly into a grab-bag sort of month. However, I've loved Westerns for many years, and there's something that still attracts me to the myth of the American frontier. I should clarify though, that I watch mostly older Westerns from the pre-spaghetti Western era. That may change as I try to find Westerns I have not previously seen to review on this site, so keep checking as I explore more wide open spaces, cowboys, cattle barons, train robberies and all that the West will allow you to dream.Overview
Ride Lonesome opens with our hero, bounty hunter Ben Brigade (Randolph Scott) riding alone in the rocky desert of the West. He tracks down criminal Billy John (James Best) and manages to outbluff Billy's help and then arrests him. They get to a way station for the stage only to find that the guy who runs it is off trying to catch his runaway horses. His wife is left at the station, and she's pretty handy with a shotgun. So are the two guys waiting at the station with her - Sam Boone (Pernell Roberts) and Whit (James Coburn). They've also been tracking Billy John because the state has offered amnesty to anyone who brings him in, and the two guys want a clean start in life. They decide to throw in with Brigade without saying why, but motives don't really matter when the stage station is attacked by Indians. The group have no choice but to push on to Santa Cruz, including Mrs. Carrie Lane (Karen Steele). But Brigade takes them the long way, knowing that taking longer will give Billy John's brother a chance to catch up with them. As we learn, that showdown with brother Frank is what Brigade's really after, and his plan for revenge (and the reason behind it) is shocking. Highlights
I tried to describe this movie the other day and realized that both what I liked and what I didn't like was one in the same - Ride Lonesome feels like every Western you've seen left out in the sun too long. It's boiled down to the essential core. I mean, you can't find a story that is used so often in Westerns - that of a man wronged and seeking revenge. What also struck me was the plight of Sam and Whit, who want a chance to start their lives over. That's the legend of the West as a place to start over, to build something on new land. So although the film feels predictable and very similar to so many other stories, what it does best is cut right to the core. No frills, and you won't find a single unnecessary word of dialogue.
The introduction to the film on TCM mentioned how well the camera captured the small characters against the massive wilderness from distance shots. I agree it's beautiful camerawork, but that idea of man vs. nature on a size scale can be traced way back in Western history. John Ford is famous for doing just that in most of his Westerns. So I'm not sure if they meant it was original or if it was following in the tradition, but either way it is very well orchestrated.
Finally, the characters were pretty standard as far as Westerns go, but Randolph Scott was very good in his role. I haven't seen him in many films, but I know he was famous for his Westerns and I'm glad this was the one I watched. He really carries the film. I have to say, I really loved that Carrie not only wielded a shotgun, but didn't shy away from using it. And yes, Pernell Roberts is in this, just before his days as the eldest Cartwright son on Bonanza. He's great too and actually delivers some of the best lines in the film, including one about how it took him and Whit a whole week till they found out what that word 'amnesty' meant. He also echoes the Ringo Kid from Stagecoach (1939) when he says "there are some things a man just can't ride around."
I could probably sit here all day and draw parallels between Ride Lonesome and any number of other Westerns like Stagecoach. What's interesting though is that this is one of the earliest in the string of anti-Westerns. Although it embodies much of the classic Hollywood Western (think John Ford), it starts turning towards the anti-hero and takes an unflinching look at morality. It isn't about justice; it's about vengeance.
Ride Lonesome is very much your typical, all-around Western. It features great scenery and a good performance by Randolph Scott, but it's also very typical. I'd say if you've never seen a Western or knew anything about the genre, this film would be great to add to your short list of films to see.
