Tonight's Movie: Border River (1954) - A Kino Lorber Blu-ray Review
Favorites Joel McCrea and Yvonne De Carlo star in BORDER RIVER (1954), a Universal Pictures Western just released on Blu-ray by Kino Lorber.This was at least the third time I'd watched BORDER RIVER since my first viewing in 2011, and I continue to enjoy it. The script is modest but the pleasures of watching McCrea and De Carlo in beautiful Moab, Utah, make this quite an enjoyable 80 minutes.
Some modern viewers will be surprised that McCrea's hero, Clete Mattson, is a dedicated Confederate soldier. It's perhaps ironic that in past decades our country was less divided about our "great divide" of the 1860s.
Mattson arrives in "Zona Libre," an area between the United States and Mexico ruled by General Calleja (Pedro Armendariz), planning to trade gold bars for army supplies.
Director George Sherman keeps things moving along at a good pace, and Irving Glassberg captures beautiful Moab in lovely Technicolor.
The BORDER RIVER supporting cast includes Alfonso Bedoya, Nacho Galindo, Ivan Triesault, Lane Chandler, and Bobby Hoy.
The Blu-ray is a beautiful print with excellent sound. De Carlo is shown to stunning effect wearing red and green gowns at various points. What a beauty!
Disc extras consist of the trailer; a gallery of four additional trailers for films starring McCrea or De Carlo; and a commentary track by Toby Roan of 50 Westerns From the 50s.
This is an enjoyable film which I can attest has good rewatch value. A very nice release from Kino Lorber which I'm sure to watch again in coming years.
Coming soon: A review of another De Carlo Universal Pictures Western released by Kino Lorber, TOMAHAWK (1951).
Thanks to Kino Lorber for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray.
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posted by Laura @ 11:20 PM
2 Comments:
Laura, a fine observation about McCrea playing southern officer, quite common in that period. There is a significant moment in She Wore a Yellow Ribbon between John Wayne and Ben Johnson that goes in the same direction. Only now does the mainstream culture lead us into division and animosity. My personal take is we are a failed or failing society, on the order of ancient Rome with a little Reign of Terror thrown in for seasoning.
Thank you. I remember that scene in SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON.
It's interesting to me that previous generations, while recognizing the evil of slavery, were more tolerant and understanding of the Americans on each side of the conflict, which promoted healing and national unity.
Best wishes,
Laura
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