There are definitely some role reversals from what would've been expected of a western in the 1950s. I know it's widely regarded as a "feminist" western, perhaps in the vein of Cat Ballou, though that was a very different film and a western comedy.
Nevertheless, ultimately the man is still the hero of the film, even though he had to kiss his lady with a bullet to save the day. And at the end of the film it is her running after him as he's leaving town rather than the other way around.
I thought it was, overall, a fun movie that seems to be mostly forgotten today. I asked a friend who is into classic film if he had heard of it and he had not. I asked my dad who was alive at the time of the film's release if he had seen it, and he also was not familiar with it. I ran across it randomly at the library. I saw the Criterion DVD and decided to check it out. Glad I did.
Lastly, I have to give credit for the tornado scene. The effects were surprisingly effective.
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BeaSouth (2805)
2 years ago
Agree with your thoughts. I was also impressed with the special effects in the tornado scene and how Fuller was able to portray a seamless transition from the storm into the moonlit night. I also read that Fuller had planned for a more tragic ending in which Jessica and Griff do not reunite. I have to admit that I would’ve been disappointed in that. A classic Western has to have the traditional ending where the hero gets the girl or you feel like you got ripped off. I have renewed respect for Barbara Stanwyck. Her horse riding was incredible and really amazing to watch. She was fantastic and very entertaining in her scenes. Thanks again for recommending this movie on our other chat because I would never have otherwise discovered it.
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