This is the kind of movie, which is usually called "low key" ... below-average movie-critic Leonard Maltin calls this the usual interesting Boettcher/Scott-collaboration and gives it a 2,5 points out of possible 4 ... come on ! This movie's a little gem, a gem !!
OK, it was made fast and with little money, but does it show ...? No! The story is simple, but is it simple-minded? No!
This is a classic story in the "modern" setting of the wild west. This is a Greek tragedy in modern clothes. Awesome!
Let's talk details:
1.) Randolph Scott is just great, the perfect guy for the role! He doesn't talk much (I bet there also was not much talk needed between Boettcher and Scott, since this was unfortunately their last collaboration and each one must have known the other inside out), he does acting minimal style (perfect for the role), he IS the American western loner in search for his wife (like Wayne in THE SEACHERS, which is admittedly the better of the 2, but THE SEARCHES is more existentialistic, at which COMANCHE STATION is not aiming). I would even go so far as to say SCOTT is - in his acting style - the Charles BRONSON of the 50ies! He is never over-acting, as many actors from the Lee Strasberg school are, Scott just is. And what a presence!
2.) The story unfolds lovely, there is no black-white, no good-bad, all characters have their dark and their bright sides, all show emotion, but all are tough when toughness is needed.
3.) The dialog is sparse, but always on the spot. There are no forced funny lines, but the characters are not without humor, even if it's a bleak one or cynicism.
4.) The scenery, where this little gem was shot, is just breathtaking! What a countryside (that goes for all Boettcher/Scott-western)! And it's so superbly photographed, it's one of the few movies, were I would really love to see this countryside (thanx for the info on the discussion board!).
5.) It's just 70-something minutes "long", but there is more happening than in lot longer movies and still there is no hectic in this one, it's so lovely leisurely paced, which shows real craftsmanship. There are no scenes just a few seconds long and heavy cutting to get suspense out of short, hectic scenes, most scenes are long shots, lovingly choreographed, beautifully shot, in short: this is the kinda movie like an old armchair: you sit down and it just feels GREAT !
I have now seen this 4 or 5 times and always enjoyed it a lot. Although there are some better western, these aren't many. I give this one a hearty 10 out of 10 and in a list of the all-time best western ever made, I'd put it around number 10 (after classics as GOOD, BAD UGLY, OUTLAW JOSEY WALES, C'ERA UN VOLTA IL WEST, UNFORGIVEN, SEARCHERS and a couple more).
Prime stuff !
OK, it was made fast and with little money, but does it show ...? No! The story is simple, but is it simple-minded? No!
This is a classic story in the "modern" setting of the wild west. This is a Greek tragedy in modern clothes. Awesome!
Let's talk details:
1.) Randolph Scott is just great, the perfect guy for the role! He doesn't talk much (I bet there also was not much talk needed between Boettcher and Scott, since this was unfortunately their last collaboration and each one must have known the other inside out), he does acting minimal style (perfect for the role), he IS the American western loner in search for his wife (like Wayne in THE SEACHERS, which is admittedly the better of the 2, but THE SEARCHES is more existentialistic, at which COMANCHE STATION is not aiming). I would even go so far as to say SCOTT is - in his acting style - the Charles BRONSON of the 50ies! He is never over-acting, as many actors from the Lee Strasberg school are, Scott just is. And what a presence!
2.) The story unfolds lovely, there is no black-white, no good-bad, all characters have their dark and their bright sides, all show emotion, but all are tough when toughness is needed.
3.) The dialog is sparse, but always on the spot. There are no forced funny lines, but the characters are not without humor, even if it's a bleak one or cynicism.
4.) The scenery, where this little gem was shot, is just breathtaking! What a countryside (that goes for all Boettcher/Scott-western)! And it's so superbly photographed, it's one of the few movies, were I would really love to see this countryside (thanx for the info on the discussion board!).
5.) It's just 70-something minutes "long", but there is more happening than in lot longer movies and still there is no hectic in this one, it's so lovely leisurely paced, which shows real craftsmanship. There are no scenes just a few seconds long and heavy cutting to get suspense out of short, hectic scenes, most scenes are long shots, lovingly choreographed, beautifully shot, in short: this is the kinda movie like an old armchair: you sit down and it just feels GREAT !
I have now seen this 4 or 5 times and always enjoyed it a lot. Although there are some better western, these aren't many. I give this one a hearty 10 out of 10 and in a list of the all-time best western ever made, I'd put it around number 10 (after classics as GOOD, BAD UGLY, OUTLAW JOSEY WALES, C'ERA UN VOLTA IL WEST, UNFORGIVEN, SEARCHERS and a couple more).
Prime stuff !