Man of the West
Yes, another western morality tale about a man forced to confront the sins of the past, but this truly aims for something extreme: (1) pushing the inner turmoil a lot further than earlier films; (2) setting the threat and actuality of brutal and humiliating sexual violence right at the centre of events (with this and TOUCH OF EVIL 1958 was really the year of rape); and (3) conveying a far stronger sense than usual of the wild enjoyment made possible by regressing to the drives (at times Lee J. Cobb’s Dock Tobin is almost Frank Booth-like). For all that, the narrative mechanics of the western somehow end up taking over, making for a disappointing last half-hour, and it is a shame that filmmakers and composers had not yet figured out how to take a more creative approach to the use of music.
Mini Review: Yes, another western morality tale about a man forced to confront the sins of the past, but this truly aims for something extreme: (1) pushing the inner turmoil a lot further than earlier films; (2) setting the threat and actuality of brutal and humiliating sexual violence right at the centre of events; and (3) conveying a far stronger sense than usual of the wild enjoyment made possible by regressing to the drives (at times Lee J. Cobb’s Dock Tobin is almost Frank Booth-like).