Post by kijii on Sept 23, 2018 16:05:22 GMT
Compositions bounce back and forth between long shots and close-ups, amplified in the outstanding visuals is the stories noir-ish undertones, the characters are often shrouded in deep black shadows. From vast landscapes to confined spaces, from the opening moment to the last second the film is composed with incredible visual flair.
In 1957 Forty Guns was criticized and dismissed by American film critics, over their heads was the stylized melodramatics, they missed the big picture, thematically there is so much packed into the short 80 min run time.
A testament to Fuller's craftsmanship is the fact that the stylistic production was conceived with a very low budget. The abstact film however was loved by European film critics and audiences who grasped the brilliance of Fuller's cinematic art, the originality of his multi dimensional work.
The film has been an inspiration for directors as diverse as Sergio Leone and Seijun Suzuki, even Clint Eastwood borrows a moment he uses in his Unforgiven.
Fuller had said that one thread theme of Forty Guns was juvenile delinquency and how we need to teach kids about the proper use of guns and how to be good adults.
A wonderful cast is headed with a commanding performance from the black-clad matriarch, an excellent rabidly aggressive lead from Barbara Stanwyck. She also did her own dangerous horse stunt work in the dramatic storm scene. Barry Sullivan is perfectly suited playing the stoic rugged ex lawman.
The violence of love … Floridly melodramatic , stylistic hysteria, elements of a Gothic romance, written with outrageous dialogue that serves up a pulp drama rich in Freudian subtext, and in typical Fuller style two songs are included one in particular adding a truly weird note.
There is just so much to admire and love about this film !! .. it has become one of my essential favourite films 10/10
Transcending the confines of a routine generic Western, the film as the full title accurately suggests is,
Samuel Fuller's Forty Guns
Jessica Drummond: I'm not interested in you, Mr. Bonnell. It's your trademark, .. May I feel it?
Thanks for this review. I always enjoy your reviews.
I just saw it for the first time this week. I knew I loved the film, but I had a hard time describing the story. This has all the feeling of a big black-and-white Western (on the widescreen, no less). The cinematography was wonderful and so was the music and song.
However, I had a hard time understanding the relationship between Barbara Stanwyck and Barry Sullivan. I also, liked the song sung at the bathhouse. It is so rare that we get to see how these cowboys kept clean in the old west. I never imagined they could rent a bath and have someone singing there too.
I know there have been other black-and-white widescreen westerns, but I can't think of any.
Can we name a few?