Status
Released
original language
English
Budget
$ 5400000
Revenue
$ 32855818
Leslie Lynnton Benedict
Jordan "Bick" Benedict Jr.
Jett Rink
Luz Benedict II
Vashti Synthe
Uncle Bawley
Luz Benedict
Jordan "Jordy" Benedict III
Angel Obregón II
Sir David Karfrey
Mrs. Nancy Lynnton
'Bob' Dace
Mort 'Pinky' Snythe
Dr. Horace Lynnton
Old Polo
Judge Oliver Whiteside
Juana Guerra Benedict
Lacey Lynnton
Bale Clinch
Gabe Target
Adarene Clinch
Angel Obregón Sr.
Sarge
Mrs. Obregón
Dr. Guerra
Lona Lane
Watts
Jefferson Swazey
Judy Benedict
Minor Role
Mary Lou Decker
Wedding Guest
Guest at Jeff Rink's Banquet
Wedding Guest
Older Beauty Operator
Guest at Jett Rink's Banquet
Judy Benedict - Age 4
War Winds the Horse (uncredited)
Governor's Ball Guest (uncredited)
Governor's Ball Guest (uncredited)
Security Guard (uncredited)
Governor's Ball Guest (uncredited)
Guest (uncredited)
Governor's Ball Guest (uncredited)
Written by Geronimo1967 on 2022-12-28
This is essentially three stories that George Stevens has rolled into one, long, family melodrama. It all starts when "Bick" (Rock Hudson) travels from his massive Texas ranch to buy an horse from "Dr. Lynnton" (Paul Fix). The first thing he sees though is not the beautiful black stallion, but the man's daughter "Lesley" (Elizabeth Taylor) riding it. After a sticky start, she is on her way to his home, as his wife, where she must settle into a life where women like her are expected to provide children and live otherwise fairly ornamental lives. Needless to say, she isn't really up for that and the next portion of the film follows her efforts to find a purpose. "Jett Rink" (James Dean) is a general factotum on their place. Disliked by "Bick" but protected to an extent by his sister "Luz" (Mercedes McCambridge). Tragedy strikes and "Jett" finds himself the beneficiary of that to the tune of a small plot of land where he quickly discovers oil. That changes the dynamic of the relationships and with the onset of WWII, the traditional lives of all concerned are shaken to the core. The final third, if you like, has probably the strongest message: those who fought together during the war regardless of race or creed are now (largely) back home, victorious, but are expected to fit back into their social demographic - and Stevens uses a swathe of new characters, including their son (Dennis Hopper) and the briefest of appearances from Sal Mineo to illustrate the hypocrisy and double standards that entailed. This third is, in my view, also the weakest section of the story. Perhaps because a degree of ennui was setting in after two hours already, but the flawed characterisation of Dean is a bit too superficial and Miss Taylor - who really does dominate this film - takes too much of a back seat as the familial discord and the effects of the bottle start to dominate the plot. Though Hudson is maybe not the strongest of character actors, here he does provide a degree of accruing decency to his character and at times there is a spark of chemistry between the two leads who, despite themselves, do actually love each other. It's certainly a grand piece of cinema with some spectacular photography. The make-up artistes make a decent stab at facilitating the ageing process as the film progresses and Dimitri Tiomkin manages to adapt his score from the initial Western style genre to a modern modern one creatively. It really does need a big screen and a comfortable seat to get the best out of the performances, but it is definitely worth it.