Dish of the Day

Just some film musings of a more succinct, spontaneous and sometimes seditious nature:

Monday, March 20, 2023

Today’s “Dish of the Day” has a brief review of mine that was inspired by a post in one of the film related Facebook chat rooms. This includes the Cinema Cafe group (all readers are encouraged to join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/902349343110685).

Pursued (1947)

Pursued is one fascinating and refreshingly original western with some stunning film noir qualities containing imagery that lingers in the memory like they do for its haunted protagonist Jeb Rand played by film noir legend Robert Mitchum. This is, in fact, the most noir western not only for the psychological exploration of Mitchum's character but those highly motivated individuals who are either desperately trying to help him or bring him down. A child in hiding, Jeb witnesses his family being killed. As if that’s not traumatic enough, now as an adult, he has to fight his own subconsciously repressed past as well as those who would like to see him join his deceased kin. The performances are all perfectly judged, aided by filmmaker Raoul Walsh’s consummate guidance. Niven Busch wrote the intricate and feverishly taut screenplay. Busch’s signature theme of deadly delirium can also be found in his written contributions to Duel in the Sun (1946), The Capture (1950), The Furies (1950) and The Moonlighter (1953). Cinematographer James Wong Howe has enhanced the expressionistic film noir atmosphere with his dexterous blend of light and shadow from breathtaking vistas to close quarters alike. Of the thousands upon thousands of westerns made, with their typical overtly delineated good guys and bad, it's refreshing to find in Pursued such a complex and unique perspective into the thoughts and feelings behind actions that, in this genre, are so often taken for granted. Western and noir enthusiasts should be equally impressed and that goes double for fans of both.

All responses are not only welcomed but encouraged in the comments section below.

Hope to see you tomorrow.

A.G.