Review of Bravados, The

Introduction

It`s amazing the tricks memory and time can play. Before I began reviewing films, I was under the impression that most of the Westerns from the Golden age of Hollywood were simple, bad versus good tales where the heroes wore white and the black clad villains twirled their moustaches while tying damsels to railway lines. There were a few exceptions of course, especially the Anthony Mann collaborations with James Stewart, but I always thought that the shading of Westerns began when Clint Eastwood first accused a bunch of flea bitten heavies of laughing at his mule. How wrong could I be? Barely a Western disc passes my eager reviewing eyes that doesn`t have some shade, some darkness, and a hint of moral ambiguity. That these films were made at the height of the studio systems, when stars were to be portrayed in the best light, and when the Hays code was absolutely draconian with what could be shown to the public, is a matter of sheer amazement. The latest such disc to drop through my letterbox is The Bravados starring Gregory Peck. Made in 1958, this is a powerful examination of what a desire for vengeance can do to a man.

Jim Douglass rides into the town of Rio Arriba in time for a rare event in the town`s history, a hanging. Four criminals are due to hang the next morning and the close-lipped Douglass has ridden 100 miles for the spectacle. The townsfolk are suspicious of this man though, some thinking that he has come to free the villains, others even assuming that he is the hangman. But all such suspicions are belied when he asks to see the men in their cell, and views them with pure hatred. The veil begins to lift when he meets an old flame in the town, and Josefa is stunned to learn that he has stopped attending church. She manages to convince him to attend services this night, but it`s when the townspeople are at services that the gang make their escape, kidnapping shopkeeper`s daughter Emma Steimmetz in the process. While the townspeople run around like headless chickens, eager to pursue the gang and rescue Emma, Douglass plays it cool, and sets off the next day, rested and prepared. He`s been tracking these men for the last six months, and knows what they are capable of. The town`s priest knows Douglass of old, and tells Josefa of what happened to his wife while he was working his ranch. Since then Douglass has been hunting the murderers, and when he finally catches up to one of the gang, justice is the furthest thing from his mind. What will his thirst for vengeance turn him into?

Video

The picture for The Bravados is presented in an impressive 2.35:1 anamorphic transfer. For a film that is reaching its half-century mark, it`s astounding to see a clear and sharp image, with strong colours and a distinct absence of print damage beyond the occasional scratch. That said, darker scenes are more prone to grain, and are less distinct than the rest of the film. There is also some nice use of exterior scenery in the film, with a couple of breathtaking scenes.

Audio

This another of those Europe friendly discs, with DD 2.0 mono soundtracks in French, Italian, German and Spanish, with plenty of subtitles. The English track is a re-mixed DD 4.0 track, with the dialogue very front-focussed and all the effects distributed liberally around the soundstage. This isn`t a subtle mix, and I didn`t feel that it was very natural. I would have preferred the original mono track in addition.

Features

The disc autoplays with one of those tacky piracy warnings, nothing else though.

Conclusion

I thoroughly enjoyed the Bravados, perhaps because I came to it expecting the opposite. But this is one of those stories that has a strong message, and that hinges on the performance of the lead. Here Gregory Peck excels as the driven vengeful man, relentlessly pursuing those who blames for the death of his wife. He brings a darker, tortured shade to the character that pays off in the final third of the film, as he realises exactly which path he has chosen.

It`s also a surprisingly dark and layered film for 1958, there is nothing heroic about Douglass` actions, and indeed the brutality and hatred with which he dispenses his so-called justice brings to mind the anti-heroes of the later re-imagining of the Western genre. His pursuit of the criminals is perhaps ironically reminiscent of Moby Dick, but the picture he keeps of his murdered wife in a pocket-watch reminds me of For A Few Dollars More. In one of those delightful movie connections, Lee Van Cleef plays one of the gang he pursues.

Douglass` story is revealed gradually, and it`s a mark of the writing that we learn about his past as we learn about his character. Although it rapidly becomes obvious what his motivations are, it isn`t spelled out until the end. Also I enjoyed how the film maintained a moral ambiguity up to the final scene. Douglass is hardly the hero as I have already mentioned, and the townsfolk aren`t altogether accepting of his assistance, until Emma is found. Just at the point when they decide to support his actions wholeheartedly, the film delivers a perfectly timed reversal, which throws everything Douglass has believed into doubt.

You can`t get away from the period in which the film was made, and the Western clichés of the time are never far behind. Somehow they aren`t as annoying when the narrative is so strong. The supporting cast vary, and Joan Collins is miscast as Josefa. I can`t see her as a hot-blooded Latin type, and she fails to really shine here. Ultimately, Hollywood can`t have its heroes acting questionably, and with a quick visit to church, Douglass emerges renewed, forgiven and penitent. Order has been restored with a quick confession, and he`s whiter than white once more.

Ending aside, The Bravados is an enjoyable character study that delivers when it comes to shade and complexity. The picture has stood the test of time well, and the sound isn`t too bad either. Gregory Peck`s performance makes this film work, and it`s well worth watching if you want something extra from the genre.