There are a few of very necessary things to remember when creating a Western especially back when Westerns were a thriving genre. There are A LOT of them and some of them are spectacular and fans of Westerns are a very particular sort and if you don't give us what we want...we'll hate it. Night Passage in general has a potentially decent story but it gets bogged down in poor production decision, bad casting and (if the rumours are true) there was a lot of tense clashing on the set and that hurts a film and often comes through in the final product. Night Passage feels like missed potential. It feels like they rushed certain parts, and they weren't sure whether they were going for a thriller, a heist movie or...oh yah a Western. It just quite often felt like it was often missing its heart and soul somewhere in there and I think it boils down to not feeling the chemistry and energy from the cast. Still, the landscape, scenery and scenes aboard the tops of trains are truly outstanding. There is just some jaw dropping moments of scenery that they would have to create without the aid of computers like they do now.
Since I became a MASSIVE James Stewart fan in the last year or so, I am piling through his Westerns. I will say that Night Passage is the first Western of his I've seen where he isn't the angry, volatile, rough cowboy as he is in some of the other ones. He has a much softer side but not too soft in his performance. He does well but rumour has it that he took this role so that he could play his accordion and sing (both of which he does quite well) BUT it feels forced into the story and seems silly in context. I had heard of Audie Murphy before but I'm fairly certain this is the first time I've seen him in action. Another rumour is that original director Anthony Mann left the project because he felt (among other things) that Murphy was wrong for the role...well Mann should rest easy because he was right. Murphy is too soft, too short, looks ridiculous and completely unbelievable as this legendary evil criminal. I don't know if he is like this in every role but this was not a good one for him and the chemistry between he and Stewart is non-existent. Dan Duryea was actually the far superior villain and instead he is reduced to a sidekick for Murphy and that's ludicrous. However, Duryea still makes a good villain and saves that aspect of the film. Everyone else is decent in their perspective roles. Brandon DeWilde does a decent job as the kid that latches onto Stewart's cowboy. He's a little irritating and overused but he's alright. The women in the film are so underused and out of place and too much emphasis is put onto the bizarre love triangles and former flames going on.
On the surface a Western is sort of like a horror film...reeeeally easy to make and please fans. There are a few key ingredients that have to be in place to make a good Western and Night Passage seems to have some brawls, bad guys, good guys, train robberies and dusty towns but none of it comes together just right. It was okay but when you're swimming in a sea of westerns you have to be better than just okay. Director James Neilson is someone who comes from mostly television and perhaps he didn't have the chops or experience to make this work quite right. Night Passage (as far as I know) isn't considered a classic and you will find out why though I am sure it has its solid fans. I look forward to moving on and getting back to high quality Westerns. This one is forgettable at best. 5.5/10
Since I became a MASSIVE James Stewart fan in the last year or so, I am piling through his Westerns. I will say that Night Passage is the first Western of his I've seen where he isn't the angry, volatile, rough cowboy as he is in some of the other ones. He has a much softer side but not too soft in his performance. He does well but rumour has it that he took this role so that he could play his accordion and sing (both of which he does quite well) BUT it feels forced into the story and seems silly in context. I had heard of Audie Murphy before but I'm fairly certain this is the first time I've seen him in action. Another rumour is that original director Anthony Mann left the project because he felt (among other things) that Murphy was wrong for the role...well Mann should rest easy because he was right. Murphy is too soft, too short, looks ridiculous and completely unbelievable as this legendary evil criminal. I don't know if he is like this in every role but this was not a good one for him and the chemistry between he and Stewart is non-existent. Dan Duryea was actually the far superior villain and instead he is reduced to a sidekick for Murphy and that's ludicrous. However, Duryea still makes a good villain and saves that aspect of the film. Everyone else is decent in their perspective roles. Brandon DeWilde does a decent job as the kid that latches onto Stewart's cowboy. He's a little irritating and overused but he's alright. The women in the film are so underused and out of place and too much emphasis is put onto the bizarre love triangles and former flames going on.
On the surface a Western is sort of like a horror film...reeeeally easy to make and please fans. There are a few key ingredients that have to be in place to make a good Western and Night Passage seems to have some brawls, bad guys, good guys, train robberies and dusty towns but none of it comes together just right. It was okay but when you're swimming in a sea of westerns you have to be better than just okay. Director James Neilson is someone who comes from mostly television and perhaps he didn't have the chops or experience to make this work quite right. Night Passage (as far as I know) isn't considered a classic and you will find out why though I am sure it has its solid fans. I look forward to moving on and getting back to high quality Westerns. This one is forgettable at best. 5.5/10