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Reviews
The Killing (1956)
Interesting But Dated
Film that put Kubrick on the map seems very dated. Excellent use of light and shadows with mostly solid acting but Hayden's performance doesn't hold up nowadays. Some of his dialouge is almost laughable. Fight scene at the bar racetrack looks terribly staged by today's standards. Are theydancing or fighting? Please! Best performances, without question, belong to Cook & Windsor. I knew the racetrack looked familiar and surprisingly, it's the recently closed Bay Meadows in San Mateo. Ending on tarmac is rather crass with poodle then turns anti-climatic as Hayden knows it's over. However, lots of heavy hitters involved in The Killing so as a curio or film noir, it might hold solid interest for some but seem rather trite to others.
San Antonio (1945)
San Antonio Blues
Hard to believe this was Flynn's highest grossing film but war-weary patrons were looking for any form of escapism. Sharp Technicolor production, nice use of Warner's Calabasas Ranch plus razor sharp costumes for Alexis Smith make this film watchable but not much else. Flynn smiles his way through the proceedings but looks rather silly in the red bandanna and toy gun.
Nevertheless, his scenes with Alexis generate smiles. Was there anybody better than Flynn? I think not. His riding a horse then dismounting into the window of the stage is a nice touch. Unfortunately, this tepid movie plods along until the anti-climatic saloon fight scene. All stunts, prate-falls and special effects look so staged it's distracting. By the end you're left thinking: let's wrap this up! I'm a huge Flynn fan but San Antonio entertainment isn't as big as Texas. Dodge City, Virginia City and even Rocky Mountain are better bets.
Note: Some stunts done with Horses would never see the light of day now. One scene has Flynn chasing Paul Kelly across a bridge, Flynn jumps onto Kelly's white horse with both taking a big fall into the river. It's one of the more dramatic moments in the entire film. Speaking of Kelly, his personal life was almost as drama filled as Flynn's.
Rocky Mountain (1950)
Nothing "Rocky" For Flynn Here
By the time Errol made this film, he'd walked through a number of Westerns including his previous venture, where he played, of all things, a sheep-herder, in "Montanta". Yet from the outhouse to the penthouse Flynn transitioned into Rocky Mountain which goes down as his last but also one of his best Westerns.
There's an authentic, grainy feel in this black and white adventure by co-Robin Hood Director, William Keighley. He shows a wonderful use of mountains near Gallop, New Mexico. Flynn looks like he actually "gets it" and doesn't mail in his performance. He's surrounded by a solid cast of character actors including a young/thin Slim Pickens in his film debut. Chubby Johnson is great as the stage-driver. In fact, in his own subtle way, steals almost every scene. Dickie Jones is memorable as the kid, Buck Wheat. Flynn met his 3rd wife, Patrice Wymore in this film.
Of note are two great scenes where "real" Indians attack a stagecoach plus the final confrontation between Flynn's men. Only drawbacks are the staged "cut-in" closeups of Flynn. He looks puffy and fat in these shots whereas, in most of the film, he looks good. I agree with other posters who mention this has a John Ford "look" plus the great horse riding scenes. It doesn't get much better or real than what's here.
Montana (1950)
Montana? Not Baaaad!
Errol Flynn, as a sheep-herder? Say it ain't sew! No wonder Flynn drank his way through this turgid Western. I'd be pulling the wool over your eyes by saying Flynn doesn't mail it in. Lots of short scenes with many edits plus obvious studio cuts against outdoor backdrops. Flynn's first film in 1950 but the miles and trials were taking a toll on Errol. His eyes were too bloodshot to shoot some scenes.
Nevertheless, the Technicolor cinematography (Calabasas Ranch)is first rate plus production values make up for the drab characters. It's tough to care about anyone except beautiful, flaming redhead, Alexis Smith. I've never seen whiter teeth in my life. Cute little scar on her chin too. Flynn and Smith have some nice scenes plus sing a fun little ditty: Reckon, I'm in love! Seriously, it's not bad! A sheep-herder invades cattle country! If this sounds like a bum steer of a film, you're probably right but it's Flynn in his final decade. He went downhill fast from here but "amoung other things", he still looks good next to Alexis.
Virginia City (1940)
From Dodge to Virginia City
With the success of Dodge City still fresh, Virginia City was a natural sequel. Flynn's his usual dashing self plus fires off some great romantic lines but the omission of Olivia De Havilland in favor of Miriam Hopkins was a misfire. Not only can't she sing, she doesn't look that good either! Humphrey Bogart, on the eve of stardom is more a curio with his awful accent but he's still fun to see.
It was also rare to pair Flynn with another leading man, this time: Randolph Scott! Both handle their duties with aplomb. Flynn's on and off-screen drinking buddies, Alan Hale and Guinn "Big Boy" Williams provide comedic relief. Michael Curtiz directs so plenty of heavy-hitters make this Western better than most. It does drag on a little too long but on a rainy or sick day, sit back and enjoy. Filmed in the Painted Desert and at Calabasas Ranch. Of note: made famous in the film Stagecoach, there's still a great runaway US Mail stagecoach scene with Flynn jumping from horse to horse plus Williams sliding along the bottom then climbing back up.