Saw in a post at Laura’s Miscellaneous Musings that Westward The Women (1951) will appear on TCM on November 17th at 6pm. Last week saw a flurry of activity on here with folks talking up what a terrific picture it is. They were all dead on — this is a prime 50s Western.
It’s currently unavailable on DVD in the States, so this TCM appearance is not to be missed.
Wouldn’t it be lovely if we turned a few people on to this amazing picture!
It sure would.
It’s way too obscure.
Taylor gives these ” mail ordered brides-to-be ” a pre-departure talk including tugging on his pant leg espousing that they all go down to the mens haberdashery shop and buy ” pants ” and dress like men that will enable them to outdoor tasks much easier ; only about half do sport their mens’ pants later on the wagon train; too baggy also, unfortunately !
You had to be all man to ride the horse that taylor rode in this film.Robert taylor was just that.The horse named steel was a stallion and he could dump an actor that was even a good rider because he was lightning quick.Wayne had him in tall in the saddle and the conqueror.Scott had him in abilene town and the nevadan.Mccrea had him in buffalo bill and ramrod.Old ben had him in she wore a yellow ribbon and wagon master.The king had him in across the wide missouri and the king and four queens.Peck had him in yellow sky.Widmark had him in broken lance (at the end ) Fonda had him in warlock.This was a real horse and this was all horse.You don’t think of frank capracorn writing a story where denice darcel runs her horse to death.Bur capra after the war said that he wished he could go out in the valley and make a western just to get the feel of film making back.The closest he ever came was circus world with the duke.But those two discovered the weren’t as enamoured with each other as they had thought for many years.So it didn’t happen.Robert taylor deliberately unleashed his hold on movie star.He had a new wife and children and he didn’t want to travel to rome or africa so he settled on t.v. and b movies and t.v.movies of the week and finally cameos.But this mgm western is majestic in scope and black and white dusty and gritty.Capra might have thought that he could have pulled it off,maybe with jimmy stewart in the lead role.But what capra wrote and what he might have filmed could be two different things I am afraid.People remember the mgm western the naked spur,but never think of this one.You can’t remake it today with george clooney.This film,the actors and direction are magnificent.And that includes capra for the story.
What great info on the horse!!
Love to hear that others appreciate this wonderful movie.
Best wishes,
Laura
This is truly one of my most favorite movies. I never miss it. And I do appreciate Jim Quakenbush!