The Americano (1955)

“South American Western” about an American Cowboy involved in a range war in Brazil. It has an “A" Cast: Glenn Ford, Cesar Romero, Ursula Thiess, Frank Lovejoy, with a “B” plot and script. Supposedly, set in Brazil, it looks more like Austin than the Amazon - except for some Jungle/Piranha/Puma shots.  It’s the sort of studio product where piranhas devour a deer whole, and then 15 minutes later the beautiful heroine safely skinny-dips in the same river.  Summary: I’m puzzled by the low 5.6 IMDB rating – it’s not that bad! The Americano has two good performances by Romero and Glenn Ford and some South American fakery.  A painless – if predictable - 85 minutes. Rating 2,5 out of 4

Trial (1955)

A legal drama about Glenn Ford battling Communists and bigots in an attempt to save a Mexican Boy from the California Gas Chamber. Its notable for Arthur Kennedy's well-deserved supporting actor academy award nomination.  The acting by Ford and everyone else, is also first rate. Unfortunately, the nasty bigots angle is overdrawn and unconvincing. Nobody was lynching Mexicans in post-world war II California*.   But the unusual Communist angle  - and Kennedy - save the movie. Summary: Like most trial dramas  Trial's courtroom shenanigans  are unrealistic and dull. But outside the courtroom its much more interesting.** Overall, its an above-average movie that's been unjustly forgotten - probably due to the Liberal anti-communism***.  At 109 minutes, it kept my interest. Rating 2.5 out of 4

* Mexicans  have been socializing and intermarrying with whites since California joined the Union in 1850.
** - Except for the predictable and silly attempted Lynching.
*** -  the liberal writer/producer cleverly yoke anti-racism with anti-communism.

Rage (1966)

A short Review.  Glenn Ford and Stella Stevens star in this predictable drama about a drunken Doctor, in a remote Mexican mining town dealing with a rabies epidemic.  The acting is good, and the story idea is a good one, but its badly-executed. Too low-budget & too long. There's not enough dialogue and plot to cover the 109 minute run time.  The village and surrounding countryside are realistically ugly and barren. It would've looked better in B&W.  Summary:  Another one of Ford's forgettable post- 1964 movies. On the downside of his career, he'd soon make the move to TV and supporting roles. Rating 2 of 4

Framed (1947)

A short Review.  Framed is one of those slightly-above average film-noir's Columbia churned out in the 1940's and 1950's.  The plot?  Well, the title says it all - its the tale of a young drifter (Glenn Ford) who's the fall guy for a greedy small-town waitress and her partner.  Double Indemnity meets  The Postman Rings Twice.  I enjoyed it for the cast. Edgar Buchanan lends fine support, and Femme fatale Janis Carter has all the necessary curves and high cheekbones.  She dominates the film - she's 10 kinds of evil. Why wasn't she a bigger star?  Ford is excellent, but is little too level-headed to play the sap.  Judging by the IMDB comments, the Carter-Ford pairing isn't that popular, but I preferred them over Garfield-Turner. At least you'd never mistake Ford for Janis Carter's brother. Summary:  An efficient, low-budget, familiar 40's film-noir with Glenn Ford and a good cast. At 82 minutes it doesn't wear out its welcome.  If you like that sorta thing, check it out.  Rating 3 of 4

Since You Went Away (1944)

A Short Review.  A 1944 sentimental blockbuster, about an upper-class American Family on the Home-front. It gathered 9 Oscar nominations - but its now forgotten. Its easy to see why. At 2 hours and 50 minutes, its far too long for a B&W domestic drama.  And there's too much Hollywood fakery - including nonsense about the Statue of Liberty*, a Minister quoting the Star-spangled banner, and some far-too-cheery disabled vets.  OTOH, some of the acting is excellent: Claudette Colbert, as the lonely wife, Monty Woolsey as the old man who lodges with her, and Jennifer Jones and Shirley Temple as the daughters**. But Robert Walker has zero chemistry with Jones and is too old/odd*** for the role, while Joseph Cotten alternates between blandness and giving off a  creepy "Uncle Charlie" vibe.  Summary:  Too long, too talky, and too fake****. When focused on the Walker-Jones romance it lost me all together.  But Colbert and Woolsey are good. Overall, well-made - but not my cup of tea.  Rating ** 1/2

Notes * -  In 1944, having a foreigner quote the statue of liberty poem and talk about"freedom"  was supposed to stoke Americans vanity and make us feel good.  If you had suggested it meant "open borders" - you'd have been called a traitor.
** - Agnes Moorehead is also good as the selfish, "Don't-be-like her" friend who hoards food and deals on the black-market.
*** =  Walker always strikes me as odd. Which made him perfect in Strangers on a Train or as the villain in Vengeance Valley and My Son John.  From reading his bio, the weirdness came from real life.
**** = The NYT's Bosely Crowther laughed at Colbert & company for having such a  luxurious house and massive wardrobe on a US Captain's salary. But the female audiences had no desire to see Colbert in drab clothes and a small, tacky, house.

Fate is the Hunter (1964)

Plot: A Passenger Plane crashes. Was it pilot error - or "Fate"?
Stars: Glenn Ford, Rod Taylor, Nancy Kwan, Wally Cox, Suzanne Pleschette, Mark Stevens
Best Quote: When your number's up, why fight it, right? And if its not, why worry about it?

Well-made mystery-drama that tries to find the reason for the inexplicable crash of an Airliner. Jack-the-lad Pilot Rod Taylor is seen drinking before the Flight and seems the natural suspect, but former war buddy Glenn Ford doesn't believe it.  The movie is less about why did the plane crash and more about Rod Taylor's character - as Ford interviews all his old girl friends, re-visits old army buddies,and has flash-backs to the war. Everyone fits their role perfectly, especially the actresses. Including Jane Russell - playing Jane Russell - singing a song at a USO show, Kwan as the scientist girlfriend,  and Dorothy Malone as the society girl**.  Even Wally Cox is surprisingly effective in a dramatic role. Finally, at 104 minutes the film doesn't outstay its welcome and  moves at a fast clip.

Of course there are flaws
The airplane cock-pit is surprisingly bare and fake looking. The plane crash is an obvious model, and  Pleshette despite being in a deadly crash - only requires a bandage on her forehead! And - although not really a flaw - the movie has little to do with the famous book.

Glenn Ford
Ford does a surprisingly effective  job with a somewhat difficult role. When Taylor is on-screen Ford supports him and throughout the rest of the film Ford is reacting and being the straight-man to the people he's interviewing.  And yet he's the rock, he doesn't disappear nor does he overshadow the lesser stars. He plays it perfectly. He instantly gets you on his side, and you believe him when he thinks Taylor is  innocent. He even has quiet bits of good acting.  For example, when Ex-enlisted man Cox mentions that ex-officers Taylor and Ford  didn't come round much,  Ford by his tone of voice and body language expresses embarrassment and guilt.  But then Ford was always good at playing the extra-ordinary, ordinary man.  Cf:  The Big Heat, Blackboard Jungle,  Jubal, and Rage. 


Summary:  I really enjoyed this one. Fate of the Hunter is well-crafted, unpretentious entertainment. Certain scenes - like Malone's party girl scene, the flight over the Himalayas,  or  Jane Russell's cameo are so well done, I wanted more. But I don't want to overpraise it either.   Rating ***


**  I forgot to add hilarious Mary Wickes who plays a land-lady who claims  "she minds her own business" while in-fact minding every else's business.

The Rounders (1965)

Short review. Starring Glenn Ford and Henry Fonda,  this is an amiable, easy-going 85 minute Western comedy about two less-than-bright cowboys earning a living breaking horses. Written and directed by Burt Kennedy, the co-stars and wide-screen photography are the only things that keep it from being a TV movie-of-the-week.  At first, the casting of Henry Fonda (age 60) is a little odd* - but as shown by Cheyenne Social Club, Fonda seems to have stopped aging in 1955**.  Billed as the Co-lead, he's really supporting. Ford dominates the film. Other pluses include: a funny horse, Edgar Buchanan, and Chili Wills. Summary:  A pleasant, mediocre Western worth a few smiles . Don't let the Co-stars fool you - this ain't John Ford. ** 1/2 

Notes
*  James Garner would've been more age appropriate, particularly for the romance, but this isn't Shakespeare,
** Maybe it was the (rumored) face-lift. Or a deal with the Devil.  Incredibly, Fonda was only 4 years younger than Gary Cooper.