One of the bitterest of all range war westerns, Ramrod is an early example of Andre De Toth's muscular intensity that characterises all his work in the genre through the string of very satisfying Randolph Scotts in the 50s to the extremely bleak Day of the Outlaw (1959). Joel McCrea is just fine as the initially weak cowpoke who tries to keep peace on the range in the face of two rival camps, one led by rancher's daughter Veronica Lake (in a ferocious, chilling performance) and the other by tough hombre Preston Foster, who loves and is rejected by her.De Toth handles the complex plot and screenplay with his usual sharp explorations of shifting allegiances and betrayals of trust; Don Defore's edgy performance as McCrea's erstwhile friend is pivotal in embodying the film's dark mood and tone which some commentators have labelled noir.
It's great to see some of the Scott/De Toths on or soon to be released on DVD. Why not this film? Its brooding sense of evil is quite extreme.
I've had good luck with Olive Films blu rays but it seems they just spit out whatever they get so I'll proceed with caution going forward. The Trap starring Richard Widmark was another of theirs I picked up today and its just a dreadful transfer.... truly horrible and again $25.A ramrod or segundo is the owner's man, his or her representative standing between the owner and range crew. In this case Dave Nash, newly appointed ramrod, is called upon to stand not only between his boss and the crew but also every other cattleman on the range. The reason is that the the 66 outfit is contemplating introduction of sheep to what has been up to now only open range cattle country.
As the film opens, we seem to be getting 'in medias res' after certain things have happened, events of which we have no information. As things move along many things become clear, however, the cheating, lying, murder, and out-and-out villany continue to unfold anew. As one character eventually states, too many men have died in this unofficial range war. For it has become open season, with many characters, including Dave Nash, to have seemingly changed their typical, accepted pattern of behavior.
This film of 1947 follows the Macmillian hardcover book by Luke Short (Frederick D. Glidden) from 1943, which by 1944 in hardcover had already reached its 3rd printing. The mass market paperback has been in print down to the present day, and can be fairly easily located in 2nd hand stores even now. I've had a Bantam paperback on my shelves for many a year, and one interesting thing about the movie is that it follows the book fairly well, which in itself is rather unusual for a Hollywood western of that time or any time.
Another unusual feature of both book and film is the behavior of Connie, or as one person said in another western novel she appears to be "crazy as a tree full of owls". She will deceive anyone to obtain what she wants, but true to fashion once she gets it, it doesn't satisfy, isn't really what she wants at all. And in the process she loses her largest strengths: Bill Schell and Dave Nash. Schell is shot in the back killed by Frank Ivy and Dave Nash finally gets a clear view of Connie's destructive focus, only to walk away before being destroyed.
One person who generally doesn't receive much attention in this movie from reviewers is the Rose Leland character. Arleen Whelan plays her part in this film and for me Arleen pretty much steals the show, talk about a woman of strength and uncommon understanding! Though much will be said of Mrs. Andre De Toth (Veronica Lake) and I've seen many of her films due to my advanced age, I find Veronica very much out-of-character in a Luke Short western, or any western for that matter. She is more at home as the femme fatal of noir mysteries with her blonde, flowing hair streaming down covering her eyes. In this picture she has to keep her hair fairly pinned up, prim and proper, and though playing an unprincipled and somewhat amoral woman, she is rather subdued, even petulant.
All of this aside, RAMROD is still a very interesting western to watch. Filmed in black and white it offers a stark quality to the film, and with DeToth trying to be faithful as possible to Luke Short's book, several innovative angles are brought forth in the filming. Not just another western, this is one that will call for re-viewing as one trys to gain as much as one can from all semi-classic gyrations, twists and turns. As time would show, RAMROD certainly started De Toth upward on his road to eventual cinematic fame.
Semper Fi.
Read Best Reviews of Ramrod (1947) Here
Noir or not, this is an outstanding movie it has jumped into my top 10 westerns of all time. It has a complex, twisting plot, finely executed and often brutal action scenes and great use of rugged landscape. The sophisticated script tells a strongly moral story, with economically sketched but still layered characters and excellent performances from all the lead actors.The dialogue requires concentration by the viewer, as some characters' background and motivation are sketched in a brief sentence or two or even in a phrase. The sparse conversations pose some real moral issues, which will linger in your mind long after viewing the film. Is violent revenge ever justified, or should a man always pursue his ends through legal means? Is it good to sacrifice your life for a principle or a person you believe in? Should a man be a drifter or a stayer? Should a woman's objective be to marry a man and support his life, or can she marry and seek to also take a place of power in a world dominated by powerful and violent men?
The film makes clear the answers to these questions are not straightforward and the characters working through these issues are not painted in simple black and whites of good and bad.
Working from the excellent script, the director creates genuine suspense, often leading up to violence where the faces of the men facing death betray fear and uncertainty. The stalking and eventual cold-blooded execution of one of the characters is among the most chilling sequences you will see in a movie. In another scene, one of the 'good' guys goads an enemy into a one-sided gun fight, including by stubbing out a burning cigar on his intended victim's hand.
At the heart of the film are Lake's scheming character, using the men around her in her drive for power as a means of revenge on the men who have tried to control her and McCrae's damaged cowboy, trying to regain his self-respect as he recovers from humiliation and loss brought on by alcoholism. Both actors excel in their roles, playing in an understated way and the tiny Lake, especially, is mesmerising and towers over many of her scenes.
This superb movie is not just for Western fans: anyone who loves a well-made drama, aimed at grown ups, will cherish this DVD.It is a minor tragedy that this tough little range war Western is so little known and not easily available on DVD or VHS I urge lovers of the genre to keep an eye open for TV screenings as they are in for a treat .The movie is based on the novel of the same name by Luke Short and stars Veronica Lake as a headstrong young woman who takes the law into her own hands when her fiance (Ian McDonald)is publiclly humiliated by a powerful range baron -played with suitably nasty snarling relish by Preston Foster .She forms her own gang to strike back at him despite counsel from her "ramrod",and right hand man Joel McCrae who advises she seek legal redress through the office of the sheriff (Donald Crisp).Open range war breaks out betwen the two sides
McCrae is excellent aa a man torn between his employer ,who he believes is headstrong and borderline psychotic ,his duties to her which conflict with his conscience and his love for another woman ,the wholesome town milliner (Arlene Whelan).Indeed ,he like all the characters in the movie is not in control of either themselves or their fate -one way in which this deserves its reputation as a noir Western .
There are good support performances from Lloyd Bridges and Charles Ruggles but Veronica Lake dominates the movie as an out of control self -willed avenger who seeks to manipulate the situation and those aaround her .
Andre de Toth -Lake's real life husband-directs with intensity and vigour .Be advised that it is quite a complex storyline and script and the movie does take work from the viewer
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