I (Josh) have personally loved this film for some time but didn't use to think of it as a film noir (mostly because Charlton Heston's character seems too good and heroic to be the protagonist of a noir) but since it shows up on so many lists of best film noirs, we thought we'd show it and see what you think. Is it a noir or is it not? Why?
Also, I would like to point out right now that Heston's portrayal of a Mexican is rivaled only by John Wayne's performance as the Mongolian conquerer Ghengis Kahn. Also, Orson Welles is very fat in this movie (if you didn't notice).
Fun fact. While filming this movie, they fell behind schedule and had to shoot the whole beginning in one take. That's why the beginning of the movie is a really long master shot. I especially loved the Mexican hero being played by a white guy while the Mexican bad guys were played by actual Mexicans. That wasn't weirdly racist at all.
ReplyDeleteJeez guys, thanks for telling me about your blog. Oh wait.... YOU DIDN'T. Wow. I guess you just like Carlos better.
ReplyDelete--Kirby
It's that we like him better. We just like him more.
DeleteBut seriously: you are welcome to add to the conversation regarding any of these films that you've seen whenever you'd like!
I can't help but feel bad for Susie throughout the film, getting kidnapped and everything else.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the characters and felt that they had much more depth to them rather than some of the character's I've seen.
ReplyDeleteI like the characters in this film too. Although some might argue that because Heston's character is such a strait arrow the whole time, he actually has less depth than many of the more "grey" characters in other film noirs. Can you provide some specific examples of which characters you think have more depth and what they do in the film that shows that depth?
DeleteI also felt that these characters had a lot of depth. Maybe it's because they both loved each other instead of one only pretending to love the other and they had no motives against each other. It was them two against the world. It's easy to relate to.
DeleteIs is strange to anyone else that the good Mexican hero was played by a white guy but the Mexican thugs were played by actual Mexicans? Also, you were only able to tell that he was Mexican because he had a generic Spanish name and had a moustache.
ReplyDeleteI did notice that, but mostly pasted it off as somthing that happened because what time it was filmed in (seeing as some people did and still do see people from races as "less human")
DeleteI'm surprised they could do the first shoot in one take. I mean the cameras were huge and hard to set up, so I'm defiantly impressed by that. I don't know if its really a film noir, I see it as a thriller or suspense for its time. I'm not 100% how to classify it. Carlos brings up a good point why is a white guy playing a Mexican then real Mexicans play the bad guys.
ReplyDeleteMan, they could of been filming a side movie with the Mexican Greasers "Grease goes to Mexico" hah the funnest character is one of the greasers who's all bouncy and looks like he wants to fight. That man was hilarious.
ReplyDeleteSo the wimpy man who owned the motel, were they in the US or in Mexico?
I really liked this movie and i believe it is a film noir. It just feels like it. there all after the same thing. the lighting was good. the detective-ness is good. I felt this movie had a lot of depth and i left it thinkging it was a great movie.
ReplyDeletefor some reason i cant really remember this movie but i remember liking it. i am a fan of orson welles, he is in one of my favorite movies (the 1986 transformers movies).
ReplyDeleteThe 1986 Transformers movie is quite wonderful. Will loves it as well so you should be sure to tell him how much you like it.
DeleteIt can be difficult to keep track of all the different movies we have watched. That is one reason it is a good idea to not put off the blog posts.