The Far Country was released in 1954. Directed by Anthony Mann it stars James Stewart, Walter Brennan, Ruth Roman, and Corinne Clavet. In it Jeff Webster (Stewart) and his companion Ben Tatum (Brennan) seek their fortune during the Klondike gold rush in the small town of Dawson, Alaska. They are continually thwarted by Ganon (John McIntire) the ruthless boss of a corrupt town across the border.
The Far Country is the fourth film in what's now known as the Mann/Stewart cycle, a series of five western films directed by Anthony Mann and starring James Stewart. These films were distinguished by their psychologically driven and, at times, dark storylines and for Mann's use of harsh western scenery to drive the story and, especially, the action scenes. In
The Far Country Stewart's Jeff Webster is a somewhat amoral man, one who's really only interested in his own gain. Told by Corinne Clavet's Renee, "You've got to help people when they need help" he responds, "Why?" On the other hand, he's not without his own personal code. He won't hurt other people unless he feels threatened by them and he does display a deep loyalty to his one friend, Walter Brennan's Ben Tatum. It's interesting to contrast Webster with the film's central antagonist, Ganon. Like Jeff, Ganon is ought for his own self gain and cares not for the problems of others. What makes Ganon the villain is that, unlike Jeff, he takes what he wants form others, instead of working for it himself, and he is willing to do whatever is necessary to get it, even if it means killing them for it.
It's inevitable, perhaps, that the two men come into conflict, and this happens almost immediately. Arriving in the town of Skagway with his cattle, Webster interrupts a hanging overseen by Ganon when he storms through the town with his cows. Trying Webster for disorderly conduct, Ganon lets him go but confiscates his cattle as "property of the state." Undeterred, Jeff steals the herd back and flees beyond Ganon's jurisdiction. Jeff isn't interested in confronting the corrupt official as long as he doesn't get in his way and throughout the film he simply avoids Ganon, hoping to make his fortune and then get out while the getting is good. When Ganon comes to Dawson and begins cheating the people of the town out of their gold claims Jeff, once again, stands by. He witnesses his friend Rube (Jay C. Flippen), the town's appointed marshal, try to stand up to Gannon and he intervenes telling Rube, "there isn't any reason for a man to get himself killed if he doesn't have to." This causes Rube to back down, ashamed of his inability to stop Ganon. Jeff cares enough about Rube to try and prevent his murder, but he won't stand with him.
When Jeff and Ben attempt to leave the territory with their gold, they are attacked by Ganon's men, who kill Ben and take the gold. Jeff survives this encounter and is now faced with a choice: confront Ganon and avenge his friend or stand down and run away. Throughout the film the two women who love Jeff, Renee Vallon and Ronda Castle (Ruth Roman) represent the two paths he is ultimately torn between. Ronda, like Jeff himself, is out for herself and is generally distrustful of others. She offers to go with Jeff if he will agree to run away from Dawson and from Ganon. Renee, on the other hand, is a self-less and compassionate soul, who always seems to see the best in people. By the film's climax she has almost given up on Jeff. She helps to nurse his wounds only to see Jeff, seemingly, choose Ronda over her. Ultimately, Jeff cannot turn his back on what Ganon did. He does what Ben would've wanted him to do and takes up his gun, sending Ganon a message that he's coming for him.
The West, in film, is a land of opportunity. For some, like Rube and Renee, it's an opportunity to settle down and start a new life, to build a community and lay the foundation for civilization. For others, like Ronda and Ganon, it's an opportunity for exploitation. Jeff, at first, is with them. He doesn't believe in civilization or in other people. He's only out for himself. It's only when he loses his only friend as a result of his own indifference, and of Ganon's greed, that he sees the error of his ways and stands with the people of Dawson against Ganon. Ronda, who has fallen in love with Jeff, dies to protect him from Ganon and the people of Dawson, who resented Jeff for his apathy, come to his aid and run the remainder of Ganon's men out of town once Jeff has killed him.
As with all the film's in this cycle Mann make great use of the scenery here. Shots of men on horseback dwarfed by the Canadian Mountains (the film was shot in Canada despite taking place in Alaska) add a sense of isolation and of the seemingly insurmountable nature of the wilderness. One scene, where an avalanche nearly buries Ronda Castle and her party, who take the mountain pass despite Jeff's warning, is classic Mann. Cinematographer William H. Daniels, who also shot Winchester 73' for Mann, really captures the austere beauty of Alberta. Interestingly, the climatic gunfight in this film take place within the confines of Dawson, rather then out on the frontier as in many of Mann's other films. This results in a comparatively limp climax, though it has some superb build up and Mann still make full use of the (limited) environment to frame to action.
The performances are all around excellent, particularly from Stewart, who plays a much more jaded individual then usual here, and from Brennan, who's his usual crotchety, lovable self. Ruth Roman is great as the strong willed, world wise Ronda Castle as is Corinne Clavet as the naïve, but equally strong willed Renee. John McIntire is absolutely despicable as the self-assured but utterly corrupt Ganon and Jay C. Flippen is just wonderful as the good natured but weak-willed Rube. The film's supporting cast is filled with familiar faces (for people familiar with westerns at least) from Harry Morgan to Jack Elam to Robert Wilke.
The Far Country isn't the best film the Mann/Stewart cycle but, like all of them, it is a superb western nonetheless. Featuring strong performances, assured direction, and a thematically rich script this film is sure to please western fans or anyone who just enjoys a good movie.
Score: 9/10
No comments:
Post a Comment