Two Grown Men Fighting Like a Couple of Wild Indians!

 

Author: wes-connors from Earth

28 August 2007

 

Loretta Young (she's Rachel) stars as a "bond woman" (white slave) who is sold for $18.00 to William Holden (he's Big Davey). Mr. Holden buys Ms. Young because he feels his son Gary Gray (he's Little Davey) needs a mother to grow up right. Robert Mitchum (he's Big Jim) plays Holden's pal and frequent overnight guest. By the way, Mr. Mitchum is a singing cowboy (and better than you may be thinking). Holden shows no sexual interest in wife Young, but with Mitchum around… 

 

Interesting premise, performed ably by the stars. The stronger scenes, I thought, occurred when several of the four players appeared in scenes with only one other actor For example, Young and Mitchum, Young and Gray, etc. The songs are done well. The drama doesn't really reach full potential, though. It's difficult to accept the exquisitely made-up Hollywood beauty Loretta Young as a 25-year-old slave woman. The script could have been re-written to fix that, and some other points. Some scenes between the principals would have been improved with re-takes.

 

Young Mr. Gray holds his own among the "Big" stars. He plays very naturally, and lifts the movie considerably. As the film nears its climax, he disappears (it is explained); which makes the film suffer. The ending would have been more exciting with a little boy, and the family element could have been highlighted. There is some excitement in the ending, but it would have been better if more tension was built.

 

Loretta Young's character says, at one point, "Two grown men fighting like a couple of wild Indians!" that's a good, brief description of the movie.