Monday, June 18, 2007

Feo Fuerte Formal

Tall in the Saddle (1944)
directed by Edwin L. Marin
rating: 4 out of 5 cravats
on DVD from Netflix

In my house, RKO gets the KO. Not only does Ward Bond turn in an understated performance (incredible, I know), but Ella Raines plays the thankless role of "sassy filly with a spooky Indian bodyguard" with all the grace of Garbo laughing. There's atmosphere and sympathy for drunks and even mystery like a stormy parlor séance.

Oh right, and Duke peering down from the shotgun side of a stagecoach, telling the dandy hotel proprietor not to expect any sympathy from him: "I never feel sorry for anything that happens to a woman."