He really did. It's a very malleable star persona, and the Mann films stretched it as far as they could. He's conflicted, vengeance-obsessed, callow--character traits Stewart never played again. Also, he's very good on a horse.
All my early childhood there. When we didn't watch crime movies, we watched westerns... and James Stewart was my favorite. That picture of Dan Durya in Winchester 73 brought the entire film back to me.
Ryan might be the most versatile old Hollywood actor--he's amazing, not just as a heavy, but as every type of heavy, from a loose cannon to a menacing bigot to a martinet...just incredible.
Great post. My favorite thing about Borden Chase: he's the only screenwriter to have a cocktail named after him.
Interesting! Not even Ben Hecht?
Wonderful to read about these James Stewart westerns! He added such character richness to the plots.
He really did. It's a very malleable star persona, and the Mann films stretched it as far as they could. He's conflicted, vengeance-obsessed, callow--character traits Stewart never played again. Also, he's very good on a horse.
All my early childhood there. When we didn't watch crime movies, we watched westerns... and James Stewart was my favorite. That picture of Dan Durya in Winchester 73 brought the entire film back to me.
Yeah, it's a brilliant film. Duryea is in Flight of the Phoenix with Stewart, too.
Yes, that one too... he always manages to create that unease, doesn't he? Great Noir character, he has the face for it.
Just re-watched The Naked Spur. One of Robert Ryan's best performances.
Ryan might be the most versatile old Hollywood actor--he's amazing, not just as a heavy, but as every type of heavy, from a loose cannon to a menacing bigot to a martinet...just incredible.