There are westerns ... and then there are real westerns.
Devil's Doorway, with Robert Taylor in the lead role, is a significant and important member of the latter; but one which was "shelved" after the film was finished, as being too contentious, even - in modern terms - politically incorrect for public consumption in the 1950s. Just as a contrast, another real western - The Gunfighter with Gregory Peck, also in 1950 - in which a gun is used once only and in a cowardly manner, was critically received as an excellent example of the realities underpinning the life, and particularly death, of most gunfighters. Devil's Doorway was essentially 'buried' for years; Gunfighter was nominated for an Oscar. Go figure....
Well, Devil's Doorway shows a different, unsavory and more horrible truth: the extent to which native Americans were subject to a multitude of racist and prejudicial actions which should have had no foothold in the land of the free and home of the brave - no pun intended.
And so ... Lance Poole (Taylor) returns from the Civil War as Sergeant-Major, and with a Congressional Medal of Honor. War-weary, he wants peace, as do the Shoshone people to whom he has returned, on their traditional communal land. There, Poole wants to develop and operate a cattle ranch for the common good of his tribe.
In opposition to that goal, Poole encounters racial criticism and anger soon after he rides into Medicine Bow, and joins his old friend and local Marshall Carmody (Edgar Buchanan) in a drink at the bar. There, veiled verbal threats from lawyer Coolan (Louis Calhern, at his evil worst) are followed by a physical fight with Coolan's toady, Stapleton (James Millican), who gets badly beaten by Poole. Thereafter, the situation for Poole and his tribe gradually spirals out of control as Coolan and the duped townsfolk set about the process to wrest away, by force, the Shoshone tribal land, to sell to hordes of white homesteaders, sheep farmers and others.
Help from a local lawyer, Orrie Masters (Paula Raymond) fails to stop the inevitable final battle for the land. So as to avoid spoiling the story, I'll leave you to savor that, so to speak, for yourself. Rest assured you will see an innovative battle, the like of which is truly unique in American westerns; and will never be used again, in my opinion. Because, not only was it a stoke of genius by writer, Guy Trosper, and director, Anthony Mann; but also for the exquisite, tragic irony of how that battle plays out - a must-see for all fans of westerns.
The acting by the lead players is certainly up to par. At first, I thought Taylor an odd choice in the role of native American. However, considering his general acting style from other movies, he definitely captured the somber, calm appearance and attitude of native Americans. Special mention, though, for Louis Calhern who again shows the devilish nature of evil so well and so adroitly. And all backed up by Marshall Thompson as a sheep farmer, the always-affable Edgar Buchanan, often-bad guy James Millican, and many others, resulted in a thoroughly informative, entertaining and thoughtful 84 minutes.
Recommended for all. Nine out of ten for this very special and highly significant western.
Devil's Doorway, with Robert Taylor in the lead role, is a significant and important member of the latter; but one which was "shelved" after the film was finished, as being too contentious, even - in modern terms - politically incorrect for public consumption in the 1950s. Just as a contrast, another real western - The Gunfighter with Gregory Peck, also in 1950 - in which a gun is used once only and in a cowardly manner, was critically received as an excellent example of the realities underpinning the life, and particularly death, of most gunfighters. Devil's Doorway was essentially 'buried' for years; Gunfighter was nominated for an Oscar. Go figure....
Well, Devil's Doorway shows a different, unsavory and more horrible truth: the extent to which native Americans were subject to a multitude of racist and prejudicial actions which should have had no foothold in the land of the free and home of the brave - no pun intended.
And so ... Lance Poole (Taylor) returns from the Civil War as Sergeant-Major, and with a Congressional Medal of Honor. War-weary, he wants peace, as do the Shoshone people to whom he has returned, on their traditional communal land. There, Poole wants to develop and operate a cattle ranch for the common good of his tribe.
In opposition to that goal, Poole encounters racial criticism and anger soon after he rides into Medicine Bow, and joins his old friend and local Marshall Carmody (Edgar Buchanan) in a drink at the bar. There, veiled verbal threats from lawyer Coolan (Louis Calhern, at his evil worst) are followed by a physical fight with Coolan's toady, Stapleton (James Millican), who gets badly beaten by Poole. Thereafter, the situation for Poole and his tribe gradually spirals out of control as Coolan and the duped townsfolk set about the process to wrest away, by force, the Shoshone tribal land, to sell to hordes of white homesteaders, sheep farmers and others.
Help from a local lawyer, Orrie Masters (Paula Raymond) fails to stop the inevitable final battle for the land. So as to avoid spoiling the story, I'll leave you to savor that, so to speak, for yourself. Rest assured you will see an innovative battle, the like of which is truly unique in American westerns; and will never be used again, in my opinion. Because, not only was it a stoke of genius by writer, Guy Trosper, and director, Anthony Mann; but also for the exquisite, tragic irony of how that battle plays out - a must-see for all fans of westerns.
The acting by the lead players is certainly up to par. At first, I thought Taylor an odd choice in the role of native American. However, considering his general acting style from other movies, he definitely captured the somber, calm appearance and attitude of native Americans. Special mention, though, for Louis Calhern who again shows the devilish nature of evil so well and so adroitly. And all backed up by Marshall Thompson as a sheep farmer, the always-affable Edgar Buchanan, often-bad guy James Millican, and many others, resulted in a thoroughly informative, entertaining and thoughtful 84 minutes.
Recommended for all. Nine out of ten for this very special and highly significant western.