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David O. Selznick created this 1946 blockbuster Western movie to showcase his wife Jennifer Jones and to try to top his previous success with "Gone With the Wind." In a role where she looks like a Western version of Scarlett O'Hara, Jones plays Pearl Chavez, a half breed teenage orphan, who is sent to live with her third cousin, Laura Belle Mc Canles (Lillian Gish), on a huge Texas ranch in the 1870s called Spanish Bit. Laura is married to Jackson Tilt McCanles (Lionel Barrymore) and they have two grown sons Jesse (Joseph Cotten) and Lewton (Gregory Peck). As you can see, with such a huge, famous cast this movie had every opportunity to be immensely popular. With elements of "Wuthering Heights," "Sabrina," "The Letter," and "The Big Country," this movie has many twists and turns. When Pearl arrives at the McCanles ranch, she causes an immediate conflict between the two brothers who are totally different. Jesse is an educated lawyer, truly his mother's son, and very nice. Lewt is uneducated, spoiled, but bewitchingly attractive, and a rancher, truly his father's son. There are some secrets too, pertaining to why Jackson McCanles is in a wheelchair. All the while trying to prove to Laura Belle that she is a good girl, Pearl is drawn to Jesse but lusts for Lewt. For its time, this movie is very sexual--not in the sense of nudity--but in what is implied. This movie was made with no thought of the expense involved in 1946. Beautifully photographed in technicolor and with music by Dimitri Tiomkin, it has some wonderful moments. Watch especially for the barbecue at the ranch with dancing, the bewitching dance by Pearl's mother at the very beginning of the movie, the big conflict between Jackson Mc Canles and the railroad, the taming of the wild horse by Lewt, the springtime collection of caring for the newborn foals with Sam Pierce and Pearl, and the finale in the desert. A real treat also is Butterfly McQueen's revival of Prissy from GWTW as Vashti, the McCanles maid, in this movie. She is just as silly and as naive as in the previous movie. There are more stars aplenty in various roles. Herbert Marshall plays Scott Chavez, Pearl's father. Walter Huston plays Jubal, a minister who tries to sanctify Pearl. Charles Bickford from "The Virginian" series plays Sam Pierce, who becomes another one of Pearl's love interests. The only fault with this movie is its finale. They should have had a better way to resolve the main conflict of this movie. It ends disappointingly. However, watching it was well worth the ride. This is Jennifer Jones in my favorite of her roles; she is more beautiful than in any other movie and gives a great performance. And I am especially a Gregory Peck fan; it was good for once to see him in a role where he was not the hero.Read full review
I loved this movie --- but I felt really guilty that I did! Jennifer Jones, who was 27 years old at the time, plays Pearl Chavez, who is considered much too young for marriage in post-Civil-War Texas. This means Pearl is supposed to be about 14. In the opening scenes, Pearl's mother cheats on her husband. Both Mom and lover are gunned down by Dad, who is captured and hanged. Orphaned Pearl goes to live with distant relatives on a Texas ranch that seems suspiciously like Tara from GONE WITH THE WIND; it even has Butterfly McQueen playing an airheaded maid. Pearl catches the eye of "good" brother Jesse (Joseph Cotten, looking every bit his age of 41) and "bad" brother Lewt (Gregory Peck, age 30). The action unfolds like one of those bodice-ripper "romances" that were so popular in the 1970s, with Lewt not only raping Pearl (and she likes it), but committing murder and blowing up trains. The plot ranges from downright silly to horribly offensive, and yet the film is mesmerizing. Like all bad boys of fiction, Lewt is attractive --- and fun! --- when he isn't lying to Pearl or brutalizing her. In real life, these people and situations would be deplorable. On film, they're fascinating. Adult scenes, while considered explicit in 1946, are played fully clothed with strategic cutaways when things get steamy.Read full review
Verified purchase: No
Bad sound and faded colour. The overall quality of the DVD is inferior. Very disappointing. But the film is a great classic. I wish the quality of the DVD had been superior
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I always liked this movie, from Selznik's devotion to making it and of course...the amazing chemistry between Pearl and Lewt. Even though it gets a bit "campy" in some scenes it is well worth owning it and gazing upon the transforming beauty of Jennifer Jones. It s easy to see why Selznik fell in love with Jennifer and married her. He said that in her screen test she had the most amazing eyes. My reason for purchasing (2) copies is that my daughter is the spitting image of Jennifer as Pearl and also looks like her in any photo. Simply put, watching Jennifer work her face can teach any aspring peformer a whole lot about character and the rest of the cast is superb!
I wanted to own the movie so I could see the horse, Dice, all I want. He's a beautiful overo paint that, if you love horses, is a feast for the eyes. The movie is great too.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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