It's a wonderful film but so much of that is in the script, particularly the character of Ethan Edwards, one of the most fascinating protagonists in Hollywood history. A bitter man, obviously hard to live with, a kind of vampire - sulkily refusing to be at the surrender of the South, or to accept the peace... you can see why Martha picked his brother instead of him. A complete bad ass - whip smart, cunning, knows heaps about Indians, a great shot, prone to scalp Indians out of spite so they don't get into heaven. Yet he's also human - his love for Martha, he saved Martin as a young boy, he tries to without news about Lucy's death from Brad. And in the end of course he doesn't kill Debbie.
It's a tough, exciting story - we plunge right into it with the arrival of Ethan, the dinner sequence accessing the backstory, the news of a cattle raid, the terrifying sequence of the Indians about to attack, the initial search (resulting in Brad's death). The historical detail all feels authentic.
It's almost relief to get some romance and comic relief visiting the Jorgensens with Martin being embarassed bathing around Laurie etc. The middle section is less brilliant - doesn't have the same pace, naturally, and making fun of Look feels a bit awkward... but it's redeemed in an odd way by having Look innocently killed along with other women and children by a glory hungry cavalry general. Structurally I felt it was a mistake to have them find Debbie, then lose her and have to find her again. I guess they wanted us to see her... but it feels like they would've taken her. The last act felt like repeat - with the Indians conveniently turning up and Martin going in to get her. But there were plenty of great moments - I actually love the comedy of Lt Greenhill and his sabre continually poking the reverend, and the final attack, and of course there's the ending.
The character of Martin often doesn't get much press because he was played by dull Jeffrey Hunter instead of iconic John Wayne but he is a fine creation too - a quarter breed, always questioned by Ethan, yet who earns his respect... as well as disdain by keeping a moral code. Who has to go on the search to save Debbie's life, not from the Indians but from Ethan. It's fitting that Nugent gives the killing of Scar to Martin not Ethan, and the happy ending - because he's been honorable, whereas to be blunt Ethan is a nasty piece of work, despite his good characteristics. (Ethan can't resist scalping Scar at the end out of sadism).
The script includes a large amount of big print that wouldn't necessarily be clear to the viewer - it is to the reader - but I guess writing it Nugent knew he had John Ford. The final ending wasn't in this script I read... Nugent has Ethan and Debbie enter the house together. Far better that he doesn't go off into the sunset.
First class writing.
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