Thursday, August 22, 2019

Movie review - "Bugles in the Afternoon" (1952) **1/2 (warning: spoilers)

Solid Western once you get used to Ray Milland playing a cavalry soldier.  He's kicked out of the army for clocking an officer and re-enlists... of course running into the officer (Hugh Marlowe, who was always good as a little turd) and getting involved in the Battle of Little Big Horb.

There's a girl Helena Carter who is attracted to Milland and Marlowe. Carter looks poised, in her model way and again shows a great sense of spirit and ability to make eyes at the lead... she can focus well and you believe she's into him. She's also got strength and some independence - she doesn't take a lot of shit from Milland. Her voice is a bit precious though. -too enunciated.

Atrong support cast - Barton MacLane as an old friend of Milland's, Forrest Tucker as a brawling Irish sergeant in a role seemingly written for Victor McLaglen (he has a great death)

There's some strong sequences like a tense negotiation with some Indians, and Tucker's death. It maybe lacks another twist or subplot or something. But pretty good stuff.

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