*** This review may contain spoilers ***
*Plot and ending analyzed*
Red Mountain (1951) has some nice color in it, and the New Mexico landscape is lovely, but it's about an average Western.
An assayer gets shot by someone at the start. The town blames a noted Confederate soldier (Arthur Kennedy) and tries to hang him but is saved by Alan Ladd (Shane (1953), Branded (1950)). They develop a strange relationship, whereby sometimes they try to kill each other, and at others, try to save each other.
The scenery is beautiful but there's too much concentration on the cave scene. It takes up the entirety of the film. Alan Ladd was waiting for Confederate General William Quantrill to arrive, which he does so, dressed as Union Cavalry, accompanied by Ute Indians, who are fighting against the Union.
Arthur Kennedy also knows where some gold is hidden, thus Confederate General William Quantrill wants to get at him. Alan Ladd then doesn't approve of Quantrill's tactics and helps Arthur Kennedy and Lizabeth Scott.
They all hide in the cave and Quantrill and his Indians are camped outside. Ute Indians can't take the cave, either can Quantrill's (John Ireland) soldiers. It's manned by an injured Arthur Kennedy and Lizabeth Scott, who seem to be great shooters. I think they prolonged the cave scene too much.
In all, the film is about average, with the likable Alan Ladd acting fine. Familiar faces like Jeff Corey as Skee, Jay Silverheels as Little Crow, Iron Eyes Cody, and Neville Brand as Dixon hardly get any time on screen.
*Plot and ending analyzed*
Red Mountain (1951) has some nice color in it, and the New Mexico landscape is lovely, but it's about an average Western.
An assayer gets shot by someone at the start. The town blames a noted Confederate soldier (Arthur Kennedy) and tries to hang him but is saved by Alan Ladd (Shane (1953), Branded (1950)). They develop a strange relationship, whereby sometimes they try to kill each other, and at others, try to save each other.
The scenery is beautiful but there's too much concentration on the cave scene. It takes up the entirety of the film. Alan Ladd was waiting for Confederate General William Quantrill to arrive, which he does so, dressed as Union Cavalry, accompanied by Ute Indians, who are fighting against the Union.
Arthur Kennedy also knows where some gold is hidden, thus Confederate General William Quantrill wants to get at him. Alan Ladd then doesn't approve of Quantrill's tactics and helps Arthur Kennedy and Lizabeth Scott.
They all hide in the cave and Quantrill and his Indians are camped outside. Ute Indians can't take the cave, either can Quantrill's (John Ireland) soldiers. It's manned by an injured Arthur Kennedy and Lizabeth Scott, who seem to be great shooters. I think they prolonged the cave scene too much.
In all, the film is about average, with the likable Alan Ladd acting fine. Familiar faces like Jeff Corey as Skee, Jay Silverheels as Little Crow, Iron Eyes Cody, and Neville Brand as Dixon hardly get any time on screen.