A character study disguised as an adventure story. Slow, oppressive and authentic. You can feel the dirt and the misery.
Great performances from the three leads, particularly Bogart and Walter Huston, who get the more juicy characters.
Well-crafted, this black and white classic would have gained if it had been filmed in widescreen format, since it does not take as much advantage of the landscapes as other westerns. Perhaps it's for the best, though, contributing to the claustrophobic sensation.
Some might find this little masterpiece (comparable to The Ox-Bow Incident, perhaps) too slow, but I thought it had a tight plot and just gave the characters space to take over the show.
Great performances from the three leads, particularly Bogart and Walter Huston, who get the more juicy characters.
Well-crafted, this black and white classic would have gained if it had been filmed in widescreen format, since it does not take as much advantage of the landscapes as other westerns. Perhaps it's for the best, though, contributing to the claustrophobic sensation.
Some might find this little masterpiece (comparable to The Ox-Bow Incident, perhaps) too slow, but I thought it had a tight plot and just gave the characters space to take over the show.