371. One-Eyed Jacks (1961)

Running Time: 141 minutes
Directed By: Marlon Brando
Written By: Guy Trosper, Calder Willingham, from the novel The Authentic Death of Hendry Jones by Charles Neider
Main Cast: Marlon Brando, Karl Malden, Ben Johnson, Katy Jurado, Pina Pellicer

ROLE REVERSAL

As we make our way through the "Frightfest 2011" festivities, from now until Halloween, I'll also be peppering in some other odds and ends to kind of split up all the gore. Today, I took to the streaming portion of Netflix and a western starring and directed by Marlon Brando - one that I've been eye balling for quite some time.

The films plot is pretty cut and dry, but as the film progresses small pieces of storyline are continually thrown in and it actually gets to be a pretty intricate little revenge story. Brando plays Rio, the quick drawing, easy-going, bad ass outlaw, who along with Dad Longworth (Malden) opens the film mid-bank robbery. Once the loot is got, Dad and Rio take refuge, but our quickly found out and are on the run for their freedom and their lives. When they come to a standoff with the law, the two make a deal that Dad will go get a couple of fresh horses, while Rio stays behind and holds back the cavalry. When Dad reaches his destination, a lone ranch where he plans to steal two horses, he has a change of heart, steals one horse for himself and leaves Rio to fend for himself. Rio is captured and sent to prison, where he spends five years brooding over the fact that his best friend back stabbed him. After five years, he has enough and escapes, swearing revenge on Dad Longworth if it's the last thing he does. When he finally happens upon Dad, he finds that Longworth is now the Sheriff of Monterey, California. Dad lies about the past to save his own hide, because surely Rio has held a grudge and he'd stand no chance against a vengeful Rio. Rio plays it cool, stating that no hard feelings are to be had, but secretly he plans to kill Dad....that is until he falls in love with Dad's step-daughter (Pellicer).

Let's talk about Marlon Brando. Up until today, I've never really been giddy about his acting skills. Sure, he was good enough, but I had never really bought into people who tried to sell him as the greatest actor who ever lived. This is only my second encounter with Brando as I work my way through the "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die" book and even after watching "On the Waterfront" earlier this year, I still wasn't convinced that this guy was anything worth writing home about. Then I see a Western today called "One-Eyed Jacks" and Brando sells me. I mean, this guy not only sells me the car, but he sells me the stereo system, the new paint job and all the trimmings. Long story short - Brando was amazing in this movie! He plays his character to perfection, personifying everything that Rio should be. The film opens with him chewing on a banana. You think, oh here sits a guy who's relaxing, enjoying some fruit, taking it easy...but as the camera pans out you realize that he's in the middle of holding up a bank! He's quiet in it. He says more with his eyes than he does with his mouth and I realize that the things I'm spouting sound so cliche, but they're the God's truth.

Another particular scene is when Rio meets up with a fellow named Bob Emory (Ben Johnson) and the duo, along with a couple other guys plan a bank heist. At this point, Rio has just escaped prison and is searching relentlessly for Dad. Rio finally gets word from Emory that Longworth is the Sheriff of Monterey and wants to know if Rio would like to stick up the bank in Monterey. At this point, Rio is steaming man. He's not saying a single word, but you can see the anger in his eyes, at the fact that Dad has become a Sheriff and profited at Rio's expense. His answer to Emroy, a simple "Yep".

The storytelling in "One-Eyed Jacks" is really great too, as they manage to really make you believe that Marlon Brando and Karl Malden are going to tear each other apart if given the chance. It also takes the old west, stereotypical roles and gives them a spin, as the Sheriff here is actually the bad guy and the outlaw is the one we end up rooting for. Now, the big downfall of "One-Eyed Jacks" is the length, as this thing, at times, just seems to drag on FOOORREEVERRR. There are some scenes and segments that are really slow and other times things move along nicely, wrapping you up in the story and really working to get over with the audience. I read somewhere, just now, that Brando shot an additional FIVE HOURS of footage that he wound up scrapping. My God, even the footage that remained wasn't all necessary and if they could've just snipped a few hairs here and there, I think it would've made the film much tighter and a lot more smooth and this COULD HAVE ranked off the charts, as far as my rating system goes.

RATING: 6.5/10 I may or may not be undercutting this one, but the parts that dragged, really dragged. The acting from Brando and Malden is sensational and the storytelling is top notch, if only it had been a little shorter.

MOVIES WATCHED: 335
MOVIES LEFT TO WATCH: 666

October 20, 2011 6:02pm