Winchester 73

Winchester 73 marked the first western by Anthony Mann where he collaborated with James Stewart. The series of films offer a different kind of west than you might find in most films before it. There's no real comic relief, there's certainly no funny Natives hanging around, it's stark world where most men would rather shoot you in the back just to steal a few coins. The film also offers a different Jimmy Stewart, he's no longer the awshucks charmer of his former years, he's an embittered man living a hard life, though still likable but I suppose that just comes naturally with ole Stewart. The main story represents this style with Stewart playing a hard man hellbent on revenge against an outlaw, unfortunately he's only one of the amoral men he will find on his journey. The film is quite effective in this tone, of dog eat dog, and well anchored by Stewart who proves himself more than capable in dealing in the darker side of mankind. The film is well focused around the straight revenge, depicting a thriller within the western setting, which it uses so well in creating this sense of danger everywhere. It's compelling film though not quite the best Stewart/Mann have to offer.
4.5/5

In a Lonely Place

In a Lonely Place follows the relationship between a struggling screenwriter Dix played by Humphrey Bogart and woman Laurel played by Gloria Grahame. This all takes place around a murder mystery, where Dix's seems a chief suspect, and set in a the seedy underbelly of Hollywood. Nicholas Ray directs this all with a sledgehammer, leaving any subtly out the door, and place the most absurd elements for all they are worth. This is not helped by Bogart who does not tread the fine line needed for the man you may or may not trust. He instead plays him like a normal guy who seems to act like a psychopath for no reason other than to give the film its central conflict apparently. Now the film's style does not make it a boring affair, but at the same time it does not effectively serve the story particularly the central relationship. It makes everything seem forced in a way it did not need to be, and leaves a potentially interesting story to underwhelm.
2/5

Alice in Wonderland

Alice In Wonderland is a film that I've seen somewhat derided when compared to other Disney fare of both the past and the present. When the film was made there was apparently the feeling that there were too many directors on the project which made for an inconsistent film. Well I will agree not every segment is equal, I actually think that is needed for the adaptation of the source material. The last thing Alice should have is purpose. It should be madness and that is what you get here, there is no lesson to be had and no real character arc for Alice. There shouldn't be though as that again would be at odds with the story. This might not have worked all that well but is helped along by Kathryn Beaumont's excellent voice work as Alice. The one criticism I can agree with is the songs are not especially memorable. Plenty of the sequences are though particularly the mad tea party, the entirety of the red queen, the White Rabbit House, The Walrus and the Carpenter, some less so, like the whole segment with the flowers, but there is far more great than just sort of okay which is the worst it gets. It's an adaptation that fits the material, its messy to be sure, just like it should be.
4.5/5

Rio Grande

For a film that was made just so John Ford could make his passion project, The Quiet Man, its not bad, in fact its quite good. It features the duo from that later film, and once again Wayne and O'Hara have strong chemistry as they realize both the conflict and love between their characters so well in each film. Ford himself really thrives with the Calvary pictures that devote time to the individual men. You always really get a sense of the relationships and interplay just within the camps. I have to honestly say the action is often the least interesting parts of these films. It works best just so well realizing the interactions and atmosphere of the military camp.
4/5