May 26th: One-Eyed Jacks

Westerns are unlike any other genre in a few different ways. Thee is the obvious is the Cowboy fixation, but they are also filmed choppier to hold a different suspense from Dramas. Anyone who's watched even Mock-westerns in the odd T.V. show knows what I mean about this, seeing severe close-ups chopped up with far shots; It's not hard to recognize.

Spaghetti Westerns, however, are whats separated from the other western genre. Italian directors introduced sweeping camera movements into the western idea and this style has adapted into a mini- genre for westerns. One-Eyed Jacks is a good example of this.

The movie came out in 1961, starring and directed by Marlon Brando, who we all know as the Godfather. Brando Stars as "Kid" Rio, a bandit in 1880 with his partner and best friend, "Dad" Longworth (Karl Malden). Rio is a serious womanizer and total schmuck at the beginning of this film. After robbing a bank in small town in Mexico, the two are running from a posse, and get nearly cornered. They decide their horse is too weak, so Longworth goes and leaves Rio to get fast horses and come back. Except he never comes back. Rio ends up in jail for 5 years and comes out a changed man, for the most part.
Rio travels to Monterey, California, seeking revenge on Longsworth for letting him go to jail, but stays in Monterey, waiting out the new relationship with his 'Old Pal' , and falling for his beautiful Mexican Step-daughter.

The movie gets pretty intense once Rio's new buddies stir up to much trouble, and his anger at Longworth swells. The movie is in color, but more than two hours in length, being rather long-plotted. Still, really really good.






The movie can be seen here in one full piece.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k26yb93rjos

Project continues well. Last day of school tomorrow then I belong to my blog for the summer!

The Chick of Flick