R4 Missouri Breaks

[solent]

I picked up this "revisionist western" by Arthur Penn on sale, here in Adelaide, last week. [AUD $ 13] It is bare-bones and surprisingly not available in the US. I got it despite its original bad reviews because I like both Brando & Nicholson. I thought it was well acted and wonderfully shot. I got Fonda's HIRED HAND the same week (from the US). I prefer Fonda's film as a complete work of art but I think MISSOURI is a great romp. Brando is certainly as mad as a cut snake with his Irish accent and elaborate costumes; he steals all the scenes he is in but Jack is more than a match for him. If you haven't seen this or got it then get this [PAL] version. The DVD quality is good.

[Lino]

Hmm...that DVD is available in the UK for quite some time now. But naturally, you'd all be better off buying the R4 one if only for its better, unbeatable price.

[Lino]

Er, I mean... [-X

(flixy, by the power invested in me, I deem you the classiest, funniest aussie on this forum! You are thus knighted Sir Flixyflox-a-Lot. Take a bow, Sir)

[Gordon]

The negative of The Missouri Breaks was flashed by TVC using their Chem-Tone process, also used on The Last Detail, Nashville, Taxi Driver and a few other films of the 70s and early 80s. The Missouri Breaks is a very beautifully photographed film, especially the interiors, which reminded me of McCabe & Mrs Miller, though not quite as impressive as Zsigmond's work. It's a very odd film, with Brando having a field day - nothing could prepare you for the Old Mother Hubbard outfit - but I don't think that he demages the film as his character can simply be read as being the proto-typical 'insane assassin' and I was greatly entertained by Brando's performance. Nicholson is terrific, also. You can look upon the film as having three dispirate groups of people: the conservative Braxton family who more or less always presented as such; Tom Logan's clan who are a friendly bunch of outlaws led by a dejected man who wants to lead a simpler life; and finally the schizophrenic Robert E. Lee Clayton - a one man posse, at once clear-headed about his goal, playful, but also clearly insane. Brando was clearly enjoying himself and that's another reason why I enjoy his performance. But the experiences Arthur Penn had on this film were too much and he did not make another film for five years. Previous to this, he had been badly treated on The Chase and was fired from The Train (replaced by Frankenheimer). Brilliant director, but he never really got a chance to prove his greatness; I have gone off Bonnie & Clyde over the years. Dead of Winter has intrigued of late - is it good?