Though supposed to be severely handicapped by the studio system of Hollywood, this movie does have clear Renoir marks, not only in superb scene compositions/ camera/ lighting work but also in the characterisation of the characters. It is quite unlike normal western movies (which I incidentally dislike).
The story is in the outskirts of civilisation, where people - one could say forced to make their own laws. In this area, there are motley of characters. Of which there is are defined villains, and a creep side-kick, one could add a girl too in the list, who though had been driven by intense jealousy. But there are no real heroines or heroes. Each play their part in the drama of a segment of life in the frontier, without trying to make one's image cleaner than other. The story did remind me of manon des Sources - which too has similar circumstances (not the story though) - the two Soubeyeran (Dorsons here) as villains and Manon (Julie) as the vulnerable girl.
Each Leads have their short comings and positives. Hannah genuinely cares for her older husband, and though some one, probably misunderstood her feelings, genuinely cares for Ben - in the maternal way. Her hiding the fact from husband too is not difficult to understand, which some reviewers have missed. In those circumstances, with the temper of her husband, it would probably lead to his being hung for murder. His sworn enemies, Dorsons would ensure that.
She had tried her best to keep the worm away, first by pleading with her husband, to stay more at home, and then the step-son, asking him not to walk-out, though not telling the reason, but implying it (which audience would understand, aware of her dilemma, though the characters won't) . One have to understand her problem, she doesn't want to lose wither husband nor son, which she would, to Law, if they ever come to know. There was only one way - which she didn't know, nor was supposed to - the murder was avoided, pure circumstances, and quite a bit of commonsense/ intelligence, though the son came to know of (had the husband been on that shoe, it won't have been).
The people did know Julie's pedigree - again some missed that - but looked other way, the behaviour was clear from that. In fact till the fact was enlightened (to me), I couldn't understand the people keeping quiet, when she was slapped around by Dorsons, even McCords behaving to the point of being cruelty. Once it is known, that is quite explainable.
Almost every one behaved the way expected, by real people. Baxter repeatedly stepping on Ben's toes while dancing, till they decided to call it a day. The intense jealousy of town beauty, Mabel, and her behaviour when her supremacy was challenged, or even the Fleeter - fluctuating between believing Ben and suspicious of him, were all one would expect.
On that angle, i don't find fault with the characterizations, and almost every one played their part, as they should, in real life. I found the movie quite enjoyable, not only because taut story and exceptional camera/ lighting.
The story is in the outskirts of civilisation, where people - one could say forced to make their own laws. In this area, there are motley of characters. Of which there is are defined villains, and a creep side-kick, one could add a girl too in the list, who though had been driven by intense jealousy. But there are no real heroines or heroes. Each play their part in the drama of a segment of life in the frontier, without trying to make one's image cleaner than other. The story did remind me of manon des Sources - which too has similar circumstances (not the story though) - the two Soubeyeran (Dorsons here) as villains and Manon (Julie) as the vulnerable girl.
Each Leads have their short comings and positives. Hannah genuinely cares for her older husband, and though some one, probably misunderstood her feelings, genuinely cares for Ben - in the maternal way. Her hiding the fact from husband too is not difficult to understand, which some reviewers have missed. In those circumstances, with the temper of her husband, it would probably lead to his being hung for murder. His sworn enemies, Dorsons would ensure that.
She had tried her best to keep the worm away, first by pleading with her husband, to stay more at home, and then the step-son, asking him not to walk-out, though not telling the reason, but implying it (which audience would understand, aware of her dilemma, though the characters won't) . One have to understand her problem, she doesn't want to lose wither husband nor son, which she would, to Law, if they ever come to know. There was only one way - which she didn't know, nor was supposed to - the murder was avoided, pure circumstances, and quite a bit of commonsense/ intelligence, though the son came to know of (had the husband been on that shoe, it won't have been).
The people did know Julie's pedigree - again some missed that - but looked other way, the behaviour was clear from that. In fact till the fact was enlightened (to me), I couldn't understand the people keeping quiet, when she was slapped around by Dorsons, even McCords behaving to the point of being cruelty. Once it is known, that is quite explainable.
Almost every one behaved the way expected, by real people. Baxter repeatedly stepping on Ben's toes while dancing, till they decided to call it a day. The intense jealousy of town beauty, Mabel, and her behaviour when her supremacy was challenged, or even the Fleeter - fluctuating between believing Ben and suspicious of him, were all one would expect.
On that angle, i don't find fault with the characterizations, and almost every one played their part, as they should, in real life. I found the movie quite enjoyable, not only because taut story and exceptional camera/ lighting.