Though the overall script is a tad weak - as you can totally imagine the magazine article upon which it was based - the opening sequence of Carbine Williams is riveting. James Stewart starts the film as an old man; he's called away from his work at Winchester headquarters to deal with a problem at home. His son, Bobby Hyatt, has gotten into a fight at school. Jimmy and his wife, Jean Hagen, decide that it's time he learned the truth; so Jimmy drives Bobby to a prison run by Wendell Corey. He introduces Wendell as his best friend and leaves them alone together in the warden's office. It was great parenting for Jimmy to allow his story to be told by a friend. If he told it himself, his son might not have believed it.
Wendell sits Bobby down and tells him that his father spent years in prison for murder before he was born. Then the movie goes back in time and the story starts - riveting, isn't it? You know what else is riveting: James Stewart as a bad guy. Until recently, I'd always thought James Stewart played exclusively goody-goodies like George Bailey. But you can find lots of movies where he plays someone incredibly unlikable - sometimes a downright jerk. In this movie, he runs an illegal bootleg still, then starts shooting at the police when they try to arrest him. Not very bright, and not very admirable. It's no wonder he winds up in jail. Once there, though, he portrays the original Cool Hand Luke and is bad and stubborn to the bone.
Jimmy gives a great performance, though, even when he's not someone you can root for. Before this movie, I couldn't picture him as convict on the chain gang. He's George Bailey, for goodness sake! But he's got quite the chip on his shoulder as this brand-new character, and his gruffness is quite startling. If it hadn't been such a contentious year at the Hot Toasty Rags for 1952, he would have scored a nomination. If you can't imagine seeing such a different side to James Stewart, check out this forgotten drama.
Wendell sits Bobby down and tells him that his father spent years in prison for murder before he was born. Then the movie goes back in time and the story starts - riveting, isn't it? You know what else is riveting: James Stewart as a bad guy. Until recently, I'd always thought James Stewart played exclusively goody-goodies like George Bailey. But you can find lots of movies where he plays someone incredibly unlikable - sometimes a downright jerk. In this movie, he runs an illegal bootleg still, then starts shooting at the police when they try to arrest him. Not very bright, and not very admirable. It's no wonder he winds up in jail. Once there, though, he portrays the original Cool Hand Luke and is bad and stubborn to the bone.
Jimmy gives a great performance, though, even when he's not someone you can root for. Before this movie, I couldn't picture him as convict on the chain gang. He's George Bailey, for goodness sake! But he's got quite the chip on his shoulder as this brand-new character, and his gruffness is quite startling. If it hadn't been such a contentious year at the Hot Toasty Rags for 1952, he would have scored a nomination. If you can't imagine seeing such a different side to James Stewart, check out this forgotten drama.