The Red Pony

The most truly American of classical composers, Aaron Copland's stirring music score is what still resonates most in this almost forgotten 1949 film, even though it boasts an impressive pedigree - a screenplay by John Steinbeck based on his own collection of short stories, direction from film veteran Lewis Milestone ("All Quiet on the Western Front", Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men"), and A-list stars in Robert Mitchum and Myrna Loy. It was the most expensive picture ever made at Republic Studios, a poverty-row operation that was kept afloat thanks to a successful string of John Wayne westerns. On the surface, the movie seems like kid-friendly fare, but it also presents some interesting psychological subtext on the family unit and a surprisingly graphic scene that triggers the story's climax.

The story focuses on a young boy named Tom Tiflin, who lives with his parents on a ranch in the Salinas Valley. His no-nonsense mother Alice was raised in the area, but his emotionally indifferent father Fred comes from San Jose and has never felt at home despite spending years on the ranch. On a long-term visit to the ranch, Alice's father is an old coot who repeats the same stories about the old West much to the consternation of Fred. Moreover, Fred's constantly conflicted state has pushed Tom closer to devoted ranch hand Billy Buck. Family tensions give way to a red pony, Fred's present to Tom. Naturally, the boy focuses his full attention on the pony, even cutting class to take care of it after it ambled outside during a heavy rainstorm. The rest of the story plays the way one would expect from a parable about personal obligations and coping with tragedy. Milestone lends a painterly quality to the proceedings, but he doesn't delve deeply into the characters' motivations. This was probably an intentional decision since the picture seems designed to be more of a Disney-type live-action film. The superficial treatment, however, leaves some aspects of the story oddly unexplained.

The resulting lapse leaves the actors to fill in the blanks. Even in a sketchily written role like Billy, Mitchum exudes his famously coiled presence in the face of a character that seems too good to be true. Stripped of her sophisticated charms, a ghostly-looking Loy lends a stoic dignity to Alice that gives just a small glimpse into the marital struggles her character is obviously facing. A year away from playing his archetypal role of Oliver Wendell Holmes in "The Magnificent Yankee", Louis Calhern brings bluster and unexpected poignancy to the grandfather. As Fred, Steinbeck look-alike Shepperd Strudwick does the best he can in a relatively thankless role. Nine-year-old Peter Miles is generally affecting as Tom, though he can't seem to get past the boy's obsession into something more moving. That is indeed the Wicked Witch of the West, Margaret Hamilton, playing a minor role as Tom's perturbed schoolteacher. As noted with Loy's appearance, the color seems sadly faded in the print housed in the 2003 DVD, and unfortunately there are no extras offered - a true shame considering the talent involved.

Young dreamer Peter Miles (as Tom Tiflin) receives "The Red Pony" as a gift from father Shepperd Strudwick (as Fred Tiflin). But, the boy receives help in training the animal not from his distant dad, but from ranch-land Robert Mitchum (as Billy Buck). When tragedy strikes, the lad learns some of life's lessons. The cast is certainly capable, especially with mother Myrna Loy (as Alice Tiflin) in the mix. But, the triad of adults does not approach the seething subtext present in "Shane" (1953). And, John Steinbeck's screenplay does not evoke the passion of similar films, like "The Yearling" (1947).

For these reasons, "The Red Pony" isn't as well-remembered. Still, it's an excellent production, with some fairly interesting character dynamics. Director Lewis Milestone and photographer Tony Gaudio contribute beautifully. This was the last film for Mr. Gaudio, who must have, although not finally nominated, received some "Academy Award" consideration for "Best Color Cinematography". Aaron Copland's musical score is also award-worthy. Louis Calhern (as grandfather) and Margaret Hamilton (as teacher) add support. Watch for Beau (son of Lloyd) Bridges and Nino Tempo (brother of April Stevens).

******* The Red Pony (3/28/49) Lewis Milestone ~ Peter Miles, Robert Mitchum, Myrna Loy

The Red Pony was an early novel of John Steinbeck dealing with memories of his childhood in the Salinas Valley in California. It was Republic's prestige film for 1949 away from the B westerns that were the company's bread and butter. Herbert J. Yates even had the good sense not to have wife Vera Hruba Ralston in it.

He probably spent half the studio budget signing as stars Myrna Loy who was free lancing and Robert Mitchum from RKO. In Mitchum's case it might have been a question of a favor or two owed to Howard Hughes. Both studios were B picture companies.

The story takes place like Steinbeck's other classic, East of Eden, during the years before American entry into World War I. The Tiflin family has recently moved on that ranch. For Myrna Loy it was a case of going back to her roots on both the screen and the film, in real life she grew up on a ranch in Montana. But her husband Sheppard Strudwick is a school teacher and a city kid and feels an outsider. Especially when their kid Peter Miles starts hanging around with ranch hand Robert Mitchum.

Anyway the lad is given a roan colored pony, a really good looking and smart animal as well. The pony and the boy take to each other and Miles follows Mitchum's instructions on care and feeding implicitly. He even teaches the pony some tricks one of which will innocently bring about the animal's ultimate demise and a Tiflin family crisis.

Though the Tiflins are quite a bit up the economic scale from the Baxters, The Red Pony is very similar in plot in a lot of respects to the Marjorie Keneston Rawlings classic, The Yearling. Both are nice family films in which the boy protagonists face crises involving their respective pets. They also have some disturbing scenes in them, young Peter Miles's scrape with some buzzards might give real little kids nightmares. I may have some myself tonight.

Still if you are willing to risk the bad dreams, The Red Pony is a fine family film that still holds up well after 59 years.

This is a beautiful motion picture about a boy and a horse (and there are many of those). Adapted by John Steinbeck from the author's own short stories, it captures its rural setting perfectly, and the entire production is enlivened by strong characterizations. Louis Calhern is especially fun as Grandfather, and Margaret Hamilton shines as a stern schoolmarm. But the real star, aside from the titular animal, is the dialogue. The people in this story speak so realistically and naturally, it spoils you and makes you wish all films were written this way. An added bonus is Aaron Copland's music. Remade in 1973 as a television movie by Universal.

It is hard for me to believe this is a John Steinbeck novel and screen play, it is the complete opposite of anything that Steinbeck has ever written. Myrna Loy, (Alice Tiffin) plays a rather quite woman who lived in the Salinas Valley all her life and is a very calm mother with her son Tom and her aging father who repeats stories over and over again until I even got tired of hearing the grandfather, (Louis Calhern) repeat his lines over and over again. Alice Tiffin's husband came from San Jose, California and is beginning to drift away from the ranch and wants to work with his brother who lives in San Jose. Robert Mitchum, (Billy Buck) plays an outstanding role and seems to be the only person who puts his heart and soul into this picture. Louis Calhern gave a great supporting role and I just think that Myrna Loy did not belong in this film.