Red Sky at Morning

I teach Sociology and would like my present students and future students, to have the chance to view and appreciate the value of this movie in all its lessons. Our young people today could learn things that would benefit them in so many ways. Things from the past and how they relate to us now. They need to see that things have not changed thru the years when it comes to dealing with our two cultures, in our schools and in our communities of the southwest. So if any one can help me, I would appreciate it very much.

I saw this movie while stationed in Germany in 1971, about 6 months after reading the book. Both the book and the movie are as perfect as can be, and the movie, as best I can remember, stays absolutely faithful to the book.

Richard Thomas, Catherine Burns, and Desi Arnaz, Jr. play 3 high-school friends in New Mexico, and the movie tells of a few months in their lives during World War II. Part hilarious, part romantic, part exciting, part heart-breaking, and beautiful throughout. No spoilers here, since all of this movie should be a surprise (like E.T.), but it has something for everyone.

As far as I know, Richard Bradford wrote only one other novel, So Far From Heaven, also set in New Mexico, with unrelated characters and plot. It is just as good a book. I found a couple of out-of-print copies at bn.com. It would also make a sensational movie -- I hope someone does it.

Both of these books and the movie were my first introduction to Latino versus Anglo issues, and show both the best and the worst of their relations.

For Richard Thomas, it marked (about) the beginning of a stellar career, and Desi Arnaz, Jr. enjoyed moderate success. Catherine Burns, however, who was excellent in the movie, simply dropped off the radar screens. Again, if anyone knows of anything else she's done, please send email.

Anyway, I'm rambling a bit, but if you EVER get a chance to see this movie, it's worth a lot of trouble and expense. Rating: 10

I viewed this film for the first time in a motel room at White Sands, New Mexico in 1997. I was completely bowled over. This was a stunning piece of photography (yes, filmography) and truly touching in its use of apace, fauna, and New Mexico geography. Richard Thomas and Desi Arnez,jr were wonderful. This is a real "coming of age" film. I wish to high heaven it were on video. I was, obviously, quite moved.

The idea of placing characters from the WWII era in a desert,detached setting seemed uninteresting and silly to me, at first. As the film progressed, however, one realizes that World War is always somewhere in the background, a father who could hold it all together gone. What a trial for the young people of this film and we come to understand them and their anxieties.

In 1971, I went to the drive-in movie in Ceres, California, with my wife and children. We actually went to see another movie and it was a double feature. I LOVED "Red Sky at Morning". To this day, 31 years later, I still think that it was the best movie I have ever seen. I, too, wish it had been committed to tape. I would love to see it again.

I saw this film out of boredom at my small town theater in 74 and it left a lasting impression on me. I have not seen it since but all the images live on in memory. I can only hope the good people at Universal have the wisdom to release it on video or God willing on D.V.D. I can only hope that you too have experienced this film.