whidbeydanielg

I remember seeing this movie as a child, in 1958. I liked it then.

As a western affection-ado now I watch it frequently....it is that good.

Several tales in one. Fine actors, fine script. Fine directing. Fine cinematography. Fine everything.

AND next to the score in The Magnificent Seven, the best western score ever.

As someone who has, since his childhood in the 50s, loved Westerns...as someone who has seen almost all of the 50s & 60s westerns.....I can say that The Appaloosa is a fine film.

It is moving...Brando wanting to start a ranch to pay back a man who had been like a father to him, and his forgiveness of a woman who betrayed him. He plays a kind man.

Good westerns have a sweetness about them. And this one does. There is love all around.

The scenery is stunning, and the music adds to it. It has the usual gun battles, but they are different from usual.

Very underrated by critics.

We RARELY disagree with the high ratings given to the classics, but this is dreadful movie is an exception.

It not funny. In fact, my wife fell asleep watching it because it's just talk talk talk talk.

There is that old saying that in movies you can believe the impossible, but not the improbable.

Why any of the three men would want to marry Hepburn is beyond me. She's flighty and shallow. Within the space of 5 minutes she talks about marrying three different men.

And Cary Grant's character? A physically abusive (for real, he punches Hepburn in the face) alcoholic who shows up the day before Hepburn's wedding just to try to win her back by messing up her wedding? And does? He's blackmailing her to get to stay (and she remarries him.....huh?).

Thank goodness there are a few scenes with Jimmy Stewart, who is the only likeable person in the whole cast.