The Devils Doorway
Posted: August 7th, 2011, 6:05 pm
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This one was made to 'p. . . ' me off from the beginning credits to the ending credits. No. 1, of course is Robert Taylor playing Lance Poole instead of a true American Indian. Granted it was made back in 1950, but there were a few around, and Taylor, fine actor that he is, could not exude the sense of helplessness any man would feel in Poole's circumstances. His people worked hard to create a quietly beautiful oasis there in the the valley of the mountains. There was no easy access to them, the whites did not need the land, there was plenty more around, yet this man is supposed to just give it all away, especially after spending years defending those very whites. At the same time; I know a Congressional Medal of Honor winner must be saluted, even by the standing President, but was that the ONLY perc awarded? In other words, although an American Indian, was he still not allowed to own land, or at least continue to oversee the care of it? I have another search to use and if it answers my questions I will return and state them. By the time this film was made, Taylor had done far too many 'heroic' roles to be properly sedate and remorseful. His career was built on the strong, stoic hero, and he just did not bring an honest feeling to this performance. Actually, by the end of the movie, the lady had gone back and forth so many times between the town and his ranch, it finally became rather comical when she brought the message from Washington, D. C.
Any added ideas??
.
This one was made to 'p. . . ' me off from the beginning credits to the ending credits. No. 1, of course is Robert Taylor playing Lance Poole instead of a true American Indian. Granted it was made back in 1950, but there were a few around, and Taylor, fine actor that he is, could not exude the sense of helplessness any man would feel in Poole's circumstances. His people worked hard to create a quietly beautiful oasis there in the the valley of the mountains. There was no easy access to them, the whites did not need the land, there was plenty more around, yet this man is supposed to just give it all away, especially after spending years defending those very whites. At the same time; I know a Congressional Medal of Honor winner must be saluted, even by the standing President, but was that the ONLY perc awarded? In other words, although an American Indian, was he still not allowed to own land, or at least continue to oversee the care of it? I have another search to use and if it answers my questions I will return and state them. By the time this film was made, Taylor had done far too many 'heroic' roles to be properly sedate and remorseful. His career was built on the strong, stoic hero, and he just did not bring an honest feeling to this performance. Actually, by the end of the movie, the lady had gone back and forth so many times between the town and his ranch, it finally became rather comical when she brought the message from Washington, D. C.
Any added ideas??
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