Pursued (1947)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Raoul Walsh

Writer:

Niven Busch (screenplay)

Release Date:

2 March 1947 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller | Western

Plot Keywords:

Orchestral Music Score | Love Hate | Melodrama | Ranch | Spurs

Cast

Teresa Wright	...	Thor
Robert Mitchum	...	Jeb
Judith Anderson	...	Mrs. Callum
Dean Jagger	...	Grant
Alan Hale	...	Jake Dingle
John Rodney	...	Adam
Harry Carey Jr.	...	Prentice
Clifton Young	...	The Sergeant
Ernest Severn	...	Jeb, age 11
Charles Bates	...	Adam, age 11
Peggy Miller	...	Thor, age 10
Norman Jolley	...	A Callum
Lane Chandler	...	A Callum
Elmer Ellingwood	...	A Callum
Jack Montgomery	...	A Callum

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | Australia:PG | USA:Approved (certificate #11922) | Finland:K-16 | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Gallup, New Mexico, USA

Company:

United States Pictures

Movie Connections:

Referenced in 'El Chicko' - der Verdacht (1995)

A well done western

Set in the New Mexican Territories at the turn of the century, Pursued is a well made western about Jeb Rand and his struggle against a dark past. Jeb's family disappeared when he was a boy - though he doesn't know how or why. Being raised by the Callum family, Jeb falls in love with Thorley Callum and hopes to start a new life; however, things from his shady past come back and relentlessly pursue him. The film grabs your attention and jumps headfirst into a pool of excitement within the first few minutes - what follows is an interesting and enjoyable story that takes plenty of jaw opening twists and turns throughout the film. Robert Mitchum stars as Jeb and gives a very fine performance that ranks among his most impassioned and very best. Mitchum portrays a smooth toughness and quiet desperation in Jeb, creating a perfect cinematic hero for all to easily rally behind. Teresa Wright also co-stars as the sweet Thorley and Judith Anderson gives a strikingly great performance as 'Ma' Callum. You really don't see westerns as dark as Pursued, cinematographer James Wong Howe really does the film good with his thick shadow-laced picture and wonderfully captured scenery. Director Raoul Walsh orchestrates every tense, tender, and action-packed scene very well and Max Steiner's haunting score kicks the film's mood to high gear. Pursued does have a couple of small hiccups due to some cheesy dialogue, but it is a real good western overall.