The Furies (1950)

A firebrand heiress clashes with her tyrannical father, a cattle rancher who fancies himself a Napoleon; but their relationship turns ugly only when he finds himself a new woman.

Director:

Anthony Mann

Writers:

Charles Schnee (screenplay), Niven Busch (from a novel by)

Stars:

Barbara Stanwyck, Wendell Corey, Walter Huston

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Barbara Stanwyck	...	Vance Jeffords
Wendell Corey	...	Rip Darrow
Walter Huston	...	T. C. Jeffords
Judith Anderson	...	Flo Burnett
Gilbert Roland	...	Juan Herrera
Thomas Gomez	...	El Tigre
Beulah Bondi	...	Mrs. Anaheim
Albert Dekker	...	Mr. Reynolds
John Bromfield	...	Clay Jeffords
Wallace Ford	...	Scotty Hyslip
Blanche Yurka	...	Herrera Mother
Louis Jean Heydt	...	Bailey
Frank Ferguson	...	Dr. Grieve
Charles Evans	...	Old Anaheim
Movita	...	Chiquita (as Movita Casteneda)

Storyline

The 1870s, New Mexico territory: T.C. Jeffords is a cattle baron who built his ranch, the Furies, from scratch. He borrows from banks, pays hired hands with his own script ("T.C.'s"), and carries on low-level warfare with the Mexicans who settled the land but are now considered squatters. He has enemies, including Rip Darrow, a saloon owner who's father T.C. took land from. His headstrong daughter, Vance, has a life-long friend in one of the Mexicans, her heart set on Rip, and dad's promise she'll run the Furies someday. Her hopes are smashed by Rip's revenge, a gold-digger who turns T.C.'s head, and T.C.'s own murderous imperialism. Is Vance to be cursed by fury and hatred?

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Plot Keywords:

new mexico | cattle baron | father daughter conflict | father daughter rivalry | private currency | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | Western

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

14 August 1950 (UK)

Also Known As:

Almas em Fúria

Filming Locations:

Empire Ranch, Sonoita, Arizona, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Wallis-Hazen

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Cinematographer Lee Garmes shot part of this film, uncredited.

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Quotes

Dallas Hart: [as she's leaving] I never could see what they see in the thin ones.
Vance Jeffords: It's not what they see.

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Connections

Featured in Century of Cinema: A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies (1995)

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Soundtracks

Trail to Mexico
(uncredited)
Traditional

User Reviews

Wild ride

This thing is a wild ride - it really crackles with energy! Plus its one of those rare films where the actors chew up the scenery and spit it back out, and its expertly done, absolutely right, and works beautifully. Also its a film made by adults, for adults, starring adults; all the leads are in their late 30s and up. It is very stylized and the black-and-white cinematography was nominated for an Academy Award. So many scenes stand out, but the whole section involving the "battle" with the Herrera family is particularly vivid. Gilbert Roland registers surprisingly well also, the role was perfect for him at that age. The Herrera mother nursing her hatred is wonderful. Its possibly the peak of Stanwyck's career; I'd argue that she was never able to make as good a film again. I would pay 100 TCs to see it another time!