The Lusty Men (1952)

Retired rodeo champion Jeff McCloud agrees to mentor novice rodeo contestant Wes Merritt against the wishes of Merritt's wife who fears the dangers of this rough sport.

Directors:

Nicholas Ray, Robert Parrish (uncredited)

Writers:

Horace McCoy (written for the screen by), David Dortort (written for the screen by)

Stars:

Susan Hayward, Robert Mitchum, Arthur Kennedy

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Susan Hayward	...	Louise Merritt
Robert Mitchum	...	Jeff McCloud
Arthur Kennedy	...	Wes Merritt
Arthur Hunnicutt	...	Booker Davis
Frank Faylen	...	Al Dawson
Walter Coy	...	Buster Burgess
Carol Nugent	...	Rusty Davis
Maria Hart	...	Rosemary Maddox
Lorna Thayer	...	Grace Burgess
Burt Mustin	...	Jeremiah Watrus
Karen Randle	...	Ginny Logan (as Karen King)
Jimmie Dodd	...	Red Logan
Eleanor Todd	...	Babs

Storyline

When he sustains a rodeo injury, star rider Jeff McCloud returns to his hometown after many years of absence. He signs on as a hired hand with a local ranch, where he befriends fellow ranch hand Wes and his wife Louise. Wes has big dreams of owning his own little farm, and rodeo winnings could help finance it. Wes convinces Jeff to coach him in the rodeo ways, but Louise has her doubts. She doesn't want her man to end up a broken down rodeo bum like Jeff McCloud. Despite Louise's concern, the threesome hit the road in their Woody, chucking a secure present for an unknown future. Will they find success or sorrow? This picture features plenty of rodeo action and thrills.

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Plot Keywords:

rodeo | based on novel | ranch | rodeo champion | injury | 

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Taglines:

A Fast Buck... A Fast Bronc... A Fast Thrill!

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Sport | Western

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the opening credits, filmed on Stone St. in Tucson, AZ, the Pioneer Hotel is briefly visible, and farther down the street, Steinfield's Department Store. The hotel was said to be "100 percent fireproof", a claim that was refuted in December 1970 when fire swept through the upper floors, claiming 29 victims - among whom were Harry and Margaret Steinfield, who lived in its penthouse. The building was repaired and is now a mixed-use apartment and office space.

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Goofs

During the Tucson Rodeo sequence, bull rider [Chet?] Peterson switches hands mid-ride.

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Quotes

Louise Merritt: Wes tells me you once made three thousand dollars in one day, rodeoin'.
Jeff McCloud: That's right.
Louise Merritt: And threw it all away.
Jeff McCloud: Oh, I didn't throw it away. It just sorta'... floated.
Louise Merritt: That's pretty stupid, breakin' all your bones, then lettin' the money go.

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Connections

Referenced in Kings of the Road (1976)

User Reviews

Life On the Rodeo Circuit

One of Robert Mitchum's best films from his days at RKO is The Lusty Men about the rodeo circuit. Mitchum plays Jeff McCloud a burned out rodeo rider who spots some potential star talent in Wes Merritt. He also spots Merritt's wife and the Merritts are played by Arthur Kennedy and Susan Hayward.

Mitchum's been thrown by one too many bulls and horses and he's a burned out man. Still the allure of the circuit holds him in sway. He mentors Kennedy until they come to a parting of the ways and not just over Susan Hayward. The part is a perfect fit for Mitchum, his own footloose past made him understand the character of Jeff McCloud and bring it to life.

This was the first of two films Mitchum did with Susan Hayward. She's clearly in support of him and she knows it. Her big moment on screen is dispatching a rodeo groupie at a party who had designs on Arthur Kennedy. Her footage had to be shot first, according to Lee Server's biography of Mitchum, as Hayward had a commitment in Africa to shoot The Snows of Kilimanjaro.

Among the supporting cast Arthur Hunnicutt, one of the biggest scene stealers around, is very good as another burned out rodeo rider. Mitchum looks at him and sees that is his future. In fact in the end, so does Kennedy.

The Lusty Men is a fine depiction of rodeo life, ranking up there with the later Junior Bonner and 8 Seconds. Good entertainment all around.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 October 1952 (USA)

Also Known As:

This Man is Mine

Filming Locations:

Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Wald/Krasna Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1