LouHomey
From my favorite movies..
Beystiman
It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.
Wuchak
Released in 1954, "Broken Lance" chronicles the last days of a cattle baron (Spencer Tracy) in southern Arizona who is at odds with three of his sons, but favors the youngest, Joe (Robert Wagner); the latter being the only one born to his Indian wife (Katy Jurado). Cutie Jean Peters plays Joe's love interest while Richard Widmark plays the most embittered son.I was about halfway through "Broken Lance" when it dawned on me that it was essentially the story of Joseph transplanted to the Old West, even down to the protagonist's name being Joe. The biggest changes have to do with the ending, but not really as a certain person gets to go to his "promised land." Everything works for a rewarding experience: The score, the authentic locations, the great cast and the complex story. However, this is far from a typical rollicking Western so don't expect the traditional staples. There are some, of course, but the plot's too original (for a Western) to be pigeonholed as standard fare. The second half, for instance, features a fairly long court sequence. Anyway, it's great to see Robert Wagner when he was only 23 (and wholly unrecognizable to my wife and me); he's excellent as the humble, likable protagonist and a good contrast to Ben (Widmark). Speaking of which, I like the way the film shows that Ben feels he's justified in behaving the way he does. He's clearly the antagonist, but he's not a one-dimensional villain; over the course of time he foolishly allowed his heart to become embittered by hostility and jealously. Lastly, Tracy is outstanding as the proud, stubborn patriarch.The film runs 96 minutes and was shot in southern Arizona and studio ranches in Southern California.GRADE: B
Tweekums
As the film begins Joe Devereaux is picked up and told that he is being taken to see the state governor; when he gets there he learns of a deal that has been struck between the governor and his three brothers… he has just finished a three year jail sentence and they want him well away; to this end they give him ten thousand dollars and instructions to be on the night train to Oregon. Instead of accepting the deal he throws the money in the spittoon and rides back to his family's ranch; it has been abandoned for some time but a portrait of his father still hangs over the fireplace. The action then jumps back a few years to when his father Matt Devereaux was still alive and running the ranch. We quickly learn that he is a hard man who pays his sons the same amount that he pays the rest of his hands and thinks nothing of trying to trick Barbara, the governor's daughter, into eating a chilli pepper during dinner. She eats it even after being told what it is and after dinner she and Joe spend some time together and grow close. Shortly afterwards the governor tells Matt that he doesn't want Joe seeing her because he is half Indian; it is clear that this prejudice is the thing that offends Matt the most. Soon afterwards they discover some of their cattle dead; poisoned by the run-off from the nearby copper mine. When they go to visit the manager a confrontation ensues and the mine buildings are destroyed. This is the beginning of the end for Matt; taken to court, he faces losing everything till Joe claims to have drawn first; he is jailed so Matt decides to settle… his other sons won't allow it though. Joe ends up spending three years in jail and his father gradually fades away and dies while his brothers run the ranch the way they want under the leadership of eldest brother Ben. When events catch up with what we saw in the opening scenes Joe says he intends to leave with Barbara; Ben has other ideas though and the two of them must confront each other.This western was different from most I've seen; usually the cattlemen are fighting each other or trying to run farmers off their land but here a cattleman is in conflict with a mining company and the conflict is resolved on the floor of a courtroom not in the middle of the street with a pair of six-shooters. Spencer Tracy did a fine job as the elderly Matt Devereaux; portraying him as a strong, harsh man who did have a protective side towards his Indian wife and half-Indian youngest son; as his character became broken he remained believable. Robert Wagner did a good job as Joe and Richard Widmark impressed as Ben, the eldest brother who had a long standing, and to a degree justified grievance against his father. Often in films of this era the Native Americans are portrayed as the villains but this film treats them far more sympathetically with one protagonist married to an Indian woman and the other, his son, half Indian; this made a refreshing change. While this isn't this most action packed western I've seen it has enough and the story is good; I'd certainly recommend it to fans of the genre.
stevealfie
"Broken Lance" is an almost scene for scene remake of Joseph L. Mankiewicz's, "House of Strangers". Lightly based on Shakespeare's "King Lear", it tells the story of a family, where the patriarch is forced to break up his empire, and spread the shares among his children(in this case, his sons). His sons, who feel that they are owed the empire, refuse to help the father in times of trouble.Both "Broken Lance" and "House of Strangers" are led by two powerhouse performances by their leading men. Spencer Tracy in the former, and Edward G. Robinson, the latter."Broken Lance" also had a superb supporting cast. Richard Widmark, Robert Wagner, Jean Peters and E.G. Marshall.The story works well as a western, in that, it enables the movie to have the type of large, sweeping scope and grand story that is "King Lear.Told in flashback(just like House of Strangers), the story is the search for revenge by the son that truly loved his father(Wagner). Being his father's favorite, the other brothers plot to do away with him.While the ending is a little contrived, and again, told the exact same way as "House of Strangers", Edward Dmytryk does an excellent job of moving the story along and adding a good deal of action.*** out of ****
ianlouisiana
Irish - American rancher Matt Deveraux hands over control of his empire to his sons,two young no ' count wasters and a hard working older sibling who actually has the nous to improve the business.A fourth son,from his second wife,an Indian,is not well regarded by his brothers.He is the western equivalent of the child born on the wrong side of the blanket. Devraux dies when his youngest is in prison,and his release triggers the tale told in flashback. Mr S.Tracy is first class as Deveraux,waspish,emotional,ruthless yet vulnerable.His almost bi - polar qualities are well captured and Tracy's portrait is quite sympathetic although you wouldn't want to cross him. Back in the 50s it was acceptable to equate an Irish background with hot - tempered passion without falling foul of the "stereotype police" and references are made to Tracy's father emigrating to escape the potato famine just in case we hadn't got the message. Mr Holliman and Mr O'Brian are fine as the no - good sons, as weak and cowardly as Mr Widmark is ambitious and visionary. As the fourth son,a "half =- breed" as he refers to himself(what were we thinking of?)Mr Robert Wagner,bronzed up like an Essex Girl after two weeks in Marbella,glowers and displays what looks suspiciously like eye - liner. Mr E.G. Marshall plays the Indian - hating Governor with a certain deluded integrity. But really "Broken Lance" is mainly notable for Mr Tracy and the splendid direction by the redoubtable Mr Edward Dmytryk. They combine to raise it well above the bar set for adequate but enjoyable Westerns and to the next level where the real giants gather.
