Lonely Are the Brave

Kirk Douglas has said that "Lonely Are The Brave" is his absolute favorite of all the movies he has done. It doesn't take much thought to determine why he feels this way. The movie's central character, Jack Burns, is a non-conformist, someone who always does things his way no matter what society may tell him differently. There are few other movie protagonists like this one. Other merit found in the movie includes some tense moments while Jack is on the run, plus a gutsy and unconventional ending that you probably couldn't get away with today.

If there is a flaw to be found in this good movie, it may be that some modern day viewers may object to the pacing. It takes about half of the movie before Jack is on the run, and some scenes do seem to run a little longer than they should. While every scene DOES provide some purpose, I think the movie would have been improved had several scenes been cut down in length slightly. But even without this correction, the movie is never boring and is always interesting.

Lonely Are the Brave (1962) is a film about a man who's content with life on the open range. He's the last of his kind, the wandering cowboy. The problem is the open range is disappearing around him. A guy like that can't live off the land anymore because there's no land for him to live off of. Everywhere he goes the land is either owned or forbidden for him to enter. Kirk Douglas stars as the last cowboy who just can't get it into his head how much the times have changed. Especially when he tries to rescue his good friend from the local jail. This causes more trouble than he can comprehend.

What's so funny about this movie is how much of the story, scenes and situations were later used in it's quasi-remake "First Blood". The basic story line and his troubles with the law are quite similar. Walter Matthau and Gena Rowlands co-star in this awesome film about a dying way of life. I saw this film several years ago on Turner Classic Movies. It's a sad tribute to the old west.

Highly enjoyable and recommended.

P.S. Gena Rowlands looks pretty good in this picture!

There are many things weighing in favor of this film: David Miller's direction is assured, honest, competent, and perceptive; Douglas, Matthau and Rowlands all post wonderful performances; photography is superlative; action sequences are of the highest order; and the script, especially the dialogue, by Donald Trumbo, is very good.

Unfortunately, it is built upon a questionable premise. Even the most idealistic of souls has to know that you do not commit crimes to be taken into jail to release your brother, but first you ask him if he is willing to go along with that project. Fortunately, Douglas' brother is much wiser than he and refuses to break out of jail.

Freedom-loving, idealistic Douglas has some strange quirks, not to mention a questionable military service record that includes a Purple Heart, and good civilian deeds besides beating up officers of the law. For somebody who apparently loves freedom so dearly, it is really strange that he has no idea how prison limits your freedom, especially because he had been in detention during his military service.

The film gathers momentum when Douglas is on the run and police after him, but you know that things are not going to go well. Best single aspect in the whole movie: Douglas' love for his mare, Whisky. Plaudits for the trainers who managed to get the animal to perform so convincingly in such a difficult environment, both on the mountains and in the streets.

I liked Matthau's understated performance and the way his character understands Douglas' motivations, but the law, even in 1962, did not allow cop offenders to get off so easy. Well deserved 7/10, a more credible premise would easily raise it to 9/10.

Kirk Douglas shines in what is apparently his favorite role. Kirk plays John W. "Jack" Burns, a VERY independent minded cowboy who hears that an old friend, Paul Bondi (Michael Kane), is in prison for his efforts to help illegal immigrants. Jack works, and he works hard, to get himself locked up in the same prison. There he appeals to Paul to make like the wind, bringing along some hacksaws to saw through the bars of their cell. But he breaks out alone, spurring the local authorities to pursue him using modern methods of communication, transportation, and surveillance.

Right away this fine film struck this viewer as a time honored tale of an old fashioned man out of step with the changing times. The first we see of Jack, he's reclining in the wilderness while jets pass by overhead. He knows that he's something of a dinosaur in this current setting. And since he's far from being a hardcore criminal, our hearts do go out to him. We root for him all the while to make it to freedom, even as he's saddled with a temperamental horse named Whisky.

Kirk has some mighty fine moments with both Kane, and Gena Rowlands, who plays Pauls' wife. He just pours out his heart to this people. In this viewers' humble opinion, Kirk never has been better. And he's very well supported by a rich gallery of actors: Walter Matthau as a lawman, Carroll O'Connor as a trucker, the great William Schallert as a comedy relief deputy (he may remind you of Harry Dean Stanton in "Alien", the way that he keeps saying "Right." to requests), George Kennedy as a brutish prison guard, and Karl Swenson as a "reverend" doing time. A young Bill Bixby has an uncredited bit as an airman in a helicopter. Matthau plays the type of pursuer in this type of tale who has sympathy for his quarry but who knows that he still has a job to do.

There's a wonderful score by Jerry Goldsmith (one of his earlier ones), and plenty of hair raising moments along the way, especially when Jack & Whisky are trying to make their way up the mountain.

Played with real humor and heart, this is a delightful yarn about a man whose well developed sense of loyalty is something to admire.

Eight out of 10.

If You have NOT seen this CLASSIC... You MUST Move it to the TOP of Your MUST SEE LIST!

BUT.... FIRST... Let us FOCUS on the Title´s Content and Context:

"Some things never change...and some things remain the same!" A college Philosophy professor of mine had a penchant for utilizing this quote(?) at, seemingly, the most inappropriate of times!

After watching Lonely Are the Brave, his words re-surfaced and, perhaps, I finally got it! How this early sixties masterpiece has flown under my radar, and just about everyone else's, for over half a century, I'll never know!

From the very opening scene, "Lonely" has a unique way of punctuating every detail, each occurrence, that was really too avant garde for 1962. The opening minutes are probably the most surprising of any "Western" I have ever seen, serving both to highlight the condition of dead-man-walking cultural anachronism of its protagonist and as a foreshadowing of events.

In the "Making of Lonely" special features 19 minute short,(Please, don't miss it!) both Kirk Douglas(Jack Burns) and son, Michael, agree that "LONELY" constitutes both Kirk's favorite film and characterization. And it REALLY shows!

It's hard to fathom why he was denied even the recognition of a nomination.... The film revolves around Jack's quest to save his best friend from serving a 2 year prison sentence for, of all things: smuggling, aiding and abetting "Wetbacks"! (Some things never change!..) But who is going to save Jack from himself?

Jack's horse, "Whiskey" co-stars. No flippancy, whatsoever, there, just simple fact! Gena Rolands (Decades younger here than in "Notebook") does a superb job in a supporting role as best friend's wife/suppressed love interest.

Most of the rest of the cast shines, especially a relatively young and unknown Walter Matthau as the very intense, but low key Sherriff. The B+W photography and editing are both artistic and extremely well-crafted. This film holds up, as few others, to the test of time. In fact, it is perhaps more relevant today than it was in 1962! And what a subtle, but resoundingly powerful message it delivers. 10**********

ENJOY! / DISFRUTELA!

Any Comments, Questions or Observations...In ENGLISH...o en ESPAÑOL... are most Welcome!