La febbre dell'oro nero

No doubt things were confusing at the onset of World War Two, especially with one American defeat after another, yet political confusion is no reason to move Dodge City to Pennsylvania and call it Pittsburgh. This movie is a warmed-over western, pure and simple. All the ingredients of a formula plot are incorporated, including the ambition, the fist fight and the rich "cowgirl." The themes of redemption for the good of the nation and cooperation in steel production define the conversion of steel plants during the war. The only real question is whether an overly ambitious industrialist (John Wayne) can be corralled for the benefit of the nation, of labour, and of the company itself. The acting is fairly stiff and the plot predictable. One expects more from the film, but it just doesn't happen. Redemption is a common salvation for overly selfish industrialist, but there is little that can redeem this movie--it seems to be a remake of a remake of a remake. For anyone who likes westerns, this movie is ideal. How often does one find a western in the East?

Let's get the bad news out of the way: Frank Craven narrates this movie, and he ruins it just like he always does when he needlessly tells a story. Now the good news: Randolph Scott and John Wayne play best friends. And believe it or not, this isn't a western! They both wear suits and tuxedos throughout the movie, and there's not a horse in sight. It's so cute to see them together, the two kings of westerns. They have great chemistry together, as if they've been friends their whole lives.

This movie starts when both men are "old" and gray - which really means Duke has handsome gray temples and Scottie McScottie Pants has white-blonde gorgeous locks. Then, it goes back in time to see the decades of their friendship. Scottie is often Duke's wingman, taking the fall for his messes. He pays for a bill at the tailor and even gets roped into a fistfight he didn't start. When they go into the coal business together, it's a cinch they'll be equal partners. And when they meet a classy dame, Marlene Dietrich, it's a cinch they'll both be attracted to her. But Duke wins out. It doesn't matter that he's a bit of a jerk; he's the one who steps forward and asks for what he wants. Poor Scottie!

Don't despair, ladies. The movie's not over yet. It's a constant Scottie vs. Duke contest, and it's very fun to watch it all play out. The narration is really irritating, though, so be prepared for a few eye-rolls along the way. And if you really love John Wayne, this probably won't be your favorite. He gets meaner and more selfish as the movie continues, so why does Marlene put up with him? Maybe it's the witty banter, maybe it's those goofy grins - or maybe you should watch the movie and find out.

An American drama; A story about a coal-miner with a ruthless ambition in the Pittsburgh steel industry, only to find himself deserted and lonely at the top. With themes about taking a chance vs redemption and the price of success it becomes predictable in its tale about valuing wealth and power over friends, lovers, and ideals. It has a propaganda feel about inspiring workers to work harder in order to help the WWII War effort. John Wayne gives a solid performance as the crude, wise-cracking upstart, and Randolph Scott is well cast as his more thoughtful partner and Scott plays him with charm and equal power. Marlene Dietrich as a high-class countess looks striking but the romantic plot is so underdeveloped she is just part of a subplot. All in all, it is diverting but weighed down by the end by its heavy message about the greater good.

Pennsylvania coal miners "Pittsburgh" Markham (John Wayne) and "Cash" Evans (Randolph Scott) look to move up in the world, and start their own coal operation. They run into trouble when they both fall for the same woman, "Hunky" Winters (Marlene Dietrich).

This starts out as wartime propaganda promoting the coal and steel industries, but it soon moves into traditional melodrama territory. Dietrich and Scott are both fine in their roles, but the star is undeniably Wayne, and it's a strange role for him. He's charming in his grinning, macho way, but his character spends much of the film as a complete jerk, insulting and betraying most of the other characters. It's a very shaded characterization from someone who usually plays the white-hat hero. There are a few memorable sequences here, particularly the stage-set boxing match and a big rough'n'tumble fight in the coal mines, but these are few and far between.

My DVD is part of the Marlene Dietrich collection and this film is set against the backdrop of the coal and coking industry, the typical American story about starting with nothing and ending a tycoon.

But, of course, for business partners John Wayne - who bulldozes his way through and over anybody and everything and Randolph Scott, who is socially conscience the way to the top is interspersed with the, as always, beguiling Marlene Dietrich.

The production values are good, directed by Lewis Sellar and there's some smart dialogue - 'he's so crooked, he could hide behind a corkscrew' and to Dietrich 'a Christmas tree is dead until it's all lit up' but the story fairly rattles along that each piece and chapter are dealt as briefly and bluntly as Wayne's character (he's called Pittsburgh, or 'Pitt', as well as the story set in the city of the same name) and it's frankly hard to keep up.

This bamboozles any prospective romances to blossom and there's an awful lot of technical talk about unflattering by-products from coal - slag, sulphur, clinker - making this a movie that's not for those looking for a lot of Dietrich or romance. She is good, when she is seen, but Pittsburgh is more a sparring duet between Randolph Scott and John Wayne.

So 6/10; not a bad film but not a particularly good one, either.