One-Eyed Jacks is a rather second-rate Western which is supposed (but often you wouldn’t know it) to be based on the story of Billy the Kid..
It’s a pretty straightforward revenge drama. Karl Malden double-crosses Brando in Mexico and Brando spends five years in a Mexican prison then turns up in Monterey where Malden has become sheriff. Mrs Malden is Katy Jurado, beautiful and splendid as ever, and her daughter is Louisa (Pina Pellicer). Brando tells Malden that all is forgiven but it isn’t. He cynically seduces Louisa and plans to kill Malden.
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There are some very good supporting actors, notably Slim Pickens as the cowardly bully of a deputy with a large beer gut, and Ben Johnson as one of the outlaw band that Brando leads (Johnson brilliantly plays fear in one scene, out-acting Brando by miles). In this picture all the men are base and all the women beautiful and wise.
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Malden overacts, as usual, and never convinced as a Westerner; he was better in cops and robbers dramas. Brando is far too mannered and is not at all believable as a real tough gun hand. He is almost foppish. There is too much talk and too much self-conscious posing. At 140 minutes, the movie is overlong (the original cut ran, Heaven’s Gate-style, five hours, saints preserve us).
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The story is from an adaptation by Rod Sterling of a Charles Neider novelization of Billy the Kid’s life, with a later revision among others by Sam Peckinpah. But the relationship with Billy the Kid is tenuous at best.
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There is the inevitable shoot-out at the end and love blooms. It’s all rather turgid, really. But it’s worth watching for Ben, Slim and Katy.
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Billy the Kid in an alternative universe with Marlon Brando as Rio/Billy and Karl Malden as Dad/Pat Garrett. More a serious drama than a shoot ’em up with several well-drawn characters but a bit slow paced.
Jeff was able to make some irrevocable judgement…!
Quite often most of the films directed by their major actor are almost all interesting and even exciting to varying degrees. Take Wayne (Alamo) Lancaster (The Kentuckian), Douglas (Posse), (Costner, Dance with Wolves, Open Range) and of course Eastwood…!
One Eyed Jacks birth has been very difficult, complicated and painful.
The script has been passed from hand to hand. Sam Peckinpah was among the first to work on it from Charles Neider’s novel about Billy the Kid.
After 6 month he was fired by Brando. Then Stanley Kubrick is chosen as director. He brings with him his scriptwriter who wrote Paths of Glory, Calder Willingham. Then Brando fired Kubrick who had dared to refuse to hire an actress who was a Marlon’s friend. We will never have a chance to watch a western but Kubrick will be called by Kirk Douglas to replace Anthony Mann on Spartacus. Jeff was able to make some irrevocable judgement…!
Quite often most of the films directed by their major actor are almost all exciting to varying degrees. Take Wayne (Alamo) Lancaster (The Kentuckian), Douglas (Posse), (Costner, Dance with Wolves, Open Range) and of course Eastwood…!
One Eyed Jacks birth has been very difficult, complicated and painful.
The script has been passed from hand to hand. Sam Peckinpah was among the first to work on it from Charles Neider’s novel. After 6 month he was fired by Brando. Then Stanley Kubrick is chosen as director. He brings with him his scriptwriter who wrote Paths of Glory, Calder Willingham. Then Brando fires Kubrick who had dared to refuse to hire an actress who was Marlon’s friend.
We will never have a chance to watch a western made by Kubrick who is called by Kirk Douglas to replace Anthony Mann on Spartacus. Malden is offered to direct. He declines. Peckinpah is back to revise the script but is fired again. Finally
Guy Trosper (Devil’s Doorway) is the last to write the final pages… In the meantime, Brando decides to start filming by himself…
Y. Frank Freeman, the Paramount boss, will say : ” I had my first heart attack because of The Ten Commandements, my second with the Buccaneer. Brando will cause my third.”
Hello, Jean Marie. I didn’t know any of that information – thanks. I don’t have a problem with Karl Malden and would suggest he’s a strength in ‘One Eyed Jacks’ while Brando’s brooding performance adds to the running time or at least it feels like it sometimes.
Channel 5 here in the UK has boosted its catch up service with a small batch of westerns (mainly Audie Murphy) so I’m having a mini-season with what they’ve got. It includes one of my favourites ‘The Proud Rebel’ but – sadly – in the usual poor quality print.
Reading you too quickly I understood first that there was an other Proud Rebel starring Audie Murphy… so you can get Audie AND Ladd alltogether lucky you !
I actually like this one quite well. I thought Brando did a good job of portraying a badman ambivalently, but ultimately successfully trying to cross over to the side of sweetness and light. Frankly, when watching the film, I was never sure he would make it, and this uncertainty generates a fair measure of suspense.
I also thought Malden a convincing baddy. He effectively generated a sense of coiled violence and lethality concealed by a blustery bonhommie.
And the interplay between Brando and Malden–in reality the best of chums–was impressive. It’s clear that Malden’s character was never really certain that Brando’s had forgiven him the doublecross, and the uncertainty, again, creates tension.
As Jeff admits, the final shootout is well done.
Now I’ll admit I have a certain yen for oddball and even bizarre Westerns, which is why, I suppose, I have a certain affection for Spaghettis. One-Eyed Jacks isn’t a Spaghetti, but the seaside setting is extremely unusual for a Western, and I thought it was a nice change of pace…and place.
“One-Eyed Jacks” (1961) is wonderful ! ! ! ! I have it as my #8 Western of all time–last August/September Bud and RR asked readers to list their favorite Westerns–and it might make my Top 25 list of all time, all genres.
I’ll comment further when I get a chance. I also enjoyed your comments on “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” (1962), which is my #2 Western, and my #5 movie of all time, all genres. I want to write a full-length review of “Liberty Valance,” but it’s such a multi-layered film that writing about it is a challenge. The review hasn’t materialized yet.
Anyway, welcome to the site, and I’ve enjoyed your comments.
Thanks, 1975. I’ve enjoyed my short time here and hope to continue contributing.
Liberty Valance is the worst film ever made.
Really… I would be interested in your arguments after such a strong and elaborate statement…!?
Across this blog, our beloved Jeff has passionately spoken about dire and even bad westerns or westerns he disliked but I guess he has never found “the worst”.
And speaking of the worst film means you are thinking far beyond the western genre.
Valance may have many flaws, however is he really the worst ?
No, absolutely not. Though I believe Jeff’s favorite Brian Garfield was a detractor in his Western guide.
Of course not. That statement is ridiculous on its face.
Yes, I like ‘One Eyed Jacks’ too. I will watch Brando in anything really.