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Label:
Name: TWILIGHT TIME
Number: TWILIGHT180-BR

BROKEN LANCE (1954) (BLU-RAY)
Starring:  Richard Widmark, Spencer Tracy, Robert Wagner, Jean Peters, Katy Jurado, Hugh O'Brian, Earl Holliman
Directed By:  Edward Dmytryk
Composed By:  Leigh Harline

“Gripping…strong performances, ably augmented by Joe MacDonald’s lovely ’Scope camerawork.” – Time Out London

“Succeeds in capturing the brutal intensity of a disrupted family. Tracy is marvelous as the hardened father…As the opposing sons, Widmark and Wagner do very well. Director Dmytryk uses his CinemaScope compositions to convey the vast beauty and imposing qualities of the land.” – TV Guide

The one and only Spencer Tracy stars in Broken Lance (1954) as a fierce rancher who has raised his sons (played by Richard Widmark, Robert Wagner, Earl Holliman, and Hugh O’Brian) with a potent work ethic but little paternal affection. Before long, the brothers are at each other’s throats, with dramatic results for the whole family. Also starring Katy Jurado, Oscar®-nominated for her performance as Tracy’s outcast wife, and Jean Peters as the young woman who catches Wagner’s eye.

LANGUAGE: English
VIDEO: 1080p High Definition / 2.55:1
AUDIO: English 5.0 DTS-HD MA / English 2.0 DTS-HD MA
SUBTITLES: English SDH
1954 / Color
96 MINUTES
NOT RATED

Special Features: Isolated Score Track / Audio Commentary with Actor Earl Holliman and Film Historian Nick Redman / Fox Movietone Newsreel / Original Theatrical Trailers

Limited Editions of 3,000 Units

  
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Posted by Mark Turner on March 22, 2016 9:23 PM
FAMILY GONE BAD

When BROKEN LANCE came out in 1954 westerns were still making decent box office dollars. But studios were aware that the tried and true plotlines had to advance from the simple good guy meets bad guy for them to continue. That became apparent with several films of the decade, this one among them. The genre would hang on through the sixties when spaghetti westerns poured new blood into it but would fade out shortly after only to raise up periodically with great films but never a frequent guest at the cinema table any longer.

The story takes place in late 1800s Arizona, revolving around the Deveraux family. Young Joe (Robert Wagner) has just been released from prison, serving a three year sentence for something he didn’t do. Returning home he finds the family mansion in a shambles. In flashback we find out how Joe ended up here.

Matt Deveraux (Spencer Tracy) was a hard as nails rancher having battled everyone from claim jumpers to Indians to create a homestead he could be proud of. Along the way he lost his first wife, the father of three of his sons. Taking on a second wife, a Comanche, he had another son as well, Joe. Matt never believed in making things easy and required his sons to work as hard if not harder than anyone else on the ranch. This resulted in resentment from all three (Richard Widmark, Hugh O’Brien and Earl Holliman).

When a mining company pours their waste into the river killing his cattle, Matt and sons head to their camp to tell them to stop pouring the chemical into the river. When they refuse he and his sons tear down their drainage chute and sparking a possible gun battle, accusations are made against Matt by the mining company. Corrupt politicians put the word in to take down Matt and to prevent his father from facing time in jail Joe pleads guilty to the charges.

Years later Joe has now returned to claim his inheritance. Things have changed and the odds of them ending peacefully are slim. Only time will tell what will happen.

Not only does this film offer us a real western it throws in many concerns of the time into the mix. The main one of these is the racist attitudes on display here when it comes to both Joe’s mother and Joe who the rest consider a half-breed. Not only do his brothers hold him in distain but the rest of the town does as well. The film also brings into question the practices of the mining company, decades before environmentalist would focus the countries attention to the problems. What makes the film exceptional is that they tackle both problems using a style that provokes thought rather than protest. In so doing it makes the viewer consider the problems rather than scream in outrage.

As with nearly every single film they release, Twilight Time offers the best transfer to be found of the movies they release. The beautiful vistas of the west are on display here making those who aren’t don’t see them on a daily basis jealous of having the chance to do so. Extras are fairly slim but still good considering how old the movie is. Included are an isolated score track, audio commentary with actor Earl Holliman and film historian Nick Redman, a Fox Movietone Newsreel and original theatrical trailers.

If you love classic westerns then this is one that should become an addition to your shelf.

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