Criterion's posh release of Hawks' classic allows us to see his preferred original theatrical release, with Walter Brennan speaking the narration, running two hours and seven minutes - so much happens it's like watching an epic. Well, it is, painted on a much bigger canvas than Hawks usually does, who often shoots on small sets, in enclosed worlds (think The Big Sleep).
I like the way Wayne and Clift have the same nose rub. Loved the funeral scene with the clouds going over the mountains in the background.
Joanne Dru is a great Hawks heroine - she doesn't even squawk when she's shot with an arrow. Clift and Wayne good too.
Dmitri Tiomkin's theme tune is justly famous.
That 360 degree pan of all the cattle was actually a trick shot. A motorized turntable turned the camera at the same speed so they could move the 1500 cattle into three different places and they cut it seamlessly together!
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