American Film Institute's Top 100 Films: No. 12That'll be the day. - Ethan Edwards
This is the first time I've seen an older, more traditional Western, and all in all I was pleasantly surprised. There was much more story line and in depth character development than I ever anticipated, making it a highly enjoyable film.
John Wayne truly is the cowboy he's made out to be, but after watching the movie he also, in my opinion, really proved himself as an actor. He's quoted as saying this role as Ethan Edwards was a personal favorite, so much so he named his son Ethan, and I can see why. Even for being made in the 1950s, the script is not hokey or unbelievable in any way - quite the opposite, it deals with a number of deeper concepts.
One thing in particular I got from watching the movie was the unusual relationship between Ethan and Martha, his brother's wife. From the very beginning I was confused over the open affection between the two, and in 1974 Wayne said in an interview director John Ford hinted throughout the film of an affair between the two, even going as far as to say Ethan might be the father of Lucy and Debbie, owing to his obsessive quest to reclaim the girls. Furthermore, his desire for vengeance was not over his slain brother, but after the woman he loved. Apparently these hints were so subtle they passed over the head of many viewers at the time.
Overall, I really enjoyed it. I thought not only Wayne but the entire cast was superb in their roles. It was a shame to discover Jeffery Martin, who played Martin Pawley, died so young (43). The movie moves quickly, has a great plot, and even some more comedic moments, such as when Martin accidentally buys a Native American wife, thinking he is getting a blanket. Anyone interested in seeing their first Western, this would be a good choice.
4 stars out of 5
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