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Amazon.co.uk Review
Burt Lancaster's one and only feature as star and director, The Kentuckian, has a bedrock American folk tale at its core, but scarcely a clue how to tell it. For all his balletic control as an actor-athlete, Lancaster shows no sense of how a film should move and breathe over an hour and a half, or how to make the characters' growth or changes of mind credible.
It's the early 18th century--Monroe is president--and buckskin-clad Lancaster and his son (Donald MacDonald) are lighting out for Texas. "It ain't we don't like people--we like room more." They plan briefly to visit Lancaster's tobacco-dealer brother (John McIntire) in the river town of Humility, and then move on. But there are complications from a long-running feud, and some nasty baiting from a whip-cracking storekeeper (Walter Matthau in his film debut); the need to replace their "Texas money" after buying freedom for a bondservant (Dianne Foster); also the matter of deciding who's prettier, her or the local schoolmarm (Diana Lynn).
Lancaster aims for some quaint Americana--a sing-along to the tinkling of a pianoforte, a jaw-dropping riverside production number--and there's one nifty bit of action based on how long it took to reload a flintlock rifle. But mostly this film just lies there in overlit CinemaScope. --Richard T Jameson
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This 1955 film is the only movie that Burt Lancaster ever directed. Set in the early 19th century its the story of a recent widow father and his son's journey towards Texas. Off course lots of things will happen along the way but the movie really works as a piece of nostalgic americana. The suporting cast is very good and we can see Walter Matthau in his film debut.The dvd edition has no extras but offers a good print of the film in his original widescreen aspect ratio with clear mono sound. Since the price is so good and theres not many chances this film will ever guet a special edition buy it before it goes out of print.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Not to be confused with John Wayne's pretty dire vehicle "The Fighting Kentuckian"(49), although this Kentuckian certainly does his fair share of fighting, this film represents Burt Lancaster's sole excursion into the directors chair. The film is based on "The Gabriel Horn" a story by Felix Holt set in 1820's Kentucky. Lancaster and his son played by Donald MacDonald play two backwoods characters trying to get to the promised land of Texas because its less crowded and the air is sweeter to breathe. They fall in with an indentured girl and the three are then waylaid by Lancaster's brother, or was it brother in law?, played by John MacIntyre. He attempts to civilise them without much success. Lancaster is then distracted by a very pretty schoolteacher. Their dreams of Texas are stalled in the process. Lancaster also falls foul of the local bully played by Walter Matthau in his first screen role. There are also some old enemies from the backwoods who turn up to add a discordant note. It all adds up to plenty of action. Will they ever get to Texas?
This action adventure film full of backwoods lore, does not demand too much of Lancaster. At times the film has a Disney feel to it and you expect Fess Parker to appear as Davy Crockett complete with coonskin cap. But this sits uneasily with the infamous bullwhipping scene where Matthau lays about Lancaster, and the scene where the two villains from the backwoods casually dispatch a character like a nasty varmit. A bit too dark for Disney! The film was made on location in Levi Jackson state park, London, Kentucky and this helps the cinematography no end. Lancaster with his distinctive toothy grin that Ewan McGregor seems to have annoyingly copied, brings an athletic vitality to his role. John McIntyre also acquits himself well in his supporting role, as he so often did. Walter Matthau plays a sort of panto villain who reminded me of Daniel Day-Lewis's over the top "Bill the Butcher" from "Gangs of New York". But most annoying was the sweet faced child actor Donald MacDonald as young Eli. His attempts at tears and joy are both cringingly bad. Hopefully his acting improved, if he was ever allowed another chance. The two female leads are also very forgettable. Now what were their names?
Overall it is a pretty undemanding film. It can be best described as routine. For western fans like myself it is an enjoyable enough romp. It is one you would probably not need to watch more than once. Whilst not a bad film I can only give it three stars for effort.
This action adventure film full of backwoods lore, does not demand too much of Lancaster. At times the film has a Disney feel to it and you expect Fess Parker to appear as Davy Crockett complete with coonskin cap. But this sits uneasily with the infamous bullwhipping scene where Matthau lays about Lancaster, and the scene where the two villains from the backwoods casually dispatch a character like a nasty varmit. A bit too dark for Disney! The film was made on location in Levi Jackson state park, London, Kentucky and this helps the cinematography no end. Lancaster with his distinctive toothy grin that Ewan McGregor seems to have annoyingly copied, brings an athletic vitality to his role. John McIntyre also acquits himself well in his supporting role, as he so often did. Walter Matthau plays a sort of panto villain who reminded me of Daniel Day-Lewis's over the top "Bill the Butcher" from "Gangs of New York". But most annoying was the sweet faced child actor Donald MacDonald as young Eli. His attempts at tears and joy are both cringingly bad. Hopefully his acting improved, if he was ever allowed another chance. The two female leads are also very forgettable. Now what were their names?
Overall it is a pretty undemanding film. It can be best described as routine. For western fans like myself it is an enjoyable enough romp. It is one you would probably not need to watch more than once. Whilst not a bad film I can only give it three stars for effort.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Burt Lancaster ! What more is there to say ! A legend !
Forty four years of films with Birdman from Alcatraz topping them all.
These films will be watched for generations to come.
Worthy of a place in my DVD collection any time.
Forty four years of films with Birdman from Alcatraz topping them all.
These films will be watched for generations to come.
Worthy of a place in my DVD collection any time.
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