Four Faces West (1948)

Too much of everything

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Joseph Calleia stands out in this sympathetic role, possibly the best he was ever offered.Frances Dee stands out, for her beauty, her riding ability, and for handling a role more complex than any other in "Four Faces West."Joel McRae stands out -- and, really, he always does.Charles Bickford stands out, though he is not the cowboy the others are, but he is another who always shines, in whatever role.Dan White stands out, in one of his biggest and most sympathetic roles, and shows he could have done even more in his career.The entire cast stands out, with such greats as Sam Flint and William Conrad and veteran, but young-looking Eva Novak.The script stands out, as does the story on which it is based.In short, "Four Faces West" easily earns the 10 stars I give it. And there is a good print at YouTube that I highly recommend.

Four Faces West (AKA: They Passed This Way) is directed by Alfred E. Green and collectively adapted to screenplay by C. Graham Baker, Teddi Sherman, William Brent and Milarde Brent from the novel Paso por acqui written by Eugene Manlove Rhodes. It stars Joel McCrea, Francis Dee, Charles Bickford and Joseph Calleia. Music is by Paul Sawtell and cinematography by Russell Harlan. Ross McEwen (McCrea) robs the bank of Santa Maria but requests only $2,000 and issues an I.O.U. to the bank manager with the promise of paying back the money. The bank manager, aggrieved and agitated, puts a bounty of $3,000 on McEwen's head and quickly finds the law, in the form of Sheriff Pat Garrett (Bickford), aiding his cause. But McEwen is no ordinary thief, and as he makes his way across the lands during his escape, revelations and relationships will reveal something quite extraordinary. All the things are in place here for a conventional 1940s Western movie, with the robbery of a bank followed by a posse pursuit, a serious sheriff on the case, a pretty gal turning heads and some card playing of course. Yet this is far from being a conventional Oater. Old fashioned? Yes! Definitely, but it's a beautifully crafted picture that relies on characterisations - locations - and a story of such humanistic redemptive qualities; it demands to be better known. It has rightly been pointed out before that no blood is shed here, no bullets are fired; in fact bullets play a key part of the story for a different reason, but the action quota here is still very high. With blazing fire tactics used at one point and pursuits through the rocky terrain very much in evidence, the pic often raises the pulses. Tension is also provided by the efforts of McEwen to evade the attentions of the posse and the law, with some intelligent and believable methods put into action. The romance angle is also thoughtful and never cloying, given credence by real life lovers McCrea and Dee, while non white actors play South American characters without charges of stereotype or fodder being brought into play. With first grade black and white photography from Harlan (New Mexico Tourist Board done a favour here), unfussy direction by Green, and a quartet of great performances by the principal players leading from the front, Four Faces West (not the best of titles to be fair) is a treat for the Western fan. It may lack a "shock" outcome but it sure as heck fire casts off cynicism and makes you feel better about people in general. Bravo! 8/10

A decent man facing a desperate situation robs a bank and leaves an IOU. This is a strange Western in that not a single gunshot is fired or a punch thrown. It is not dull, however. There is enough action to keep it interesting, but the script, based on a novel by Western specialist Manlove (cool name) Rhodes, seems to be all over the place, including a hokey episode involving a dying Mexican family. McCrea is as earnest as ever as the hero (why he robbed the bank is not really explained) and gets to ride a cow across the desert! Dee (real-life Mrs. McCrea) makes a comely love interest. There are good performances from Bickford and Calleia.

Joel McCrea and Francis Dee are exceptional people. They made this one of the best family westerns of all time. To bad there are not anymore actors or actresses like this anymore. We have hit a low in good clean acting, and good movie plots.