When it comes to smoldering noir antiheroes,Robert Mitchummight be the best there ever was. From iconic roles like the menacing yet charismatic traveling preacher Harry Powell inthe noir masterpiece The Night of the Hunterto the retired private investigator fighting his own demons inthe quintessentialOut of the Past,Mitchum commanded the screen with an unmatched presence. While his contribution to the genre has often been the hallmark of his career, Mitchum, who got enviable praise from criticRoger Ebertas his favorite actor, was far more versatile than that. InNicholas Ray’s 100% Rotten Tomatoes-rated 1952 contemporary WesternThe Lusty Men,which combines the rugged intensity of the Western with the pathos of sports dramas,Mitchum proves once more why he is listed among the greatest male stars of classic American cinemaby the American Film Institute and his name is inscribed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.The Lusty Menis an intricate study of the fleeting showbiz of rodeo riding while meditating on human vulnerability, ambition, and the thin line between glory and self-destruction.
‘The Lusty Men’ Offers a Realistic Depiction of Rodeo Life
Nicholas Ray chooses an unsentimental exploration of rodeo riding, presenting both the allure of the sport and how it could prove self-destructive for those who get carried away with its insatiable momentary glorification. Through Robert Mitchum’s character, Jeff McCloud, and the characters of his co-stars,Susan Hayward’s Louise andArthur Kennedy’s Wes, Ray paints a realistic portrait of the sport,capturing the transient, high-risk lifestyleof its participants withdocumentary-like detail. Mitchum’s Jeff is a washed-up champion whose career-ending injury and a longing for home send him back to Texas, the place he grew up, where he meets the hardscrabble couple Wes and Louise. The couple is interested in Jeff’s dilapidated childhood home, which is under a different owner, but with their meager earnings, it would take them years to save for it. Seeing an opportunity to partner with the former rodeo champion, Jeff, for mentorship that would help Wes get into the pro rodeo circuit and speed up the realization of his dream, Wes strikes a 50-50 deal with Jeff for winnings if he agrees to train him to stardom.The Lusty Menexplores the trio’s evolving needs, with its tension arising from Wes' growing thirst for rodeo glory that clashes with Louise’s fidelity to their more stable long-term plan to settle as ranchers, while Mitchum’s Jeff becomes an intriguing, subtle third wheel in their romance, developing an interest in Louise.
Ray’s direction goes fora gritty exploration that avoids melodrama, where the camera captures details. These range from behind the scenes moments that expose the participants' fears and determination, knowing that one wrong move could prove disastrous, to the dangers of the actual races that sometimes result in death. Even the faces of the participants' spouses are shown as they anxiously follow from the terraces, hoping that their husbands' sacrifices would be worthy, or at the very least, that they will emerge from the races alive.The film’s black-and-white cinematographybyLee Garmesemphasizes the unvarnished realities of this world. None of Ray’s characters comes out at the end as a clear winner, pointing to his unflinching look at the fleeting nature of the sport’s success.
‘The Lusty Men’ is a Showcase of Impeccable Performances by Robert Mitchum, Susan Hayward and Arthur Kennedy
A character-driven movie,The Lusty Men’s success depends on how well Robert Mitchum, Arthur Kennedy, and Susan Hayward portray Jeff, Wes, and Louise’s complex dynamics. The three actors do not disappoint.Mitchum plays Jeff with the rugged charisma of a cowboy, that contrasts with his vulnerability as a drifter looking for a new meaning to lifefollowing his regrettable past. Though worn-out, Jeff represents the power of experience, mentoring Wes to become a top rodeo rider, while offering snippets of wisdom drawn from the lessons he has learned along the way. Even though he is romantically attracted to Louise, Jeff carries with him the pragmatism that things might not always work as one wishes, which contrasts with Wes' foolish optimism.
Kennedy delivers an initial eagerness to succeed that defines Wes before he gets hooked on the sport’s thrills. Like Jeff before he got injured, Wes is incapable of learning from others' mistakes, creating cracks in his relationship with Louise. He parties and enjoys the perks that come with his newfound celebrity status, with the adolescence of a man corrupted by the discovery of money and power. Cast opposite Kennedy is Hayward, who plays Louise with intelligence, displaying her anxiety as her husband races in the dangerous sport. Whether it is the worried looks she throws down the circuit from the stands as Wes rides, or her eventual withdrawal from attending the races altogether,she masterfully depicts Louise’s voice of reason and loyalty to a man who seems less deserving of it.In scenes with Mitchum, Hayward believably plays Louise’s quiet attraction to Jeff without ever vocalizing her feelings. The trio delivers powerful performances that immerse us in the film’s exploration of human frailty.The Lusty Men’s blend ofsports dramaand Western grit creates a movie that invites us to observe the human condition from a closer range, with a warning that ambition that borders on greed could be self-destructive.
The Lusty Men
