NOTE: This review is dedicated to fellow film buff Stephen_Murray, whose mention of this fine film in one of his reviews (check them out!) reminded me to revisit this important work that has been a favorite of mine since my childhood. Thanks, Stephen!

If you have ever felt yourself to be a “fish out of water,” Lonely Are The Brave is a film you will be able to identify with and is a “must see“ for you.

A LITTLE BACKGROUND
As a person who tries to think for himself, I have often found myself outnumbered by the unthinking and let me tell you, it’s a lonely experience. Lonely, but rewarding in that no matter how many people adhere to whatever foolishness happens to be current you can feel some inner validation while privately realizing that they have probably never had an original thought in their entire lives. They have no idea what they are talking about; they are just parroting what somebody else put into their heads, probably the last person they talked to or heard on TV. Still, as Davy Crockett is reputed to have said, “Be sure you’re right, then go ahead,” and I have stuck to my guns as long as I knew I was right.

While outwardly appearing a simple story, Lonely Are The Brave is quite a profound critique of the loss of liberty in America. This timeless theme becomes yet more vivid now, since we have had the terrorist attacks of 2001 and the government has begun to establish more and more “safeguards” for us (citizens/peons (pick one)). I believe it was Benjamin Franklin who said, “Those who are willing to trade liberty for security deserve neither.” These wise words should be pondered at length by every American today.

Many films have essayed the metaphor, “The nail that sticks up gets hammered down;” I addressed that concept in my review of Apocalypse Now where the government uses its apparatus to destroy Colonel Kurtz, whose suppression of Vietcong activity in his sector interferes with what Washington feels should be the “proper” course of the war. Cool Hand Luke is another excellent example about the abuse of power by the authorities. Spartacus is another film that illustrated the point well.

The 1962 film Lonely Are The Brave stars Kirk Douglas as Jack Burns, a cowboy astride his horse returning home across the wide open spaces. Something is a bit different about this western, though; a jet plane roars high overhead and the West is fenced, but free-spirit Kirk just cuts the fences and rides on towards home, somewhere in New Mexico.

Arriving at his friends’ house he learns that the husband is doing time in the county hotel for helping illegal immigrants. Burns gets into a fight in the local saloon so he can get locked up with his buddy and help him escape. Once in the hoosegow, however, he learns that his friend wants to “do his time” and pay his “debt to society.” Nonplussed but undaunted, Burns breaks out himself but not before receiving a horrific beating at the hands of a sadistic deputy (George Kennedy).

Burns mounts up on Whiskey and vamooses up into the hills. The sheriff (Walter Matthau) begins his pursuit, using all the modern technology at his disposal. But the cagey Burns seems to anticipate every move the posse makes, despite their technological advantages. Matthau himself is only half-hearted about catching Burns; underneath it all, he admires him. Burns makes it all the way over the mountains and is descending into the valley during a rainstorm when the final confrontation occurs, and believe me, you must see this. I’m not telling you what happens!

From the book The Brave Cowboy, by Edward Abbey and adapted for the screen by Dalton Trumbo the story has layer upon layer of subtext. Apart from the critique on loss of liberty, there are questions of abuse of power, loyalty, and smothering of individualism by the almighty nanny state. Trumbo himself had been blacklisted and was brought back by the efforts of Kirk Douglas, God bless him! Otherwise, our film library would be a lot poorer without Trumbo’s marvelous screenwriting that included Spartacus and Papillon.

Director David Miller staged his shots with care and captured delicious irony in many scenes as well as keeping the underlying theme perking along rock steady. Ably assisted by Photographer Philip Lathrop and expertly and tensely edited by Leon Barsha, Lonely Are The Brave is a masterpiece of cinematic storytelling. The original Jerry Goldsmith score punctuates the action and is haunting and memorable.

The acting by protagonist Kirk Douglas is among his best performances, and in my opinion, Kirk Douglas is among the very best actors Hollywood has ever produced. There is hardly a bad performance I have seen, even when the movie lacked, Kirk gave his performance 101%. People who are unacquainted with Kirk Douglas should view any of his films, as I believe they are all good, but a few to look for are The Vikings, The Bad and The Beautiful, Gunfight at the OK Corral, (with another superb actor Burt Lancaster), and Stanley Kubrick‘s Paths of Glory.

The supporting cast is also stellar. Interestingly, many of the names have become household words, but it wasn’t the case in 1962. Most of them were just starting out. Walter Matthau, George Kennedy, Gena Rowlands, William Shallert, Bill Bixby, Carrol O’Connor. All quality and all names you recognize, I’m sure.

Lonely Are The Brave is one of the very finest films you have never heard of! Film buffs: What are you waiting for?

Thanks for reading and happy viewing!


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening