The Wonderful Country *** (1959, Robert Mitchum, Julie London, Gary Merrill, Charles McGraw, Pedro Armendáriz, Jack Oakie, Albert Dekker) – Classic Movie Review 6352

‘ The pistolero…who was as proud as the mighty black stallion he rode…the man who hungered for the softness of a woman and the clean skies of The Wonderful Country!’ They sure don’t write ’em like they used to! Director Robert Parish’s 1959 Western stars Robert Mitchum in a typical, sympathetic tough-guy role as honourable drifter and itinerant gunrunner Martin Brady.

Parish’s taut, intense and busy Western is atmospherically set on the Mexican border. Based on a story by artist Tom Lea (who has a cameo as Mr Peebles the barber), it is good of its kind and ends up a little more than average for a Western of its era.

Mitchum’s Martin Brady is involved in gun running for the Mexican governor Cipriano Castro (Pedro Armendáriz) and romance with the alluring heroine Helen Colton (Julie London), the unhappy wife of army major Stark Colton (Gary Merrill).

The attractively swaggering performances from the man’s man cast, plus the Mexican border settings and Floyd Crosby’s Technicolor cinematography are the main things that lift it out of the usual rut.

Also in the cast are Jack Oakie, Albert Dekker, Charles McGraw, Jay Novello, John Banner, Leroy ‘Satchel’ Paige, Anthony Caruso, Mike Kellin, Victor Mendoza, Max Slaten, Margarito Luna, Joe Haworth, Tom Lea, Chuck Roberson, Claudio Brook, Chester Hayes, Mike Luna, Alberto Mariscal, Judith Marsh and Hernando Name.

It is written by Robert Ardrey, made by Erskine and DRM Productions, released by United Artists, produced by Robert Mitchum and Chester Erskine, scored by Alex North and designed by Harry Horner.

It is shot in Mexico in Durango; San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato; Bavispe, Sonora; and Parral, Chihuahua.

Tom Lea was born and died (aged 93) in El Paso, Texas, and is known primarily for his murals and paintings of the American Southwest. He also wrote the source novel for The Brave Bulls (1951).

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 6352

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