Wind Across the Everglades *** (1958, Burl Ives, Christopher Plummer, Chana Eden) – Classic Movie Review 8204

‘NOTHING LIKE IT SINCE ‘GRAPES OF WRATH’. Director Nicholas Ray’s 1958 romantic adventure drama Wind Across the Everglades is based on the story Across the Everglades by Budd Schulberg. It is made by Schulberg Productions, is released by Warner Bros, is shot on location in Everglades National Park in Technicolor by Joseph C Brun, and stars Burl Ives, Christopher Plummer, Chana Eden, Gypsy Rose Lee, George Voskovec, Emmett Kelly and Peter Falk.

Admittedly, bird conservation is not the first thing that leaps to mind when considering director Ray or writer Schulberg, both townies in spirit. Yet they find eloquent images and words for this curious, haunting story about a teacher/ game warden/ ornithologist (Plummer) trying to save Florida’s bird life from a group nasty bird poachers, led by the wicked Cottonmouth (Ives).

Chana Eden and Emmett Kelly on the set of Wind Across the Everglades.

In an intriguing, unusual cast, Burl Ives stars as Cottonmouth, Christopher Plummer co-stars as Walt Murdock, with Gypsy Rose Lee in support as Mrs Bradford. Across the Everglades is not always too exciting or credible, maybe. But it is an atmospheric, good-spirited, well-acted and obviously concerned piece.

The plot is based loosely on the story of Guy Bradley, a game warden who was shot and killed by plume hunters in the Everglades in 1905.

Ray was fired from the production before the film was completed and Budd Schulberg finished it, directing several scenes, and also supervised the editing, which has been described as a process of editorial hacking and post-production cheapness.

Nicholas Ray directs Cory Osceola in Wind Across the Everglades.

Also in the cast are Tony Galento, Sammy Renick, Pat Henning, Cory Osceola, MacKinlay Kantor, Curt Conway, Sumner Williams, Owen Pavitt, Hugh Parker, Toby Bruce, Brad Bradford, Mary Osceola, Mary Pennington, David Schulberg, Sandra Schulberg and Stephan Schulberg.

Wind Across the Everglades runs 92 minutes, is produced by Stuart Schulberg, is scored by Paul Sawtell and Bert Shefter, and is designed by Richard Sylbert.

Peter Falk said in his autobiography that he and Plummer were the only professional actors on the film, what with stripper Gypsy Rose Lee, fighter Tony Galento, writer MacKinlay Kantor and circus clown Emmett Kelly, as well as the first acting role for Chana Eden, who then headed for TV.

It is Plummer’s first lead role and second film.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8204

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com