Tall in the Saddle (1944)

Pretty Good

A different way of telling a story

It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

At this time of Wayne's career, every studio 'wanted a piece of him', he was getting so popular. Fortunately, after a long contract with Republic Studios, they gave him free rein, which he appreciated by always going back to this same small studio, that gave him his break. He never lost loyalty towards them and whenever they asked for his services, he was at their beck and call, which resulted in his last film with them, the academy award winner, "The Quiet MAn". As for this film, it was the typical Wayne movie, and always a tough acting female co-star, such as Maureen O' Hara type. This movie most likely set the tone for Maureen in future Wayne films, there were quite a few, that she copied Ella Raines type from this film. Ella, never made it big as far as stardom goes, though she was not a bad actress, and certainly her looking like Gene Tierney, didn't hurt. As for this film, I have to say that I find Gabby Hayes characters are a bit obnoxious with is toothless mouth gibberish. A little of him would have been sufficed.

very good screenplay with the nicest and funniest supporting actor playing both drunk and smart guy at the same time. Wayne also played well in this gem with two pretty young actresses. these two young ladies were the stereotypes of females in the western genre films; one strong, tough and independent, while the other, educated, reserved, conservative, timid sometimes, yet when needed to be strong and decisive, could also became strong willed and stubborn. Wayne did a great job to handle all the tough situations with handgun and fists. the screenplay was well crafted with lot of funny and wisecracking dialog, delivered by the funny old drunk, a stage coach driver and at the same time, a decent soul to be a sidekick when you needed it. lots of fun and lots of tensions, but everything turned out to be just fine and everybody got what he or she deserved. a rarely fine old western in the best form that had been long gone today. beautiful cinematography, beautiful scenery, even in black and white. very enjoyable indeed.

Cowboy John Wayne tries to help out pretty Audrey Long while figuring out who killed her uncle. He crosses paths with tough-as-nails Ella Raines, crooked judge Ward Bond, and assorted other characters. Wayne's great in one of his best non-Ford westerns. Lots of beautiful in this one, with Raines and Long as polar opposites yet both stunning. They also both give very good performances, though Raines gets the meatier part. Gabby Hayes is fun comic relief. Elisabeth Risdon is the film's one drawback. She's so insufferably obnoxious. I wish somebody had been able to knock her out just once! At its heart, it's a pretty formulaic western but the characters and performances are so good it elevates the material.

This is just simply a cracking movie with a great plot, a real western's western. there is something simple, uncontrived, and intrinsically right about Tall in the Saddle that most other western's try to capture. There are no Indians, no gold rush, no gunfighters, instead we get a simple plot about a man who discovers corruption and wants to do something about it.The film is beautifully shot, the B & W cinematography accents both the poverty at the stagecoach stop at the beginning and the light in the hills later on are outstanding.But for me what makes this really special is the outstanding romance, Haines is at her most stunning and simply drop-dead gorgeous here, and even 75 years on, she and the Duke light up the screen magnificently.All in all, a great movie: if Western's are about being strong while still caring, being independent, and about bravery then this is all it should be. Shame it's seen so seldom and so little known compared to Wayne's bigger films - definitely recommended.