The Big Sky
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | The wide sky |
| Original title | The Big Sky |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1952 |
| length | 140 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 6 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Howard Hawks |
| script | Dudley Nichols |
| production | Howard Hawks |
| music | Dimitri Tiomkin |
| camera | Russell Harlan |
| cut | Christian Nyby |
| occupation | |
| |
The Big Sky (alternative title: Trapper am Missouri ) is an American western directed by Howard Hawks from 1952. The screenplay by Dudley Nichols is based on the novel The Big Sky by AB Guthrie Jr. The film was released in Germany in 1953 under the title The Secret of the Indian Woman , in Austria as The Wide Sky or The River Pirates from Missouri .
action
Together with the young Boone Caudell, the trapper Jim Deakins went west from Kentucky in 1832. In St. Louis they go in search of Caudell's uncle Zeb Calloway, who has earned a reputation as a freelance fur trader independent of the monopoly of the Missouri Fur Company. When they are locked up for a bar fight, they run into Zeb in prison. After their release, the two join the trade expedition of Zeb and the French `Frenchy´ Jourdonnais in a keelboat called Mantan two thousand miles up the Missouri to the territory of the dreaded Blackfoot Indians. In addition to the crew, on board is also Teal Eye, the daughter of a Blackfoot chief, who Frenchy has taken hostage for upcoming negotiations. On the way they come across the strange loner Poordevil, also a Blackfoot, who pulls with them.
The expedition defies many dangers, the men haul, row, sail and tow the ship against the strong current up the river, they constantly fear attacks by the gangs hired by the Fur Company. The Crow Indians show presence for days and shoot at the boat; It will later be found out that they were paid for by the Fur Company. Eventually Teal Eye is kidnapped and the boat is attacked at night. However, the destruction can just be prevented. Poordevil follows the kidnappers, Caudell and Deakins free Teal Eye. Deakins is badly wounded in an alleged attack by the Crow and remains missing until Boone, Teal Eye and Poordevil find him and take care of him. The bullet from his leg will later prove that the raid was carried out by men from the Fur Company.
Shortly before the end of the expedition, Teal Eye flees - but only to get help from her tribe. The Blackfoot and the crew haul the boat to their camp. Trade agreements are made; Boone disappears into their tent with Teal Eye and finally decides to stay with the Blackfoot.
criticism
The lexicon of international films describes the film as “an exciting adventure film of above-average format, convincing in the character drawing, with grandiose landscape shots of the Missouri area. Masterfully in the complete version, especially how the film symbolizes the confrontation of civilization and supposed wilderness, of physical and spiritual 'values', of binding love and an unbridled urge for freedom as a battle of antagonistic forces ”.
The film magazine Cinema sees the film as "wonderful fellow cinema, unabridged for the first time".
The Variety describes the film as a gigantic landscape epic, the effect of which, however, is impaired by its monumental length.
Also AH Weiler from the New York Times the length criticized the film. Howard Hawks did not sound out the psychological depth of the pioneers.
Awards
The film received three nominations. Arthur Hunnicutt was nominated for the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor and Russell Harlan for Best B / W Camera . Howard Hawks was also nominated for the Directors Guild of America Award .
background
The world premiere took place on August 6, 1952. The film first appeared in Germany on May 15, 1953, in a version shortened by almost 50 minutes. It was later shown under the titles The Secret of the Indian Woman and The Missouri River Pirates . On November 2, 1971, the ARD broadcast a reconstructed version with a length of 125 minutes.
The film was shot in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming .
The literary source for the film by AB Guthrie jr. was the first part of a trilogy. The second part, entitled The Way West , was filmed in 1967 by Andrew V. McLaglen with Kirk Douglas in the lead role (German title: Der Weg nach Westen ). The third part ( These Thousand Hills ) was made into a film by Richard Fleischer in 1959 .
Web links
- Trapper on the Missouri in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- The Big Sky - The Big Sky atRotten Tomatoes(English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ The Big Sky. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed March 2, 2017 .
- ↑ The River Pirates from Missouri - Film - cinema.de
- ↑ http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117789249?refcatid=31 ( Page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ^ Howard Hawks' "The Big Sky," Saga of the Pioneer West, Opens at the Criterion - The New York Times
