Decision by the river
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | Decision by the river |
| Original title | Roseanna McCoy |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1949 |
| length | 100 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Irving Reis |
| script | John Collier |
| production | Samuel Goldwyn |
| music | David Buttolph |
| camera | Lee Garmes |
| cut | Daniel Mandell |
| occupation | |
| |
Decision on the river (Original title: Roseanna McCoy ) is an American drama from 1949 , which was produced by Samuel Goldwyn Productions. The leading roles are starring Farley Granger , Joan Evans and Charles Bickford . Directed by Irving Reis . The film is loosely based on the Hatfield-McCoy feud that took place from 1878 to 1891 .
action
The McCoy and Hatfield families have been enemies for years. While picking flowers for a garden party, the main protagonist, Roseanna McCoy, is stung by a hornet. She meets the young Johnse Hatfield who takes care of her. When she learns of his origins, she becomes angry and confronts him with an attack by his clan on her mother many years ago, in which she was shot and seriously injured. Johnse replies that Mounts Hatfield, who was responsible for the attack, was insane and therefore not sane. But Roseanna doesn't want to know anything about it.
Nevertheless, Johnse visits Roseanna again in the evening and finally kisses her. Unnoticed by either of them, they are watched by Roseanna's little brother Randall. The young woman is fascinated by John's nature and even refuses a wedding with the shopkeeper Thad Wilkins that her family has already planned. Instead, she secretly goes with Johnse to his parents Devil Anse and Levisa, where he introduces her as his future bride.
Devil Anse sees the relationship as a reason to renew the feud between the families and prepares for a fight with his sons Ellison and Cap. While Johnse is looking for a priest for the wedding ceremony, Roseanna teams up with Levisa Hatfield. When Cap is injured in an accident, the psychotic Mounts arrives at the Hatfiels' house. He molests Roseanna, who is however protected by Devil Anse.
While she's going to fetch water, Roseanna meets her little brother Randall, who asks her to come back home. She agrees and says goodbye to Johnse with the request to go to her father Randolph the next day and talk to him. Johnse keeps his promise and drives to the McCoys farm the next morning, but first makes a stop at Thad Wilkins' shop. There he meets the McCoy brothers Tolbert, Phamer and Randall. When Mounts enters the shop, an argument breaks out that ends in a shootout.
Tolbert is wounded and is taken by Thad to the McCoy's house, who are now waiting for Johnse to arrive. When he arrives, he reports that Randall was also injured and that the Hatfields detained him in the store. Together they can free the injured man from the store, but the war between the families escalates again. Johnse and Roseanna decide to flee together, but are discovered by Mounts, who wants to shoot them. Johnse reacts faster and wounds Mounts. When both mount a horse and want to leave the place, Mounts opens fire again, but is killed by Devil Anse. This incident leads to a truce between the families. Johnse and Roseanna leave the place to find happiness elsewhere.
production
Producer Samuel Goldwyn first planned for Cathy O'Donnell to play Roseanna McCoy , but then chose the much younger Joan Evans. Evans was only fourteen years old when the film was made, and it was her first film role.
The film was shot in the Sierra Madre Mountains . Although the script was by John Collier , Philip Yordan was brought in to improve the dialogue during the shoot . This wasn't the only irregularity during production: Frank Loesser had written a song called More I Cannot Wish You , which Farley Granger was originally supposed to sing in the film for Joan Evans. However, Goldwyn found the song horrible and had the scene deleted from the script. Loesser later used the melody in the musical Guys and Dolls . In addition, heavy rain made it impossible to shoot outdoors. The cast had to take a two week break before returning to the Sierra Madre Mountains. After further shooting difficulties, Nicholas Ray took over part of the directing but was not named in the credits.
Reviews
The New York Times on October 13, 1949 praised the acting of Farley Granger and Aline MacMahon , however, criticized the presentation of the Mounts of Richard Basehart . The film itself has been criticized for placing its emphasis on the shootings and action scenes rather than the love affair between Roseanna and Johnse.
“Classic western with romantic features; excellent in the presentation and honestly trying to show how love triumphs over hate among people. "
Web links
- Decision by the river in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Roseanna McCoy Entry for the film on Turner Classic Movies (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ At the Capitol. In: The New York Times. October 13, 1949, accessed July 18, 2017 .
- ↑ Decision on the river. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed July 19, 2017 .