Heiße Grenze (1959)

Heiße Grenze: Directed by Robert Parrish. With Robert Mitchum, Julie London, Gary Merrill, Albert Dekker. A honorable drifter constantly on the run finds his enemies closing in around him.

“Based on a story by artist Tom Lea (who cameos as a barber), The Wonderful Country stars Robert Mitchum, Julie London, Gary Merrill, Charles McGraw u0026amp; Pedro Armendáriz. Itu0026#39;s directed by Robert Parrish, the score is from Alex North with Floyd Crosby u0026amp; Alex Phillips on cinematography around the Durango location shoot.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eA rich western that admirably crams in a lot of genre based themes and boasts a lead protagonist of high complex value. Tightly directed by Parrish (Saddle The Wind), who is aware that this needs no action overkill, itu0026#39;s really with Mitchum and Robert Ardreyu0026#39;s script that the film owes its success. Give or take a couple of missteps with the accent (he is playing a gringo pistolero) Mitchum dominates with his stature and laconic form of acting. Heu0026#39;s playing Martin Brady, a man who finds himself being pulled emotionally on both sides of the Mexican/American border, the contrast between both lands, and Bradyu0026#39;s persona too (heu0026#39;s effectively a man without a country), is very interesting. Thereu0026#39;s a number of well drawn characters who file in and out of Bradyu0026#39;s life, all serving purpose to the plot, with Julie Londonu0026#39;s love interest thankfully having a more darker edge than others that were often seen in the genre. Thereu0026#39;s even an appearance of Baseball Hall Of Fame inductee Leroy u0026#39;Satchelu0026#39; Paige as part of an all black army regiment. Yet another strand in this multi angled movie.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eVery sedate in tone but with deep character drama at its core, Parrishu0026#39;s film is a thinking persons movie. Some critics have called it routine, while others have said itu0026#39;s complicated! I just think itu0026#39;s a film that needs to be watched more than once to fully digest its themes. Itu0026#39;s not one for the action fan as such, but it is excellently written and performed by the principals. Itu0026#39;s also a truly gorgeous movie visually and aurally. A fine film that rewards further on repeat viewings, especially for fans of the great Robert Mitchum. 7/10”