Review of Kentuckian, The

Introduction

1955`s The Kentuckian was Burt Lancaster`s one and only foray into direction, something that is surprising given his affinity for unconventional and even experimental films. The Kentuckian is more of a play it safe, by the numbers Western that is typical of 1950s Hollywood, and unremarkable save for the big name star himself.

The Wakefields and the Fromes have a long history of feuding that is legendary throughout Kentucky. But big Elias Wakefield has other plans for his son, who he raises as a single parent. Little Eli will grow up in the wide-open spaces and rugged frontier of Texas, and to that end, the pair have amassed $200 and head off to their future. But the past pursues them in the form of two vengeful Fromes, and when a crooked Sheriff sees the chance for a quick buck, big Eli is soon behind bars. It takes an indentured servant Hannah to rescue him, and in gratitude he buys her freedom, though that means postponing his trip until he can earn enough money to continue. Coming to the town of Humility, Eli takes a job with his big brother Zack, and little Eli starts school. Hannah even gets a job with the town`s whip-cracking bad guy Bodine in an effort to repay her debt to Eli. But big brother has other plans for Eli and begins to tempt him away from the outdoors life, and the beautiful schoolmistress Susie is certainly an inducement to settle down. But his son still dreams of Texas and begins to feel betrayed, and Eli will learn that it`s impossible to run away from bad blood.

Video

It`s MGM back catalogue time, and that naturally means the highest standards of tolerability to be maintained in terms of quality. The 2.35:1 anamorphic picture is adequate, but no better. The image is clear and colourful throughout, but no effort has been made at restoration, so the inevitable print damage and grain is there.

The scenery in The Kentuckian is certainly noteworthy though, with landscapes that are certainly easy on the eye making the most of the Cinemascope ratio. The only bone of contention is a poorly placed layer change.

Audio

Again mediocrity rears its head in terms of the sound. A European disc is what you get here, like most of the MGM back catalogue stuff, DD 2.0 mono tracks in English German, French, Spanish and Italian, with plentiful subtitles ensure that all the EU is catered for, though this disc may seem a little inadequate come May 1st 2004.

The dialogue is clear, and the only noteworthy thing is the fact that Burt Lancaster`s singing voice seems incongruously to belong to Howard Keel.

Features

A short piece of footage edited from the film itself, with a voice over to extol the virtues of the main feature, in other words a trailer.

Conclusion

What can I say about the Kentuckian? Well, it`s inoffensive, it`s not bad, and it`ll pass the time. Films like this are always hard to critique, as bad films are often a joy to lambaste, while good films can make me gush with enthusiasm. But the Kentuckian occupies a narrow ground of mundane dullness. It`s the cinematic equivalent of wallpaper. While the film`s virtues are hard to define, so are its defects.

If anything, The Kentuckian seems underwritten. There are many ideas and characters that are introduced in the telling of the story, the feud between the Wakefields and the Fromes that Eli may or may not have been an active participant in, the father son relationship, both the women in Eli`s life Hannah and Susie and his subsequent dilemma, the relationship between the two Wakefield brothers, and the antipathetic character of Bodine and his instinctive dislike of Eli. But none of these story threads are explored to any kind of satisfactory climax.

Burt Lancaster portrays Eli Wakefield as a sort of amiable but slightly dim outdoorsman, who doesn`t fit well into society. But not enough is made of his differences, and his difficulty in deciding whether to follow his dreams or to join civilisation is unsatisfying and unconvincing. Lancaster`s direction is solid if uninspiring, he makes the most of the scenery, but the pace is languid to the point of wearying, and the film is lightened only by the rare moment of excitement.

I could mention the fact that The Kentuckian was the film debut of Walter Matthau`s lived in face as Bodine, or that John Carradine is stentorian as the snake-oil merchant Fletcher, or the fact that the child actor with the unlikely name of Donald MacDonald as little Eli is as annoying and as saccharine as most child actors usually are. But what The Kentuckian really boils down to is a film that rarely rises above the average, that is long for its 99 minutes, and will really only appeal to the most determined fan.