FILMBRATS - REVIEWS

The United States is looking to turn the Republic of Texas into a state. However, Texans aren’t too keen on that idea. Joining the US would mean denying the proposed treaty with Mexico and thus starting a war with them. After going through the heartbreak of the Alamo, the Republic doesn’t quite want to go through that turmoil again when it’s just as easy to remain separate. President Andrew Jackson doesn’t want to give up hope. He knows if Sam Houston agrees, Texas will be behind them. So, Jackson sends Devereaux Burke to find him.

This is one of the most politically charged westerns I’ve seen so far (granted, that isn’t too many). It presents the arguments for and against annexation in a nice back and forth format. However, the arguments against seem much more thought out than those for it. I guess there’s really no reason to restate the case if you’ve already won. The audience knows how it turns out, so why prove it was worth it, right? Either way, it was still a way to flesh out the story line and differentiate it a little from the other westerns.

If you’re not too political or don’t care about all of that stuff, you might enjoy all the fighting. There are a few shootouts and a brawl or two to pump the adrenaline up and balance out the “boring” stuff. Horses, guns, arrows, fisticuffs, battering rams, explosions, stuff breaking – what more could you want? Anything to draw attention away from the ridiculous love story is just fine with me. I don’t know if was just the lacking chemistry between Clark Gable (Burke) and Ava Gardner (pro-Texas newspaper editor Martha Ronda), or if not enough quality time was devoted to it before it really got popping, but something just didn’t sit quite right with me. It was a strange, roundabout way to further the plot.

The whole process took longer than it should. They describe what will happen, show it happening, and then tell other characters what happened. It’s a bit too repetitious for my taste. And also knowing how it all turns out adds to the drag factor. I think the action sequences were the only scenes that really made the movie worth watching, ultimately. Those weren’t incredibly spectacular either, but at least they were well done and proved entertaining.

I know there are better westerns out there, there are better love stories out there, and there are better more political movies out there as well. This one doesn’t mix the elements all that effectively. However, it could be worse. As it stands, aside from the romantic subplot turned plot, the motion picture is just okay.

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