racoom_bs

This is my first recollection of Lloyd Nolan. He played "Polkadot Sam", the buddy who went wrong while Fred MacMurray and Jack Oakie became lawmen. Jack Oakie was the wise-crackin' comedy relief. Nolan's nickname came from the polka-dotted neckerchief he always wore. Wouldn't ya know it, Fred MacMurray had to gun him down at the end, and as he cradled his fallen former buddy in his arms we were treated to one of the tear-jerkinest death scenes ever in a western, on a par with Gary Cooper and Richard Arlen in "The Virginian". A lot of ridin' and shootin' made it a Saturday afternoon well spent.

it's been so many years since i've seen this remarkable movie that most of it is forgotten. but its effect endures. that brick oven in almost every interior shot. the subtle verbal fencing between feather and ellen creed. the simple-minded amusements of her sisters. her panic near the end is so well conveyed, i still remember her face. ida lupino elaborated on her great acting in "the light that failed". she deserves to be remembered as one of the great female stars. the atmosphere of this film is very much like "night must fall", which featured a hatbox instead of a brick oven. louis hayward was a perfect foil for lupino, his insinuating, prying remarks bringing out her best (worst) emotions. i can't wait to see this gem of english intrigue another time.