review by Thorkell August Ottarsson Pro
Forty Guns 1957
Watched Aug 19, 2012
Thorkell August Ottarsson’s review:
I guess I need to see this again to get the greatness. I thought it played out as a mess. A bit of musical, a bit of romance, a little melodrama and even a bit of film noir. It is a very unusual western, and only one of two Fuller ever made. It did not hit home when it first came out but has become a cult classic. Stanwyck is a matriarch with a crazy brother which reminds one a lot of James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause (he even looks like him). Well, like I said, the story is a mess and so is the style but I'm quite open for the possibility that this will grow on me and knowing what I'm getting into will make this a greater pleasure on 2nd viewing.
I only saw this a month and a half ago and can't remember anything about it!
How old are you again? And what medicines do you take? ;)
I think that this film helps to prove the point that it's easier to remember really bad and really good films. I thought it was neither good nor bad, and I didn't understand quite what it was aiming to do; with that understanding perhaps my brain would have thought it more worthy of space in my memory?
Agree. I was actually think about this today. Is it not better to make not so good films people remember than good films everyone forgets?
If they're good films they won't be forgotten! I think it's better to make "quite good but not brilliant" films that are quickly forgotten than bad films which stick in the memory.