Jubal [Criterion Collection] [Blu-ray]

Director: Delmer Daves Delmer Daves

Overview

Jubal could just as easily have been titled Othello Out West, even though it was officially based on a novel by Paul I. Wellman. The Othello counterpart is likable (and extremely gullible) ranch owner Shep Horgan (Ernest Borgnine). Horgan hires handsome drifter Cassioer, Jubal Troop (Glenn Ford) as a cowhand, much to the delight of the film's "Desdemona," Horgan's hedonistic wife Mae (Valerie French). The "Iago" of the proceedings is psychotic ranch hand Pinky (Rod Steiger), who, envious of Jubal and hoping to enjoy Mae's sexual favors, sows the seeds of suspicion in Horgan's mind by falsely accusing Jubal of messing around with Horgan's wife. Amidst all this nastiness, there is at least one wholly virtuous character, pretty Naomi Hoktor (Felicia Farr), so guess who Jubal eventually winds up with?

Product Details

Release Date:	05/21/2013
UPC:	0715515106115
Original Release:	1956
Source:	Criterion Collection
Region Code:	A
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Language:	English
Time:	1:41:00
Sales rank:	11,710

Special Features

New, restored 4K digital film transfer with uncompressed stereo soundtrack; Plus: a booklet featuring an essay by critic Kent Jones

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Glenn Ford	Jubal Troop
Ernest Borgnine	Shep Horgan
Rod Steiger	Pinky
Valerie French	Mae Horgan
Felicia Farr	Naomi Hoktor
Basil Ruysdael	Shem Hoktor
Noah Beery Jr.	Sam
Charles Bronson	Reb Haislipp
John Dierkes	Carson
Robert Burton	Dr. Grant
Juney Ellis	Charity Hoktor,Charity Hoktor
Guy Wilkerson	Cookie
Larry Hudson	Bayne
Michael Lawrence	Tolliver Boy
Buzz Henry	Tolliver Boy
William Rhinehart	Matt
John Cason	Cowboy,Actor
Anne Kunde	Girl
Jack Elam	McCoy
Don C. Harvey	Jim Tolliver
Robert Knapp	Jake Slavin
Robert "Buzzy" Henry	One of the Tolliver Boys
Basil Ruyadael	Actor
David Raksin	Composer

Technical Credits

Delmer Daves

Russell S. Hughes

Paul Wellman

Delmer Daves	Director,Screenwriter
William Fadiman	Producer
Russell S. Hughes	Screenwriter
Paul Wellman	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

An intriguing and interesting psychological Western, Jubal is not totally successful, but it has enough going for it to make it well worth watching. Very freely drawn from Othello, Jubal is more concerned with relationships, interaction and motivation than it is with the full-barreled action often associated with Westerns. Being "concerned with" these things does not mean that Jubal is always successful in exploring them. Like with many other films, its psychological examinations are often a bit shallow and obvious, as is especially demonstrated in the title character's relating of his tortured relationship with his mother. But for the most part, Jubal's focus on the characters and what makes them tick pays off. And while there is perhaps less action than in other films of the genre, Jubal is by no means lacking in excitement. Certainly, director Delmer Daves does an excellent job of keeping tension up and of mixing typical Western elements with the personal melodrama that runs through Jubal. He's aided by his exceptional cast, led by Glenn Ford's letter-perfect title character. Ford's quiet brooding spills over into seething and finally erupts cathartically when necessary. Ernest Borgnine does very well with Shep, making some unnatural transitions work very well, abd Rod Steiger's menacing, vile Pinky is a delightfully evil portrait. Valerie French's none-too-virtuous wife is alluring and appropriately self-serving, helping to make up for Felicia Farr's somewhat-too-bland Naomi.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler