I love this movie. I think Wayne proved he could act, and I think Clift was incredible. He more than held his own with the biggest movie star in the world.
Here is my amateur psych take on the characters:
Dunson: He is the Alpha male. A tough guy who has lived a tough life; he is used to getting his own way. He as worked and killed to build a ranch and a life that is very close to being lost. This makes him, to a degree, desperate, and that completely clouds his judgment.
Matt: He is Dunson's defacto son, and he loves him even though he recognizes his faults. He proves he is willing to back Dunson several times throughout the film even though it is clear he doesn't necessarily agree with him. Matt is also young, and he has spent the last few years away in the war. This has also taught him leadership skills different from those of Dunson. His moral compass will only allow him to go so far in supporting Dunson's cruelty towards the men. This necessitates the rift and Matt taking over the drive.
The other characters have their allegiances, and they act accordingly. To answer another poster, I like to think Dunson doesn't kill Cherry at the end he only wounds him; I think the film tries to show us this.
It is really the coming of age story of Matt along side the love he has for Dunson that really make the film compelling. Matt is convinced Dunson will kill him, but he still does what he thinks is right in taking the heard and in having the check made out to Dunson. That makes Matt Garth a very special character indeed.
Best Wishes,
Fitz
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bradford-1
14 years ago
As other posters have pointed out, Cherry can be seen in deep background as Matt and Dunson confront each other. Cherry, still moving, is being attended by Harry Carey Sr. (I think) and others. The frustration is that the audience is never given even a three-second insert of Cherry being carried away and/or walking away, so we're left to always wonder wha' happin?
"We're fighting for this woman's honor, which is more than she ever did."
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zappalover
14 years ago
Not at all surprised they all turned on Dunson. He increasingly became an unreasonable tyrant, with Matt a natural and available leader to safely take the reins at the point he did. Only surprise for me is how well John Wayne acts in this film -- powerful and fully convincing in an unlikeable role. Dunson elicits strong, mixed feelings on the part of the viewer -- brutal, a firm believer in might makes right (some may call this fascist), yet honorable. In many ways a metaphor for 19th and early 20th century America -- successfully expansionist (some may call this imperialist) and in the long run, better off for it.
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