I believe David Miller's "Lonely are the Brave" is a confrontation between the modern era and the dying west. Despite helicopters, a wagon jeep, and police stationed everywhere, Kirk Douglas' Jack Burns is able to climb into the rugged mountains with his horse. This film is about Jack's escape from prison, after an attempt to persuade an old chum to break from the cell into "freedom". His wife, played by the always wonderful Gena Rowlands, was once Jack's love, but, as this film ultimately proves, he's a loner and admits that to her approving of marrying his best friend.
Walter Matthau is just sublime as Sheriff Morey Johnson, the man who must somehow figure out how to get jack out of those mountains and into jail. His radio operator is played by the very talented and underrated actor William Schallert. George Kennedy as a key role in the film as Deputy Sheriff Gutierrez..the man who viciously beat Jack while he was in prison one night(..though, he gets his comeuppance soon enough).
The film is about all the modern means at Johnson's disposal yet he can not seem to nab Jack in those mountains. There's a nifty scene where Bill Bixby(of "Incredible Hulk" fame), as a helicopter pilot, is cocksure he can get Jack once they spot him from the sky. Jack, however, is able to shoot their tail downing them without harm to anyone..except a few helicopter pilots'(..and police)pride. But, they keep after him nonetheless as we watch him struggle with that blame beloved horse as he scales those mountains.
Like I mentioned above, this film works best as an allegory of the dying west. It's clear Jack doesn't fit in this modern age and he's presented as a relic of sorts with no real place to go in the growing America he now resides. With an intent to go to Mexico, he works ever-so-hard up the mountains with this goal just in reach despite unsurmountable odds such as several men after him with rifles, all the radio equipment to contact each other, etc.
This film is wonderful, though, because of Kirk Douglas who just exudes such charm and likability in Jack. You know he's a rowdy, smiling' sort who loves to live, and you root for him despite knowing he deserves to be in jail. It's a loving ode to the cowboys of the old west..their spirit is in every frame of this picture.
Walter Matthau is just sublime as Sheriff Morey Johnson, the man who must somehow figure out how to get jack out of those mountains and into jail. His radio operator is played by the very talented and underrated actor William Schallert. George Kennedy as a key role in the film as Deputy Sheriff Gutierrez..the man who viciously beat Jack while he was in prison one night(..though, he gets his comeuppance soon enough).
The film is about all the modern means at Johnson's disposal yet he can not seem to nab Jack in those mountains. There's a nifty scene where Bill Bixby(of "Incredible Hulk" fame), as a helicopter pilot, is cocksure he can get Jack once they spot him from the sky. Jack, however, is able to shoot their tail downing them without harm to anyone..except a few helicopter pilots'(..and police)pride. But, they keep after him nonetheless as we watch him struggle with that blame beloved horse as he scales those mountains.
Like I mentioned above, this film works best as an allegory of the dying west. It's clear Jack doesn't fit in this modern age and he's presented as a relic of sorts with no real place to go in the growing America he now resides. With an intent to go to Mexico, he works ever-so-hard up the mountains with this goal just in reach despite unsurmountable odds such as several men after him with rifles, all the radio equipment to contact each other, etc.
This film is wonderful, though, because of Kirk Douglas who just exudes such charm and likability in Jack. You know he's a rowdy, smiling' sort who loves to live, and you root for him despite knowing he deserves to be in jail. It's a loving ode to the cowboys of the old west..their spirit is in every frame of this picture.