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| Robert Mitchum in The Wonderful Country |
Robert Parrish's The Wonderful Country is an underrated oater from 1959. Robert Mitchum, who produced the film, plays a gringo who works as a pistolero for Mexican oligarchs. He has perhaps overstayed his welcome south of the border and when he falls for an army commander's wife (Julie London), the stage is set for his return to the homeland. Floyd Crosby's striking color cinematography is a major asset to the film. Parrish's direction is workmanlike rather than incisive, but he is certainly up to the challenge of the moving climax.
The film was a commercial and critical flop at the time, but looks better in retrospect. Mitchum's accent was ridiculed, but its shakiness is appropriate to the film's exploration of cultural identity. Like Anthony Mann's Border Incident, the film is strikingly relevant to the never-ending societal clash along the Rio Grande. Mitchum's character must choose between Mexican Banditry or American Imperialism (or is it the other way round) and his performance is effectively and appropriately ambivalent.
The supporting cast is a mixed bag. Satchel Paige is on hand as a buffalo soldier and Jack Oakie, whose screen appearances were far too infrequent, provides fine comic relief. Albert Dekker is unconvincing as a good guy and the wooden Gary Merrill is all too convincing as the cuckolded husband. Unfortunately, the chemistry between Mitchum and London is nonexistent and their scenes tend to hamper the film's momentum. Mitchum's love for his horse comes through more clearly than his lust for London. Overall though, The Wonderful Country is a thoughtful and handsome Western, more rewarding than such blimps of the era as The Big Country and Warlock.
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