
Here is a rare noir with a rural setting. Most are set in corrupt, crime breeding cities. Once again Nicholas Ray (1911-1979) is at the helm of this RKO film, made in the final death throes of that once vital studio; destroyed by Howard Hughes (1905-1976).
This film was not released until nearly two years after it was finished. Hughes held up Ray's first, another film noir, "They Live By Night" for 18 months. Hughes' record was for the Nick Ray completed "Jet Pilot," starring John Wayne. That was held up for seven years, from 1950 to 1957, so long that the aircraft, which obsessed Hughes, were dated.
Director Robert Wise (1914-2005), in his DVD commentary for the classic boxing noir, "The Set-Up" (starring Robert Ryan), was counting the days before his RKO contract ran out. Hughes was firing the artisans who had created such classics as "King Kong," "Top Hat," "Bringing Up Baby," "Gunga Din," "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" and "Citizen Kane," as the studio was bleeding money. Wise's contract lapsed and he happily fled to a more stable working environment. Wise had edited "Citizen Kane."
"In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy."...William Blake (1757-1827)
NOTE: An archival llmted edition, signed, matte C-print can be purchased at my eBay gallery store-
stores.ebay.com/David-Lee-Guss-rare-photos-gallery__W0QQ_...
@2009 David Lee Guss After a snow storm, near Aberdeen, South Dakota, 1965