"THE GREAT NORTHFIELD MINNESOTA RAID"
1972's "The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid," written and directed by Philip Kaufman, is too often ignored. It deserves to be ranked among the best westerns of the era. But unlike 1969's "The Wild Bunch" and 1976's "The Outlaw Josey Wales" (which was co-written by Kaufman), "Raid" has reached a very limited audience. Maybe that number will increase dramatically with the new Shout Select release of the film on Blu-ray.
The film offers a different take on the legend of the James and Younger brothers' gang. Kaufman gives us a gritty, realistic perspective. More of the focus is on Cole Younger (Cliff Robertson), a decent man, who would like a way out of the outlaw life. Cole sees technology changing the world and views it with wide-eyed delight, repeatedly declaring, "Ain't that a wonderment?"
"Raid" depicts Jesse James (Robert Duvall) in a much more negative light. This isn't your Tyrone Power or Robert Wagner, romanticized Jesse. Duvall's desperado is an egomaniacal, hypocritical, cold-blooded killer who holds onto hatreds left over from the Civil War. He's no Robin Hood.
As the movie unfolds, the gang is on its way to an ill-fated bank robbery in Minnesota, far from their Missouri roots. There's plenty of bloody violence. But along the way, there are also charming scenes involving everything from a brothel visit to the popular new sport -- baseball.
Robertson turns in one of his finest film performances, making Cole both dangerous and amiable. Duvall makes a vicious Jesse. Outstanding support comes from such cast members as Luke Askew, R.G. Armstrong, Matt Clark, Donald Moffat, Dana Elcar, Elisha Cook, Jr., Royal Dano and Mary-Robin Redd.
Kaufman achieves a lyrical quality, enhanced by the cinematography of Bruce Surtees, who creates a vision that often resembles Old West photographs that have been color-tinted by hand. Dave Grusin's score also contributes to the atmospheric nature of the film. "The Great Minnesota Northfield Raid" is a truly great western. On the Shout Blu-ray, the commentary track by film historian Jim Hemphill helps put the film into context, examining the genre's past, from the 1930s into the 70s.
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