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| Special Features: |
Full frame format
Chapter selection |
| Video Format: |
Full Frame (1.33:1)
[SS-SL]
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| Languages: |
English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)
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| Subtitles: |
English for the hearing impared.
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| Captions: |
Yes
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| Casing: |
1-Disc Keep Case
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 Raoul Walsh's "Pursued" is a rare example of a Film Noir Western! This outstanding film was restored and preserved by the UCLA archive. Martin Scorsese provided the funds to save this little seen classic. When you look over the credits, one can see why this film is brilliant. It was directed by Raoul Walsh, the same man who directed the psychologically twisted masterpiece "White Heat" with Jimmy Cagney. The script was written by Niven Busch, who also wrote the screenplay for "The Postman Always Rings Twice" and the novel "Duel in the Sun." The beautiful photography is courtesy of James Wong Howe, the master of deep-focus photography. "Pursued" was edited by Christian Nybe, who later directed "The Thing From Another World." The somber score is by Max Steiner. In front of the camera you have Robert Mitchum at his prime, Dean Jagger is a rare villainous role and a very sexy Teresa Wright. The supporting cast includes Dame Judith Anderson, Harry Carey Jr. and Alan Hale Sr.
Jeb Rand (Robert Mitchum as an adult) is dragged out of his house as a child. Something very bad happened in that house. All he remembers are flashes of light and boots. Jeb was in the root cellar when something very bad happened. If he had been upstairs, something very bad would have happened to Jeb. The woman who drags Jeb from his home as a child is 'Ma' Callum (Judith Anderson). Ma hurries home. She wakes up her own children, Adam (John Rodney as an adult) and Thorley (Teresa Wright as an adult). 'Ma' explains that Jeb is going to live with them from now on as they flee in the night. Later, three men ride to the Callum home; one of them is bleeding badly.
 Several years pass. The family has relocated. Jeb is riding his colt in the desert. A man shoots the horse out from under him. Jeb doesn't see his assailant. Jeb goes home and attacks Adam. Jeb believes that Adam shot the horse. 'Ma' knows better. She goes into town and locates the assailant. The would be killer is Grant Callum (Dean Jagger), her brother. 'Ma' pleads for Jeb's life. Grant says he will let the boy live, only to see what misery Jeb will cause his sister when the boy becomes a man.
The 'why' behind Grants actions is the mystery, which drives this thrilling film. "Pursued" also boasts a very mature plot for 1947. Jeb and Thorley fall in love with each other. 'Ma' would rather Jeb marry the woman he knows as his sister than reveal the truth behind Jeb's nightmares of flashing lights and stomping boots.
Grant comes back into Jeb's life when the Spanish American War breaks out. Grant is in charge of enlisting soldiers. Jeb losses a coin toss to Adam and goes to war. Grant hopes Jeb will be killed. I really shouldn't have revealed this much of the plot. I will say that there is much more to be discovered.
 Robert Mitchum is outstanding as the conflicted man. He is haunted by a mystery from the past. He feels that something bad is waiting for him around the corner. He is also tough. It will take a lot to stop him from getting what he wants in life. Dean Jagger is the epitome of evil in this film. I have fond memories of Dean Jagger's great performance in "Twelve O’clock High." This is as far from that role as you can imagine. Jagger's Grant Callum is very reminiscent of Henry Fonda's turn as Frank in Sergio Leone's classic "Once Upon a Time in the West." "Pursued" is a classic that deserved to be discovered by a new generation. Thanks to Martin Scorsese for helping to preserve this great movie, and thanks to Artisan for making it available.
Great movie. Good picture and sound. No extras. The price reflects the lack of extras.
Picture Quality: 7/10
 Very few artifacts. Apparently the film had been damaged. It appears that the restoration involved several source materials. There are a few spots in which the quality of the picture is faded and grainy. These sections only cover a couple of minutes of the film's running time. Other than those rough spots, the picture is near pristine quality. James Wong Howe was only second to Greg Toland as a master of deep-focus photography. Deep-focus photography involves using a telephoto lens to shoot medium close ups from far away. By doing this, actors in the foreground as well as the background are all in focus. This process allows the viewer to see the 'thoughts and emotions' of those in the background as they also watch the actors in the foreground. This process was best used in William Wyler's classic "The Best Years of Our Lives." Howe's photography adds to the deeply disturbing psychological pain Jeb feels. You see him struggle, while those you love or hate him watch. Powerful cinematography.
Sound Quality: 8/10
 The 2.0 stereo surround puts you in the middle of the action. When Jeb is bushwhacked as a boy, the bullet fires on one side of the room while the horse whinnies in pain on the other. Very nice, especially for a film this old.
Menu: 7/10
There is a single frame still for the main menu. It is dark and foreboding. The chapter menu has pictures. Easy to navigate.
Extra Features: NA/10
There are no extras. The $14.98 price makes up for the lack of extras.
The Final Word:
 This is a must have DVD. "Pursued" was ahead of its time. The movie holds up today. The writing, acting, direction, editing and photography are all top notch. If I were a millionaire, I'd give you a money back guarantee on this one. My only real complaint is that Artisan got the facts wrong on the DVD case. They said Jeb was a Civil War veteran when in fact he fought in the Spanish American War, nearly 40 years later.
Rusty White
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