The Missouri Breaks (Brando/Nicholson) - Kino Studio Classics - December 9, 2014

[Akijama]

The Missouri Breaks Blu-ray

In their only cinematic pairing, screen legends Marlon Brando (The Godfather) and Jack Nicholson (One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest) are a dynamic star combo who set the screens ablaze in this intense and startlingly realistic western classic from director Arthur Penn (Bonnie and Clyde). Montana Badlands rancher David Brazton is a self-made man, through years of tireless effort and determination; he has transformed his vast and rugged land into a thriving, prosperous empire. So when his livestock, fortune and family are threatened by a ruthless horse thief (Nicholson), Braxton takes matters into his own hands by hiring a sadistic bounty hunter (Brando) to track down the outlaw. Braxton intends to liberate the territory from crime, but what he initiates instead is a complex series of events that result in brutality and savagery far beyond anything he ever thought possible. Co-starring Randy Quaid (The Long Riders), Frederic Forrest (Hammett), John P. Ryan (Avenging Force) and Harry Dean Stanton (Paris, Texas), scripted by Thomas McGuane (92 in the Shade) and shot throughout majestic Montana, the Missouri Break is every bit as powerful and affecting as its dynamic leading men.

Source

[Scottie]

Does anyone have thoughts on this film? This sounds really good.

[javi92]

Assuming the audio is in sync, I'm down for this one.

[klauswhereareyou]

Weird oddball Western that I love. Glad to see it's coming out. Would've pegged it for a Twilight Time since it's got a John Williams score.

[Gerby]

A decent western, Kino keep announcing upcoming releases of movies that I love, I just don't love their transfers.

[harpolini]

An oddball but very entertaining flick. When I saw the topic, I just automatically assumed Twilight Time as well. Nice score by Kino.

[RiFiFi1955]

Never seen this one...but Brando and Nicholson...that alone is pretty good.

[filmmusic]

I hope this has extras.
For anyone that doesn't know, the score is by the great John Williams!
I'm really looking forward to it.

edit: Apparently no extras , except for the trailer. They said so in facebook.

[OI8T12]

Pre order price has dropped down to $16.99.

[balthazar_bee]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Does anyone have thoughts on this film?

I first got word of this film in David Thomson's "Have You Seen...?" book, which features 1,000 one-page write ups of a variety of movies throughout history. His writing alone makes it worthwhile, and he includes a few little-known doozies that deserve better, wider reputations.

Like this.

Very off-kilter, highly original, and (for me) totally engaging. I like the eccentricity of it, but it's more than that -- when it comes to revisionist westerns, this is almost the equal of something like McCabe & Mrs. Miller. I've been watching the miniseries Fargo lately, and there are aspects of it that call to mind The Missouri Breaks too.

If any of the above clicks for you, I'd say buy without fear.

[FlyBry]

Picked this one up along with "The Great Train Robbery" from Amazon. Blind-buys for both, and my first purchase of these Kino Lorber Studio Classics. Looking forward to having a double feature this weekend.

[Jorvic]

Rarely gets mentioned among his many great performances, but the scene where Brando talks to his horse in this film is a sublime piece of acting. One of my favourite roles of his.

The film itself is one of the great 70s Westerns, though now seems rather neglected. It is sometimes labelled offbeat, and it is a little, but is full of great scenes. The whole thing makes its way in a relaxed but deliberate fashion, with some striking landscape shots, memorable dialogue and moments of brutal violence.

Having Brando and Nicholson in the same film is also pretty special. And I've always been a big fan of Arthur Penn's work.

The picture quality might be a bit drab, but just nice to have this absolutely essential Western on Blu-ray.

[Richard--W]

One of my favorite westerns of the 1970s.
I remember when The Missouri Breaks was in production there were a lot of write-ups in
the trades about how Marlon Brando was causing delays on the set by ignoring the script
and improvising his dialog and bits of business. Nobody knew what he was going to do.
Then Penn had to reshoot other scenes to make them match what Brando was improvising.
In the end there is less of Brando's character in the final cut, but the film came out alright
somehow, although Penn, the writer and the studio thought it would have been better film
if Brando had just played the part as written.

Thomas McGuane published his screenplay in a paperback tie-in, which I shelve next to
the film. It's one of the best-written westerns since the days of Borden Chase & Anthony
Mann. I wish McGuane had written more western sreenplays.

Jack Nicholson was good at westerns. He wrote Ride In the Whirlwind (1965), starred in
it and its brother The Shooting (also 1965), two of the most interesting westerns of the
1960s, directed Goin' South (1977) and carried The Missouri Breaks on his shoulders.
The rustler is one of his best characters. I wish Nicholson had made more westerns.

[Richard--W]

Harry Dean Stanton is great in this film. He looks the part.

[dkelly26666]

Originally Posted by Jorvic

Rarely gets mentioned among his many great performances, but the scene where Brando talks to his horse in this film is a sublime piece of acting. One of my favourite roles of his.

The film itself is one of the great 70s Westerns, though now seems rather neglected. It is sometimes labelled offbeat, and it is a little, but is full of great scenes. The whole thing makes its way in a relaxed but deliberate fashion, with some striking landscape shots, memorable dialogue and moments of brutal violence.

Having Brando and Nicholson in the same film is also pretty special. And I've always been a big fan of Arthur Penn's work.

The picture quality might be a bit drab, but just nice to have this absolutely essential Western on Blu-ray.

I agree, and the 70s were a summit for Brando, with The Godfather, Last Tango in Paris, The Missouri Breaks, Superman, and Apocalypse Now. He'd even ended the 60s with his personal favorite, Burn!, which was released in the States in the early 70s. Even The Nightcomers is interesting. His early explosion with Streetcar, Wild One, Julius Caeser, On the Waterfront and then the 70s were his most interesting times as an actor.

[Jorvic]

Originally Posted by Richard--W

Jack Nicholson was good at westerns. He wrote Ride In the Whirlwind (1965), starred in
it and its brother The Shooting (also 1965), two of the most interesting westerns of the
1960s, directed Goin' South (1977) and carried The Missouri Breaks on his shoulders.
The rustler is one of his best characters. I wish Nicholson had made more westerns.

I like those Nicholson/Hellman Westerns from the 60s. Might re-watch one soon.

Originally Posted by dkelly26666

I agree, and the 70s were a summit for Brando, with The Godfather, Last Tango in Paris, The Missouri Breaks, Superman, and Apocalypse Now. He'd even ended the 60s with his personal favorite, Burn!, which was released in the States in the early 70s. Even The Nightcomers is interesting. His early explosion with Streetcar, Wild One, Julius Caeser, On the Waterfront and then the 70s were his most interesting times as an actor.

Some great titles there. Going back to the 60s and Westerns again, I also thought he gave a really intriguing performance opposite Karl Malden in One-Eyed Jacks.

[dkelly26666]

Originally Posted by Jorvic

I like those Nicholson/Hellmann Westerns from the 60s. Might re-watch one soon.



Some great titles there. Going back to the 60s and Westerns again, I also thought he gave a really intriguing performance opposite Karl Malden in One-Eyed Jacks.

Yes, he also directed One-Eyed Jacks (after it had been prepped by Stanley Kubrick; Kubrick departed the project because he and Brando didn't get along). Brando did all of the location shooting, though, but then left during post production, and the studio finished cutting the film. As usual, Brando did virtually nothing to promote the film, either. It bombed back then. It has found an enormous cult following over the years, though. Scorsese loves it. Within the film, itself, Brando and Karl Malden are great. Malden made a truly despicable villain, and Brando was terrific as the anti-hero.

[harry o]

Loved john Williams score for this remember buying the soundtrack shortly after seeing it on its release in London in summer 76 very underrated Western at the time , Kino please do a 4k of this.

[Jorvic]

Originally Posted by dkelly26666

Yes, he also directed One-Eyed Jacks (after it had been prepped by Stanley Kubrick; Kubrick departed the project because he and Brando didn't get along). Brando did all of the location shooting, though, but then left during post production, and the studio finished cutting the film. As usual, Brando did virtually nothing to promote the film, either. It bombed back then. It has found an enormous cult following over the years, though. Scorsese loves it. Within the film, itself, Brando and Karl Malden are great. Malden made a truly despicable villain, and Brando was terrific as the anti-hero.

For some reason, I always forget about Kubrick being attached to the project. Malden certainly plays a truly despicable villain. The sense of antagonism between his and Brando's character in the film is palpable. I've got the Arrow Blu-ray and have always liked the work.

[SeanJoyce]

Originally Posted by Jorvic

Going back to the 60s and Westerns again, I also thought he gave a really intriguing performance opposite Karl Malden in One-Eyed Jacks.

The Appaloosa is a solid, if strange western as well, with a Globe-nominated, scene-stealing turn from John Saxon.

Those two + The Missouri Breaks form an eccentric, eclectic little trio of westerns for Brando that I'd say are all worth seeing.