Posts from ethanedwards in thread „Jubal (1956)“

Jubal is a 1956 Western directed by
Delmer Daves based on a 1939 novel by Paul Wellman.
The film stars Glenn Ford, Ernest Borgnine, Rod Steiger,
and Valerie French making her American film debut.

It was filmed in Technicolor and CinemaScope on location in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

The film is notable as a western reworking of Othello[
(played by Borgnine), with Steiger as Iago and Ford as Cassio.
The supporting cast includes Charles Bronson, Jack Elam,
Felicia Farr, Noah Beery, Jr., and John Dierkes.

Look out for Duke 'Pals' Noah Beery Jr., Jack Elam

User Review

A great and sadly under-valued western
7 July 2009 | by Martin Bradley (Derry, Ireland)

Quote from martin

Othello out West. Delmar Daves' great and unjustly neglected western finds Glenn Ford's title character falling prey to ranch-hand Rod Steiger's Iago-like jealously when Ernest Borgnine's Othello-like father figure picks him as his foreman and surrogate son. Throw in the machinations of wife Valerie French who has the hots for Ford and it isn't difficult for Steiger to convince Borgnine that there's something going on.

If Shakespeare's play is the blueprint, Daves' film is suitably complex in its own right and if Steiger displays a tendency to chew the scenery as he was wont to do, both Borgnine and Ford are outstanding, with Ford in particular proving something of a revelation. He has a terrific scene with Felicia Farr in which he describes his appalling childhood and how it made him the man he is. It's also magnificently photographed in cinemascope by Charles Lawton Jr; the exterior scenes
are often breathtaking while the interiors use the widescreen to superb spatial effect.

INFORMATION FROM IMDb

Plot Summary
Found injured by rancher Shep Horgan, Jubal Troop is offered a job as cowhand and soon gains Shep's trust. Mae Horgan, feeling she's been trapped into marriage with Shep, takes a shine to Jubal, although he is more interested in Naomi Hoktor who is travelling with a wagon train camped on Shep's land. Pinky, until now top hand and used to Mae's favours himself, doesn't think much of the new deal and trouble is inevitable.
Written by Jeremy Perkins

Cast
Glenn Ford ... Jubal Troop
Ernest Borgnine ... Shep Horgan
Rod Steiger ... 'Pinky' Pinkum
Valerie French ... Mae Horgan
Felicia Farr ... Naomi Hoktor
Basil Ruysdael ... Shem Hoktor
Noah Beery Jr. ... Sam - Horgan Rider
Charles Bronson ... Reb Haislipp
John Dierkes ... Carson - Horgan Rider
Jack Elam ... McCoy - Bar 8 Rider
Robert Burton ... Dr. Grant
and many more...

Directed
Delmer Daves

Writing Credits
Russell S. Hughes ... (screenplay) &
Delmer Daves ... (screenplay)
Paul Wellman ... (novel) (as Paul I. Wellman)

Produced
William Fadiman ... producer

Music
David Raksin

Cinematography
Charles Lawton Jr. ... director of photography

Trivia
Film debut of Felicia Farr.

Both Ernest Borgnine and Rod Steiger starred in the title role of "Marty". Steiger in the 1953 television version (The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse: Marty (1953)) and Borgnine in the Academy Award winning 1955 version, Marty (1955)/

Filmed along the Grand Teton Range in Jackson Hole, WY. The lake is Lake Jackson.

About working with Rod Steiger, Glenn Ford said, "Rod . . . well, in kindness I think I should say he did a great job with his role. However, the 'Method' got a little too much for some of us, especially the wranglers . . . Look, Rod won an Academy Award, didn't he? And so did Ernie [Ernest Borgnine], so whatever Rod was doing in his role for 'Jubal' probably worked for him. He was intense, I'll tell you that."
is
Very loosely inspired by William Shakespeare's "Othello"--Shep corresponds to Othello, Pinky to Iago and Jubal to Cassio. Naomi's gift of a handkerchief echoes a similar gift from Bianca, but is not used further as a plot device

From Shakespeare's Othello, Shep corresponds to Othello, Pinky to Iago and Jubal to Cassio. Naomi's gift of a handkerchief echoes a similar gift from Bianca, but is not used further as a plot device.

Eleven years later Charles Bronson and Ernest Borgnine would co-star in The Dirty Dozen (1967).

Goofs
Anachronisms
When Jubal first walks into the ranch house to eat breakfast, between two buildings behind him you can just see the front end of a 1940s-era pickup truck. A short time later as Shep walks into the house, the truck is gone.

Aside from Pinky, another character in the movie, Doctor Grant played by actor Robert Burton, was also wearing a modern day wristwatch on his left wrist. The scene was when the doctor had announced that the rancher's wife was already dead and that it's all Pinky's doing.

When they are after Jubal, Pinky is wearing a modern wristwatch on his right wrist.

Memorable Quotes

Filming Location
Jackson Hole, Wyoming, USA