Copper Canyon by director John Farrow John Farrow creates all the conditions for the real benefit of Ray Milland in this film. Milland is simply magnificent in the role of Colonel Desmond, hired by residents of a small mining town and came to this town to, in modern terms, fight corruption.
For conspiracy, Milland appears at first as the whole circus shooter, but very quickly the “legend” fails.
The image played by Milland is fundamentally different from the roles in Westerns played by John Wayne, Lee van Cleef and Clint Eastwood. His hero is ironic and intellectual. Emotionally expressive Milland is more like Cary Grant or James Stewart. Sometimes it even seems that he is the most suitable candidate for most Hitchcock films.
But the interesting thing is that Milland’s intelligence doesn’t spoil the film at all. On the contrary, the picture looks very harmonious.
Hedi Lamarr on his background is static and unpretentious, which does not spoil the picture at all. In a few important scenes for her, Lamarr selflessly plays "femme fatale". And this implies a certain egocentricity and staticity.
Additional notes appear when a love line occurs. A very sharp line of distrust towards women is drawn, which brings the film closer to noir. What is the “dialogue of the film” that I will specifically highlight:
Dialogue of the film:
Johnny, don't. Don't go there. Don't you trust me?
- To be honest, no.
Finally, it is nice that the picture does not last long. Farrow was usually laconic, which allows you to watch the film with interest today. Although, of course, the first half seems a little drawn out.
In the end:Thanks to John Farrow and Ray Milland, this Western is quite highly appreciated. Farrow perfectly recreated the atmosphere of the mining town and the lawlessness of power, and Milland did everything else - presented to the audience not just another gunfighter, but an intelligent and principled person.
8 out of 10