Duel in the Sun

DUEL IN THE SUN, otherwise known as "Lust in the Dust" to it's devotees and detractors, remains a guilty pleasure. Full of grand artifice and excess, not to mention Jennifer Jones in a role light-years away from her usual screen assignments, it remains an enjoyable diversion.

Half-caste beauty Pearl Chavez (Jennifer Jones in heavy tropical makeup) is orphaned and goes to live with distant cousins in Texas. Pretty soon she's caught in the middle of a love-duel between brothers Lewt (Gregory Peck) and Jesse (Joseph Cotten), who both want to have her.

The casting of Gregory Peck as the carnal, savagely-sexual Lewt was a masterstroke. Playing against his usual screen persona, Peck instantly commands the screen with his impressive performance. By contrast, Joseph Cotten positively pales as his weak-willed brother Jesse. Lillian Gish and Lionel Barrymore play the parents and manage to climb beyond caricature territory; however Gish's death scene is totally ridiculous. Butterfly McQueen plays the feather-brained domestic (but she might as well be reprising her "Gone with the Wind" role of Prissy).

Comparisons to "Gone with the Wind" have dogged DUEL IN THE SUN since it's original release. It was no secret that producer David O. Selznick wanted to fashion a movie that would emulate some of the visual splendor of GWTW (not to mention the same box-office success). From the rich-red sunsets to the sprawling running time, DUEL IN THE SUN follows the formula, but the overall standard of acting is too forced and florid to truly connect with audiences in the special way that GWTW did.

DUEL IN THE SUN does have the spectacular Jennifer Jones and Gregory Peck in it's favour; when these two stars take to the screen you can't help but be riveted. The DVD includes the full theatrical Prelude and Overture musical sequences.

Everything about 'Duel in the Sun' is overripe: the music, the photography (those red sunsets a la GWTW), the strong emotions and the climactic duel on a blazing desert sun by the two mismatched lovers. Indeed, the excesses are almost operatic in proportion--and yet, a viewer can get caught up in this sprawling western rightly termed "Lust in the Dust" by some reviewers.

The rampant sensuality of the steamy scenes between Peck and Jones are emphasized by Dimitri Tiomkin's luscious background score which becomes blistering and intense for the climactic shootout. Overproduced, overacted, overwritten--it still entertains and makes us appreciate the genius of David O. Selznick whose hand on all of the material is quite evident.

Jennifer Jones was nominated for her tempestuous Pearl Chavez (but lost to Olivia de Havilland for 'To Each His Own'). Lillian Gish deserved her Oscar nomination. And last but not least, let's not forget Walter Huston, who gives the most realistic and enjoyable performance in the entire film as The Sin Killer--a wickedly funny portrayal.

Weakest aspect of the film is Gregory Peck's easygoing villain--his whole performance strikes a false note and is not the least bit convincing. He and Joseph Cotten should have switched their roles--Cotten always made a more believable villain than Peck (as in "Shadow of a Doubt").

Selznick obviously was striving to make a western on the level of GWTW--even including Butterfly McQueen for comic relief. All in all, fun to watch if you don't take any of it seriously. Not exactly a work of art--but definitely worth watching. And, oh, that ripe technicolor, topped by Orson Welles' pretentious and deeply baritone narration and Dimitri Tiomkin's pounding score.

The only bland role in the whole film is played with dignity and warmth by Charles Bickford, so low-key that he appears to be acting in another film altogether. He's quite a contrast to all the high tension excesses of Jones and company.

Overacted, overstaged, too colorful--"Duel in the Sun" makes that "I'll never be hungry again" scene in GWTW look understated.

The strange music, Pearl's weird dancer movements, a totally carnal Gregory Peck, Joseph Cotten so repressed that you would swear if he took off his clothes he'd be like a paperdoll with the underwear printed on, the cruelty...WOWEE. Someone said it was an opera and that's what it is, all right. They could be singing the lines with broad sweeping gestures and too much flesh and makeup.

I love this movie although, again like some other reviewers, I found it was an acquired taste.

The legendary Producer David O. Selznick,of Gone with Wind Fame,wanted to produce another classic and he mightily tried with Duel in the Sun,directed by King Vidor,and starring Selznicks' paramour and later wife Jennifer Jones.
Ms Jones is Pearl Chavez a half breed who lands on her "white" relatives ranch,run by reactionary Lionel Barrymore.The fetching ms Jones attracts the attention of Barrymores' amoral son Lewt,played by Gregory Peck.
After a great opening the film becomes something of a bore with Peck playing a rather repulsive character.
Lillian Gish,Herbery Marshall, Charles Bickford,Joseph Cotton,Walter Huston,hamming it up as a bogus preacher,Otto Krueger,and Harry Carey,sr.,all lend a colorful hand to the very mediocre proceedings.The technicolor is great and there is an excellent score by Dimitri Tiomkin.

this is a very high camp western and as a child i didn't care for it much. now that i'm older i find i really enjoy this cheesey slice of the west. gregory peck(long before the boys from brazil)is a very bad man and he is really very good. matching him step for step is the lovley jennifer jones as his love/hate romance in the movie.
one last thing the ending is ,well the best word for it is really campy. buy it and see .
the transfer looks good and the film has never looked better.