Review of The Misfits (1961) by Rick R — 14 Jun 2009

The Misfits (1961).

Clark Gable was a Hollywood icon of the 30s, 40s, and 50s. Now coming into the 60s, he showed us that he could still hold his own against younger talent like Montgomery Clift, Eli Wallach, and Marilyn Monroe. Could you see a John Wayne play this character? Nope!

This is the last movie that Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe ever did and getting close to the end of Monty Clift too. The movie is directed by John Huston from Arthur Miller's screenplay. Miller was married to Monroe at the time.

This movie is very depressing partly because all of the characters are damaged goods and partly because we morn the loss of so much talent so short after the making of this movie.

Gay Langland (Gable) is an over-the-hill cowboy, in a vanishing West, and frankly somewhat of an aging gigolo. His rough exterior is barely able to hide the delicate feelings of loss that he feels.

Guido (Wallach) is an unemployed mechanic who's Wife left him. Perce Howland (Monty Clift) is an over-the-hill rodeo rider. Roslyn Taber (Monroe) is a divorcée in Reno, waiting for the quickie divorce to go through. One thing about the male characters is that they have a fear of working an hourly job. They'd do anything to avoid that, including the illegal capturing, killing and selling of wild stallions to be made into dog food.

The stallions themselves are sort of a symbol of a misfit inside of a dying West. Nobody wants them and would be more useful in a slaughter house.