Review of The Misfits (1961) by Matt C — 23 Sep 2015

The final film of both Monroe and Gable, and Arthur Miller's first screenplay (as his marriage to Monroe was falling apart- there is a strong divorce theme in this movie) a compelling film in which divorcee Roslyn Taber (Monroe) falls in with three cowboys, and eventually in love with Gay Langland (Gable) but rebels against the harsh nature of Langland's relationship to the land (mainly, what she perceives as cruelty to animals).

Monroe is, as always, luminous and almost child-like in this film, but she is also quite melancholy. The other three actors (four if you count Thelma Ritter's Isabelle who unfortunately disappears early in the film) are superb and the dialogue spot on, though the treatment of the horses is distressing to watch- you couldn't do that now, you'd hope.

Gable died a couple of days after filming- David Stratton suggests it could have the been the heat as well as the stunts with the horses, which are quite harrowing and which Gable insisted on doing himself.

Superb film.