Ride the Pink Horse (1947)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Robert Montgomery

Writers:

Dorothy B. Hughes (novel) and
Ben Hecht (writer)

Release Date:

8 October 1947 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Film-Noir | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

In the bordertown of San Pablo, preparing for an annual 'Mexican Fiesta,' arrives Gagin: tough, mysterious and laconic...

Plot Keywords:

Animal In Title | Color In Title | Locker | Beautiful Woman | Merry Go Round

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Robert Montgomery	...	Lucky Gagin
Wanda Hendrix	...	Pilar
Andrea King	...	Marjorie Lundeen
Thomas Gomez	...	Pancho
Fred Clark	...	Frank Hugo
Art Smith	...	Bill Retz
Richard Gaines	...	Jonathan
Rita Conde	...	Carla
Iris Flores	...	Maria
Tito Renaldo	...	Bellboy
Grandon Rhodes	...	Mr. Edison, Hotel Desk Clerk
Martin Garralaga	...	Barkeeper
Edward Earle	...	Locke
Harold Goodwin	...	Red
Maria Cortez	...	Elevator Girl

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #12676, General Audience)

Filming Locations:

La Fonda Hotel - 100 E. San Francisco Street, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivia:

Although the story supposedly takes place in a New Mexico border town, it was filmed in northern New Mexico. Early in the movie, Montgomery is standing next to a large wall map in a bus terminal, and it is indeed a map of the Albuquerque and Santa Fe area.

Quotes:

Gagin: I'm nobody's friend. The man with no place.

Movie Connections:

Remade as The Hanged Man (1964) (TV)

A Marvelous and Rarely Seen Film Noir

It is really unfortunate that this film is not available on video. Until it has more exposure, it will remain as obscure as its title. A prime example of the "sleeper", "Ride the Pink Horse" should be regarded as a singular member of the Noir canon. The film features "classic" noir elements: the femme fatale (with an interesting twist--are there two of them?), revenge motivation, an overall feeling of fatalism and impending doom, dark cinematography dominated by shadows and a solitary, enigmatic protagonist. What makes "Ride the Pink Horse" so unique is mainly its setting: a small Mexican town and an ongoing festival. Director Montgomery apparently shot the film during what looks like an authentic fiesta, with its images of ancient gods and rituals. This adds to the feeling of remoteness and mystery that characterize this movie. The title refers to a merry-go-round horse, and it is actually spoken at one point: the Mexican girl asks Lucky Gagin which horse she should ride. His response seems arbitrary and perhaps this ties in with the meaning of the film--our choices and connections happen by chance, yet they can dictate our entire lives. Gagin has come to the town on a single-minded mission of revenge, yet by the end everything has changed and been influenced by circumstances he could not have foreseen. "Ride the Pink Horse" has an archetypal Noir style: many scenes are shrouded in shadow or filmed in silhouette; most characters are ambiguous in their intent. All the actors are good: especially Thomas Gomez, who was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, and Fred Clark as a devious and nearly deaf villain. The beautiful Wanda Hendryx lends appropriate mystery to the Mexican girl. There is a lovely and evocative score using what sound like real Mexican tunes assembled by Frank Skinner.