One-Eyed Jacks (1961)

Director:

Marlon Brando

Writers:

Guy Trosper (screenplay) and
Calder Willingham (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

30 March 1961 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Tagline:

NOW THE SCREEN ACHIEVES SURPASSING GREATNESS! (original ad - all caps)

Plot:

Running from the law after a bank robbery in Mexico, Dad Longworth finds an opportunity to take the...

Plot Keywords:

Bank Robbery | Mexico | Revenge | Escape | California

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Marlon Brando	...	Rio
Karl Malden	...	Sheriff Dad Longworth
Katy Jurado	...	Maria Longworth
Pina Pellicer	...	Louisa
Ben Johnson	...	Bob Amory
Slim Pickens	...	Deputy Lon Dedrick
Larry Duran	...	Chico Modesto
Sam Gilman	...	Harvey Johnson
Timothy Carey	...	Howard Tetley
Miriam Colon	...	Redhead
Elisha Cook Jr.	...	Carvey (as Elisha Cook)
Rodolfo Acosta	...	Mexican rurale captain (as Rudolph Acosta)
Joan Petrone	...	Flower girl
Tom Webb	...	Farmer's son
Ray Teal	...	Barney
John Dierkes	...	Chet
Philip Ahn	...	Uncle
Margarita Cordova	...	Nika Flamenco Dancer
Hank Worden	...	Doc
Clem Harvey	...	Tim
William Forrest	...	Banker
Mina Martinez	...	Margarita
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nesdon Booth	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Sheryl Deauville	...	Marina (uncredited)
Joe Dominguez	...	Corral keeper (uncredited)
Mickey Finn	...	Blacksmith (uncredited)
Nacho Galindo	...	Mexican townsman (uncredited)
Augie Gomez	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Al Haskell	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Fenton Jones	...	Square-dance caller (uncredited)
Margarita Martín	...	Mexican vendor (uncredited)
Jorge Moreno	...	Bouncer in shack (uncredited)
'Snub' Pollard	...	Townsman (uncredited)
John Michael Quijada	...	Mexican rurale sergeant (uncredited)
Francy Scott	...	Cantina girl (uncredited)
Shichizo Takeda	...	Owner of cantina at beach (uncredited)
Felipe Turich	...	Card sharp (uncredited)
Henry Wills	...	Ephraim, Stableman (uncredited)

Directed by
Marlon Brando

Writing credits
Guy Trosper		(screenplay) and
Calder Willingham		(screenplay)
Charles Neider		(novel "The Authentic Death of Hendry Jones")

Produced by
George Glass	....	executive producer
Frank P. Rosenberg	....	producer
Walter Seltzer	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Hugo Friedhofer

Cinematography by
Charles Lang		(director of photography) (as Charles Lang Jr.)

Film Editing by
Archie Marshek

Art Direction by
J. McMillan Johnson
Hal Pereira

Set Decoration by
Robert R. Benton		(as Robert Benton)
Sam Comer

Costume Design by
Yvonne Wood

Makeup Department
Nellie Manley	....	hair styles supervisor
Phil Rhodes	....	makeup creator: Mr. Brando
Wally Westmore	....	makeup supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Harry Caplan	....	assistant director
Francisco Day	....	assistant director

Art Department
Gene Lauritzen	....	construction coordinator (uncredited)

Sound Department
Charles Grenzbach	....	sound recordist
Hugo Grenzbach	....	sound recordist

Special Effects by
Farciot Edouart	....	process photography
John P. Fulton	....	special photographic effects

Stunts
Henry Wills	....	stunt double: Marlon Brando (as Hank Wills)
Jack Lilley	....	stunts (uncredited)
Steven Marlo	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Gibb Stepp	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
W. Wallace Kelley	....	director of photography: second unit (as Wallace Kelley)
Jack Beckett	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Music Department
Pete Candoli	....	lead musician (uncredited)

Other crew
Josephine Earl	....	dance stager
Carlo Fiore	....	assistant to producer
Rosita Moreno	....	technical advisor
Richard Mueller	....	technicolor color consultant
Rodd Redwing	....	technical advisor
Henry Scott	....	dialogue coach
Dolores Rubin	....	script supervisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Pennebaker Productions

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1961) (USA) (theatrical)
• Les Films Paramount (1961) (France) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1966) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Paramount Home Video (1991) (USA) (VHS)
• United American Video (1991) (USA) (VHS)
• VCI Home Video (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• Artemis Entertainment (1994) (USA) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (1994) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Hollywood Classics (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Madacy Entertainment (1998) (Canada) (DVD)
• Madacy Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Platinum Disc (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• United American Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Ideal Enterprises (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• Platinum Disc (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Platinum Disc (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• Ventura Distribution (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2001) (USA) (video)
• Front Row Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Greatest Sports Legends (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Brentwood Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Unicorn Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Diamond Entertainment Group (DEG) (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Westlake Entertainment Group (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Reel Media International (2004) (worldwide) (VHS)
• St. Clair Vision (2004) (Canada) (DVD)
• CIC Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Continental Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Kabaya Foods (2004) (Japan) (DVD)
• Reel Media International (2007) (worldwide) (all media)
• Weton Wesgram (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Runtime:

141 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:(Banned) (1961) | Finland:K-18 | Sweden:15 | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (1991) | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Big Sur, California, USA

Company:

Pennebaker Productions

Trivia:

The character of Rio originally was based on Billy the Kid, as recounted in Charles Neider's novel "The Authentic Death of Hendry Jones." Sam Peckinpah, who wrote an early version of the script and who later went on to direct Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973), said in a 1973 "Playboy" magazine interview that Marlon Brando would not play a villain, and Billy the Kid most definitely was a villain. Peckinpah's 1973 film shares some narrative elements with this film and it also featured "Jacks" co-stars Slim Pickens and Katy Jurado.

Quotes:

Rio: I don't know, Dad. You may not want me around too long. You may be retired from robbin' banks, Dad; but I'm still in business.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Good Life (2007)

Overlooked little gem

I found this film quite remarkable on many levels. For one, it was the debut for Brando as director (and his only film direction since). Reportedly, it was taken after Kubrick left due to altercations. Well, this time, Brando has one foot in front of the camera, as well as one behind it. He does a great, solid job. In fact, this film never looked awkward or misguided -- it felt like an intelligent western helmed by an Anthony Mann or Raoul Walsh. To further boost the professional polish of the film, there is cinematographer Charles Lang (Magnificent Seven, How the West Was Won).

Within this polished piece of work, the muscle of the film is found in the wonderful character study. Here, the characters, like in many great stories, are complex, dark, tempermental. Although the film is about the hero's(or anti-hero's) thirst for revenge on a man who done him wrong, there's a romance in the film that is truly tender and fateful.

The magnet in this film would have to be Brando. (Karl Malden is great too). Brando's understated performance is of the subtle type, using his famous darting eyes to penetrate the characters and the viewer. He's one of my favorite all-time actors.

As with all great films, One-Eyed Jacks is a quiet masterpiece, displaying what every good film needs: great script, powerful acting, layered characterization, and be technically-sound.