Blackie Gagin, an ex-solider who recently returned from World War II, arrives in a town in New Mexico, looking for Frank Hugo, a very rich man whose dealings haven't exactly been legal. The town is buzzing due to the upcoming fiesta but Gagin's mood couldn't be more calm and collected, out to avenge the death of his best friend. Gagin isn't interested in murder, he wants to blackmail Hugo, just like his friend before him. Robert Montgomery's Ride The Pink Horse is a film that is fairly considered peculiar given its convoluted narrative and host of characters that include Bill Reitz, an FBI agent whose been tracking Gagin to gain the evidence that will put Hugo behind bars, and Pancho, a good natured Mexican man who drinks a lot and works as the carousel operator. Personally, I didn't find the film hard to follow but what I think is truly interesting about Ride The Pink Horse is its examination of post war disillusionment, friendship, and revenge. Gagin is a simple man and the film slowly and subtlely displays a tortured soul who struggles to trust anyone, disillusioned about the government's good nature after the war. Bill Reitz wants him to do the right thing and give him the evidence he needs but this time Gagin is only out for himself, simply wanting to reap the benefits for once. The relationshiop he forms with a young Mexican girl is another intriguing aspect of the film, with her and Pancho being the ones that slowly fuel this man's transformation. Montgomery's direction is assured, with a fantastic carousel sequence that really stands out, and the acting all around is strong, making Ride the Pink Horse a unique noirish crime drama that offers a interesting perspective on friendship, alienation, and vengeance.
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AuthorLove of all things cinema brought me here. Archives
June 2023
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