Duel in the Sun (1946)

VHS CASE/SIDE

Length of film:  146 Minutes

Rated: PG

Genre: Drama, Romance, Western

Director: King Vidor, Otto Brower, William Dieterle, Sidney Franklin, William Cameron Menzies, David O. Selznick, Josef von Sternberg

Starring: Jennifer Jones, Joseph Cotten, Gregory Peck, Lionel Barrymore, Herbert Marshall, Lillian Gish, Walter Huston, Charles Bickford

IMDB Rank: 6.8/ 10

Part 1 Time:  80 Minutes 

Part 2 Time:  66 Minutes

Where does the first part end? Jesse (Joseph Cotten) who is now ostracized from the ranch, leaves for Austin to pursue a political career. Pearl Chavez (Jennifer Jones) cries in her bedroom.

Final line of dialogue on the first part: “All right Jesse. You said you’d never forget,” Pearl Chavez speaks to herself.

First line of dialogue on the second part: An unnamed horse handler speaks to Lewt (Gregory Peck); “This the other one you meant, Lewt?”

How jarring is it when the first part ends? Minimal, with Jesse now leaving for Austin, Pearl has been unwillingly forced to continue her abusive relationship with Lewt.

Which part is better? The film has not aged well compared to today’s standards, with cringe dialogue and over the top acting. The plot revolves around a lovers triangle between the three protagonists, which results in a sadomasochistic relationship between Pearl and Lewt. With multiple duels and an ambivalent ending, part two is given the advantage.

Academy Awards: 1947- Best Leading Actress (Nominated- Jennifer Jones), Best Supporting Actress (Nominated- Lillian Gish)