Jubal (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

Although Jubal The Criterion Edition DVD does not offer any commentary the booklet offers a detailed history and reminder (speaking for myself definitely) of how Director Delmer Daves was steeped in the western genre from an early age: A trip through the Hopi Reservation in Arizona resulted in a kinship with local Indians and a common region to eventually film most of Daves’ westerns (the pro Indian Broken Arrow, 1950; Glen Ford would work again with Daves in 3:10 to Yuma, 1957; and I now need to see Gary Cooper in The Hanging Tree, 1959).In the cinematography that surrounds and quietly and simply imbues Jubal’s personality—it’s no wonder the detailed booklet by critic Kent Jones compares tone and landscape and personality to James Dean and East Of Eden—Glenn Ford’s performance may be about as quiet, and reactionary and method acting brooding as he has ever been; and Jubal is a person with quiet flaws, yet, certainly is likable.Then there is Rod Steiger. What(!) a chewing-on-the-scenery, highly entertaining performance. Steiger is the polar opposite as compared to his educated brother to Brando’s ‘Malloy’ in On The Waterfront. In Jubal Steiger is the complete embodiment of a bullying antagonist who stirs up trouble by loudly ‘speechifying’ his fellow workers to turn on the new guy ‘foreman’—at the ranch—promoted by Earnest Borgnine who, himself, means well but is actually somewhat nice to a fault. All this much to the detriment and dislike brewing in Borgnine’s lovely yet bored wife played by Valerie French (her first role).When Mrs Horgan (French) begins shamelessly flirting with Jubal (Ford) the look on his face says a lot: ‘you have got to be kidding me … your husband just took me in!’The temperamental Pinky Pinkum (Steiger) is jealous for about three different reasons so the inevitable accusations and confrontations arise until the verbally charged drama will have to be resolved by physical violence.The drama in Jubal is appropriately Shakespearean; with Charles Bronson eventually showing up to add some action with a rather simple gun flip that probably is not as well done as it could have been.But, the action really is second to the drama and acting anyways … maybe third when considering the landscape of the Grand Tetons towering in the background.Borgnine can give a shocking, bug-eyed look not to be forgotten. He was coming off his Academy Award win for/as Marty.Noah Beery, Jr gives a good performance as one of the level headed ranch workers.Felicia Farr is the virgin daughter ‘Mormon’: ‘Be my first kiss?’Again, Steiger’s loud Method performance should not be missed.Glenn Ford (The Big Heat; Gilda) was in too many good movies to mention. Jubal could be the best western ever made that nobody talks about. It’s tone is highly original which may be why it is kind of forgotten because it kind of does not feel like a western—although there is the pre requisite shootout and a (stagey?) showdown ending. Like I said action really is not as good as the ‘action’ of the drama acting.Jubal offers a well done Restoration process finished in a 2K resolution. Simply gorgeous widescreen cinematography.4.8 stars

Would have given 5 stars, but no sub-titles option. Still the photography is fantastic; good sound quality and of course Mr. Daves directorial abilities always shine through. Love those wonderful old actors . . . sad they're all gone now. Thank God for DVD players!

This is regarding the Criterion release blu-ray of Jubal. The transfer is good for the most part, but grain is seen when there are certain shots of the blue sky. I'm not sure if Criterion could have cleared that up. But for the most part, the images are very sharp, but I tend to believe a DVD on a good blu-ray player would have upscaled it as well. The visual aspects are helped by the terrific shooting locations of the Grand Teton areas and the cinematography itself. But, also many shots of buildings and horses are very clear and sharp on a 4K tv. The sound, while not in 5.1 Dolby still sounds good and robust.One of the best things about this movie is the superb cast. Ernest Borgnine, Glenn Ford, Rod Steiger and Charles Bronson and others made it a fine watch with the classic drama loosely based on Shakespeare's Othello.There is a nice little booklet that comes with the blu ray although there are no documentaries on the making of the picture, nor is there commentary.If you like old westerns with big-name stars, pick this one up.

Enteraining western. Good color, acting in Cinamscope and stereo.

Forget the awful looking jacket and the non-descript film title. Jubal is a great Western. What do you want from a Western? Westerns are time machines, and you want to "feel" like you're in another place and time. Jubal does that, with great scenery of the Tetons and some other Wyoming locales (the Absoroka Range?) and a plausible looking frontier ranch. It is clearly not shot in the foothills above Los Angeles. The realism extends to the characters, who are engaging but not caricature, and who have jobs instead of just hanging around a saloon. The plot is not formulaic, and contains several different angles of conflict. It rings true to the human condition: jealousy, petty intrigue, honor, and friendship. There is someone to root for (a common lapse in more modern Westerns), an "everyman" with a sense of honor. The only oddity is a wagon train that doesn't seem to have a clear destination, but that is offset by a rare spectacle: a respectful depiction of religious people. As per the era in which it was made (1950s), the language is clean, the sexual tension doesn't rely on nudity. The antagonist (Glenn Ford) is conflicted, hence interesting. The acting is good (with Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson, and Rod Steiger as supports for Glenn Ford). It is, all around, a very good western. Why Glenn Ford isn't remembered as a prominent Western star beats me, as he turned out more Westerns than Jimmy Stewart, who is no slouch in the Western arena. There is no part of the film that is "dated" (such as the hokey music in High Noon or the silly trench coats in Tombstone). If you don't like Jubal, why the heck not?

This classic with Glenn Ford and Ernest Borgnine is a darn good film, but not quite a "5" as it has lost a bit in the aging of the story. Rod Steiger makes a strong bad guy, Borgnine is the kind ranch owner who wants to please everyone, especially his beautiful wife. Glenn Ford is excellent in his role as the loyal new hire. We see an early effort by Charles Bronson as well. Not a typical Western, "Jubal" has a certain aspect about it that nearly reaches the 5 star award, yet the over-acting of Steiger is a bit over the top and keeps me from awarding 5 stars.

Jubal is directed by Delmer Daves and adapted by Daves and Russell S. Hughes from the Paul Wellman novel, Jubal Troop. It stars Glenn Ford, Ernest Borgnine, Rod Steiger, Charles Bronson, Valerie French & Felicia Farr. David Raksin scores the music and Charles Lawton Jr. is the cinematographer. Out of Columbia Pictures it`s a CinemaScope/Technicolor production, and location for the shoot is Jackson Hole, The Grand Tetons, Wyoming, USA.Jubal Troop (Ford) is found exhausted out on the range and given shelter at a nearby ranch owned by Shep Horgan (Borgnine). Shep oversees Jubal`s recovery and offers him a job as part of his ranch team. This is met with objection by Shep`s mean foreman, Pinky (Steiger), but Shep is undeterred and Jubal goes on to prove his worth in the position. Shep and Jubal get on great, but trouble is brewing because Shep`s pretty Canadian wife, Mae (French), has taken quite a shine to Jubal. This further enrages Pinky, and a hornets nest is stirred, spelling trouble for practically everyone.Delmer Daves` (Dark Passage/Broken Arrow) Jubal is often likened to William Shakespeare`s Othello, that`s something that, whilst being flattering, is best ignored. For Jubal, and its makers, deserve credit in their own right for producing such a tight, tense, adult Western. It`s a film that`s driven by characters who are caught in a web of jealousy and suppressed emotions, with the underrated Daves bringing some psychological dimensions into the narrative. He`s also a director who knows that such a story benefits greatly by not including action and violence just for the sake of upping the tempo. He paces this film to precision, winding up the tension to breaking point, then to unleash all the pent up fury on the viewers, but even then he (correctly) chooses to keep some critical moments off the screen, gaining results far better than if stuff had actually been shown the audience (two shots in the finale are stupendously memorable).This griping human drama is played out in front of magnificent scenery, where Daves and Lawton Jr. (3:10 to Yuma/Comanche Station) utilize the CinemaScope and Technicolor facilities to their maximum potential. Filling the widescreen frame with majestic mountains,vibrant slanted forests and rolling grassy hills. The Grand Tetons location had previously been used in other notable Western movies, such as The Big Trail, The Big Sky and famously for George Stevens` Shane. While post Jubal it served a considerable purpose for Dances with Wolves. All of this grandeur for the eyes is boosted by Raksin`s (Laura/Fallen Angel) score, with gentle swirls for the tender Jubal/Naomi thread and rushes for the posse sequences, it`s an arrangement very at one with the mood and tempo of the story.The cast list oozes star power, and gets performances to match. Ford is a master at roles calling for underplayed intensity, and that`s what he gives Jubal Troop. Keeping the characters cards close to his chest in the beginning, Ford pitches it perfect as the emotionally bottled up drifter. Borgnine, a year after his Oscar win for Marty, is perfect foil to Ford`s calmness, he`s in turn big and boisterous, often crude, yet under the bluster is a sweet and honest man. And there in the middle of the three men is Steiger, bringing the method. Pinky is brooding, devious and one pulse beat away from being psychotic, but Steiger, with a menacing drawl flowing out of his mouth, is creepily mannered. Steiger and Daves clashed other how to play Pinky, the director wanting something more akin to Ford`s serene like role play, but Steiger wanted it played bitter and coiled spring like; the actor getting his way when producer William Fadiman sided with him.Valerie French (Decision at Sundown) looks beautiful in Technicolor, and in spite of an accent problem, does a neat line in how to play a smoldering fuse in a box of fire crackers. Felicia Farr (The Last Wagon) is the polar opposite, religiously comely and virginal, she`s a touch underused but the play off with French impacts well in the story. Key support goes to Charles Bronson (The Magnificent Seven) as loyal friend to Jubal, Reb. Played with laid back machismo, it`s something of what would become the trademark Bronson performance. Other notables in the support cast are the always value for money Noah Beery Jr. (Wagons West), John Dierkes (The Hanging Tree) and Jack Elam (The Man From Laramie).Damn fine film that`s worthy of being sought out by those interested in the best of the 50s slew of Adult Westerns. 8.5/10

I recieved two dvds of jubilee and I only required one I sent one back and I want to keep one copy of jubal john

Brilliant movie. I first saw this two years ago while I was on honeymoon. Brings back fond memories. The story line is awesome. You get invested in the story. Recommend 100%

ONE OF THE BEST WESTERNS IN MY COLLECTION.THE STORY IS MORE ABOUT PEOPLE THAN CATTLE, AND THE HUMAN CHARACTERS ARE PLAYED BY REAL STRONG ACTORS FROM THAT ERA. AND IT`S A BONUS TO WATCH A YOUNG CHARLES BRONSON SHOWS UP, ADDING SOMEEXTRA TO THIS DRAMA.

Very good film with great characters.