December 7th: ONE-EYED JACKS (Marlon Brando, 1961)

NOTE: This film will be projected in the high-definition Blu-ray format.

A bank robber seeks revenge on the former partner who betrayed him.

Producer Frank S. Rosenberg bought the rights to a novel loosely based on Billy the Kid, hiring Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling to write the adaptation. Unhappy with the results, another attempt was made by future director Sam Peckinpah (The Wild Bunch). Marlon Brando, originally intending to produce a sympathetic film about Native Americans, attached his company to the production.

Stanley Kubrick, fresh off the acclaimed Paths of Glory, was hired to direct, and began working with Brando on the script. Another draft was written by Calder Willingham (Paths of Glory, The Graduate), but him and Kubrick were eventually fired due to disputes over the writing and casting. Brando elected to assume directing duties, his debut in that role.

To co-star, Brando brought on board his good friend and fellow Method actor Karl Malden (A Streetcar Named Desire, On The Waterfront). Other western staples included Ben Johnson (The Last Picture Show), Katy Jurado, Slim Pickens (Blazing Saddles), Timothy Carey, and Elisha Cook, Jr.

The film was shot on location in Sonora, Mexico, Death Valley, Big Sur, and Monterey, California before moving to the Paramount Pictures backlot, with veteran cinematographer Charles Lang (Some Like It Hot) behind the camera. Brando's reputation for being difficult and meticulous carried over into his directing approach, with costs rising quickly. He made a deal with Universal Pictures to cover part of the cost in exchange for acting in a handful of the studio's upcoming projects.

After turning in rumored cuts of 8 hours and over 4 hours, it had been over 2 years since shooting began and the studio intervened, taking the picture away from Brando, who put up little resistance. Upon release, the film received mixed reviews, but praise for the actor/director's efforts and talent. It failed to make its money back at the box office.

Over the years, the film became a cult classic, but slipped into public domain, available in poor quality VHS tapes and DVDs. At the 2016 Cannes Film Fesitval, Martin Scorsese's Film Foundation (with assistance from Steven Spielberg), debuted a 4K restoration of the widescreen VistaVision process it was originally shot on. The critical response was very positive.

Running time is 2 hrs, 20 min.