Where are you Kirk?

September 21, 2007 7:02 AM

Please help me remember the name of a Kirk Douglas movie

I watched it years ago on TV. It was a modern Western (of a sort) where KD played a cowboy guy who couldn't let go of the past. It had a terribly sad ending - but I don't want to write an advanced spoiler.

I've searched IMDB and the other usual suspects, but can't find it. I would love to see it again.

posted by Myeral to media & arts (11 comments total)

not a cowboy movie (not even sort of) but, are you thinking of Tough Guys? Two elderly ex-cons, one last caper?
posted by digiFramph at 7:09 AM on September 21, 2007

Could it be Lonely Are the Brave?
posted by iconomy at 7:12 AM on September 21, 2007

Did it keep cutting back and forth to Archie Bunker with a tractor trailer? if so, iconomy is right.
posted by John Kenneth Fisher at 8:50 AM on September 21, 2007

secondary guess, the wikipedia descrip for Along the Great Divide has the line "Feeling responsible for his father's death, marshal Merrick (Kirk Douglas) seeks redemption," which may be considered not letting go of the past. But I didn't see this one, so no idea if it fits your descrip.
posted by John Kenneth Fisher at 9:01 AM on September 21, 2007

iconomy has it. Carroll O'Connor and Douglas have a quick, impromptu meeting that sends Kirk's day down the toilet.
posted by yerfatma at 9:28 AM on September 21, 2007

Along the Great Divide looks to be set in the 19th century. Lonely Are the Brave is set in (what was) the modern day.
posted by yerfatma at 9:29 AM on September 21, 2007

Yeah, it's definitely Lonely Are the Brave; I DVR'd it on Turner a couple of weeks ago and the host's intro fit Myeral's description to a T. I'd forgotten it was based on an Edward Abbey story, with a screenplay by Dalton Trumbo, so thanks for this question. I think I'm gonna go watch it now. :)
posted by mediareport at 9:03 PM on September 21, 2007

Btw, Douglas calls it "my favorite film" on p. 309 of his autobiography The Ragman's Son (have a copy right here, went on a Kirk kick a few months back). He also says he wanted to call it "The Last Cowboy," and fought Universal over their choice of a title:

They finally decided, over my objections, that it should be called Lonely Are The Brave. To this day, I'm not quite sure what it means. Very often, people say, "Gee, I love...what's that picture? You know, with you and the horse going over the mountain." The picture sticks in their minds, but not the title.

Seemed relevant. :)
posted by mediareport at 9:13 PM on September 21, 2007

Ah, yes. "Lonely Are the Brave," an excellent film and probably Kirk's best. If you liked that one, check out the cheesier but fun and funky "Electric Horseman" with Robert Redford (best line is Willie Nelson's about finding a Keno girl who can ... well, I can't repeat it in a family arena). Along similar cinema lines (loner, seeking something, etc.), see if you can find "The Swimmer" with Burt Lancaster (one of my faves) and/or "The Lifeguard" with Sam Elliott. (The latter was made before Elliott started talking slower and sloooowwwwerrrrrr.)
posted by Smalltown Girl at 6:25 AM on September 22, 2007

H'mm. Could have sworn I posted a thank you to everyone on Saturday - it appears to have been eaten. Lonely Are The Brave it definitely seems to be, and I am just about to get a copy and watch it. Also, I loved The Swimmer too.

Cheers.
posted by Myeral at 3:19 AM on September 24, 2007

I watched my DVR'd version last night, Myeral; it's really good. The fight scene in the bar early on is a bit hokey, but the rest moves along quick and smart, with a lot of back story efficiently hinted and some deft characterization by Walter Matthau. When it becomes a chase movie, it gets pretty suspenseful, with some great nail-biting scenes as Kirk climbs the mountain with his horse. Overall, one of the best Kirk movies I've seen, and I've seen a bunch lately.
posted by mediareport at 8:10 PM on September 25, 2007