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Rating: - Kirk Douglas thought this film was his best
'Lonely are the Brave' was the film that Kirk Douglas, himself, regards as his favorite. No, it's not a big Hollywood flash like 'Spartacus' but it is the subtle and tragic rendention of a time and life style already gone. It's a tale of the passing of the old West and the disappearance of men--independent men--who couldn't or wouldn't change.

Douglas--Jack Burns--in the film is a man intolerant of rules, fences and civilization. He's a cowboy with an ideology. His sense of honor is antequated, perhaps, but all the more powerful because of it. In the interest of freedom he makes a series of preventable and deliberate mistakes. He breaks into jail to save an old friend, only to find that his friend doesn't want saving. Burns then breaks out of jail to be pursued across the desert and into the mountains by all the modern police contraptions.

Burns, of course, is doomed by both fate and history and we realize, long before the heartrending conclusion, that he will fail. The old West is gone and, more importantly, modern mass society crushes anyone truly independent. We weep for Burns the same as we weep for ourselves.

Ron Braithwaite, author of novels--"Skull Rack" and "Hummingbird God"--on the Spanish Conquest of Mexico

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Rating: - This film made an impression on a twelve-year old
I was twelve-years old when this film came out.I remember riding my bicycle to Santa Monica(from Malibu)one Saturday.I was under the impression that it was a traditional western starring Kirk Douglas.I was mistaken.It is anything but a "traditional"western.It's really about a cowboy who is a misfit.He's living in a time where there are too many fences(boundaries)and he just can't reconcile with this situation.Kirk Douglas gives a fine performance(as does the lovely Gena Rowlands),but the "scene-stealer"is the curmudgeon of a sheriff(Walter Mathau).William Schallert is great as his deputy.He drives the sheriff a bit crazy by constantly replying"RIGHT"!The music(score)is excellent(Jerry Goldsmith).

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Rating: - Why oh why is there no DVD
I first saw this movie in a theater when it was released and I was 16 years old. My brother and I stayed through a second showing (you could do that then) and went back to see it at least a couple more times while it was playing. It became and still is one of my all time favorite movies.
When I was 16 I loved it for the action and the humor ( Walter Mathau's play by play of the dog wandering down main street). As I got older the more serious themes only made me love it more.

WHERE IS THE DVD? ...please,please,please

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Rating: - A scandalously underrated film
From the opening shot, a lone cowhand's camp in the desert and contrails in the sky, the theme is clash of the old west ways with the new, encroaching civilization. The film's neglect, one guesses, is due postmodern's narcissistic inability to understand it will be their turn one day.

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Rating: - A wonderful discovery
4.5 stars. One thing about watching oldies but goodies is watching all the stars before they were legends: Carroll O'Conner, Walter Matthau, Bill Bixby and George Kennedy. I was immediately drawn into the film because of Kirk's amazing presence. Whenever, I see Kirk, I get the feeling that there is absolutely nothing in the world this man is afraid of. A man's man. One that never back down from a fight and is willing to put himself on the line-each and every time. If he's in the frame your eyes are on him. I agree with other reviewers, this is a very simple storyline about small events that quickly get out of hand. There are quite a bit of coincidences-and you just can't help wondering why he told the police his real name-since the plan was always to break out of jail. But still there are plenty of scenes that keeps you on the edge of your seat. And my heart just jerked at the ending--though you knew what was coming. Overall, this is a movie everyone should see.