The Kentuckian (1955)

A Western that takes place in Kentucky

Released in 1955, "The Kentuckian" is one of only a couple films directed by Burt Lancaster.

THE STORY takes place during the presidency of James Madison circa 1815. Lancaster plays Eli Wakefield, a Kentuckian who desires more room to breath in Texas. Still in Kentucky, they blow their "Texas money" on freeing a beautiful indentured servant, Hannah (Dianne Foster). They don't get past the next frontier town where Eli takes up with his brother in the tabacco business and Hannah gets a job as a bar matron. Eli's dreams of Texas are sidetracked when he meets up with a school marm (Diana Lynn) who encourages him to settle down and make a family with her. The problem is that Eli's son prefers Hannah and doesn't want to give up their Texas dream. Meanwhile feuders are hot on Eli's trail, not to mention malevolent local businessman Walter Matthau with a whip.

Some of the highlights include:

-- Lush Eastern locations. The film was shot in Levi Jackson State Park, Kentucky (near London), as well as Owensboro, Kentucky, which is on the Ohio River, and Rockport, which is just across the river in Indiana. The river depicted in the film is supposed to be the Tennessee River (I think), but it was shot on the Ohio. In any event, although "The Kentuckian" is classified as a Western, it's actually an Eastern.

-- The film offers a good glimpse of what the Eastern USA was like back when it was still a frontier -- the cabin-style houses, sleeping in the woods, etc. No internet, cable, video games, dvds or microwaves. People actually sat down with other people and communed.

-- The story is realistic. You don't have to worry about any goofiness or unbelievable bits that plague some 50's Westerns.

-- Back then a huge riverboat coming to town was an exciting attraction. Americans today, by contrast, get all excited over the shenanegans of Britney Spears and whether or not her sister is having another baby.

-- Dianne Foster (Hannah) is a beautiful redhead. One wonders how a woman like this would stay single very long on the frontier.

-- The whip fight with Matthau is great. Lancaster is almost whipped to shreds (!).

-- Loyalty is a sub-theme here. Eli's son is loyal to Hannah and never warms up to the school marm. Hannah is loyal to the man who delivered her from bondage (Eli), despite his infatuation with the marm.

-- I liked the bit on Eli being a laughing stock because of a worthless freshwater pearl, but he gets the last laugh with a letter from the President (or is it?) and additional help.

-- Lastly, Lancaster is a likable protagonist with his charismatic joy-of-living persona, the antithesis of Eastwood's amoral and lifeless 'man with no name.'

The film runs an hour and 44 minutes.

BOTTOM LINE: "The Kentuckian" is breath of fresh air which I enjoyed from beginning to end for all the above reasons; it's sort of like "The Last of the Mohicans" (1992) of its era, albeit not as good. It's innocuous and easy-going, but it's as good as practically any 50's Western out there.

PERSONAL GRADE: B+ or A- October 18, 2008

Good, But Not Great Lancaster Film

The Kentuckian is the only film that Burt Lancaster ever directed, and while it is not a bad film, it is not up to the caliber of Lancaster's many great Westerns.

In The Kentuckian, Lancaster plays the titular character, a 17th century frontiersman on his way to take his son to live in wide-open Texas country. He stops along the way to visit his brother, played by John McIntire. But Lancaster gets involved with a former indentured servant, and runs afoul of a mean Walter Matthau (who likes to brandish a whip, no less), and Lancaster and the boy's plans are altered.

The Kentuckian is entertaining in several ways, but not as good as Apache, Gunfight at The OK Corral, and his other Westerns. But the acting is very good, and this movie was nothing for Lancaster to be ashamed of, so watch this film when you have a chance. It's not the best, but you won't feel like you've wasted your time. January 10, 2007

Great Story-Great Viewing

This is one of my favorite films starring Burt Lancaster. Parts of it filmed in Levi Jackson State Park in London, Kentucky. My Grandmother introduced me to this wonderful film many years ago. It remains a favorite. I would reccomend this as a film that is worth the time devoted to it's viewing. Beautiful scenery and just very entertaining. My Grandmother always liked to relate to me of the many visits by the film cast and crew (including Mr. Lancaster) to the little restaurant where she worked in London, Ky. Give this film a try...they don't make them like this anymore. Classic story and classic actors !

W. Davis, A Proud Kentuckian September 2, 2006

Outstanding Frontier Adventure

This is a great film about America's past. Man and boy set out to reach Texas and find all sorts of trouble along the way. Great Bernard Herrmann score sets the haunting mood of this film with real gusto. I will never forget this one. November 11, 2005

Great characters for Matthau and Carradine.

A fine family classic in the tradition of The Proud Rebel, Treasure of Lost Canyon, and Rachel and the Stranger.
Burt Lancaster is a widower raising his son in the Kentucky wilderness, which has become too tame for them at the time of this story, so they've saved enough for a river boat ticket to Texas. But a bond girl (Dianne Foster) shows them kindness, so they buy her freedom with their "Texas money." They tentatively plan to take her with them when they save up enough money again, so Lancaster takes a job with his brother (John McIntyre) and Foster works for a local bar keeper played by Walter Matthau in his first screen role. Meanwhile some feuders are pursuing Lancaster just because of his name (Watefield), and bound to catch up soon.
There's an interesting riverboat scene and some plot developments (Diana Lynn) that come between father and son; but the best part is a whip fight with Matthau, a very interesting whip-cracking character who makes this movie worth seeing for his scenes alone. John Carradine is also outstanding as a snake-oil salesman, and the rest of the cast is fine as well. May 27, 2005

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