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An ornithologist battles a family of bird poachers in the Florida Everglades.An ornithologist battles a family of bird poachers in the Florida Everglades.An ornithologist battles a family of bird poachers in the Florida Everglades.
Howard Smith
- George Leggett
- (as Howard I. Smith)
Rufus Beecham
- Pianist
- (uncredited)
Cynthia Betout
- Memory
- (uncredited)
- Directors
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
It's the turn of the century. Ornithologist Walt Murdock (Christopher Plummer) arrives in the Florida Everglades to photograph local birds and to enforce the newly declared bird/animal sanctuary. Walt finds himself confronted by a family of poachers led by Cottonmouth (Burl Ives) and the local trade in feather plumage.
This apparently had a troubled production. The swamp people has shades of Deliverance with shocks of bright colors. There are some great natural views but the production can get stuck in the mud. The ecological and native themes are a bit ahead of its time. On the other hand, the melodrama and old costumes feel old. Most of this is a bit of a mess until the last section. It's as if the film figured out that it has two great actors in the cast. It becomes a mano-a-mano film and it's so good. The first two thirds is an interesting fail but it becomes almost electric in the last act.
This apparently had a troubled production. The swamp people has shades of Deliverance with shocks of bright colors. There are some great natural views but the production can get stuck in the mud. The ecological and native themes are a bit ahead of its time. On the other hand, the melodrama and old costumes feel old. Most of this is a bit of a mess until the last section. It's as if the film figured out that it has two great actors in the cast. It becomes a mano-a-mano film and it's so good. The first two thirds is an interesting fail but it becomes almost electric in the last act.
In this peculiar movie there various and motley characters , such as : Burl Ives as Cottonmouth, more terrrifying than the dreadly marshland he ruled , Chistopher Plummer , the one who dared go in after him, Gypsy Rose Lee who imported the Girls , Tony Galento the heavy wright fighter as Beef , he escaped with Sammy Renick , the famous jockey , a renegade from the track, Emmett Kelly , the great circus clown , as Bigamy Bob , the multi-married outlaw McKinlay Kantor and introducing a new European star from Poland , lovely Chana Eden . The people passions and plunder that swept the 1000 terror-miles of everglades ¡ Storming the heights of motion picture greatness ¡. Hollywood bulletion : Nothing like it since " Grapes of Wrath" . Best-selling novel now on the screen, now the screen is adult enough !. Please see it from the beginning . No motion picture ever stabbed so deep ¡
This is an offbeat movie plenty of barroque scenes , ecologism, rare roles , disjointed set pieces and gorgeous outdoors from Florida . Financed by Warner Bros and produced by Stuart Schulberg and script by his brother Budd Schulberg , the prestigious man who gave you "On the Waterfront" . Schulberg attempted to take the filmmaking against an alcoholic Nicholas Ray, and finally Budd made the final scenes. Main and support cast are pretty good . The incombustible Christopher Plummer in his second screen appearance is pretty nice as the ornithologist who fights a bunch of bird poachers and Burl Ives is top-notch as the boss who imposes his own law in the Florida Everglades . And fine support cast , such as: Gypsy Rose Lee , Pat Henning , introducing Chana Eden and Peter Falk in his feature debut , among others .
Here stands out the stunning cinematography shot on location in Florida marshland , showing the lush exteriors and a lot of wildlife and birds that are the peculiar and real protagonists of this nice movie. The motion picture was uneven but professionally directed by Nicholas Ray in his usual style . He was a great director who made masterpieces , successes and failures . Ray directed all kinds of genres as Epic , Noir Film , Drama , Western , Religious , Wartime, such as : "The live by Night" , "Knock in any Door" , "In a lonely place" , "Born to be bad" , "On Dangerous Ground", "Flying Leathernecks", "The Lusty Man" , "Johnny Guitar", "Party Girl", "The King of Kings" , "55 days in Pekin" and several others. Rating : Notable 7/10. Better than average . The film will appeal to Christopher Plummer fans that he is still playing with certain success , as well as followers of this great and rebel filmmaker called Nicholas Ray . Essential and indispensable watching .
This is an offbeat movie plenty of barroque scenes , ecologism, rare roles , disjointed set pieces and gorgeous outdoors from Florida . Financed by Warner Bros and produced by Stuart Schulberg and script by his brother Budd Schulberg , the prestigious man who gave you "On the Waterfront" . Schulberg attempted to take the filmmaking against an alcoholic Nicholas Ray, and finally Budd made the final scenes. Main and support cast are pretty good . The incombustible Christopher Plummer in his second screen appearance is pretty nice as the ornithologist who fights a bunch of bird poachers and Burl Ives is top-notch as the boss who imposes his own law in the Florida Everglades . And fine support cast , such as: Gypsy Rose Lee , Pat Henning , introducing Chana Eden and Peter Falk in his feature debut , among others .
Here stands out the stunning cinematography shot on location in Florida marshland , showing the lush exteriors and a lot of wildlife and birds that are the peculiar and real protagonists of this nice movie. The motion picture was uneven but professionally directed by Nicholas Ray in his usual style . He was a great director who made masterpieces , successes and failures . Ray directed all kinds of genres as Epic , Noir Film , Drama , Western , Religious , Wartime, such as : "The live by Night" , "Knock in any Door" , "In a lonely place" , "Born to be bad" , "On Dangerous Ground", "Flying Leathernecks", "The Lusty Man" , "Johnny Guitar", "Party Girl", "The King of Kings" , "55 days in Pekin" and several others. Rating : Notable 7/10. Better than average . The film will appeal to Christopher Plummer fans that he is still playing with certain success , as well as followers of this great and rebel filmmaker called Nicholas Ray . Essential and indispensable watching .
Been binging Nicholas Ray's stuff lately, and yesterday was his birthday, so I lucked out finding a solid copy of Wind Across the Everglades. It's a weird one-some Ray fans love it, others shrug it off. I get the split; it's messy but kinda awesome.
It's set in early 1900s Florida, with Christopher Plummer (first lead role, second film ever) as Walt Murdock, a teacher turned bird protector. He's out to save the Everglades' birds from poachers hunting their feathers. His big foe is Cottonmouth (Burl Ives), a wild poacher boss with a pet snake and a rough crew hiding deep in the swamp. It's based loosely on Guy Bradley, a real game warden killed by plume hunters in 1905.
The Everglades steal the show-gators chomping birds, snakes slinking through water. It's stunning but creepy, like nature's flexing on us. Ray nails the vibe with killer location shots. The cast is nuts: Plummer's intense, Ives is a magnetic bad guy you kinda root for, plus Gypsy Rose Lee as a brothel madame, Peter Falk in his first role, even a boxer (Tony Galento) and a clown (Emmett Kelly). Falk said he and Plummer were the only "real" actors, which tracks with the oddball energy.
Story's a bit all over, not always gripping, but it's got heart. Ray blurs good and evil-Murdock's got a dark side, Cottonmouth's got honor. Ray's addiction was a disaster here. He was spiraling with drugs and booze, constantly beefing with producer Budd Schulberg. Their fights got so bad Ray got the boot before wrapping, and Schulberg took over, directing scenes and editing. Word is the editing's a bit sloppy. Ray even sent Schulberg a desperate letter after a preview, begging to restore cut scenes and tone down Ives' wild final scene (shot after Ray was gone). No luck. The Technicolor's a little beat-up, but it vibes with the swamp's lawless feel.
At 92 minutes, with Paul Sawtell and Bert Shefter's score and Richard Sylbert's design, it's a strange, gorgeous fever dream. Ray's magic-and his chaos-bleed through every frame. If you're down with his vibe, this one's a must. It's not perfect, but it's got that raw, untamed Ray energy that'll stick with you like swamp mud on your boots.
It's set in early 1900s Florida, with Christopher Plummer (first lead role, second film ever) as Walt Murdock, a teacher turned bird protector. He's out to save the Everglades' birds from poachers hunting their feathers. His big foe is Cottonmouth (Burl Ives), a wild poacher boss with a pet snake and a rough crew hiding deep in the swamp. It's based loosely on Guy Bradley, a real game warden killed by plume hunters in 1905.
The Everglades steal the show-gators chomping birds, snakes slinking through water. It's stunning but creepy, like nature's flexing on us. Ray nails the vibe with killer location shots. The cast is nuts: Plummer's intense, Ives is a magnetic bad guy you kinda root for, plus Gypsy Rose Lee as a brothel madame, Peter Falk in his first role, even a boxer (Tony Galento) and a clown (Emmett Kelly). Falk said he and Plummer were the only "real" actors, which tracks with the oddball energy.
Story's a bit all over, not always gripping, but it's got heart. Ray blurs good and evil-Murdock's got a dark side, Cottonmouth's got honor. Ray's addiction was a disaster here. He was spiraling with drugs and booze, constantly beefing with producer Budd Schulberg. Their fights got so bad Ray got the boot before wrapping, and Schulberg took over, directing scenes and editing. Word is the editing's a bit sloppy. Ray even sent Schulberg a desperate letter after a preview, begging to restore cut scenes and tone down Ives' wild final scene (shot after Ray was gone). No luck. The Technicolor's a little beat-up, but it vibes with the swamp's lawless feel.
At 92 minutes, with Paul Sawtell and Bert Shefter's score and Richard Sylbert's design, it's a strange, gorgeous fever dream. Ray's magic-and his chaos-bleed through every frame. If you're down with his vibe, this one's a must. It's not perfect, but it's got that raw, untamed Ray energy that'll stick with you like swamp mud on your boots.
Taken in the context of the 'feather' craze that almost decimated the birds of the Everglades at the turn of the 20th Century, this movie -almost- presaged Rachel Carson and Marjorie Stoneman Douglas. A moving depiction of the River Of Grass, those who lived WITH it and those who tried to DESTROY it. Christopher Plummer and Burl Ives gave this movie a depth that seemed effortless It deserved a wider release and I can only hope it will be issued as a DVD. It was based upon a true story of a federal wildlife ranger. The Manchineal trees have been displaced by Malelucas, what a pity, I would rope all the inhabitants of South Florida to the formers caustic trunks and enjoy he howls of pain
Did you know
- TriviaFilm debut of Peter Falk.
- GoofsThe hat is not upside down. It has sunk so that only the crown is above water, forcing Cottonmouth to reach underwater to grasp the brim.
- Quotes
[repeated line]
Cottonmouth: Ah! The sweet-tastin' joys of this world!
- ConnectionsFeatured in Histoire(s) du cinéma: Les signes parmi nous (1999)
- How long is Wind Across the Everglades?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Across the Everglades
- Filming locations
- Everglades City, Florida, USA(Miami, FL, 1905)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime
- 1h 33m(93 min)
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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