What’s in a tagline? With Posse, it’s pretty spot on: “Posse begins like most westerns. It ends like none of them. It will knock you off your horse.” Director/star Kirk Douglas delivers on that tagline by bringing this story (written by William Roberts and Christopher Knopf) to life using beautiful locations and getting the most of his co-stars that include Bruce Dern, James Stacy, and Alfonso Arau.
Buy Posse Blu-rayBeloved U.S. Marshal Howard Nightingale (Douglas) has high hopes of transitioning his career from wild trail life to the dog-eat-dog world of politics as a senator. His ambition rides on his ability to bring in Jack Strawhorn (Dern), the notorious train-robbing outlaw gang leader who’s been terrorizing the west. Nightingale leads an elite, handpicked posse that he’s trained to act as one, moving like a well-oiled machine. In the pursuit of Strawhorn, the posse’s loyalties and character will be tested and exposed along with Nightingale’s as they descend upon a town that will turn their lives around.
Posse delivers a different and unique story, especially for the time and from an established star like Kirk Douglas. Inspired by spaghetti westerns, Sam Peckinpah, and then-current events like Nixon’s Watergate scandal, the story moves away from usual shoot ’em-up action and switches gears to a tale about the dark side of ambition. Director Douglas starts his movie out like most westerns with action, gunplay, horse chases, and flaming train rides before turning the tables, twisting the tale and putting the leg irons on the other foot. Douglas maintains the same pace and energy throughout. Making this even more interesting to watch as it turns the hero tale upside down. The spotlight switches between the presumed good guys and bad guys as it plays with the theme of good versus evil and how those views can be distorted.
Douglas and Dern play well opposite each other and bring out the best in one another. The strong supporting cast include Bo Hopkins and Luke Askew, as possemen, along with Alfonso Arau as an outlaw. Arau is as great as ever though his part is small. The remainder of the cast is filled out by ubiquitous, familiar faces. Douglas takes full advantage of the beautiful Sabino Canyon and Old Tucson Studios in Arizona to assist in the uniqueness and authenticity of his film. He also employs lots of great stunts that include men on fire, free falls and wire pulls for shotgun blasts.
Filmmaker/historian Steve Mitchell provides audio commentary for the sole Special Feature on this Kino Lorber Blu-ray edition. His commentary is highly informative and sheds light on the development of the movie while discussing how Douglas was as a director. There are some good quotes from Douglas and Dern regarding their thoughts of each other and how they met years earlier on another film when Dern was just starting out. Mitchell also elaborates on some of the themes that run throughout the movie and how it was easier to make a picture like this post-Nixon/Watergate. Mitchell also touches on the similarities between the newsman played by James Stacy and reporters of the day like Woodward and Bernstein. Mitchell also points out that Posse has gained popularity in recent years for its realism and stark portrayal of those seeking power through high office.
Posse presents an interesting and fast-paced story throughout its 92-minute runtime, even as the story changes course. It’s well acted and beautifully shot. It’s too bad Douglas never got behind the camera again.
