Directed by Raoul Walsh, Pursued (1947) has the trappings of a western, but at its core, it is a family melodrama, the type more often seen in soap operas. One character is the main source of the Callum family’s problems, needlessly exacerbating matters by withholding secrets, a heavy-handed decision by screenwriter Niven Busch that undercuts the story.
Buy Pursued Blu-raySet in the New Mexico territory at turn of the 20th century, Jeb (Robert Mitchum) is holed up in a burned-out house. Thorley (Theresa Wright) brings him supplies and a map to escape. She’s not going with him but doesn’t understand why “there’s something that keeps them apart.” Most of the film is then told in flashback as Jeb’s memories and a recurring nightmare have come into focus.
As a young boy, Jeb is found alone in a house by Mrs. Callum (Judith Anderson), a widow and mother of Thorley and her brother Adam. She leaves her home with the children and adopts Jeb. Years later, Jeb is shot at by her brother-in-law, Grant (Dean Jagger), who has a vendetta against Jeb’s family because Jeb’s father killed his brother/Mrs. Callum’s late husband.
As the years progress, Jeb is selfless towards the Callum family. Thorley’s romantic feelings toward him ebb and flow while Grant gets in Adam’s ear and turns him against Jeb. Multiple times, Jeb has to kill in self defense because of Grant’s schemes. Eventually, Grant organizes a posse and chases after him, causing Jeb to hide out in the house where the film opens.
The video comes from a 2022 HD Master created from 4K scans of the original camera negative, a dupe negative, and a composite print and blends well together to create a stable image. It has been given a 1080p/MPEG-4 AVC encoded transfer displayed at its original aspect ratio of 1.37:1. The image presents a spectrum of grays and inky blacks shot by famed cinematographer James Wong Howe, the latter used to augment the story. Film grain is noticeable as are texture details and rare blemishes like scratches.
The audio is available in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Dialogue and sound effects are clear. Composer Max Steiner’s score is set at too loud a volume. The instruments sound muddled together and lack clarity. There’s a faint hiss on the track.
The Special Features are:
- Introduction by Martin Scorsese (3 min) – An archival extra
- Audio Commentary by film historian Imogen Sara Smith
- Trailers for 12 films
Pursued tells a story of revenge and the damage it can cause. While the plot is simple, the talented cast bring the characters to life and elevate the film. The KL Studios Classics Blu-ray offers great video considering the source. While the audio mix could be improved, it’s serviceable.
