Peckinpah Transforms Farm Life Into Riveting Tale

Read Time:3 Minute, 13 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Noon Wine
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Genre: Comedy, Drama, Musical
Year Released: 1966, 2023 Liberation Hall DVD
Runtime: 51m
Director(s): Sam Peckinpah
Writer(s): Katherine Anne Porter, Sam Peckinpah
Cast: Jason Robards, Olivia de Havilland, Theodore Bikel, Per Oscarsson, Robert Emhardt
Where To Watch: Available May 30, 2023, for pre-order now at www.mvdshop.com or www.amazon.com

RAVING REVIEW: NOON WINE takes us on a memorable journey through the late 19th-century landscape of Texas. The story unfolds under the direction of Sam Peckinpah, with a sprinkling of challenges and victories, dreams and realities, in the backdrop of a languishing dairy farm. Remember, while this isn’t a Western, it's similar to the old classic made-for-TV Westerns.

Jason Robards fills the boots of the farm owner, Royal Earle Thompson, a dreamer who often finds himself more in the clouds than in the grounded reality in the fields of his farm. However, life takes a turn with the entry of Olaf Helton, a determined Swedish immigrant played by Per Oscarsson. To fill out the cast, we get Ellie, a role played by the incredible Olivia de Havilland. She's Thompson's ailing wife, running the household and looking after the children. The farm's fate is rewritten with Helton's hard work and dedication as it rises from the ashes to become a flourishing enterprise. Adapted from Katherine Anne Porter's novel in 1937, the story tells the tale of transforming a failing farm into a thriving business, giving it a new direction.

This serene life faces turbulence with Homer T. Hatch, the stern bounty hunter, played by Theodore Bikel, Hatch's arrival sends shockwaves through the farm. He reveals Helton's dark past as an escapee from a mental institution, prompting Thompson to protect his friend. The struggle ends in a twist only a fan of Peckinpah would expect, with Thompson defending his friend at the ultimate cost. After this shocking incident, Thompson gets entangled in this web of law and guilt. His family looks at him differently now, while his conscience gnaws at him.

NOON WINE paints a picture that effortlessly blends existential dilemmas and the rustic charm of a Western drama. The storyline explores the monotonous life of Thompson, which gets a shot of adrenaline with Helton's arrival, and the constant reminder of Helton's troubled past. When Hatch storms into their peaceful world with his allegations against Helton, Thompson takes drastic measures that trigger a chain of regretful events, culminating in a heart-wrenching end.

At only 51 minutes, this shows that Peckinpah's directorial abilities shine brightly in NOON WINE. As part of the ABC Stage 67 anthology, it covers a thought-provoking moral dilemma of self-preservation against ethical responsibility.

NOON WINE meticulously builds suspense, discovering the layers of its complex characters and their relationships. Within the constraints of the period, Peckinpah manages to steer the narrative toward an intense climax. This tale of a man's quest for a better life is entwined in a maze of secrets, deceit, and a heartrending finale.

There are two versions of the film on the disc; one shows the original ads that ran with the movie during its original airing. That adds authenticity. This restoration could only be so good; it was taken from a source similar to VHS tape, with noticeable issues.

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[photo courtesy of MVD ENTERTAINMENT/LIBERATION HALL]