The Furies (1950 film)

The Furies is a 1950 American Western film directed by Anthony Mann and starring Barbara Stanwyck, Wendell Corey, and Walter Huston in his last film performance.  In 2008, the film was released on DVD in the United States by The Criterion Collection. 

Plot
T. C. Jeffords is a wealthy cattle baron whose property is called The Furies; he harbors special contempt for the Herrera family, who are squatting illegally on the property.  T.C.'s beloved daughter, Vance is as obsessed with wealth and every bit as ruthless as her father, and she has a secret, close bond with Juan Herrera.  However, she wants a proper husband who can run the giant ranch with her once her father is gone.  She falls in love with Rip Darrow, who believes a portion of The Furies land is rightfully his and holds a grudge against T.C. Vance is shocked when Rip accepts a $50,000 bribe from T.C. to permanently get out of her life.  In town, Rip owns a saloon he calls "The Legal Tender"; he opens a bank near it.  

T.C. is so self-possessed, he pays bills with "T.C." notes rather than actual dollars.  One day, he brings a woman home to The Furies; her name is Flo Burnett, who wants to marry T.C. for his money.  Vance comes to consider this woman such an intruder that, in a fit of rage, she attacks Flo with a pair of scissors, disfiguring her.  Now that he hates the daughter he once cherished, T.C. cuts off all contact with her.  He decides to run Juan Herrera and his family off the property.  The squatters engage T.C.'s men in a violent gunfight and, when they surrender, T.C. cruelly has Juan Herrera hanged. 

Swearing vengeance, Vance travels about the west buying up "T.C." notes.  Her father's wealth erodes, to the point that he even goes to Flo in a vain attempt to borrow $50,000 he needs to save The Furies.  Vance conspires with her old lover Rip to deceive T.C., even giving him false hope that a wealthy investor is lending him the money.  Upon discovering what his daughter has done, T.C. congratulates her on her cunning.  He declares it's not too late for him to "start from scratch", but before he can, the bereaved mother of Juan Herrera guns him down. 

Cast
 Barbara Stanwyck as Vance Jeffords 
 Wendell Corey as Rip Darrow  
 Walter Huston as T. C. Jeffords 
 Judith Anderson as Flo Burnett 
 Gilbert Roland as Juan Herrera 
 Thomas Gomez as El Tigre 
 Beulah Bondi as Mrs. Anaheim 
 Pepe Hern as Félix Herre
 Albert Dekker as Mr. Reynolds
 John Bromfield as Clay Jeffords
 Wallace Ford as Scotty Hyslip
 Blanche Yurka as Herrera Mother
 Louis Jean Heydt as Bailey
 Frank Ferguson as Dr. Grieve
 Myrna Dell as Dallas Hart
 Arthur Hunnicutt as Cowhand (uncredited)

Production

Filming locations
 Arizona, United States
 Paramount Studios, 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA (studio)

References

External links
 
 
Mann Crush an essay by Curtis Tsui at the Criterion Collection

Category:1950 films
Category:American films
Category:American Western (genre) films
Category:1950s Western (genre) films
Category:English-language films
Category:Film noir
Category:Films scored by Franz Waxman
Category:Films directed by Anthony Mann
Category:Mexican-American films
Category:Films produced by Hal B. Wallis
Category:Films shot in Arizona