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.[2][3] In 2008, the film was released on DVD in the United States by The Criterion Collection.[4]

The Furies
French theatrical release poster
Directed byAnthony Mann
Produced byHal Wallis
Screenplay byCharles Schnee
Based onthe novel
by Niven Busch
StarringBarbara Stanwyck
Wendell Corey
Walter Huston
Music byFranz Waxman
CinematographyVictor Milner
Edited byArchie Marshek
Production
company
Hal Wallis Productions
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • August 16, 1950 (1950-08-16) (United States)
Running time
109 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Spanish
Box office$1,550,000[1]

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

Production

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

References
  1. "Top Grosses of 1950". Variety. January 3, 1951. p. 58.
  2. "The Furies". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
  3. Horton, Andrew (2003). Henry Bumstead and the world of Hollywood art direction. Austin: University of Texas Press. p. 37.
  4. "The Furies". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
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