Lonely Are The Brave (1962)

After landing himself in jail trying to break out a friend (Michael Kane), a cowhand (Kirk Douglas) finds himself alone on the run from the law. Leading the manhunt is a sheriff (Walter Matthau) who must bring him to justice despite his sympathy for the fugitive. Based on the novel BRAVE COWBOY by Edward Abbey and directed by David Miller (MIDNIGHT LACE). Ignored by the movie going public when first released, the film's reputation has grown in the ensuing years and the film is very much admired by film cineastes. The driving force behind getting the movie made, Douglas wanted to call it THE LAST COWBOY which is an apt title. Douglas's cowboy is out of his time and the metaphor of Douglas and his horse (who just about steals the film) riding the wide spaces of desert country while jet planes fly overhead is fitting. He's an individual who needs to live on his own terms rather than conform to societal restrictions but the consequences are grim. The central story is intercut with a trucker (Carroll O'Connor) driving a shipment of toilets to New Mexico so you don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out how it's going to end and the irony is too obvious and hurts the film somewhat. Douglas is excellent in what may be his best performance. Also worth noting are Philip Lathrop's (SOLDIER IN THE RAIN) rich B&W lensing and an early score by Jerry Goldsmith. With Gena Rowlands, George Kennedy, Bill Bixby and William Schallert.