Firecreek (1968)

(On Cable TV, October 2022) The appeal of Firecreek is that it brings together two of Classic Hollywood’s best-known leading men—two lifelong friends, actually—into a story leading to a fatal confrontation. James Stewart isn’t too far away from his 1950s western heydays here, playing the “sheriff” of a small dead-end town made of rejects, oddballs and cast-offs. He, too, would like nothing more than to be left alone. Alas, outlaws ride in town and start making trouble. They’re led by Henry Fonda and while Fonda’s character may be a tad more respectable than his hoodlums, he’s still creating chaos in a small town, and must be stopped. In a reprise of High Noon, Stewart seems to be the only one willing to do what it takes to stop the outlaws, as everyone else cowers inside. As a blueprint for a dramatic Western, this isn’t too bad—it’s stealing from the best, and somewhat reflective of the growing disillusionment of its era. Seeing Stewart facing off against Fonda is a show by itself, even if Stewart chooses weary lassitude over his more typical aw-shucks mannerisms and if Fonda isn’t quite at ease playing the villain. (He would do much better as a villain in Once a Time in the West.)  This being said, Firecreek is too long at 104 minutes—the opening act drags, and there’s a sense that the final confrontation could have been made more meaningful. Still, as far as westerns go, this one is accessible enough: there’s a clash between civilization and anarchy brewing here, and the clean-cut colour cinematography gives a sense of place. While Firecreek won’t turn up in many best-westerns lists (especially considering how, at the time, the western was going for much rougher and violent material), it’s a competent, somewhat well-handled effort that doesn’t waste its leads even in taking too long to get to the point.