Tonight on TV: unfairly little known, this western with Henry Fonda and Anthony Perkins deserves a catch -up session

In the top 3 of Anthony Mann's best films, we most often find Winchester 73 (1951), Les Affameurs (1952) and I am an adventurer (1954). Obviously, this list is far from exhaustive and many other masterpieces are missing. Among them, blood in the desert.

Released in the cinema in 1958, this western written by Joel Kane (the mysteries of the West) and Dudley Nichols (Le Mouchard) tells the story of Morg Hickman. One day, this veteran bonus hunter arrives in a city left for fear. The sheriff having been killed is the young and inexperienced Ben Owens who replaces him. In order to be respected in everyone's eyes, he asks Morg to teach him how to apply the law.

To bring this classic of the genre to the screen, Anthony Mann chose two major actors of their generation: Henry Fonda and Anthony Perkins. And the least we can say is that the relationship between this premium hunter and novice sheriff is worth a look.

Can the student exceed the master?

You will understand, so it's Henry Fonda Who lends his features to a former cynical and experienced lawyer, determined to transmit his knowledge to Ben Owens. Anthony Perkins is also extremely convincing in its role as an idealistic and somewhat naive sheriff.

In the western, Blood in the desertappointed to the Oscars and the Bafta, the character of Morg Hickman knows the cunning of outlaws, the dangers and the subtleties of the maintenance of order. From the moment that he accepts his role as mentor, he shows vulnerable sheriff how to manage situations.

This notion of transmission, often specific to the Western genre, is what is the strength of this film, as many comments underline:

“”A western partly telling the story of a training“(Neolain)

“”A kind of transfer of power. The young person in the face of experience“(Weihnachtsmann)

“”This traditional western first benefits from the impeccable Henry Fonda To carry this story around the concept of transmission and the need for justice“(Manocorna)

“”Good western which shows a passage of power between the legend Henry Fonda and the young Antony Perkins“(Kieran_h3ld)

At the time of filming, Henry Fonda was 53 years old, while his acolyte, Anthony Perkins was barely 26 years old. So, can the student go beyond the master? Answer in this superb western noted 3.7 out of 5 by the spectators of Allociné.

Tonight on Arte at 8:55 p.m.