The Lusty Men (1952) | Region-Free (Blu-Ray) | Starring Susan Hayward & Robert Mitchum

Title: The Lusty Men (1952)

Genre: Western, Drama

Plot Synopsis:
Jeff McCloud, a retired rodeo champion, returns to his hometown seeking a quieter life. He befriends Wes Merritt, an aspiring rodeo rider, and his wife, Louise. Despite Louise’s reservations about the dangers of rodeo life, Jeff agrees to mentor Wes. As Wes rises in the rodeo ranks, tensions mount, leading to unforeseen consequences for all three.

Cast and Crew:

• Director: Nicholas Ray
• Writers:
  • Horace McCoy (screenplay)
  • David Dortort (screenplay)
  • Claude Stanush (story)
• Cast:
  • Robert Mitchum as Jeff McCloud
  • Susan Hayward as Louise Merritt
  • Arthur Kennedy as Wes Merritt
  • Arthur Hunnicutt as Booker Davis
  • Frank Faylen as Al Dawson

IMDb Link:
The Lusty Men (1952)

Reviews from Letterboxd:

1. Jordan Smith – ★★★★☆
   “Nicholas Ray gores the male ego in a postwar America that doesn’t know what to do with its cowboys. Arthur Kennedy plays the impatient buckaroo eager to earn his stripes, Susan Hayward his apprehensive wife watching through her fingers, and Robert Mitchum the washed-up rodeo star who’s seen it all before.”
2. Ethan Vestby – ★★★★★
   “It’s about Mitchum’s broken dreams then it’s about him seeing himself in a younger guy then it’s about them kind of falling in love then it’s about the wife being jealous then it’s about driving down the highway at night then it’s about the wife being jealous again but maybe in love with Mitchum then it’s about the bromance again but maybe it’s really all about the bull smashing its face into the camera, ya know?”
3. Rafael “Parker!!” Jovine – ★★★★☆
   “Putting aside the fact that this movie has one of the most misleading titles in cinema history (like there was not too much lust, this is by no means a spicy comedy or film noir, and the Spanish title, La Mujer Codiciada, makes less sense), this was still a really great ‘Western’ by Nicholas Ray.”

Meta Description:
The Lusty Men (1952) is a Western drama directed by Nicholas Ray, featuring Robert Mitchum as a retired rodeo champion who mentors an aspiring rider, played by Arthur Kennedy, against the wishes of his wife, portrayed by Susan Hayward. The film delves into themes of ambition, mentorship, and the perils of rodeo life.