Frontière chinoise

3 Observations on this 1966 drama directed by John Ford. First, Janet Green and John McCormick's screenplay based on "Chinese Finale" by Norah Lofts plays out as an allegory described in terms of characters, figures, and events converging because of Divine Providence. Second, the noble performances mostly explain or teach a Biblical principle: that faith in Christ is required to lay down one's life for others. Third, that absolute Biblical truth escapes Dr. Cartwright (Anne Bancroft) the New Yorker who smokes, drinks alcohol and disdains religion; and, fails to be articulated through the strict Miss Andrews (Margaret Leighton) the Head of the Mission whose central pivotal character regrettably turns into a stereotype in the latter third of the movie when she could have been written as the voice of grace and mercy for the viewing audience.

I don't understand all the gushing in these reviews of "Seven Women," much of which seems to be spillover from a general worship of John Ford's other movies, but some reviewers actually seem to be impressed. I, on the other hand, was not impressed in the least. It was pretty much a waste of time. The plot line was pedestrian, much of it predictable from the outset, the conflicts between characters stark and artificial, as if written by an amateur, the dialogue stagey and unnatural. Again and again a short scene developed only so that a single line could be delivered, and that line was always burdened with carrying some overdone bit of poignancy or deep significance. The final scene was total, schlocky melodrama that brought to my mind some bad old silent movie, just one small cut above The Perils of Pauline. Don't get your hopes up if you're reading these reviews before watching.

It's 1935 in northern China near the Mongolian border. Agatha Andrews leads a mission where Dr. D.R. Cartwright (Anne Bancroft) arrives. Charles Pether (Eddie Albert) and Emma Clark (Sue Lyon) are two of the teachers. Refugees arrive from another mission after an attack by ruthless Mongolian warlord Tunga Khan. It's legendary western director John Ford's final film. It would be nice to have more exterior shots of the landscape. The religious righteousness of Agatha Andrews could be more prominent earlier in the movie. It's also maybe more interesting to have the movie start with the doctor journey to the mission. I just want more foreshadowing of what happens between them later in the movie. Otherwise, this is an intriguing eastern. Tunga's brutality is believable. Sure it would be nice if a non-white guy could play the role but that's expecting too much for a film of this era.

'7 Women' is the story of Dr Cartwright, who dresses like a man, smokes, drinks, and swears like a trooper, and what happens when she arrives at a mission deep in a zone touched by revolution. The doctor is played by Anne Bancroft, and it probably is her best role. She's an atheist with humanity - when she eventually gives herself and her life to save everyone else in the mission from a fate worse than death, it isn't unexpected, although the women of God lose their strength and resolve in the face of fear. Well supported by cast members like Margaret Leighton, Sue Lyon, Flora Robson, and Anna Lee, this film, a John Ford film which is still a western in its spirit like the great entries in his oeuvre. Good strong storytelling with believable characters make '7 Women' unmissable.

I am still reeling from the powerful ending to this unspoken of movie. John Ford's last entry onto his glittering resumé stuns while it holds your interest at every turn of a scene. It is so hard to resist talking about the ending of this movie. It seethes with so much devastating darkness. And yet, within this darkness, there is a human victory so profoundly complex as to take your breath away in resignation, anger, shock and inevitable acceptance. Anne Bancroft has always been one of my favorite actresses. With all her celebrated roles, I still feel that the depth of talent has never been fully appreciated. Yet, in this role, she displays her talents aplenty. I recommend this seldomly seen movie and I hope it will be brought to VHS or DVD one day so that more will see this movie and its production will not be in vain.