Untamed (1955) Tyrone Power, Susan Hayward, Richard Egan, John Justin, Agnes Moorehead, Rita Moreno

As a horseperson who has always wanted to ride in a hunt pack, and never has yet, my favorite scene of this whole film -- and probably the best in the whole film -- is the opening hunt scene (fox chase) at the beginning of the film. The woman's side-saddle riding at a full gallop is excellent to see. I've tried to ride a bit in a side saddle. As a man who has ridden astride for almost 40 years in both English and Western and Saddle Seat saddles, riding a horse for just a few minutes in a side saddle is one of the oddest feelings much less at a walk and a trot. At a canter or a gallop, well, any woman who can ride like that and jump like that has my highest admiration. Like they said of Ginger Rogers, she could dance as well as Fred Astaire, but even more so in high heels and backwards. It's the same with a side saddle.The rest of the film is silly. It was also a tragedy about the family that goes over the cliff in the wagon. Franz Waxman's theme is lovely (as usual). Hollywood really knew how to write good music for film way back when.

Interesting ... when Tyrone Power hugs Hope Emerson after the Zulu battle where Susan Hayward's (5' 3" ) husband dies, they are about the same height. But in fact Tyrone Power was about 5' 10" tall and Hope Emerson towered over most men at 6' 2". Clearly either she's standing in a hole or he's on a platform. Plus I hate how Susan Hayward plays around with Richard Egan's (Curt) emotions.