Wind Across the Everglades (1958): Nicholas Ray’s Adventure Tale, Starring Burl Ives, Christopher Plummer

Having been fired from the film before production comleted, it’s hard to tell who exactly is responsible for the picture. Ray is credited, but, reportedly screenwriter Budd Schulnerg not only shot several scenes, he also supervised the editing.

I doubt whether hardcore auteurist critics (French or American) would find much to admire except for its eccnetric (weird) casting and concern with ecology, which was ahead of its times.

It showcases the yuoung and handsome Christopher Plummer in his first lead role (and his second film) alongside with vet actor Burl Ives in the busies year of his career, in which he won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

The film also ntroduces Chana Eden, who plays the leading lady, and a young Peter Falk, who plays a minor role. Former stripper Gypsy Rose Lee and circus clown Emmett Kelly also are among members of the unusual cast.

Set in early 20th century, the tale follows a game warden named Walt Murdock (Plummer), who arrives in Florida by boat, hoping to enforce conservation laws.

His mission put him in direct conflict with Cottonmouth (Ives), the leader of a fierce group of bird poachers. In one of the fim’s crue;est scenes, the bu nch shoots bords and seagull mercilessly, then pull them off the water and into their boats.

The film is very loosely based upon the life of Guy Bradley, an early game warden who in 1905 was shot and killed by plume hunters in the Everglades.

Wind Across the Everglades (1958): Nicholas Ray’s Adventure Tale, Starring Burl Ives, Christopher Plummer

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