The original version of a 1990s Mel Gibson action movie had my favorite Glenn Ford performance

My favorite performance of Glenn Ford’s career can be found at Redeem!The original version of a popular Mel Gibson action movie from the 1990s. One of several Mel Gibson movies set in the action genre, 1996s Redeem Explore the efforts of a married millionaire father to save his son, who has been taken by kidnappers. In the dramatic thriller, Gibson’s character refuses to pay the ransom demanded for his son’s release, setting up a huge conflict with the kidnappers.

Decades earlier Redeem A-list Hollywood star Mel Gibson with Rene Russo in a cast that also included Gary Sinese and Delroy Lindo, Glenn Ford starred in an adaptation of the same story, which originated as a stage play. In 1956, Ford appeared in Redeem! Like David Stannard, a wealthy businessman whose son is kidnapped from school. It’s an admittedly lesser-known entry and arguably not as famous as the Gibson version, but after seeing it, it instantly became my most memorable experience watching a Glenn Ford film.

redeem! is an underrated Glenn Ford classic

Glenn Ford’s plea to the kidnappers is one of his best scenes ever

redeem! It never became a success at the box office and it didn’t become a hit with critics at the time of its release, which to me is quite surprising. Redeem! Struck me as an Academy Award-worthy film due to the performances of its two lead actors, but never received any Oscar buzz. Donna Reed’s disbelief-turned-horror at finding out about her son’s kidnapping was incredibly gripping, but so was Glenn Ford’s turn as David Stannard; He was more collected than his wife during the experience, however Ford never failed to capture the feelings of a troubled, worried father As he goes through the motions, comforts his wife, talks to the police, and comes up with a plan to bring his son home safely.

The highlight of the film stems from Stannard’s controversial decision not to pay the ransom. After learning that the parents’ willingness to pay encourages the crimes to continue, Stannard defies social norms and gives an impassioned speech on-camera where he angrily threatens to use the money the kidnappers asked for a bounty rather than a ransom. During this scene, Ford demonstrates an impressive range, expressing a father’s heartfelt suffering over his son’s fate, anger at those who took him, and finally, a sincere desire to have the situation resolved peacefully. His deeply emotional, four-minute monologue may be the best Glenn Ford scene I’ve ever watched.

The speech is a pivotal moment in the story, but also sparks some more great scenes from the veteran actor. Ford plays to the highly principled nature of the Stannard characterShowing his convictions in his belief that he is right in not paying the ransom and carefully balancing that with Stannard’s efforts to hide his concerns about what his decision might cost his son. It all culminates in a truly heart-wrenching scene in which the heavily guarded Stannard breaks down and screams into the arms of his butler, Chapman (Juano Hernandez). It’s such a rare moment of vulnerability for him it makes the scene even more meaningful.

How ransom! Compares to the Mel Gibson version

They follow the same story, but are set in different genres

Glenn Ford’s portrayal of David Stannard drives his story, further distinguishing it from Mel Gibson’s Redeem Movie. Although it also emphasizes the psychological and moral plight of the parents, it does not take the same path as the original. in his heart, Redeem is an action movie, whereas Redeem! is purely a drama. The 1996 movie uses its main character’s dilemma to start a fight between him and the kidnappers, which comes to a head in the film’s climax with Gibson’s Tom Mullen facing off against Sinese’s Shaker. The 1956 movie, on the other hand, never develops into an action-oriented story. In fact, the kidnappers are never featured as characters in the movie.

Unlike Mel Gibson’s character, David Stannard never had to meet the kidnappers face-to-face. However, this does not come across as a cop-out or an anti-climatic resolution; In fact, I found it to be a more realistic investigation of a real life, because it does not involve the protagonist saving his son himself or finding out that the detective in charge of the case is actually a co-conspirator in the crime. instead, redeem! Just follow the painful hours that Stannard and his wife go through as they wait for news about their son. This grounded approach made it easy for me to invest emotionally in Ford and Reed’s characters.

Other great performances in Glenn Ford’s career

Glenn Ford also starred in Gilda, The Big Hit, Pocket Full of Miracles and more

Redeem! is one of many examples of what a big screen presence Glenn Ford has as an actor. While it was unfortunate that redeem! Never garnering the critical acclaim or attention it deserved, the same can’t be said for some other Glenn Ford classics. A number of his other movies are rightfully recognized for featuring memorable performances from the stars. One that stands out is the 1955s Blackboard JungleWhich led Ford to take on the role of a high school teacher in an interracial school at a time when segregation was still a common practice. like Redeem! a year later, Blackboard Jungle Leans heavily on Ford’s ability to portray characters with uncompromising ideals.

Some of Glenn Ford’s best movies used a similar tactic, as it was a large part of the actor’s dramatic skills. This was the case with SupermanWhich made an appropriate casting choice when it tapped Glenn Ford to play Jonathan Kent, a character largely responsible for instilling in the Man of Steel the values ​​that make him who he is.

In stark contrast to this, some films have found success in using Ford’s chain to portray a protagonist willing to dive into morally gray territory. For example, two of his entries in the film noir genre, Guild And The great heattook this direction by centering on Glenn Ford characters consumed by hate. One of the best westerns of Hollywood legend (a genre in which he often worked), the original 3:10 to YumaCast the actor in a rare anti-hero role. All of these films are certainly worth watching and are widely regarded as among the star’s best works, but for me, nothing tops what he brought to the big screen in Redeem!