SERENDIPITY CINEMA

The story of gold miners living beyond
the hand of civilization is one
that would resound if it opened today.
It is opulent in the "Old Hollywood" terms.

There are shots
(one where a stream of gold dust morphs into a blizzard)
that will stay with you.
There is a love story,
but not one you would expect.
The characters are broad and full of charm.

From Jean Seberg to Ray Walston
to a ton of craggy faces
you may quickly recognize
but not be able to name, they sparkle.
The humor is bawdy and without excuse.
When "respectability" threatens
their almost perfect world
is when the movie slows down a bit.

We are slapped in the face with the fact
that most of those around us are the folks
in the movie we would hate.
Then we have to face the fact that here,
like in our lives, they are winning.
It is a movie that couldn't be made
just the same way back in the old studio system.

It would be just too tame to be made today.
And it lost its shirt because
it was made when it was made.
The thing you will be grateful for,
when you see it, is that it did get made.
You will have been happy
you met Ben Rumson and his "Pard."