The Brave One

Nominated for Film Editing and Original Screenplay in 1956.

When the opening credits rolled on this movie, I was really excited to fall in love.  Unfortunately, the star, a young boy, got wildly annoying wildly fast.  "The Brave One" tells the story of a young boy in Mexico who rescues a bull and expects to raise it as a pet.  Things go well for a while, but via politics and the Mexican tradition and expectations of bull fighting, young Leonardo loses his bull.  A lot.  Like, a lot.  For the better part of a two hour film.  He appeals to a rich playboy and eventually takes his plea all the way to El Presidente and the fighting ring in Mexico City.

There were lots of pros here, honestly.  The scenery was completely astounding.  Everyone always talks about NYC being a main player in every movie in which its featured, but I have never seen a picture in which Mexico City is a star.  I might be displaying my ignorance in full form here, but it seems to me pretty progressive that a film was made in Mexico and starred mostly (to the best of my knowledge) unknown Mexican actors in 1956.

I really like the idea of this movie.  But the execution, including the performance of the star and the length of the bullfighting sequence, were just a little too much.  I would very much like to see a child's reaction as it was made for a younger audience.

Super Fun Oscar Trivia: Dalton Trumbo won an Oscar for his screenplay, but as he was still considered part of the notorious Hollywood 10 he was unable to work in Hollywood during the time this movie was made.  His Oscar was given to his pseudonym, but corrected to reflect the correct name in 1975.