The Kentuckian Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A frontier dad just wants to move to Texas with his son, but everyone in Kentucky, including a bullwhip enthusiast and several potential stepmoms, keeps trying to make him settle down or straight-up kill him.

🍿 The Kentuckian: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Journey to the Texas Frontier

Set in 1820s Kentucky, the film follows Big Eli Wakefield, a widowed frontiersman, and his young son, Little Eli. Feeling that Kentucky is becoming too settled, Big Eli dreams of starting a new life in the vast, wild territory of Texas. Their journey is planned by steamboat, and they initially possess the funds needed for passage and to establish themselves. Their immediate goal is to stop briefly in the town of Humility to visit Eli’s brother, Zack, and his wife, Sophie, before continuing westward.

Sidetracked in Humility

While passing through a town, Big Eli gets into trouble and is jailed. He is helped by Hannah Bolen, a beautiful indentured servant, whose contract he purchases with his Texas money to free her, inviting her to join them. Now without funds, Big Eli and Little Eli must extend their stay in Humility. Eli’s brother, Zack, encourages him to settle down and join his business, hoping to civilize him and his son. Big Eli also meets Susie Spann, a local schoolteacher, creating a romantic dilemma as he grapples with the lure of settled life versus his frontier spirit, all while balancing the influence of Hannah and the desires of his son.

Rising Conflicts and Romantic Tensions

Life in Humility presents multiple challenges. Big Eli makes an enemy of Stan Bodine, the town’s cruel tavern owner known for his bullwhip. Meanwhile, a long-standing and violent feud between the Wakefield family and the dangerous Frome brothers threatens Eli and his son. The presence of both Hannah, who is grateful and supportive of Eli’s Texas dream, and Susie, who represents security and a future in Kentucky, complicates Big Eli’s decision about his and Little Eli’s future. These personal and external pressures force him to confront his path forward.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Big Eli Wakefield (Burt Lancaster): A rugged widower seeking a new life in Texas with his son, torn between his frontier instincts and the pull of settled life.
• Little Eli Wakefield (Donald MacDonald): Big Eli’s young son who embodies the desire for the adventurous Texas frontier life.
• Hannah Bolen (Dianne Foster): A beautiful indentured servant freed by Big Eli, whose presence complicates his journey and represents the wild freedom he seeks.
• Susie Spann (Diana Lynn): A refined schoolteacher who offers Big Eli the prospect of a stable, civilized life in Kentucky.
• Stan Bodine (Walter Matthau): A brutal, whip-wielding town bully and tavern owner who becomes a key antagonist for Big Eli.
• Zack Wakefield (John McIntire): Big Eli’s older brother who has embraced a settled mercantile life and wants Eli to abandon his Texas plans.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Big Eli Wakefield: “The way to start off new is to shuck off what’s old.” – Big Eli expresses his philosophy on leaving the past behind to pursue a new life in Texas.
• Big Eli Wakefield: “We’re goin’ to Texas and we’re gonna live it bold!” – Big Eli enthusiastically declares his ambitious plans for his and his son’s future in the wide-open spaces of Texas.
• Stan Bodine: “Who dast? Who dast?!” – Stan Bodine provocatively challenges anyone to defy him, often while demonstrating his skill with a bullwhip.
• Big Eli Wakefield: “That air tastes like it’s never been breathed before.” – Big Eli describes the pure, untouched quality of the air in the wilderness he longs for in Texas, contrasting it with settled areas.

💰Box Office

• Budget:
• Domestic Gross: $2,600,000
• Worldwide Gross: 

💥 The Kentuckian Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I finally watched ‘The Kentuckian,’ and I gotta say, it was different! I went in expecting a standard Western, but this is more of an early American drama set in the frontier, which was cool. I really felt for Burt Lancaster’s character, Big Eli, trying to do right by his son and navigate all the wild stuff happening around them. The period detail was awesome; it felt like stepping back in time. And that scene with Walter Matthau and the bullwhip? Totally wild and tense, something I won’t forget. The climax with Big Eli running across the river was also super unique and got my heart racing. Sure, the pace slowed down in parts, and maybe the kid wasn’t the most exciting actor, but the overall vibe and those unexpected action beats made it totally worth watching. It’s got heart and some truly memorable moments.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of classic Hollywood dramas and Westerns”
  • “Viewers interested in early American frontier history”
  • “Admirers of Burt Lancaster’s work”
  • “Those curious about Walter Matthau’s early career”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Frontier violence (fights, bullwhip use, implied threat)”
  • “Depiction of a family feud”
  • “Scenes involving an animal fight (dog fight, brief)”

Professional Reviews

• Generated based on reviews: “Burt Lancaster’s first directorial effort offers a fascinating glimpse into 1820s frontier life, though its pace occasionally meanders. While not a masterpiece, standout moments like Walter Matthau’s intense bullwhip confrontation and the unique river crossing climax provide genuine thrills. The period detail is commendable, making it a worthwhile watch for fans of historical dramas, despite some uneven acting.
• Generated based on reviews: “”The Kentuckian” captures a rarely seen era of American history with striking scenery and authentic sets. Burt Lancaster is charismatic, even if his direction is sometimes uninspired. The film’s strength lies in its unique moments, particularly Walter Matthau’s memorable debut as a whip-wielding villain. It’s a pleasant, if occasionally slow, journey that offers a different flavor than typical Westerns.

Audience Reactions

Viewers particularly loved the unique action sequences, like the bullwhip fight and the river crossing climax.: Many praised the film’s authentic portrayal of 1820s frontier life and scenery, as well as Walter Matthau’s impactful screen debut.

Overall Consensus: A historically interesting frontier drama with notable action scenes and a strong debut by Walter Matthau, though some find the pacing slow and direction uneven.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “This film marked Burt Lancaster’s first and only solo directorial effort. Due to an unfavorable critical response, he did not direct again for almost 20 years, only co-directing ‘The Midnight Man’ (1974).”
• “The movie features Walter Matthau’s film debut, where he plays the villainous character Stan Bodine, known for his use of a bullwhip.”
• “The steamboat featured in the film was the historic Gordon C. Greene, which also appeared in other notable movies like ‘Gone with the Wind’.”
• “Filming took place on location in Kentucky and Indiana, utilizing natural settings like Cumberland Falls State Park and the Lincoln Village in Rockport, Indiana to capture the 1820s frontier look.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Kentuckian?

As a classic film, “The Kentuckian” may not be available on major subscription streaming platforms. You can typically find it available for purchase or rent digitally on platforms like Amazon Prime Video. Check your preferred digital storefront for current availability and pricing.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Kentuckian, you might like these similar films:

• Rachel and the Stranger (1948): A period drama set on the American frontier involving an outsider woman joining a widower and his son, exploring themes of domestication versus freedom and the challenges of settling the wilderness.
• Shane (1953): A classic 1950s Western centered on an enigmatic outsider who arrives in a settled community, helping a family and facing down a bully, similar to Eli’s interactions in the town.
• Jeremiah Johnson (1972): Follows a man who leaves civilization to live a life of solitude and self-reliance in the wilderness, reflecting Big Eli’s desire to escape ‘crowded’ areas for the frontier.
• Leave No Trace (2018): Depicts a father and daughter living off-grid in a park, facing challenges when forced back into society, offering a modern parallel to the film’s theme of a father and child choosing a life outside conventional settlement.
• How the West Was Won (1962): An epic multi-generational saga chronicling westward expansion across the American frontier, covering similar time periods and depicting the transition from wilderness to settled life, offering a broader scope of the themes presented.

🛒 The Kentuckian Related Products

• The Kentuckian (1955) Digital Purchase: Own a digital copy of the classic Burt Lancaster film, allowing you to watch it anytime, anywhere on your preferred devices.
• The Gabriel Horn by Felix Holt: The original novel that inspired the film ‘The Kentuckian.’ Explore the source material and the full story of Eli and Little Eli Wakefield’s journey.
• Vintage Western Movie Poster Reproduction (The Kentuckian): A high-quality reproduction print of the original theatrical poster for ‘The Kentuckian,’ perfect for framing.
• Leather Frontier Style Satchel Bag: A durable, vintage-style leather satchel reminiscent of bags used during the 1820s frontier period depicted in the film.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Kentuckian features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Possum Up a Gum Tree” – performed by Traditional Folk Song
• “My Darling” – performed by Traditional Folk Song

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Kevin Costner funny Walter Matthau and Burt Lancaster story #shorts @RichEisenShow

Want a fun little peek behind the curtain? Hear Kevin Costner share a really cool story about Burt Lancaster talking about working on *The Kentuckian* with Walter Matthau – it’s a neat historical footnote!

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