Rachel and The Stranger is a low budget RKO Pictures western that was a surprise hit in the fall of 1948, eventually becoming the most successful release of the year for the studio. It is the story of David “Big Davey” Harvey (William Holden), a pioneer living in the mountains of Ohio with his young son Davey (Gary Gray) after having recently lost his wife, Susan. The two spend a winter together in their cabin following her passing only to emerge in spring with the realization that they need a woman in their lives. While Davey desires to grow up and become an outdoorsman like his dad’s best friend, Jim Fairway (Robert Mitchum), Big Davey wants to honor the wishes of Susan to bring up her son properly with an education and music in his life. Keen on finding someone to fill that role quickly, the pair head to the nearest settlement where a local parson convinces him to purchase an indentured servant named Rachel (Loretta Young) and marry her since it would be improper for the two to share a house otherwise.
This basic premise is understandably uncomfortable to think about in modern times, but it is an unfortunate part of history that has not been portrayed to death on screen. The movie attempts to tone down the gross factor by presenting the idea that Big Davey is rescuing Rachel from servitude and giving her a family. The tone of the movie is mostly lighthearted throughout as the two Daveys resist taking too much of a shine to Rachel in the beginning. Rachel is open to being the best wife she can under the circumstances, but the memory of Susan is hard to live up to in the face of those who are not ready to move on. It is not until Jim returns for a visit and takes a shine to Rachel that Big Davey realizes what has been in front of him. The love triangle between the three is mostly subtle and amiable rather than anything menacing.
Rachel and The Stranger succeeds for the most part on the charisma and charm of the talented cast. Fresh off an Oscar win for The Farmer’s Daughter, Loretta Young brings a quiet strength to Rachel that is easy to fall in love with. William Holden, only a couple of years out from his defining performance in Sunset Boulevard, imbues Big Davey with gentle dignity turned endearing jealousy when he realizes he could possibly lose Rachel. And finally there is Robert Mitchum, fresh off the highly regard film noir classic Out of the Past and showcasing his easy likability that could sweep many a woman of their feet. These three have a fantastic chemistry with each other that makes you forget about the scenario that brings them together.
The only misstep in an otherwise enjoyable movie is an unnecessary subplot involving Shawnee Indians. Of course, there were attacks on frontier settlers during this time, and they did make mention of it throughout the movie, but it did not really need an action set piece during the climax to make it more interesting. The characters themselves are enough to keep us compelled, but it is a minor complaint in otherwise enjoyable film.
Video Quality
Rachel and The Stranger comes to Blu-Ray courtesy of Warner Archive with a brand new 1080p master from a 4K scan of the original nitrate elements. The resulting image is nothing short of stunning, with crystal clear clarity only diminishing during the handful of long shots. The black levels and contrast are very well defined here with no traces of black crush. There is a good level of detail throughout and a healthy amount of film grain preserved. The image sparkles with virtually no damage to be found. This is a standout disc that offers nothing in the way of compression artifacts, banding or any other digital nuisances.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray disc also provides the film with a DTS HD-Master Audio 2.0 track that sounds fantastic. Dialogue and background noises are represented perfectly along with lively score from Roy Webb. There is no discernable age related wear and tear to the track such as hissing or popping. While mostly dialogue driven throughout, the instances of action are handled with ease and give the track a bit of punch. There are also optional English (SDH) subtitles included for the feature film. Warner Archive has provided a really great sounding disc.
Special Features
- Theatrical Trailer: The original trailer that runs just over a minute is presented here and provides a good encapsulation of the film.
Final Thoughts
Rachel and The Stranger may not be the most well known film from the era, but it is very much worth discovering with this new release. It is a surprisingly engaging film with an incredibly strong cast that sells the movie. Warner Archive provides a strong audio and visual presentation with this Blu-Ray that is something special to behold. Give it a watch if you want a lighthearted frontier love triangle! Recommended
Rachel and The Stranger can be purchased directly through Warner Archive or various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
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Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
