ARENA

US, 1953, 73 minutes, Colour.
Gig Young, Jean Hagan, Polly Bergen, Harry Morgan, Barbara Lawrence, Robert Horton, Lee Aaker, Lee Van Cleef, Morris Ankrum.
Directed by Richard Fleischer.

1953 was a year for 3- D movies. Arena, along with Kiss Me Kate, were MGM’s contribution to the 3- D popularity – although, at the time, it was rather short-lived, many of the films, like Arena, being released in flatscreen.

The film has some interesting credentials, especially direction by Richard Fleischer, who had made a number of short films, moved into features in 1948, continuing into the 80s, with a range of genre films. After Arena, he directed 20,000 Leagues under the Sea, Violent Saturday.

A distraction of the film is the tendency for objects to be flung at the camera for these 3- D effects.

The action takes place at rodeo in Tucson, one day. Gig Young is the main rider, arriving with a rodeo fan, Barbara Lawrence in tow, his estranged wife, Polly Bergen, turning up, and some discussions about the future. This is helped along by a former rider, now a clown, Henry Morgan (becoming Harry Morgan and featuring in MASH), accompanied by Jean Hagan as his wife, and Lee Aaker as his son.

There are some sympathetic fellow rodeo writers, including, surprisingly because of his later career, Lee Van Cleef, and Robert Horton as an aspiring rider.

The main impact, for those who like rodeos, the cowboys riding the cattle, the falls, a popular song playing throughout, is a brief enjoyable action show with some heroism, some dangers, and some popular family themes.