The McMasters

The McMasters is a 1970 theatrical-release movie that portrays a unique and complex dialogue on race relations set in the backdrop of the post-Civil War era, the American West. Starring Burl Ives, Brock Peters, and David Carradine, this stirring Western-drama film fuses socio-political undertones with traditional Western tropes to construct a narrative that remains as relevant as ever.

Helmed by the talented direction of Alf Kjellin, the movie courageously broke the barriers of its time by challenging inherent biases and prejudices, the residue of a nation freshly divided by a brutal civil war. The protagonist role, taken on by Brock Peters, flawlessly brings to life the character of Benjie, an African-American Union soldier who returns from the Civil War to a considerably different world than the one he left.

Upon his return, he picks up the deeds to a portion of land owned by his previous master, McMaster, portrayed by Burl Ives. McMaster, an ambiguous character filled with preconceived notions yet a sense of fairness, is often the epicenter from which the moral and racial debates emerge. Herein starts the recurring theme of struggle, race, and ownership.

Burl Ives, an Academy-Award winning actor, nails the layered character of McMaster with absolute conviction, demonstrating feats of internal dilemma and external pressure from a disapproving society. His stance of employing a former slave as an equal partner strikes hostility and turbulence among other townsfolk, thus paving the path for a series of conflicts and tensions that form the crux of the film.

Brock Peters, known for his spellbinding performances, breathes a soul into Benjie, embodying the spirit of a man caught in a whirlpool of systemic injustice and racial discrimination. Peters' performance strikes a strong emotional chord with the audience, capturing their undivided attention as he navigates this complex world.

David Carradine, famed for his roles in cult-classic martial art films, adds another layer of antagonist conflict as he vividly portrays the character of white supremacist, Kolby, who staunchly opposes the idea of Benjie having a stake in land ownership. He is set on disrupting the peace and harmony that McMaster and Benjie strive to achieve together, fueling the racial prejudice within their small town to carve a path of his destructive ideology.

The McMasters provides a gritty display of the post-war American West, using its wide-open landscapes, rough terrains, and small-town ethos to hint at a larger story of sizable social and racial divides. Straying from the classic Western movie's monolithic and one-dimensional cliches, it adopts a more nuanced narrative approach, making it much more than just a tale of cowboys and Indians.

The film expertly employs the device of dialogue and conflict to explore its overbearing themes, packing a powerful punch in the depiction of racism, the aftermath of war, and the painful process of social harmonizing. The story is woven so tightly with these themes that the film becomes symptomatic of the times, as it sheds light on the deeply ingrained prejudices and the struggle for acceptance that marked the era with tragedy and strife.

Marking a brave departure from the archetypal Western, The McMasters is a deeply introspective narrative that intertwines captivation and authenticity in equal measure. It takes a profound dive into the human psyche, incorporating a heritage of intolerance, and the underlying urge to break free from it.

With high stakes, compelling performances, and a masterful storyline crafted with care, The McMasters is not only an embodiment of the Western genre's essence but a prism through which the audience peers into a time of intense struggle and change. The movie, therefore, is not merely a film; it is a bold statement about the cruel aftermath of a nation left divided by war and the hard, slow journey towards healing and harmony.