Loretta Young and Robert Mitchum in RACHEL AND THE STRANGER Available on Blu-ray From Warner Archive

Loretta Young and Robert Mitchum in RACHEL AND THE STRANGER is now available on Blu-ray From Warner Archive. Ordering info can be found HERE

William Holden, Loretta Young and Robert Mitchum are the powerhouse performers in this great Western classic that The New York Times hailed as “excellent moviemaking.”

Splendidly depicting the untamed frontier of the 1820s, the film tells the impassioned story of Big Davey Harvey (Holden), a stoic backwoodsman who “buys” and marries a bondswoman, Rachel (Young), to care for and educate his motherless son. Neither the father nor son find much to appreciate in Rachel until Jim Fairways (Mitchum), a guitar-strumming hunter, shows a romantic interest in her. Violent jealousy erupts between the two men, settled only after a spectacular raid on the Harveys’ homestead by unmerciful Shawnee Indians. But which man will win Rachel’s heart?

Two of the Golden Age’s most iconic – and laconic! – leading men vie for the attentions of one of its loveliest – and strongest – leading ladies in this Western romance directed by Norman Foster. Straight arrow Christian frontiersman widower “Big Davey” Harvey (Holden) purchases bondservant Rachel (Loretta Young) for 18 dollars to act as his wife and a mother to his young son Davey (Gary Gray). It’s a marriage in name only until family friend, the mountain man Jim Fairways (Robert Mitchum) comes calling. Equal parts drama and Western, Rachel and The Stranger gives it’s leads time to inhabit their roles and layer on nuance before exploding in a riveting Western climax. And it’s never looked better than it does on this brand-new presentation sourced from original nitrate! Also, did we mention Mitchum sings? This new presentation restores nearly 15 minutes of footage cut from the film over 65 years ago. Also restored is the screen credit for its blacklisted writer Waldo Salt, which was removed from the film by RKO for its 1954 theatrical re-release.