This is a strange little story about two dishonest men in a sea of dishonest men who discover that if they steal milk from a cow owned by a man who might be considered the reiver or somesuch other land authority--in any case he has Indians as servants and hosts government officials and other such authorities--they can make and sell cakes and sweet breads and other such delicacies not found in Oregon during the mid-19th century. But, alas, they are found out, and go on the run, but are never caught. The trained baker of the duo falls and gets a concussion and can hardly go on while the entrepreneur Chinaman is trying to think their way out of their dilemma. The baker lies down to sleep, so his Chinese friend lies next to him--and now we know why at the beginning of the story the 21st century girl finds two full skeletons barely covered by a layer of dirt and natural debris. Were they discovered sleeping and shot by those who pursued them, or did the baker die of his head wound and the Chinaman just die of natural causes? We don't know anything except that they die, their half-baked plans dying with them. The film is cut in a box shape as if it was supposed to fit in old-timey TV screens, and the film used is grainy though it is color. Odd little realistic trip all the way around, with one or two familiar actors to boot. Seven stars for acting, pacing, dress, and dialogue. There were one or two Indian women in the story and loads of mountain men, trappers, gold prospectors, and other sorts of male pioneers.
Review of First Cow
