Marlon Brando and Karl Malden are two of the most acclaimed Hollywood movie stars of all time. They appeared together in three films: A Streetcar Named Desire (1951), On the Waterfront (1954) and One-Eyed Jacks (1961).
The phrase one-eyed jacks refers to two of the jacks in a standard deck of playing cards: the Jack of hearts and the Jack of
The film One-Eyed Jacks, a western, is the only one directed by Marlon Brando. It is known that he wanted his friend Karl Malden to portray his partner/antagonist in the film.
The film starts with Rio (Brando) and Dad (Malden) robbing a bank in Mexico. They escape but are chased by Mexican police.
While up on top of a hill trying to fend off the police, the two decide that one of them should go off and get fresh horses. Trusting him, Rio lets Dad have such an opportunity.
However, with one fresh horse, Dad abandons his friend and rides off to safety. Rio is then captured and spends 5 years in prison before escaping. He is consumed with revenge against Dad.
After leaving Mexico, Rio joins a gang of bank robbers heading to Monterrey, California where Dad is now surprisingly the local sheriff. At their first meeting, both Dad and Rio lie about what happened 5 years before and since.
Dad said that there were no fresh horses available. It is not only not true, but Rio knows it is a lie because the Mexican police took him to the farm where Dad got his one fresh horse. Others were available.
Rio says he evaded capture by the Mexican police. Dad does not know the veracity of this story. After the lies, they shake hands based of their old 'friendship.'
Rio even said to Dad that 5 years is a long time to hold a grudge. But, it is never too long according to his true feelings.
Eventually there will be a shoot-out confrontation. After all, this is a Western. For example, see Stagecoach (1939) with John Wayne, High Noon (1952) with Gary Cooper and Shane (1953) with Alan Ladd.
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