This gem was directed by Rudolph Mate, mainly a cinematographer, other directing highlights include D.OA. This is a great "cattle battle" western, one of the best. I'm really surprised this movie didn't have a thread. It understands the conventions of the Cattle baron saga and really delivers a thoughtful, entertaining movie. I don't want to spoil anything but go see this as soon as possible, if you haven't already. You may or may not enjoy it as much as I do, but I can guarantee that it will be worth your time. cast: Glenn Ford, Edward G. Robinson and Barbara Stanwyck.Good score, nice landscapes, nice technicolor cinematography. OUATITW connection: Edward G. Robinson's ranch owner character is a cripple -- I'm thinking the Morton character is a tribute to this film. There is a "half a man" line, which I think is something similar is included in West.
Finally saw this, and was very, very disappointed. Cinemascope and those Lone Pine locations are a natural match, but go for little here because of the stupid story. All the characters are cliches, incapable of thinking outside their roles. Then there are all the movie-movie idiocies. Nobody ever just rides their horse, they gallop everywhere. The day-for-night work is laughable: good thing they weren't shooting night-for-night or in the ambush scene no one could have seen where to fire. The one thing I did like was the final gundown at the end. None of that showy quick-draw B.S.: just a man throwing down on another and firing, his opponent doing the same. Both stand their ground, continuing to shoot until one of them is hit. But again, logic intrudes and spoils everything: Glen Ford entered the scene on horseback; why did he then dismount and thus surrender the advantage he had over Brian Keith?The worst is saved for last: Chiquita, or Maria, or whatever the town tramp is called, who until that point has been shown exclusively in town, suddenly appears from behind a wall at the ranch to render vengeance on the Stanwyck character. Her timing is ridiculously apposite, of course, but how did she even get there? Called a taxi?Very stupid film: 3/10.
What about Ford's decision to let the baddies burn down his place in order to trap them? When have you seen anything that smart in a classic american western?