This oater is better than average, perhaps because of a load of talent, from the leads, Taylor and Widmark, and a good performance from Patricia Owen, to a supporting cast including the ever-adaptable Robert Middleton, the nearly-always villainous Henry Silva, and, not so great, the pre-Star Trek DeForest Kelley (already chewing plenty of scenery).
A lot of the dialogue seems more suited for noir than western, but with Taylor, Widmark, Silva and Middleton, it doesn't seem so out of place. This film was perhaps a steppingstone towards later revisionist westerns, and, all things considered, not a bad effort, and a cut above most westerns of the two preceding devades (with the definite exception of Nick Ray's off-beat Johnny Guitar).
A lot of the dialogue seems more suited for noir than western, but with Taylor, Widmark, Silva and Middleton, it doesn't seem so out of place. This film was perhaps a steppingstone towards later revisionist westerns, and, all things considered, not a bad effort, and a cut above most westerns of the two preceding devades (with the definite exception of Nick Ray's off-beat Johnny Guitar).