IMDb RATING
5.9/10
2.5K
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The sons of a Colorado cattle baron, one biological and the other adopted, resent one another and fight for control of their father's cattle empire.The sons of a Colorado cattle baron, one biological and the other adopted, resent one another and fight for control of their father's cattle empire.The sons of a Colorado cattle baron, one biological and the other adopted, resent one another and fight for control of their father's cattle empire.
Ted de Corsia
- Herb Backett
- (as Ted De Corsia)
Jim Hayward
- Sheriff Con Alvis
- (as James Hayward)
Margaret Bert
- Mrs. Calhoun
- (scenes deleted)
Paul E. Burns
- Dr. Irwin
- (uncredited)
Harvey B. Dunn
- Poker Dealer
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaFinal MGM film for Robert Walker, who died in 1951.
- Quotes
Owen Daybright: I always heard you were a pretty good saloon fighter, Herb. How are you without a bottle or a knife?
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Story (1951)
Featured review
Well-plotted, well-acted western w/ great scenery
I didn't read many westerns growing up, but more devoted readers of the genre spoke well of writer Luke Short, on whose novel this film is based (screenplay by Irving Ravetch). Another reviewer points out that Short was a city boy who didn't know the west, but the movie is full of cattle ranching and driving lore (more than the otherwise superior Red River).
Above all the story has an impressively complicated plot--lots of moving pieces, with a large cast of characters variously related. A nice surprise was the voice-over narration by a somewhat marginal character who is nonetheless present at many crucial scenes. Add an outstanding cast: Burt's always a convincing action stalwart; Robert Walker plays just the kind of attractive weasel that people fool themselves into believing; John Ireland brings an air of implacable menace to the heavy; Joanne Dru and Sally Forrest make you want them to be on screen more often.
The limits of the film's running time squeeze the women out from fuller development especially at the end, but their issues drive the plot with surprisingly adult themes: Dru's character raises questions about what the Old West did about divorce, and Forrest's character Lily finds a way to raise her illegitimate child even while her no-good brothers make trouble.
The direction of the cattle drives against spectacular outdoor scenery and some good riding scenes are the film's best testimony for director Richard Thorpe. Otherwise the direction seems by-the-book, and the story concludes in a gun showdown that violates what we've learned of the characters involved. Other reviewers are correct that MGM's bland production values prevail. But within those limits, the various parts of the plot worked together well, and the excellent acting added depth and urgency.
Above all the story has an impressively complicated plot--lots of moving pieces, with a large cast of characters variously related. A nice surprise was the voice-over narration by a somewhat marginal character who is nonetheless present at many crucial scenes. Add an outstanding cast: Burt's always a convincing action stalwart; Robert Walker plays just the kind of attractive weasel that people fool themselves into believing; John Ireland brings an air of implacable menace to the heavy; Joanne Dru and Sally Forrest make you want them to be on screen more often.
The limits of the film's running time squeeze the women out from fuller development especially at the end, but their issues drive the plot with surprisingly adult themes: Dru's character raises questions about what the Old West did about divorce, and Forrest's character Lily finds a way to raise her illegitimate child even while her no-good brothers make trouble.
The direction of the cattle drives against spectacular outdoor scenery and some good riding scenes are the film's best testimony for director Richard Thorpe. Otherwise the direction seems by-the-book, and the story concludes in a gun showdown that violates what we've learned of the characters involved. Other reviewers are correct that MGM's bland production values prevail. But within those limits, the various parts of the plot worked together well, and the excellent acting added depth and urgency.
helpful•112
- whitec-3
- Sep 3, 2011
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Details
Box office
- Budget
- $1,008,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 23 minutes
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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