This is an enjoyable atmospheric Western that I sometimes call "slice of life" Westerns, where we can see how people lived and enjoyed life in the Old West, much like the Western musicals such as Oklahoma. It's always fun watching people in those days shop for clothes in the one General Store, or entertain themselves in dances, etc.
Though a bit episodic it's precisely its episodic quality that engages one's interest. None of the actors are standouts except JoAnn Dru, but they all acquit themselves, even though Sandra Dee's doe-eyed poses begin to irritate one as it does Audie Murphy in the film ("and stop looking at me like that").
Unfortunately the anagnoris or sudden self-understanding of the sheriff, played by Gilbert Roland, at the end is almost ridiculously pat to ensure a too neat closure. It's also a bit problematic in another way. The sheriff has been kind to Murphy through out the film but suddenly Murphy turns against him for what throughout history has been the world's oldest profession. It's true, of course, that Murphy is depicted as "innocent" throughout and that explains the title. But surely a more tempered response would have ensured character identification with Murphy's character better.
Additionally the ending does make sense in another way. We are told that before the sheriff arrived to restore order people couldn't even attend church without being subject to violence of one kind or another. Yet, ignoring this fact, the town folk are happy to see him dead? It doesn't make sense.
Though a bit episodic it's precisely its episodic quality that engages one's interest. None of the actors are standouts except JoAnn Dru, but they all acquit themselves, even though Sandra Dee's doe-eyed poses begin to irritate one as it does Audie Murphy in the film ("and stop looking at me like that").
Unfortunately the anagnoris or sudden self-understanding of the sheriff, played by Gilbert Roland, at the end is almost ridiculously pat to ensure a too neat closure. It's also a bit problematic in another way. The sheriff has been kind to Murphy through out the film but suddenly Murphy turns against him for what throughout history has been the world's oldest profession. It's true, of course, that Murphy is depicted as "innocent" throughout and that explains the title. But surely a more tempered response would have ensured character identification with Murphy's character better.
Additionally the ending does make sense in another way. We are told that before the sheriff arrived to restore order people couldn't even attend church without being subject to violence of one kind or another. Yet, ignoring this fact, the town folk are happy to see him dead? It doesn't make sense.