Yet another film refuting Billy Graham's claim four years later that his production 'Mr. Texas' (1951) was the first Christian western. The title had led me to expect more heavenly whimsy like 'Here Comes Mr Jordan' and 'It's a Wonderful Life'; but there's far more God talk than usual, and the fact that it turned out to be a Western set in Montana in 1887 proved just the first of many ways it confounds expectations (SPOILER COMING: such as the fact that it appears to be building up to a climax but then continues for another 25 minutes, with God's moves getting ever more and more Mysterious with every additional minute).
The once-in-a-lifetime supporting cast ranges from Edgar Kennedy to Gerald Mohr at his most saturnine. Brian Donlevy almost makes you believe in the transformation the script requires of him; while Stuart Erwin's Destry-like sheriff merits a movie of his own.
The once-in-a-lifetime supporting cast ranges from Edgar Kennedy to Gerald Mohr at his most saturnine. Brian Donlevy almost makes you believe in the transformation the script requires of him; while Stuart Erwin's Destry-like sheriff merits a movie of his own.