Stylist Jacques Tourneur Directed this "B" Western with an "A" Cast, that is an Oddity.
Little-Seen Because of its Unavailability on Home-Video. Also, the Surviving Copy is a Dupe, the Original Negative Lost, and the "Cheap" "Ansco-Color", Comes Off as Looking Artificial and Gaudy.
Joel McCrea is Perfect as a Righteous Circuit Judge, a No-Nonsense "By the Book", but Fair, Traveling Judge, who From the Saddle Opens the Film with...
"A Traveling Circuit Judge only needs 3 things...1)A Law Book...2)A Horse...and 3)A Gun...and the further West he travels the more he needs #3...I'm traveling West."
When He Arrives in Town, He Finds Everyone and Everything is under the Yoke of 1 Man's (John McEntire) Clan "The Bannermans' '.
Bannerman's Son (Kevin McCarthy) Tom has Killed a Man and is Walking Free, Pleading Self-Defense, but it Doesn't Smell Right to the Judge.
The Bulk of the Running Time, has the Judge Ruminating with the Smooth Talking Public Prosecutor (John CarradIne), Feeling Out the Situation in Town with the Sheriff ( Emile Meyer), and Bannerman's Daughter (Mirosavla) Coming On for some Romance.
The Ending has an Awkward Rushed Feel with a Stand-Off in an Open-Field, and the Beginning of the Trial.
Overall, the Attention to Detail is Superb, the Characters are All Well Drawn and Sharp (considering the 66 min. Run-time), and the Pace Exponentially Quickens.
The Outdoor Scenes are Beautiful with Some Sprawl, and Joel McCrea's Arrest of Kevin McCarthy is Stunningly Staged with a Punch.
It's All in a Very Strange Package with the Director, the Number of Stars, the Short Running Time, and that Thing Called "Ansco-Color"
Definitely...Worth a Watch.
Little-Seen Because of its Unavailability on Home-Video. Also, the Surviving Copy is a Dupe, the Original Negative Lost, and the "Cheap" "Ansco-Color", Comes Off as Looking Artificial and Gaudy.
Joel McCrea is Perfect as a Righteous Circuit Judge, a No-Nonsense "By the Book", but Fair, Traveling Judge, who From the Saddle Opens the Film with...
"A Traveling Circuit Judge only needs 3 things...1)A Law Book...2)A Horse...and 3)A Gun...and the further West he travels the more he needs #3...I'm traveling West."
When He Arrives in Town, He Finds Everyone and Everything is under the Yoke of 1 Man's (John McEntire) Clan "The Bannermans' '.
Bannerman's Son (Kevin McCarthy) Tom has Killed a Man and is Walking Free, Pleading Self-Defense, but it Doesn't Smell Right to the Judge.
The Bulk of the Running Time, has the Judge Ruminating with the Smooth Talking Public Prosecutor (John CarradIne), Feeling Out the Situation in Town with the Sheriff ( Emile Meyer), and Bannerman's Daughter (Mirosavla) Coming On for some Romance.
The Ending has an Awkward Rushed Feel with a Stand-Off in an Open-Field, and the Beginning of the Trial.
Overall, the Attention to Detail is Superb, the Characters are All Well Drawn and Sharp (considering the 66 min. Run-time), and the Pace Exponentially Quickens.
The Outdoor Scenes are Beautiful with Some Sprawl, and Joel McCrea's Arrest of Kevin McCarthy is Stunningly Staged with a Punch.
It's All in a Very Strange Package with the Director, the Number of Stars, the Short Running Time, and that Thing Called "Ansco-Color"
Definitely...Worth a Watch.