Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Joel McCrea | ... | Dave Nash | |
Veronica Lake | ... | Connie Dickason | |
Don DeFore | ... | Bill Schell | |
Donald Crisp | ... | Jim Crew | |
Preston Foster | ... | Frank Ivey | |
Arleen Whelan | ... | Rose Leland | |
Charles Ruggles | ... | Ben Dickason (as Charlie Ruggles) | |
Lloyd Bridges | ... | Red Cates | |
Nestor Paiva | ... | Curley | |
Ray Teal | ... | Ed Burma | |
Houseley Stevenson | ... | George Smedley (as Housely Stevenson) | |
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Ward Wood | ... | Link Thoms (as Robert Wood) |
Ian MacDonald | ... | Walt Shipley | |
Wally Cassell | ... | Virg Lea | |
Sarah Padden | ... | Mrs. Parks |
A cattle-vs.-sheepman feud loses Connie Dickason her fiance, but gains her his ranch, which she determines to run alone in opposition to Frank Ivey, "boss" of the valley, whom her father Ben wanted her to marry. She hires recovering alcoholic Dave Nash as foreman and a crew of Ivey's enemies. Ivey fights back with violence and destruction, but Dave is determined to counter him legally... a feeling not shared by his associates. Connie's boast that, as a woman, she doesn't need guns proves justified, but plenty of gunplay results. Written by Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>
This 1947 western in black and white could have been just another mediocre Joel McCrea piece of sagebrush like the dozens of Randolph Scott movies I've watched. The thing with Scott was that you had to watch a lot to find the few masterpieces. For me this was Joel McCrea's best film that I've seen yet, or certainly as good as Guns in the Afternoon (aka Ride the High Country) in which he teamed with Randolph Scott which always gets outstanding reviews. McCrea is the man of dignity, pretty much in the vein of Henry Fonda, who strides tall throughout the picture, unflinching in his view of the 'right thing to do'. It's what we've come to expect of him, but he carries it well and you just know he has that strength. What was surprising was the performance of the diminutive Veronica Lake of the iconic hair style, although you only get a glimpse near the beginning of it. Here (married to director Andre De Toth during the making of the movie) she gives a steely performance of some skill, using her sexual allure to persuade men around her to do things according to her will, and very convincing she can be. Don DeFore an actor I've not seen before, impresses as a friend to help McCrea when he's in trouble and I'm surprised with all the movies I've seen that he somehow escaped me. The great Donald Crisp, Charlie Ruggles, Ray Teal and Lloyd Bridges all appear in convincing roles. A tough, adult western I can highly recommend.