Along the Great Divide (1951)

A U.S. Marshall and two deputies rescue a cattle rustler from a lynch mob led by a local cattle baron convinced that the rustler also killed his son.

Director:

Raoul Walsh

Writers:

Walter Doniger (screenplay), Lewis Meltzer (screenplay)

Stars:

Kirk Douglas, Virginia Mayo, John Agar

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Kirk Douglas	...	Marshal Len Merrick
Virginia Mayo	...	Ann Keith
John Agar	...	Billy Shear
Walter Brennan	...	Timothy 'Pop' Keith
Ray Teal	...	Deputy Lou Gray
Hugh Sanders	...	Frank Newcombe
Morris Ankrum	...	Ed Roden
James Anderson	...	Dan Roden
Charles Meredith	...	Judge Marlowe

Storyline

New Federal marshal Len Merrick saves Tim Keith from lynching at the hands of the Roden clan, and hopes to get him to Santa Loma for trial. Vindictive Ned Roden, whose son Ed was killed, still wants personal revenge and Tim would like to escape before Ned catches up with him again. Can the marshal make it across the desert with Tim and his daughter? Even if he makes it, will justice be served?

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Plot Keywords:

son murders father | woman with a gun | arizona territory | arizona | marshal | 

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Taglines:

AN ADVENTURE THAT AVALANCHES FROM THE BULLET-PROOF ROOF OF THE ROCKIES TO THE FIERY DESERT FLOOR! (original print ad - all caps)

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Genres:

Adventure | Romance | Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

2 June 1951 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Travelers

Filming Locations:

Yuma, Arizona, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

After the death of Virginia Mayo in 2005, Kirk Douglas became the last living cast member until this year (2020) when Kirk Douglas passed away.

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Goofs

When Dan Roden escapes into the barn at the end of the film, he is holding only the gun he seizes (having just been brought from jail, he had no weapon). After emptying the gun, he suddenly is seen reloading the weapon and magically now has a gun belt on and a furious gunfight ensues. Where did the gun belt and ammunition come from?

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Quotes

Marshal Len Merrick: [Realizing the shooter he's struggling with is a pretty woman] Hey-hey! Kickin' won't get you anywhere - unless you're a mule.
[Noticing her physical attractiveness]
Marshal Len Merrick: I'm glad to see you're not.

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Connections

Remade as Cheyenne: The Travelers (1956)

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Soundtracks

Down in the Valley
(uncredited)
(a.k.a. "Birmingham Jail")
Traditional American folk song
Sung by Walter Brennan and Virginia Mayo

User Reviews

A Taste of the Old West

Ah yes...the classic Western which when done right lives in the hearts of every Western lover. This one has it all. Cowboys, the law, a love story, outdoors, cattle and frontier justice. What we tend to forget but are reminded thanks to Westerns like these that it was no cake walk back then and life was not given to anyone on a platter. You had to work hard and long and even then who knows what can or would happen living out-there in the wilderness and on the edge of civilization. Kirk was made for Westerns as we find out in future movies as he went on to star in some pretty nice stuff. Walter Brennan is a guaranteed good time as the man captured every role he ever played no matter where you put him. Add some horses, some other familiar faces and we are being entertained no problem. Imagine going to see this for the first time in the big theater. Its a slow-popcorn eating movie with a tasty drink all the way to the end with some chair-gripping scenes along the way complimenting the title Along The Great Divide. Mount-up on this one and lets all head back to the ranch fore supper time. Enjoy pards