Cattle Empire (1958)

Released from prison, a trail boss is solicited by rival cattle barons to drive their respective cattle herds to Fort Clemson.

Director:

Charles Marquis Warren

Writers:

Endre Bohem (screenplay), Eric Norden (screenplay)

Stars:

Joel McCrea, Gloria Talbott, Don Haggerty

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Joel McCrea	...	John Cord
Gloria Talbott	...	Sandy Jeffrey
Don Haggerty	...	Ralph Hamilton
Phyllis Coates	...	Janice Hamilton
Bing Russell	...	Douglas Hamilton
Richard Shannon	...	Garth
Paul Brinegar	...	Tom Jefferson Jeffrey
Charles H. Gray	...	Tom Powis (as Charles Gray)
Hal K. Dawson	...	George Washington Jeffrey
Patrick O'Moore	...	Rex Cogswell
Duane Grey	...	Juan Aruzza
William McGraw	...	Jim Whittaker (as Bill McGraw)
Jack Lomas	...	Sheriff Brewster

Storyline

After serving a five year prison sentence for allowing his men to destroy a town in a drunken spree, a trail boss is hired by the same town's leading citizen to drive their cattle to Fort Clemson. Complicating matters, a rival cattle baron also hires the cattle driver to lead his herd.

---

Plot Keywords:

yuma territorial prison | territorial prison | prison | yuma arizona | violence | 

---

Taglines:

When the West rocked with the thunder of the Big Cattle Drives that carved a nation out of the lawless wild! [UK]

---

Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Western

---

Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Opening credits: The characters and events depicted in this photoplay are fictional. Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

---

Goofs

At 54.00 minutes into the film, the cowboys are sitting around a campfire and the character referred to as 'Wrangler' asks one of the Vaqueros for 'aqua', Spanish for water. The Vaquero picks up the coffee pot and pours coffee into his cup.

---

Quotes

Garth: Nothing to it, Cord. Betwen us we could build the biggest cattle empire this country has ever seen.
John Cord: I'm not interested in cattle empires, but for the Fort Clemson drive, you got yourself a trail boss.

---

Soundtracks

Cindy
(uncredited)
Traditional
Arranged by Paul Sawtell

User Reviews

Unexpectedly Bland

Plot-- Trail-driver Cord (McCrea) is blamed for letting his cattle crew wreck a town. After prison, he consents to head up a trail drive that will save the same town's finances. But the town's in competition with an outside cattleman to be first to arrive at the buyer's base and get the contract. So who will win, and can Cord be trusted.

Despite the great Joel McCrea and a grabber opening, this is a bland western. The only action, until the showdown, is loping cattle going here and there and who knows where. The rambling script fails to gel into any kind of suspense, with one talky scene after another to accommodate the many characters and subplots. Meanwhile the large supporting cast flounders getting no help from director Warren. The one compensation —the scenic eastern Sierras— is marred by contrast with poorly designed nighttime sets that take us back to the studio. Considering this was a TCF production, I'm surprised it was so poorly put together. Maybe they were trying to capitalize on the McCrea name. But by this time, he was in his mid-50's, still quietly commanding, but aging, nonetheless. At least they don't have him riding into the sunset with one of the girls. Mostly he sits astride his horse and gives orders. As a fan of the ace cowboy, I wish there were more to compliment. But unfortunately, there isn't.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1958 (UK)

Also Known As:

Cattle Empire

Filming Locations:

Elfrida, Arizona, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Emirau Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Color by Deluxe)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1