Rocky Mountain

Excellent black and white photography showcases the area around Gallup, New Mexico. Every scene is methodically planned out to take advantage of the surroundings. Add this to a strong cast and it makes it one of my favorites to watch over and over. The story line kind of comes in second on this one.

Very refreshing western film starring Errol Flynn and Patrice Wymore, his last wife/widow who remembers Flynn much more gently than previous wives. For me, the script was fresh, not-so-predictable nor of the same campy flavor of previous Flynn westerns. I'm happy this one turned out so well. Another hidden gem. This film sketches out the story of a tiny band of rebel soldiers led by Flynn's character, Lafe Barstow, whose mission is to wait for a rebel renegade to rendezvous with them atop Rocky Mountain, originally called Ghost Mountain. They save a stagecoach from raiding Shoshone which carries a Northern lady on her way to meet her Yankee fiancée, a lieutenant at a nearby garrison. For the rest of this story, you'll have to rent and watch it yourself! But it's captivating, not the usual cheesy, run-of-the mill cookie cut westerns Flynn often had to play for his studio. The film draws the viewer in emotionally by focusing on each rebel band members individual stories from their homes in the South starting with a fantastic introduction of each by Flynn at the beginning. Trivia: Flynn met his future, final wife during this film. The film was shot in Gallup, New Mexico. This was the last Western film Flynn starred in and it's one he gives a solid performance. Great stuff all way around!

This film has an unusually gritty and authentic look and feel, and an unusual ending for a 1950's western.( I can't say more about or I would ruin the plot for anyone who hasn't seen the film).

Flynn, a confederate officer, in the last days of the confederacy, leads a small group of men to California to meet with southern sympathizers in a desperate plan start a revolt and bring California into the confederacy. A stagecoach is attacked by Indians and they to save the survivors. One of the survivors is a woman on her way to meet her fiance, a union officer. He comes looking for with a small patrol and they are taken captive. The Indians start to close in and they confederates face the dilemma of what to do in the coming fight and what to do with their prisoners, one wounded and one a woman.

This film has a great beginning and a truly exciting and emotional ending. The middle though, does drag a bit. On location filming in New Mexico gives this film a realistic gritty look. The characters of the confederate soldiers are very well established and should elicit sympathy and respect. This was Errol Flynn's last western, and , while he was no longer in his prime and looks older and a little weathered, he is perfect for the role of a man who has seen too much war. One aspect of the film that is little commented on it the exceptional horsemanship in the film. In real life, Flynn and several of the co-stars were very good horsemen, and it really shows.

Errol Flynn brings a world-weary look and an understated performance to this William Keighley directed Western. The film features several gifted horsemen Dickie Jones, Buzz Henry, Slim Pickens, Sheb Wooley and the legendary Yakima Canutt. It was the first film for both Pickens and Wooley who both became journeymen character actors.

It is also interesting to see Errol Flynn and Patrice Wymore (Mrs. Errol Flynn) work together in their only pairing on screen. The presence of Flynn's carousing companion Guinn "Big Boy" Williams also puts Flynn at ease in this role.

Rocky Mountain blends a Civil War chapter, rampaging Indians and a love triangle all in a solitary location shoot. One of the last black & white Westerns, it holds up well more than 50 years after it was filmed.

"For it being 1950, I was stunned to find so many real and honest performances. There was none of that obnoxious "Studio Acting" where everyone is chewing scenery and pretending to be their character."

This was the comment of a previous reviewer. Anyone who is "stunned" to find good acting in a 1950 movie has probably not seen many movies from that period. As for "chewing scenery", I wonder if this person has ever paid attention when "method" icons like Dean, Brando, Cobb, Palance, and Penn are on screen. It's often a miracle there's any scenery left uneaten to finish the movie with!

"Rocky Mountain" is one of Flynn's better films (of many good ones), and as always, this underrated actor is real and natural. The movie is also of interest as the debut of noted character actor Slim Pickens. The story is gritty and dark, and the scenery and photography are spectacular. The ending is quite moving. This is a movie worth seeing.