Federal circuit judge Joel McCrea rides into town. Amiable and pompous John Carradine greets him, and sheriff Emile Meyer says there's no call for his service. It turns out that Kevin McCarthy, son of local land baron John McIntire has shot someone and the man died, but since it was self-defense, he isn't being held. McCrea sees things differently; that's for a jury to decide. So McCarthy is jugged, much to the displeasure of McIntire and cousin Miroslava. McCrea must investigate on his own, along with Carradine, who has gotten himself appointed prosecutor, despite turning up at McIntire's dinner table.
It's one of the standard western plots and starts out like the better remembered RIO BRAVO, but with less star power. Still, McCrea is, as always, very solid in his western roles, Carradine always watchable, and McIntire excellent in what turns out to be a very complicated character. I don't think the ending quite works, but getting there is a pleasure, especially in the third act, where they leave town and the open country around Sedona Arizona is revealed by Technicolor specialist Ray Rennahan --- who's shooting in Ansco Color.
It's one of the standard western plots and starts out like the better remembered RIO BRAVO, but with less star power. Still, McCrea is, as always, very solid in his western roles, Carradine always watchable, and McIntire excellent in what turns out to be a very complicated character. I don't think the ending quite works, but getting there is a pleasure, especially in the third act, where they leave town and the open country around Sedona Arizona is revealed by Technicolor specialist Ray Rennahan --- who's shooting in Ansco Color.