The very same year that the subject of Rizzo's ridicule got smacked into a Christmas tree by one mother and neglected by her actress mother in two different films, Sandra Dee founded herself pimped out by dad Strother Martin in this colorful, above average western starring Audie Murphy. She runs away from her slimy father, joins Murphy as he makes his way into a local town with corrupt law enforcement (Gilbert Roland) and ends up working for saloon keeper Wesley Marie Tackitt while he sets his sights on the tough talking Joanne Dru who at least teaches him how to dance before the uppity Christian folk order Dru to leave town.
The opening scene is quite memorable, with Murphy's family encountering a family of skunk and later a bear as they make their way through the wilderness. The technicolor cinematography is striking, and the performances (including Dee's) are all good. Jim Backus has a dramatic part as the most respected man in town whose wife (Betty Harford) is behind the fight to get rid of the saloon and its corruption, but rather hypocritical in the methods she uses. Probably one of the best westerns I'd never heard of, with Roland getting much dimension in his role as the main villain who's actually more ethical than others as revealed in a scene where he explains why he is the way he is. There's a surprisingly profound ethical message that comes out of this, showing that the supposedly decent people are often less decent than those being judged by everyone around them for their lack of morals.
The opening scene is quite memorable, with Murphy's family encountering a family of skunk and later a bear as they make their way through the wilderness. The technicolor cinematography is striking, and the performances (including Dee's) are all good. Jim Backus has a dramatic part as the most respected man in town whose wife (Betty Harford) is behind the fight to get rid of the saloon and its corruption, but rather hypocritical in the methods she uses. Probably one of the best westerns I'd never heard of, with Roland getting much dimension in his role as the main villain who's actually more ethical than others as revealed in a scene where he explains why he is the way he is. There's a surprisingly profound ethical message that comes out of this, showing that the supposedly decent people are often less decent than those being judged by everyone around them for their lack of morals.