Of the 3 films in my Tom Selleck westerns DVD collection, this is clearly the most complex and interesting to me, if not to many reviewers. In fact, I regard it as probably the most interesting Civil War-related western I have seen! Included are a fair number of murders, in various incidents, if that bothers you. According to a reviewer at another site, the firearms and clothes were appropriate for the time period, demonstrating care about physical detail. The internet movie firearms database confirms this claim about the firearms.
The opening scene, at the crack of dawn, with cowboys chasing horses, and a dramatic sky, is a great way to begin a film: much like the beginning of "The Cowboys", for example. Several locations in New Mexico were used as the on-site shooting locations. The plot is interestingly complex. Selleck's character, Paul Cable, has his hands full, having initial problems getting reacquainted with his wife and small children after returning from the war(he was reported dead), as well as problems with his Union and Confederate-supporting neighbors who won't let him forget the nearly over war which he wants to put behind him immediately. Sometimes, he regrets deciding to accept the request for him to help the Confederate cause.
The actors were all great, and include both the Carradine brothers as the Yankee Kidston brothers, and Harry Carry, Jr., in a small role as wife Martha's gunsmith father, who decides to remain in his home in Texas when the others try to reclaim their abandoned ranch in Arizona(which was part of NM territory when the war began). Cable's two young kids are cute and occasionally play a small role in the drama. Suzy Amis was great as Cable's frontier-independent, sharpshooting wife, Martha, who has been emotionally scarred by the death of their two -year old, and claims that Cable isn't the same man she married.
Besides his occasional problems with 2 women, Cable has to deal with 3 successive enemies. First, the Yankee Vern and Duane Kidston brothers, plus hands, who took over the Cable's ranch in their absence and affiliation with the Confederates, and believe the Cables have no further claim to it. Later, he has to deal with the initially friendly Confederate gun runner Janroe, who turns feral as the war ends, being unsuccessful in trying to convince Cable to join him. Janroe had lost the use of his left arm from a battle wound, which perhaps has accentuated his determination to continue serving the Confederate cause to the bitter end as a non-soldier. The chase of Janroe and his Enfield rifles toward Mexico includes several dramatic incidents, alternatively handled by Verne or Cable. Lastly, Cable has to survive an ambush by a gang of Mexicans who want the Enfield rifles Janroe initially was expecting to send to the Confederates. Not explored is the possibility that these Mexicans were supporters of Juarez in his bid to oust Maximilian and his French troops. This war was going strong when the war between the states was winding down.
Much of the film deals with the gradual switching of sides of the gradually depleted Kidston bunch with the simultaneous gradual falling out of favor of Janroe with the Cables. Janroe's wife is the second significant woman in the story, becoming friendly with Martha and her children. Janroe shoots her just before leaving for Mexico with his Enfields. Why? Apparently, because she found out that he didn't tell Cable the war was over, like he promised, and because she came to believe that he, not Cable, killed Duane Kidston, after learning the war was over.
I don't believe it's ever clearly established whether Cable was a deserter, or whether he was officially reported as dead to allow him to go home: probably the latter.... The various killings between the neighbors seemingly were never acted upon by military or civilian authorities. Thus, an informal justice system between the neighbors ruled. An informal code of adversarial conduct between the neighbors also seemed to establish itself as the story progressed, which some members stuck to or noted in others, while others didn't. Of course, Cable and Martha rigorously stuck by this code, which eventually impressed their adversaries sufficiently to cause them to become friendly.
About midway, Lorraine(Tracy Needham): the saucy independent-minded tomboy daughter of Duane, makes a play for Cable, showing up at his cabin after Cable had sent his family to the Janroes for safety. Not clear if she was looking for a one-night stand, trying to break up Cable's marriage to weaken his position against her father's family(as she once suggested) or hoping to replace the seemingly troubled Martha as his wife. In any case, unexpectedly, she speaks up for Cable's restraint when her father arrives in the morning. Perhaps , she was satisfied in confirming her suspicion that Cable was sexually attracted to her, and willing to wait and see what would happen between Cable and Martha, before making more moves.... She initially made a splash leading a strange nocturnal horse drive during a thunder storm, which happens to go right through the Cable's camp, on their way from Texas, knocking over their wagon. Apparently, she was impressed by Cable's response.
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