This one is definitely on the bottom of the John Wayne pile. It has a pretty weak story and lame annoying characters. Seriously, Marshall Reed is so obnoxious you can't help but want to turn this movie off whenever he's on screen. John Wayne did the best he could with the bumbling script, but it's still not all that great of a performance. Disappointing.
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Marshall Reed is in one little scene as the tongue tied blacksmith who's in love with Gail Russell. Surely that can't spoil the whole movie for you. I like how John Wayne calls him a nailbender.
shareWow. You don't very much do you?
No wonder no one has responded to your message.
Reading histories of Republic Picture Production in general, which Wayne HAD been appearing in, I must say that, as the earliest example of a self-produced Wayne film, to be released through Republic, this one got more care, from a filmmaking aspect, than other contemporary Republic Films, a company noted for cranking out "B" program filler. It has a reasonably complete plot, a reasonable number of supporting characters, a better than average score, some stunning action sequences...etc. Is it the Highest Art? No...it was meant as a program filler to compete with other B Movies.
That it is even being discussed today, means that it was a cut above the vast majority of those, which tales had Republic cranking out every 3 weeks or so. The supporting Characters were from Republic's stock troupe...and none were as annoying, to me, as, for example, Half-witted Mose from the A-Lister, The Searchers.
While program Westerns certainly aren't everyone's taste...I suggest you compare it to Wayne's earlier work for Lone Star, to note how much improved the material for Wayne had gotten by 1947. Angel and the Badman is head and shoulders (and a reel or two) above those oaters.
The supporting Characters were from Republic's stock troupe...and none were as annoying, to me, as, for example, Half-witted Mose from the A-Lister, The Searchers.
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I think you're being a bit hard on the supporting cast. They were big stars in their day and they worked for other studios as well.
Lee Dixon was a broadway star who did just a few movies. He had the fairly large singing and dancing role of Will Parker in the original stage version of "Oklahoma". He did some movie work for Paramount.
Harry Carey Sr. had been a A-list star in the silent era and early 30s and starred with Wayne in a big budget "Shepherd Of The Hills" for Paramount in 1941. He was also in "Sea Of Grass" in 1947, an MGM movie.
Gail Russell had done some A-list movies for Paramount.
Tom Powers was Barbara Stanwyck's luckless husband in the famous "Double Indemnity".
John Halloran's first movie was "Blood On The Sun" where he had a pretty good jujitsu fight with James Cagney. That was a Cagney produced movie.
These were definitely not stock Republic players, and they all did very well.
Hank Worden who played the half-wit Mose in "The Searchers" had a very small part in this movie. So small, that until you mentioned it, I'd forgotten about him.
I'd say John Wayne did a good job putting together this cast.
OK not limited to Republic films but Powers, Carey, et. al. were staples of "program oaters"...and many others of these character actors can be seen often...
From Carey's bio at this site: "Carey continued to bring home the bacon as a star of low-budget oaters"
Quite a few of these character actors had spots in higher budget films...but more often they took any parts they could get.
Anyway, my comment wasn't meant to be critical...most "B" list stars and character actors knew their craft. And I was pointing out that this one is A. Better quality than many and B. Of historical note as Wayne's first whirl at independant production.
Sadly Russell couldn't maintain A list status, for reasons listed in HER bio at idmb.
Anyway, my main point...this is a solid entry in Wayne's catalog, despite modest expectations...certainly better than earlier films like Randy Rides Alone, Dawn Rider or Blue Steel from the Lone Star days.
I would actually call this one of John Wayne's best Westerns--an exquisitely-made little movie that's brimming with charm and likability.
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I liked it too. I wish poor Gail Russell had been more like her Quaker girl character in real life, but she just couldn't overcome her alcoholism and it both harmed her career and cut short her life. So sad a fate for such a beautiful woman!
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Disagree with the OP. In my opinion this is one of the best John Wanye films I've seen to date. The storyline was interesting through out and the chemistry between the characters felt real, particuarly with Quirt and Penny. It also portrayed the pros and cons of the lives both Quirt and Penny had lead, that a mixture of their lifestyles will benefit you out in the West rather than just one or the other.
"I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not".
I'd agree that I didn't like this one very much.
shareYour prerogitive and privilige, narnia4. I think it's a good movie for family viewing and it was nice to see one of filmdom's "charter member" actors, Harry Carey Sr., in a substantial role and near the end of his life. Wayne had almost a son-to-father affection for Carey and it shows in his silent tribute to Carey at the end of "The Searchers," where Wayne, in the closing scene, poses holding his elbow in Harry Carey fashion.
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I think its a wonderful little movie!
I saw it for the first time on TCM a few months ago and am happy to say I found it in a used DVD shop yesterday. Pleased to add it to my collection.
Absolutely charmed by the story and cast.
Yes, sir, I'm going to do nothing like she's never been done before!
I have Been wishing to see it again one day as I never got to see the conclusion
The sense itself was I.
I missed it yesterday when it was on TCM. Fortunately we can watch it for free on IMDb at this link http://www.imdb.com/video/hulu/vi1175323417/
Cheese fries...next time.
This is a terrific movie, one of John Wayne's best of that period. Very entertaining! Don't pass on it because of the OP clown's negative assessment.
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