Well, now I can say I've seen it

I'm a big vintage western fan. But somehow I'd never gotten around to watching this one. Till last night on Silver Screen. Can't say I really enjoyed it.To me it came off very much like a socially responsible small screen teleplay from that era. But one with A-list movie stars on display. The film certainly needed every ounce of Henry Fonda's magnetism to bolster it. And he did fine with what he was given. I like Anthony Perkins. But this movie did little to capitalize on his talents. He was so amazing that same year in "Fear Strikes Out".
There's one interesting facet to the movie, though. Michel Ray, the little boy who plays Betsy Palmer's son went on to lead a pretty fascinating life. A mixture of British and Brazilian, he left his acting career behind to attend Harvard, eventually becoming an immensely successful financier. Along the way, he also managed several stints on Britain's Winter Olympic team - in '68 (skiing), '72 and '76 (luge). I believe he's currently considered one of Britain's wealthiest men.
But back to "The Tin Star". 1957 was a terrific year for westerns. I can name a whole raft of '57 releases that I found much more entertaining than this one ' "Black Patch", "Decision at Sundown", "Dragoon Wells Massacre", 'Forty Guns" "Fury at Showdown", "Gun Glory", "Gunfight at the OK Corral", "Gunsight Ridge", "The Guns of Fort Petticoat" "Night Passage", "The Tall T" and "3:10 to Yuma". Quite an honor roll of excellent western movies. I think "The Tin Star" just kind of plods sedately behind them. I'll watch all the others again next time I get the chance but I think one viewing of "The Tin Star" will do me.