Well I have to say, the little bell on Jeff Webster's (Jimmy Stewart) saddle kept distracting me each time I heard it, thinking some new angel in heaven just got his wings. Of course that picture came out almost eight years earlier so I had to wonder if there was some subliminal homage being paid here to "It's a Wonderful Life". Not the worst idea but it might have been more effective if not so repetitive.
The idea of Jimmy Stewart playing an unlikeable saddle tramp doesn't seem to be a lot of viewers' favorite idea but I think he made it work in the story. I like it when an actor plays against type and shows that it can be done effectively. It works to advance the theme expressed by Corinne Calvet's French teenage character Renee more than once, that if you don't like people they won't like you. Not that Webster had any problems with people not liking him, it was just his way, take it or leave it.
The other aspect of Webster's character that satisfied this viewer was his resolve to go back to Skagway and retrieve his stolen cattle from town villain Gannon (John McIntire). At this point, Webster was still in it for the money and wasn't going to let anyone bully him out of his hard earned trail payload. In fact, money talks throughout the picture as we see once Webster's trail crew makes it into Dawson and a two dollar per pound on the hoof bid ekes out the fair folk of the Dawson Hash House.
Though the true sentiment of Webster's character is never in doubt if you've seen enough of these older Westerns, it's interesting the way the story gets you there. Jeff saves his pal Rube (Jay C. Flippen) from facing off against Gannon henchman Madden (Robert J. Wilke), but in so doing causes him to lose face with the town folk. With sidekick Ben (Walter Brennan) already taken out by the bad guys, Webster's inner voice lets him know it was time to take it to the outlaw bunch, with a town full of citizens finally finding the courage to back him up once and for all. It was a defining moment for the town of Dawson, guided by the spirit of their better angels.
The idea of Jimmy Stewart playing an unlikeable saddle tramp doesn't seem to be a lot of viewers' favorite idea but I think he made it work in the story. I like it when an actor plays against type and shows that it can be done effectively. It works to advance the theme expressed by Corinne Calvet's French teenage character Renee more than once, that if you don't like people they won't like you. Not that Webster had any problems with people not liking him, it was just his way, take it or leave it.
The other aspect of Webster's character that satisfied this viewer was his resolve to go back to Skagway and retrieve his stolen cattle from town villain Gannon (John McIntire). At this point, Webster was still in it for the money and wasn't going to let anyone bully him out of his hard earned trail payload. In fact, money talks throughout the picture as we see once Webster's trail crew makes it into Dawson and a two dollar per pound on the hoof bid ekes out the fair folk of the Dawson Hash House.
Though the true sentiment of Webster's character is never in doubt if you've seen enough of these older Westerns, it's interesting the way the story gets you there. Jeff saves his pal Rube (Jay C. Flippen) from facing off against Gannon henchman Madden (Robert J. Wilke), but in so doing causes him to lose face with the town folk. With sidekick Ben (Walter Brennan) already taken out by the bad guys, Webster's inner voice lets him know it was time to take it to the outlaw bunch, with a town full of citizens finally finding the courage to back him up once and for all. It was a defining moment for the town of Dawson, guided by the spirit of their better angels.