Superior Audie Murphy oater, although it incorporates one of the most widely used plots in westerns, in that a grasping cattle baron is trying to grab the last significant competing ranch in his area, by foul means. Additionally, two young women are featured. Susan Cabot, as Rita, is the daughter of ranch owner Dan Saxon(Paul Kelly). She is the girlfriend of ranch foreman Curly(Jack Kelly), until Audie shows up. Although her initial reaction to him is chilly, she eventually warms up. Mary Castle, as Cora, is a saloon entertainer, who sings a song every now and then, along with being the owner's moll. Her ex-boyfriend, Johnny Lake(Charles Drake), shows up eventually, and by the end of the film will repeat as her current boyfriend. Mary has quite a dynamic personality, and was often compared to Rita Hayworth in looks....Filming mostly took place in Big Bear Valley, CA.
I'd like to summarize several key relationships:
Reb(Audie) and Dan Saxon:
Dan owns the biggest spread in the region, after Telford's. Reb originally came to this area at the invitation of Telford, to act as his gunslinger, especially in regard to Dan. However, Telford refused to pay Reb's initial price. Meanwhile, Dan was playing cards downstairs in the saloon. He offered Reb a gamble, high card winning. If Reb won, Dan would sign his ranch over to him. If Reb lost, he would work for Dan for an undetermined time period. Dan, a card sharp, fixes things so that Reb won. Why did he do this? He wanted to make sure that Telford and Reb wouldn't agree to a deal to spearhead an effort to delay getting Dan's cattle to market, so that he wouldn't meet the deadline for repaying a loan from Telford. Also, Dan had the impression that his daughter might eventually become Reb's wife. To show his gratitude, Reb hired Dan and daughter Rita.
Reb and Johnny Lake:
The film begins with Reb and Johnny hiding behind some bushes from a cavalry patrol. Seems they last were hired guns in the Johnson County WY cattle war. Now, they part ways. But they will meet again when cattle baron Telford wants a gunslinger comparable to Reb, who had rejected his offer. After rancher Dan signs over the deed to his ranch to Reb, Johnny takes the main responsibility in seeing that his cattle don't get to market in time to pay off the loan from Telford. First, he leads a nocturnal stampede of Reb's cattle. This sets Reb back a few days, but is insufficient by itself. Next, Johnny sets fire to the grass in a valley Reb's cattle have to go through. Turns out this is insufficient also, as Reb decides to try herding the cattle over a mountain. With great difficulty, he makes it. Johnny tried to stop him, but Reb came up with a plan to ambush Telford's men, and most were shot dead. They finally meet in Telford's saloon, where Johnny challenges Reb to a gun duel, which Reb rejects. However, Johnny shoots Telford when he tries to shoot Reb in the back. Johnny explains that Telford was trying to cheat him out of $2500. for killing Reb. After that, they are friends, again.
I'd like to summarize several key relationships:
Reb(Audie) and Dan Saxon:
Dan owns the biggest spread in the region, after Telford's. Reb originally came to this area at the invitation of Telford, to act as his gunslinger, especially in regard to Dan. However, Telford refused to pay Reb's initial price. Meanwhile, Dan was playing cards downstairs in the saloon. He offered Reb a gamble, high card winning. If Reb won, Dan would sign his ranch over to him. If Reb lost, he would work for Dan for an undetermined time period. Dan, a card sharp, fixes things so that Reb won. Why did he do this? He wanted to make sure that Telford and Reb wouldn't agree to a deal to spearhead an effort to delay getting Dan's cattle to market, so that he wouldn't meet the deadline for repaying a loan from Telford. Also, Dan had the impression that his daughter might eventually become Reb's wife. To show his gratitude, Reb hired Dan and daughter Rita.
Reb and Johnny Lake:
The film begins with Reb and Johnny hiding behind some bushes from a cavalry patrol. Seems they last were hired guns in the Johnson County WY cattle war. Now, they part ways. But they will meet again when cattle baron Telford wants a gunslinger comparable to Reb, who had rejected his offer. After rancher Dan signs over the deed to his ranch to Reb, Johnny takes the main responsibility in seeing that his cattle don't get to market in time to pay off the loan from Telford. First, he leads a nocturnal stampede of Reb's cattle. This sets Reb back a few days, but is insufficient by itself. Next, Johnny sets fire to the grass in a valley Reb's cattle have to go through. Turns out this is insufficient also, as Reb decides to try herding the cattle over a mountain. With great difficulty, he makes it. Johnny tried to stop him, but Reb came up with a plan to ambush Telford's men, and most were shot dead. They finally meet in Telford's saloon, where Johnny challenges Reb to a gun duel, which Reb rejects. However, Johnny shoots Telford when he tries to shoot Reb in the back. Johnny explains that Telford was trying to cheat him out of $2500. for killing Reb. After that, they are friends, again.