"Along the Great Divide" has the distinction of being star Kirk Douglas' first western a genre he would return to time and time again over his lengthy career. This one has a film noire look about it. It's a grim and dark story complete with femme fatale.
Timothy "Pop" Keith is about to be strung up by powerful rancher Ed Roden (Morris Ankrum) when newly named federal marshal Len Merrick (Kirk Douglas) and his two deputies Billy Shear (John Agar) and Lou Gray (Ray Teal) break up the lynching. Pop has been accused of rustling Roden's cattle and the murder of Roden's son Ed. Roden, despite the warnings from fellow rancher Frank Newcombe (Hugh Sanders) over not interfering with the law, vows to take Pop Keith back and finish the job.
Merrick, the deputies and Keith go to Keith's cabin where, as you might have guessed, waits his feisty daughter Ann (Virginia Mayo). Merrick has promised to bring Keith to trial in the town of Santa Loma across a desert. To avoid Roden and his gang Merrick, the deputies and the Keiths start out over the burning desert to stay ahead of the pursuing Roden gang.
Keith begins to taunt Merrick by singing a song that reminds the lawman of an incident in his past. Ann pleads with him to let her father go to avoid the certain lynching that awaits him. The Rodins catch up to the group and a gunfight ensues. Deputy Shear is mortally wounded but Dan Rodin (James Anderson) is captured and held prisoner.
Ann begins to play up to Merrick with the aim of getting his gun away from him. She does but he quickly disarms her losing respect for the woman. Low on water, the group plods on with Dan trying to convince Gray to overpower Merrick. Merrick is forced to stay awake to avert and overt action on the part of the others.
Finally, Merrick collapses from exhaustion and is disarmed by Keith. Merrick calls his bluff and Keith doesn't want to kill the lawman. Keith kills Gray who is trying to take over. Finally, the survivors reach Santa Loma and a trial is held. Keith is found guilty. But as the Sheriff (Lane Chandler) about to hang Keith, Merrick discovers some new evidence and................................................
Douglas immediately took to the west and would appear in several classic westerns such as "Gunfight at the OK Coral" (1957), "Last Train From Gun Hill" (1959) and "Posse" (1975). Walter Brennan got to play it straight this time and proved that he could play characters other than the toothless side kick. Mayo was at the height of her career at this time and is excellent as the "femme fatale". John Agar is wasted getting killed off early in the proceedings. Western fans will recognize veteran performers Kenneth MacDonald, Steve Clark and Zon Murray in minor roles.
Beware of the cop out Hollywood ending.
Timothy "Pop" Keith is about to be strung up by powerful rancher Ed Roden (Morris Ankrum) when newly named federal marshal Len Merrick (Kirk Douglas) and his two deputies Billy Shear (John Agar) and Lou Gray (Ray Teal) break up the lynching. Pop has been accused of rustling Roden's cattle and the murder of Roden's son Ed. Roden, despite the warnings from fellow rancher Frank Newcombe (Hugh Sanders) over not interfering with the law, vows to take Pop Keith back and finish the job.
Merrick, the deputies and Keith go to Keith's cabin where, as you might have guessed, waits his feisty daughter Ann (Virginia Mayo). Merrick has promised to bring Keith to trial in the town of Santa Loma across a desert. To avoid Roden and his gang Merrick, the deputies and the Keiths start out over the burning desert to stay ahead of the pursuing Roden gang.
Keith begins to taunt Merrick by singing a song that reminds the lawman of an incident in his past. Ann pleads with him to let her father go to avoid the certain lynching that awaits him. The Rodins catch up to the group and a gunfight ensues. Deputy Shear is mortally wounded but Dan Rodin (James Anderson) is captured and held prisoner.
Ann begins to play up to Merrick with the aim of getting his gun away from him. She does but he quickly disarms her losing respect for the woman. Low on water, the group plods on with Dan trying to convince Gray to overpower Merrick. Merrick is forced to stay awake to avert and overt action on the part of the others.
Finally, Merrick collapses from exhaustion and is disarmed by Keith. Merrick calls his bluff and Keith doesn't want to kill the lawman. Keith kills Gray who is trying to take over. Finally, the survivors reach Santa Loma and a trial is held. Keith is found guilty. But as the Sheriff (Lane Chandler) about to hang Keith, Merrick discovers some new evidence and................................................
Douglas immediately took to the west and would appear in several classic westerns such as "Gunfight at the OK Coral" (1957), "Last Train From Gun Hill" (1959) and "Posse" (1975). Walter Brennan got to play it straight this time and proved that he could play characters other than the toothless side kick. Mayo was at the height of her career at this time and is excellent as the "femme fatale". John Agar is wasted getting killed off early in the proceedings. Western fans will recognize veteran performers Kenneth MacDonald, Steve Clark and Zon Murray in minor roles.
Beware of the cop out Hollywood ending.