Reviews

It is a lovely film to watch. Archie Stout one of fords favorite cameraman, shot it. The last scene where Judge Priest is seen in the doorway echos the last scene in the Searchers. It is a film about loyalty, honor and redemption. But there are scenes where the black people of the town are shown to be childlike, and in awe of their white leaders. This marks the film as a product of a time long past. Some of the scenes of the black people are demeaning. But over all, Judge Preists sense of honor, his fairness to all, his sense of decency looms over the film. Ford makes Judge Priest (played by Charles Winninger in his best role) a heroic figure. But a figure that is isolated even in a crowd. A former bugler he is left to carry on the codes of honor and fairness that the old south thought it contained. People vote for him, return him to office year after year, yet he goes into his home alone. He is man out of his time. A man of the community but set apart from it by his strict adherence to his code. Some of the acting in the film is over acting. But the last fifteen minutes are lovely to watch.

I recentlty saw this film, transferred from 16 mm, to video. It was a strong drama about men trapped in the extreme wilderness. John Wayne plays the leader who holds the men together. Wayne plays it with a quiet intensity. It is Wayne at his peak. With a great cast, Lloyd Nolan,Andy Devine, and Fess Parker in a bit part. However the film is preachy and the voiceover narration detracts a great deal. If you can manage to find it do so, for over all it is a very good film