Solid western is directed by that cinematic jack of all genres Robert Wise. A young drifter (Don Dubbins) saves the life of an ambushed rancher (James Cagney) and is taken under his wing. Dubbins falls in love with the Greek immigrant (Irene Papas) who’s taken shelter in Cagney’s household while horse thieves steal and terrorize Cagney’s horses. There’s much to admire in the film particularly in Cagney’s and the lovely young Papas’ performances. I don’t know as she’s ever looked more beautiful on screen. Dubbins was obviously being groomed for stardom but he’s so bland that you can see why it never happened for him. There’s a disturbing piece of (simulated) animal cruelty and Cagney’s character makes an abrupt about face change that it makes no narrative sense. Stephen McNally, Lee Van Cleef, Vic Morrow and Jeanette Nolan co-star. Excellent CinemaScope lensing by Robert Surtees and a strong score by Miklos Rozsa.
Agreed. Good film. The original story by Jack Schaefer (no Irene Papas subplot) does a better job of accounting for the about face.
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