Along The Great Divide (1951)

A federal lawman (Kirk Douglas) and his deputies (John Agar, Ray Teal) rescue a cattle rustler (Walter Brennan), who allegedly killed the son of a rancher (Morris Ankrum), from a lynch mob with the intent of taking him to the nearest town for a fair trial. The lawmen, along with the suspect's tomboy daughter (Virginia Mayo), then set off on a perilous trek across the desert with the lynch mob in hot pursuit. Directed by Raoul Walsh (HIGH SIERRA), this modest western isn't brought up much when discussing the classics of the genre but it's a taut, economical piece of work. Walsh focuses his energies on the conflicts between the unlikely companions thrown together by circumstance. Coming in at a tight 88 minutes, he doesn't waste much time on unnecessary filler and makes every moment count culminating in a satisfying climax. Douglas is his usual intense self but Brennan is a bit of a treat as the shiftless, manipulative rustler whose saving grace is his love for his daughter. The only sour note is the presence of the supremely untalented Agar who, fortunately, is dispensed with early in the proceedings. With James Anderson (TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD) as Ankrum's other son.