The Big Land (1957)

After the Civil War, a former Confederate (Alan Ladd) leads a cattle drive into Missouri with the hope of a big sale for he and his partners. But a corrupt cattle buyer (Anthony Caruso) has terrorized other potential bidders away so he can buy the cattle at dirt cheap prices. Undeterred, he joins forces with an alcoholic architect (Edmond O'Brien) to build a town with the help of the local ranchers. Based on the novel THE BIG GRASS by Frank Gruber, this is a generic western that makes for passable entertainment. The most interesting thing about it is the character portrayed by O'Brien, an alcoholic wreck of a man who overcomes his addiction to become a positive force in the building of a new town, only to meet his Waterloo at the hands of a ruthless cattleman. The narrative suffers a bit because of Ladd's character who doesn't come across as very bright. His inability to foresee disaster ahead when we the audience can clearly see what's coming doesn't make him any the more likable. Directed by Gordon Douglas. With Virginia Mayo as the love interest, John Qualen, Julie Bishop, James Anderson, John Doucette and David Ladd (who would team up with his father the following year in THE PROUD REBEL).