Passion (1954)

Set in old California of the 1800s when it was still under Mexico's rule. A rancher (Cornel Wilde) seeks revenge on the men who killed his wife (Yvonne De Carlo) and her family. After he kills one of the murderers (Lon Chaney Jr.), his lawman friend (Raymond Burr) lets him escape in the hopes he will go away and never come back. But his vengeance will not be sated until all the killers are punished. Directed by Allan Dwan, who made several fine films in the 1950s with the producer Benedict Bogeaus for RKO including SLIGHTLY SCARLET, SILVER LODE and TENNESSEE'S PARTNER. This one is one of the lesser achievements. It's modestly entertaining enough until the film's last 20 minutes or so when it becomes downright tedious. For a movie called PASSION, there's very little evident in the film. John Alton's (FATHER OF THE BRIDE) Technicolor location photography is very handsome and aids the film quite a bit. Yvonne De Carlo does double duty here playing both the dead wife and her twin sister. With Stuart Whitman, Frank De Kova, John Qualen, Anthony Caruso and Rodolfo Acosta.