Cattle King (1963)

Set in 1883 Wyoming, a cattle rancher (Robert Taylor) is trying to peacefully hold on to his spread and avoid a range war but a cattle baron (Robert Middleton) hires a gunslinger (Richard Devon) to intimidate the ranchers who refuse to accede to his threats. Directed by Tay Garnett (THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE), this low budget western could just as well been an episode of BONANZA. I think I was supposed to admire Taylor's reticence to involve himself in violence but he seemed too unbelievably naive to not know that eventually it would erupt in violence. If he'd taken a stronger stand earlier, some deaths could have been avoided. But it passes the time just fine, just don't expect anything more than a routine oater. With Joan Caulfield, Robert Loggia, William Windom, Virginia Christine, Ray Teal, Maggie Pierce and Larry Gates as Chester A. Arthur, President of the United States.