the audience applauded

just watch it!

Expected more

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

I've seen this movie more than a few times and it never gets old. Like Col. Potter said,, "All a good movie needs is horses, cowboys and horses." But this story goes beyond your typical oater of black hats and white hats; cowboys and Indians. It's the story of a slightly dysfunctional family that could take place in any era,, and I'm sure it has (been done before/since). What I particularly like about this movie is it is nonstop. I tend to get bored by flash-backs, flash-forwards, flash-sideways, endless chase scenes and lengthy shootouts. There was also one musical scene,, another thing I'm not fond of,, but I think it was done well and it worked for me. Always more than capable Van Heflin did a great job. Tab Hunter was a real surprise. I haven't seen all of his work,, "They Came to Cordura",, and maybe I'm biased by years of the pretty boy, can't act label but I though he turned in a journeyman performance this time. James Darren,, as always,, was a bit stiff and understated but being the shy, reserved, younger brother,, I believe understated was called for; stiff wasn't. In support there is Mickey Shaughnessy, Robert F. Simon, Edward Platt, Ray Teal, Will Wright and Paul Birch. Not that any of these guys ever mailed in a performance but Simon and Teal were very good.When I watch a movie I'm not looking to be edified, enlightened, educated, illuminated or inspired. I'm not looking for political statements or correctness (I like "Green Acres" and "The Honeymooners"). I don't delve into the mind of the character and dissect their psyche. I couldn't care less what motivates them. I have neither the time nor the inclination to do any digging. I want to be entertained and this movie did just that. I thought this was a good movie, good story and good acting.

Van Heflin and Tab Hunter both deliver commanding performances in this quite gripping western about a hard as nails, old- time rancher father who wants both his son's to be tough and gun savvy. Trouble soon arises as the son played by Tab Hunter becomes too headstrong while the other son played by James Darren, insists he doesn't need a gun to prove his manhood. Problem is for some reason Van Heflin makes no bones about his approval for the son who is basically spoiled and ruthless. Grim reality sets in when Heflin realizes his son has become an out of control animal with no morals and basically must be put down by him. Although James Darren's role isn't quite as active as Hunters, he finely portrays the kind and gentler brother who falls in love with a half breed, played by Kathryn Grant. Even though the end of Hunters life is violent, there is a very touching scene between Heflin, Darren and Grant to close out the story. It is hard not to give a full synopsis of this powerful story, full of conflicts, tension and violence. I appreciated the story and strongly recommend the reader to watch this western film and decide for themselves.

This was the old-fashioned western and it works well as it deals with the human element and a father's failed attempt to raise his cocky son, the latter too involved with gun play and the resulting tragedies that come about. Of course, Van Heflin, as the patriarch, shows his mettle and his determination to defend a son (Tab Hunter) who can do no wrong, despite violent behavior. James Darren also shines as the good son, in love with Kathryn Grant, a half-Indian whose brother Hunter (Ed) killed which sets him in a spiraling downward motion.Once the spiraling occurs, we see a different Heflin emerge. He soon shows that he is a stubborn man refusing to face reality and shows his bigotry towards Davie (Darren) and the Indian-girl he loves.

Unlike sandcrab's bitter politically-correct review below, I happen to put this one on my A list for 50s westerns. Van Heflin plays a hard cattle rancher who wants the best for his two boys. One (Tab Hunter) is wild, spoiled and bitter about following in his father's shadow, the other (James Darren) is soft, gentle, not prone to gunplay like his older brother is. Heflin is very effective at playing the overindulgent father, blind to the realities that both boys are dealing with.The conflict begins when Hunter and a half-breed Sioux (Bert Convy) that his father has hired, race after a prized white stallion that they've been trying to catch for some time now. Hunter runs his horse into the Indian, forcing him off a cliff into an arroyo, plunging to his death below. Two other Indians witness this and will later testify against Hunter at his trial.At the trial, a drifting horse trader (Ray Teal) testifies in favor of Hunter for a price of 10 mustangs and the white stallion. Heflin catches on to Teal's game and agrees to it in order to protect his son, but warns Teal to get out of town and don't come back or else. In the meantime, Darren has fallen in love with the dead Indian's sister (Kathryn Grant) which also further complicates things between himself and his father.As Hunter sees Teal riding the herd including the white stallion through town, he goes down and confronts Teal and demands the white stallion back. When he refuses, he draws on Teal and shoots him off his horse, severely wounding him. Hunter is placed in jail but once again daddy Heflin covers up for him by offering Teal a bribe he can't refuse.But it all doesn't matter because Hunter breaks out of jail, killing the unarmed deputy (Mickey Shaughnessy) in the process, and forcing the town to form a posse to go after him. Even Heflin can't save his boy at this point, but he knows where he's headed and he gets there before the posse does, thereby provoking a showdown between father and son. With taught direction by Phil Karlson, an excellent script and tight story by Frank Nugent & Ric Hardman along with a powerful performance by Van Heflin, this one deserves to be in any western film buff's collection. I recommend it wholeheartedly. All I hope is that it will be released on DVD, someday. 8 out of 10