Really Surprised!

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

Guy Madison (Larry Knight), Rory Calhoun (Phil Acton), Carole Mathews (Laura Jordan), Cathy Downs (Kitty Reid), Johnny Sands (Randy Reid), Steve Brodie (Burke Kimber), Art Baker (Colonel James Reid), Iron Eyes Cody (Chief Yellowstone), Emory Parnell (Sergeant Johanssen), Queenie Smith (Mrs Johanssen), Eddy Waller (Joe), James Bush (Eddie), John Holland (Roberts), Douglas Fowley (Simms), Harry Brown (piano player), Kermit Maynard (scout), Gregg Barton (Frank). Director: JOHN RAWLINS. Original screenplay: Louis Stevens. Photography: Jack MacKenzie. Supervising film editor: Richard Cahoon. Associate film editor: W.J. Murphy. Music composed by Lucien Moraweck and John Leipold, directed by Lud Gluskin. Art director: Lucius O. Croxton. Set decorator: John Sturtevant. Men's wardrobe: Frank Beetson. Gowns: Ann Peck. Make-up: Norbert Miles. Hair styles: Gale McGarry. Photographic effects: Jack R. Glass. Camera movements: Charles Straumer, Morris Rosen. Military adviser: Colonel Henry J. Matchett, U.S. Army. Production manager: Harry S. Franklin. Assistant director: Clem Beauchamp. Sound recording: Jean L. Speak. Western Electric Sound System. Producers: Julian Lesser, Frank Melford. A Windsor Picture. Exterior scenes photographed with the co-operation of the U.S. Department of the Interior, the National Parks Service and the Office of Indian Affairs.Copyright 1 April 1949 by Windsor Pictures Corp. Released through Allied Artists. Original release prints processed in sepia. New York opening at the Palace: 14 July 1949. U.S. release: 1 April 1949. U.K. release through Pathé: 27 March 1950. Never theatrically released in Australia. 75 minutes.SYNOPSIS: Three cavalry officers, once fast friends, become mortal enemies because of a woman.NOTES: Filmed in Arizona. According to early press releases, the script was based on a novel by Harold Bell Wright, and had additional dialogue by Otto Englander. Olin Howland appears in the cast list as a circuit rider, whilst J.W. Cody plays Walking Bear.COMMENT: Something new was attempted in this "B" western in which the emphasis is not on action but on a strong love story. Unfortunately, this innovation pleased no-one. Action fans felt short-changed and those who appreciate complex romantic plots don't see westerns, period. Another problem is that the acting is not vigorous or convincing enough to carry the situations. Guy Madison, in a key role, is especially weak and immature.Nonetheless the movie is sufficiently well directed and literately scripted to command respect. Our attention is tripled by superb location cinematography — even though the present black-and-white prints look over-exposed and washed-out (this was done to accommodate the sepia bath which would have restored contrast, sharpness and depth. Original release prints must have looked magnificent).

A dashing cavalry officer is torn between two women causing ructions for those closest to him. This is more of dialogue driven rather than action driven western. Unfortunately it's not a particularly interesting story which makes much of the film a bit stale. However the good looking cast, decent acting and some occasional stunning cinematography make it worth at least one viewing. The ending was a bit strange, almost like it didn't know which way to go, sombre or happy, so it tried a bit of both. Which I kind of liked as it goes. Overall it's not a bad film just one that's not particularly memorable.

What comes out stronger in this western is the romantic part, a love story that has all the odds against it. Larry Knight (Guy Madison) is an officer who has everything going for him, a beautiful fiancée Kitty (Cathy Downs) daughter of the commander who will make sure Knight will have a bright career after he gets married, and great friends, Phil (Rory Calhoun) and Kitty's brother Randy (Johnny Sands). Knight meets Laura Jordan (Carole Mathews) the saloon owner, who is having trouble with her partner Kimber (Steve Brodie) who wants her out. Knight tries to resist his love for Laura,and who could blame him considering the hurt feelings he will cause and the loss of his career? I enjoyed seeing this film, it has good actors and an unusual story for a western.

In this routine oater, Larry (Guy Madison) and Phil (Rory Calhoun) are officers in the Army stationed at a remote fort at the edge of Indian territory. The Indian chief (Iron Eyes Cody) represents the native inhabitants near the end of their fight with the white man; therefore, the fort and nearby town of Jackson are populated by mostly settlers and other civilians. Larry is engaged to Kitty (Cathy Downs), the daughter of the fort commander, and Kitty's brother Randy is the mild comedy relief. Although the film's poster promises some violent Army-Indian clashes, there is only one mildly good battle scene and a skirmish near the finale. The bulk of the movie is a leaden soap opera concerned with how Larry jilts Kitty after he falls in love with the hardened co-owner of Jackson's saloon (Carole Matthews). This sets both Phil and Randy against Larry. The divisions this causes leads the death and tragedy in a "character-driven" western which, despite good performances from Madison and Matthews, strains to make us believe that their characters have any sort of believable future together.