A Brilliant Conflict

The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

First off it's Garson's last film. And secondly it features a very distinct difference in acting styles. Garson displays her grand style in use of language and presentation as if she were back on the stage. Andrews displays the man from "The Best Years of Our Lives" years on who opted to not so much act as be present. And then there's the new kid, Lois Smith. Her very contemporary (for 1955) Brandoesque inhabiting of "Spurs" puts all of this together in the strangest way imaginable. I think SHE was the "Strange Lady in Town" or at least this movie. There is also the reality of how women Hollywood films seem to be retired once the aging process makes them too old for leading ladies. Garson isn't the best representative for this argument because her acting style was of another era. But she should have been able to continue on were she not so much a star. That comes through here loud and clear.

I originally watched this because I'm a fan of Greer Garson, Dana Andrews, period pieces, and westerns. These are still all great reasons to watch this film. I gained a few others, too, like the well-done portrayal of Spurs by Lois Smith, the rival doctors in a small town drama who are, of course, Garson and Andrews, and the lovely Technicolor where we get to see Garson in all her true, red-haloed glory.This isn't an awful film. I might even watch it again someday. However, all of the positive elements failed to add up to equal the caliber of film both of these actors had made many times before. Also, Dana Andrews looked a bit too young for Garson as he often did with a costar who wasn't at least 5 years younger or more. He had a young face even for a man with a drinking problem. I adore both of these actors, but this might have been a good time to match Garson with Pidgeon one more time. You can hardly beat that teaming;) They could have added some humor and it might have turned out to be more than "worth a watch" for me. Also, I chalk it off to poor writing, Cameron Mitchell's usual overacting, and not much romantic tension between the leads (bad casting there as I really like each actor separately).If you are a fan of these actors or westerns or bored and prefer classics to other films, then I recommend watching it purely on the fact that it is beautifully shot and Greer Garson, with her gentle demeanor and lovely beauty and voice, can make even a fairly bad picture better:)

While not a classic, a truly enjoyable film with a favorite star of mine, Greer Garson. Dana Andrews is also a fine actor and plays his part with convincing sincerity. Mitchell is also a fine actor but does seem to be acting, more so than Greer Garson or Dana Andrews. The Billy the Kid segment is a bit over the top, but OK. The young lady is GREAT!Wish I had been able to see more of her. The theme song is a fine one. Frankie Lane never acquired the acclaim he should have had, either. However, it was evidently a forgettable tune, but one I know by heart. Dana Andrews is a doctor, soured on life since the death of his wife. He is raising a daughter, while being the only M.D. in a small village, in the old west. Into town drives Greer Garson. A brilliant woman who has studied medicine in Europe and has several new techniques to try to update the staid, older doctor. Sparks fly and so do the tempers.

Somewhat noneventful tale of a woman doctor in 1880s Santa Fe. She tames local doc Andrews, but her brother (Mitchell) turns out to be a bad seed. The best thing about this film is Lois Smith's gamine performance as Andrews' daughter -- very cute and pretty nice performance.