Strong and Moving!

Sadly Over-hyped

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

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

A definite run of the mill western where Sally Forrest is ready to get on with life after giving birth to an illegitimate child. She keeps who the father is a secret and this angers her two brothers who vow revenge.In the midst of all this, she is taken in by friend Joanne Dru whose husband is Robert Walker. Guess what the relationship of Walker is to Forrest?Walker is the son of the wealthy cattle business person Ray Collins and the latter took in Burt Lancaster as a child as his own.Walker is definitely the heavy here as he convinces his father to make him a half-partner so that he can run off with the money and start life anew.Walker turns on Lancaster and there is the inevitable shootout involving the two brothers and the brothers of Lily-Sally Forrest.The film is only 83 minutes long and lacks stronger character development, especially the Lancaster part.

A 1951 MGM color western, lapsed into public domain. Several copies available at YouTube: all with frequent washed out colors and slightly fuzzy image. Nonetheless, they are good enough for the determined viewer. Also available in "The Great American Western" DVD pack.The screenplay focuses on an unwed mother(Sally Forrest as Lily),and the question of who is the father. Lily won't tell and neither will the father, who doesn't want to suffer retribution at the hands of her 2 big brothers Hub(John Ireland) and Dick(Hugh O'Brien), or his wife or father. Although neighbor Hewie, a young ranch hand, has long had a crush on Lily, suspicion falls on Owen(Burt Lancaster): one of two brothers who run a neighboring ranch for their ailing father(Arch). Owen's guilt is assumed by some after he visits Lily, staying at a neighbor's house, and leaves her $500. Later, it's discovered that Owen's brother Lee(Robert Walker) withdrew $500. from their account, making his wife, Jen(Joanne Dru) assume that he is the likely father. She tells Owen she wants to leave, but Owen talks her into staying, although she locks Lee out of the bedroom. Owen has also figured out that Lee is the father but, like Jen, won't tell anyone. Lily's brothers still believe Owen is the father, and stick him up when he again visits Lily. Owen has a fist fight with one, until Lily appears with a rifle to end it, and send her brothers to jail for a week. I should explain that Owen was adopted as an orphan, while Lee is Arch's(father) natural son. Amazingly, the narrator in the introduction gets this backwards! Owen appears to be a little older and definitely taller and bigger. He's the foreman, and certainly more responsible than Lee. One wonders why Jen married Lee rather than Owen. Owen suggests to Lee that if he values his life, he best leave for other parts before Lily's brothers get out of jail. Lee sends mixed messages as to whether he is leaving. He asks for and receives a half ownership share of the father's ranch. Yet, he sells 3000 head of cattle, supposedly to get him started in parts unknown. Arch says that Owen will inherent the other half interest in the ranch when he(Arch)dies. Lee arranges for Lily's brothers to join the cattle herding, arranging with them to ambush Owen when Lee leads him to the place. Well, you can more or less guess what actually happens. Unfortunately, there is no hint whether Owen and Jen are likely to marry, or whether Owen or Hewie will likely marry Lily. Lily seems a pretty independent person, but my guess is she will eventually marry Hewie, as someone who will not try to be too dominating over her.

A wealthy ranch man has a son ;his wife died a long time ago and the boy ,now married to Jen ,gets Lily pregnant.And he's got an ominous plan about his father's valuable properties.Bad boy indeed.Fortunately ,there's another "son" Owen (Daybright,what a surname!),or a boy the old man treats like a son.Robert Walker plays the villain as he did in Hitchcock's thriller "strangers on a train" while Burt Lancaster is the nice guy,who can even take the blame for what his pal did.The bad boy/ anxious father subject was much better applied on Anthony Mann's "Man from Laramie" in 1955,but Burt Lancaster makes this ho -hum western watchable.Pointless voice over.

Enjoyed this great Classic 1951 film since Burt Lancaster was born and raised in New York City and since this was his first western film, he had to learn how to ride horses and took plenty of instructions from professionals. Burt plays the role as Owen Daybright who was adopted by a very rich cattle baron and he was very much loved. However, Lee Strobie, (Robert Walker) was the real son of the cattle baron and he was spoiled rotten and a big trouble maker. Owen always protects him from trouble and fought his battles whenever they occurred. Lee marries Jen, (Joanne Dru) and they live happy for a few years and then Lee has an affair with Lily Fasken, (Sally Forrest) and he gives her a baby. This is when the trouble starts and Owen is accused of being the father of the child and Owen takes the rap and is hunted down by Lily's brothers and family. Great film with plenty of drama and a great Burt Lancaster Western. Enjoy.