This film was a western remake of Joseph L. Mankiewicz's 1949 terrific movie, "House of Strangers". Director, Edward Dmytryk does a great job of opening up the story from an urban one to the sprawling west and directing a strong talented cast. Richard Murphy's screenplay is a character study of a domineering patriarch, Matt Devereaux (Tracy) and his four sons. The youngest is a progeny from a second marriage to a Native-American woman well-played by Katy Jurado. Murphy's story is sleek and fast-paced and includes a sub-plot of racial prejudice rare for Hollywood films of the time. But it is the actors who really are the strength of the film. Robert Wagner turns in a fine performance as the half-Native American son, Joe. Wagner has had a lengthy career and is today mostly known for being "Number 2" in the Austin Powers films. Few people recall the string of great films he performed in during the '50's like this one. Wagner's acting was on a par with the variety of heavy-weights he was often paired off with. Spencer Tracy, not one to suffer fools thought a great deal of the young Wagner and performed in one other film with him a few years later ("The Mountain").
Richard Widmark is terrific as the oldest son, Ben. Very underrated and one of the best actors of his generation, Widmark is the long-suffering son who bears the brunt of the hard-times suffered under his tough father's ambitions for success as a rancher in the roughest of times in the west. The other two sons are ably played by Hugh O'Brian and a young Earl Holliman. Jean Peters is fine as Wagner's love interest. Katy Jurado does a great job in a wonderfully under-stated role as Matt Devereaux's second wife. The rest of the cast includes some great film and theatre veterans, Carl Benton Reid, Eduard Franz, and the great E.G. Marshall.
With all these fine talents this is still Spencer Tracy's film. This is a perfect larger than life character that Tracy fills out so well. Charismatic, strong and appealing, Matt Devereaux is a role that could've been one-dimensional in the hands of a lesser talent. Tracy's presence is even felt in the scenes he isn't in.
This is a fine film entertainment that is sprawling in size in the true measure of 1950's cinema-scope. You'll enjoy it again... and again!
Richard Widmark is terrific as the oldest son, Ben. Very underrated and one of the best actors of his generation, Widmark is the long-suffering son who bears the brunt of the hard-times suffered under his tough father's ambitions for success as a rancher in the roughest of times in the west. The other two sons are ably played by Hugh O'Brian and a young Earl Holliman. Jean Peters is fine as Wagner's love interest. Katy Jurado does a great job in a wonderfully under-stated role as Matt Devereaux's second wife. The rest of the cast includes some great film and theatre veterans, Carl Benton Reid, Eduard Franz, and the great E.G. Marshall.
With all these fine talents this is still Spencer Tracy's film. This is a perfect larger than life character that Tracy fills out so well. Charismatic, strong and appealing, Matt Devereaux is a role that could've been one-dimensional in the hands of a lesser talent. Tracy's presence is even felt in the scenes he isn't in.
This is a fine film entertainment that is sprawling in size in the true measure of 1950's cinema-scope. You'll enjoy it again... and again!