This is a fine Western from 1948 with Glenn Ford giving a great performance as a former Civil War Col. obviously unhinged by his experience in that conflict. He returns to small town life with his best friend and former Captain, played by William Holden. It's not long before Ford is made a federal judge and in turn makes Holden a federal marshal. Soon tension begins to arise, aggravated by the love of both men for one woman and Ford's continued descent into madness. He begins to abuse his power as judge and leads hanging parties, much to Holden's dismay. Before long, the men are on opposite sides of a growing conflict between former soldiers and a mining company fighting over the rights to a gold-rich mountain.
Ford is really the whole show, twitching and bulging his eyes every time anyone even suggests he's acting crazy. Catch this film for the formula Western action but groove to Ford's performance, really one of his finest.
Ford is really the whole show, twitching and bulging his eyes every time anyone even suggests he's acting crazy. Catch this film for the formula Western action but groove to Ford's performance, really one of his finest.