This film is set during the Civil War. Randolph Scott is dispatched by the Union Army to the West in order to ensure that stagecoaches filled with gold make it unscathed--without the Confederates capturing it. Unfortunately, at one place along the route, Andrew Duggan is the town big shot and he's determined to wreck Scott's plans because Duggan is a Confederate sympathizer.
Now it's pretty obvious early on that while Duggan is boss, that eventually there will be some sort of showdown between him and his foreman--the impulsive and violent Mace (Michael Pate). This was telegraphed all the way, as was the pending breakup between Duggan and his wife (Virginia Mayo). About the only surprise, and it was a very, very mild one, was how ineffective Scott was for much of the film. While he acted tough and in control, an amazing number of his people were killed before he took any serious action.
The story in this Western isn't that unusual and seems very, very similar to at least a hundred other films in the genre. So, from the outset, the story is awfully derivative and keeps this film from really succeeding. However, because Budd Boetticher was the director and Randolph Scott the leading man, there was an aura of class and sophistication that made this film a bit better than just another ordinary Western. Scott, as usual, was exceptional in his low-key and realistic delivery. If only the source material had been a bit better.
Now it's pretty obvious early on that while Duggan is boss, that eventually there will be some sort of showdown between him and his foreman--the impulsive and violent Mace (Michael Pate). This was telegraphed all the way, as was the pending breakup between Duggan and his wife (Virginia Mayo). About the only surprise, and it was a very, very mild one, was how ineffective Scott was for much of the film. While he acted tough and in control, an amazing number of his people were killed before he took any serious action.
The story in this Western isn't that unusual and seems very, very similar to at least a hundred other films in the genre. So, from the outset, the story is awfully derivative and keeps this film from really succeeding. However, because Budd Boetticher was the director and Randolph Scott the leading man, there was an aura of class and sophistication that made this film a bit better than just another ordinary Western. Scott, as usual, was exceptional in his low-key and realistic delivery. If only the source material had been a bit better.