The lost genre being the good, challenging family/children's movie.
There were many series Westerns, and later TV variants like Cisco and Hoppy, but "Cattle Drive" is a lovely example of a cinema Western movie for kids but also to be enjoyed by the family. Shortish but with barely a false or draggy moment.
From the reviews already logged, it's obviously warmly remembered by those who saw it as children when it first came out.
Here in the UK it has been shown several times in the last few years and, as I write (March 2012) it's getting consecutive airings on a free to view digital channel.
No surprise: it's a terrific little film, one of two or three in similar vein that McCrea made around that time.
Joel McCrea obviously had an affinity with children, but, then again, wasn't he just a marvellous actor in whatever he did?
To the many points mentioned by the reviewers I would add another-the wonderful music.