This movie was on TCM so I tried it out. Its the story of Will Lane, an older man who travels to Montana to seek Lee Carey, the son of an old friend. The reason Lane does this is to try to make Carey into a responsible man, apparently a promise he made to Carey's deceased father. Carey turns out to be fond of drinking, women and gambling, so in order for Lane to calm him down he travels to find him a mail order bride. From there, we'll see whether Carey is tamed. This is a basic western, with drama and light comedy. Buddy Ebsen as Lane is fine, and the film is easy to watch. Its nothing special but I still didn't mind it. I'm not particularly fond of Westerns, and this does not rank anywhere near John Wayne's best but its not bad. I was never a big fan of Mr. Ebsen's TV work, but this is a decent film. A curious bit of casting is Jimmy Mathers, Jerry's brother, as the bride's son. He is in a very small role but it was interesting anyway (I didn't know he had a brother). So, if you like westerns or are just looking to pass the time, I think its watchable. Go ahead, its worth it.
11 Reviews
Extremely slight, but still enjoyable...
moonspinner553 July 2006
Minor comedic western has rural newlyweds (a hot-tempered rebel and a widow with a young son) forced together into matrimony, but attempting to make the union work if only to spite the town's naysayers. Buddy Ebsen's role as a potential troublemaker isn't well-defined--and worse, he keeps popping in and out of scenes without any character motive. Keir Dullea and Lois Nettleton fare much better as the married twosome, and Jimmy Mathers (brother of Jerry) is a cute youngster. Nettleton in particular looks very much at home in these rugged settings; she's a warm, reassuring presence on the screen, like a younger version of Deborah Kerr. The scenery is attractive and the pacing is lively, however a bit more action or excitement in the narrative might've helped. Still, fast-paced, innocuous fun. **1/2 from ****
**1/2
edwagreen26 July 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Interesting, but all too predictable story of a young man, out of control, who is taken under the wing by his dead father's best friend. The solution to his problems in this western is to get a wife.
Buddy Ebsen shines here as the guy who searches for Keir Dullea. Lois Nettleton becomes the bride. She brings to the marriage a young son. Widowed, her character is totally not allowed to be developed here.
Naturally, there are cattle rustlers who take advantage of the situation and a scene where the young boy's life is put in danger when a fire breaks out, started by the crooks, in the area where he is sleeping.
The ending, naturally when things calm down, is poignant and comical as Ebsen shows that it's never too late to find love.
Buddy Ebsen shines here as the guy who searches for Keir Dullea. Lois Nettleton becomes the bride. She brings to the marriage a young son. Widowed, her character is totally not allowed to be developed here.
Naturally, there are cattle rustlers who take advantage of the situation and a scene where the young boy's life is put in danger when a fire breaks out, started by the crooks, in the area where he is sleeping.
The ending, naturally when things calm down, is poignant and comical as Ebsen shows that it's never too late to find love.
Minor Gem in a Little Depth
dougdoepke22 January 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Reviewer Wolfgang is correct: this is an "old fashioned" Western. But old fashioned or not, it's a minor gem in my little book. Old coot Will Lane's (Ebsen) got a debt of honor to young wastrel Lee Carey's (Dullea) dead dad and, by golly, a debt of honor means just that to old man Lane, worn-out or not. To fulfill that debt he's got to make enough of a man out of young Lee to deserve the ranch deed Dad entrusted to Will for safekeeping.
Trouble is Lee spends his days carousing in town with the no-good Jace (Oates), while the ranch goes to seed and Jace steals his cattle. Into this unhappy mess rides old Will with his debt of honor, thinking maybe a mail order bride (Nettleton) and her young son will turn the shiftless Lee into enough of a responsible husband and father to deserve owning the picturesque ranch. Thus, the movie is ultimately about learning those values that endure and separating them from those that don't-- perhaps an old-fashioned idea, but one to consider, especially in our post-modern era.
Now, the movie would not work so well without three contributing elements. Ebsen's simply superb as the low-key old man. It's an odd performance, so stoical as to be almost deadpan —I count one smile in the whole 90 minutes. Ordinarily, that would be boring to watch, but Ebsen acts subtly with his eyes and in such a steady dignified manner that he doesn't have to say much. Director Kennedy wisely keeps the camera on Will's face when somebody says something important, so we know what he's thinking because we know what kind of man he is. That way we participate in what he's feeling; we don't just observe it. All in all, the honor-bound Will Lane is in the best tradition of the dedicated Western hero, while Ebsen's collaboration with Kennedy creates a memorable movie character.
What an excellent choice Lois Nettleton is as the hopeful, young Annie. Standing there on the train platform, alone with her young son, hoping for a new life with a man she's never seen, amounts to an almost aching portrait of feminine vulnerability. Rather plain-faced, Nettleton never looked like Hollywood, but she brings just the right combination of grit and sensitivity to the role of a bride that you can order through the mail like a package with skirts.
The third element is director-writer Burt Kennedy. Often that combination doesn't work, but here it does. He's created the characters and knows just what cinematic effects he wants. It's a very coherent, well-crafted script with a number of good lines. The tongue-in-cheek comedy also comes across effectively—the marriage ceremony is paced so quickly and humorously that we hardly notice how preposterous it is. Note too, how efficiently and humorously Kennedy introduces Will and Lee in the very first scene with character sketches that will come to define them. He also gets a vivid performance out of Warren Oates as the no-account Jace, a role Oates is obviously enjoying and darn near steals the show with.
However, in my book not everything is aces. Shooting Jace seems to me a mistake given the general tone of the movie. There should have been a less drastic way of removing him as a bad influence on Lee. Then too, Dullea as Lee looks the part of callow youth and acts it too, but at times the effort comes too close to burlesque. Also, old Hollywood just had to be old Hollywood in outfitting Annie in very unfrontierish form-fitting dresses. I doubt there were many tailors in early day Montana (actually, lovely Kennedy Meadows in the scenic Central Sierras). At the same time, I doubt that the movie's tame title did the box office any good with its very un-Western connotation.
Anyway, I expect the few people who read this may wonder why I've bothered to write so much about such an obscure film. But quality, I believe, deserves recognition no matter how big or small the audience. Also, the Internet offers new opportunities to those of us at the grassroots level. A number of minor gems came out of Hollywood over the decades that, for whatever reason, passed by unnoticed, but remain in the archives for rediscovery. Despite its very modest virtues and unpromising title, Mail Order Bride, I think, is one of them.
Trouble is Lee spends his days carousing in town with the no-good Jace (Oates), while the ranch goes to seed and Jace steals his cattle. Into this unhappy mess rides old Will with his debt of honor, thinking maybe a mail order bride (Nettleton) and her young son will turn the shiftless Lee into enough of a responsible husband and father to deserve owning the picturesque ranch. Thus, the movie is ultimately about learning those values that endure and separating them from those that don't-- perhaps an old-fashioned idea, but one to consider, especially in our post-modern era.
Now, the movie would not work so well without three contributing elements. Ebsen's simply superb as the low-key old man. It's an odd performance, so stoical as to be almost deadpan —I count one smile in the whole 90 minutes. Ordinarily, that would be boring to watch, but Ebsen acts subtly with his eyes and in such a steady dignified manner that he doesn't have to say much. Director Kennedy wisely keeps the camera on Will's face when somebody says something important, so we know what he's thinking because we know what kind of man he is. That way we participate in what he's feeling; we don't just observe it. All in all, the honor-bound Will Lane is in the best tradition of the dedicated Western hero, while Ebsen's collaboration with Kennedy creates a memorable movie character.
What an excellent choice Lois Nettleton is as the hopeful, young Annie. Standing there on the train platform, alone with her young son, hoping for a new life with a man she's never seen, amounts to an almost aching portrait of feminine vulnerability. Rather plain-faced, Nettleton never looked like Hollywood, but she brings just the right combination of grit and sensitivity to the role of a bride that you can order through the mail like a package with skirts.
The third element is director-writer Burt Kennedy. Often that combination doesn't work, but here it does. He's created the characters and knows just what cinematic effects he wants. It's a very coherent, well-crafted script with a number of good lines. The tongue-in-cheek comedy also comes across effectively—the marriage ceremony is paced so quickly and humorously that we hardly notice how preposterous it is. Note too, how efficiently and humorously Kennedy introduces Will and Lee in the very first scene with character sketches that will come to define them. He also gets a vivid performance out of Warren Oates as the no-account Jace, a role Oates is obviously enjoying and darn near steals the show with.
However, in my book not everything is aces. Shooting Jace seems to me a mistake given the general tone of the movie. There should have been a less drastic way of removing him as a bad influence on Lee. Then too, Dullea as Lee looks the part of callow youth and acts it too, but at times the effort comes too close to burlesque. Also, old Hollywood just had to be old Hollywood in outfitting Annie in very unfrontierish form-fitting dresses. I doubt there were many tailors in early day Montana (actually, lovely Kennedy Meadows in the scenic Central Sierras). At the same time, I doubt that the movie's tame title did the box office any good with its very un-Western connotation.
Anyway, I expect the few people who read this may wonder why I've bothered to write so much about such an obscure film. But quality, I believe, deserves recognition no matter how big or small the audience. Also, the Internet offers new opportunities to those of us at the grassroots level. A number of minor gems came out of Hollywood over the decades that, for whatever reason, passed by unnoticed, but remain in the archives for rediscovery. Despite its very modest virtues and unpromising title, Mail Order Bride, I think, is one of them.
Old fashioned
wolfhell8812 June 2002
Old fashioned western comedy with an interesting cast. Keir "2001" Dullea plays a wild young man and Buddy "Barnaby Jones" Ebsen plays a friend of his dead father who should learn him how to behave. Warren Oates and a very young William Smith play his bad friends.
Well Doggies- No Sun Tan From Beverly Hills
DKosty12327 July 2016
Warning: Spoilers
It is interesting that Buddy Ebsen managed to get this one in between seasons of his CBS series. His role is more quiet and reserved in this movie than Uncle Jed, and he has to mail order a bride since Elly Mae is not available. Too bad since Donna Douglas would not do badly here.
Lois Nettleton, Marie Windor and Barbara Luna are much more mature ladies here, than Douglas would have been. There is some solid male acting here with Warren Oates getting lessons on how to be the bad guy he would become in the classic Bonnie & Clyde which comes later.
The plot has Will Lane (Ebsen) assigned by a friend to protect his son from himself as the young man is a lot irresponsible, After getting full exposure of the kid, he decides the only way to get the kid to settle down is get him a woman. I think it is more of a way to torture a woman but somehow this actually works pretty well and this film turns into a minor success. Hey, not every summer vacation movie can turn into a "Psycho" Especially when the master is not behind the camera.
Lois Nettleton, Marie Windor and Barbara Luna are much more mature ladies here, than Douglas would have been. There is some solid male acting here with Warren Oates getting lessons on how to be the bad guy he would become in the classic Bonnie & Clyde which comes later.
The plot has Will Lane (Ebsen) assigned by a friend to protect his son from himself as the young man is a lot irresponsible, After getting full exposure of the kid, he decides the only way to get the kid to settle down is get him a woman. I think it is more of a way to torture a woman but somehow this actually works pretty well and this film turns into a minor success. Hey, not every summer vacation movie can turn into a "Psycho" Especially when the master is not behind the camera.
The old cowboy and the young un' mix like oil and water.
mark.waltz28 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This is a different kind of Western film, mainly a drama but don't with many comic elements concerning the conflict between Buddy Ebsen and and Keir Dullea. Ebsen's a friend of Dullea's late father who has assigned him to be executor of his will and not to turn over his farm to his son until Ebsen feels that his son is ready to handle it. Dulles is a hard-drinking, reckless young man, and when Ebsen first needs him, unaware of who he is, an automatic conflict ensues. Ebsen decides that the only way to tame the Young rebel is to get him married, and that's where he brings in widowed Lois Nettleton who has a young son. The marriage is one of the convenience for the two, but if Ebsen has his way, Dullea we'll grow up and have the responsibility that his father long for him to take.
Some nice moments of pathos makes this an enjoyable but inconsequential film, with decent but not exceptional performances and the typical MJM gloss to go with it. Nettleton is actually very good in this, reminding me a bit of Joanne Woodward here. Warren Oates and Denver Pyle are fine and support with a great cameo by Marie Windsor as the owner of the saloon Ebsen visits where he meets Nettleton. A funny scene with Kathleen Freeman as a French horn player in a Salvation Army band is another highlight. This is a rare quiet Western with only a few rough and tumble moments, so it's very unique in that way.
Some nice moments of pathos makes this an enjoyable but inconsequential film, with decent but not exceptional performances and the typical MJM gloss to go with it. Nettleton is actually very good in this, reminding me a bit of Joanne Woodward here. Warren Oates and Denver Pyle are fine and support with a great cameo by Marie Windsor as the owner of the saloon Ebsen visits where he meets Nettleton. A funny scene with Kathleen Freeman as a French horn player in a Salvation Army band is another highlight. This is a rare quiet Western with only a few rough and tumble moments, so it's very unique in that way.
Ho Hum Western - Ebsen seems out of place
BigWhiskers17 September 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Buddy Ebsen plays an older man who honors a dead friends request to go back and find his son and tame him by marrying him off to one of those mail order brides whom he finds in a saloon. This concept has been done before and since and the music when Ebsen is off on his cupids errand makes it sound like your in for a musical and Ebsen looks so out of place. In the midst of his Jed Clampett days in 1963-64 when this movie was filmed and came out , all he is missing is the accent and Jed's hat. The movie is boring with bland characters and really tiresome dialog, the young man whom Ebsen tries to get hitched doesn't want a bride and only doing it so Ebsen will leave and give him the deed to his dads land. The actor playing the young man and the woman playing his bride are so boring to watch , no chemistry and you wonder how they will end up together which you know they will.
In the end there is a gunfight and Ebsen's character leaves the couple whom have decided to stay married with her little boy(played by Jimmy Mathers ,the older brother of Leave it to Beavers Jerry Mathers,another commenter mistakenly posted that he was played by Jerry).You think Ebsen may end up alone as the camera pulls back to him riding away but in the final scene he goes back to the saloon where he found the young bride and you hear wedding bells music,he straightens his tie and goes into the saloon fade out. This last scene refers to an earlier scene when he walks into the saloon looking for what he thinks is a young woman placing an ad for a husband and it turns out she is the owner of the saloon and middle aged. She takes a fancy to Ebsen and thinks he's there for her, so in the end he does care for her ,and ends up going back to pursue her.The rest is left up to the audience to surmise the happy ending. I found the movie boring and Ebsen so out of place - I'll bet he wanted to do his part in one day and be done with this bland movie.One thing I do admit that at 56 yrs old ,Ebsen was hardly elderly looking or an old man as the plot indicates - in fact he was handsome and sexy for his age at that time. Overall i give the movie 3/10 ..Not terrible but not good either.
In the end there is a gunfight and Ebsen's character leaves the couple whom have decided to stay married with her little boy(played by Jimmy Mathers ,the older brother of Leave it to Beavers Jerry Mathers,another commenter mistakenly posted that he was played by Jerry).You think Ebsen may end up alone as the camera pulls back to him riding away but in the final scene he goes back to the saloon where he found the young bride and you hear wedding bells music,he straightens his tie and goes into the saloon fade out. This last scene refers to an earlier scene when he walks into the saloon looking for what he thinks is a young woman placing an ad for a husband and it turns out she is the owner of the saloon and middle aged. She takes a fancy to Ebsen and thinks he's there for her, so in the end he does care for her ,and ends up going back to pursue her.The rest is left up to the audience to surmise the happy ending. I found the movie boring and Ebsen so out of place - I'll bet he wanted to do his part in one day and be done with this bland movie.One thing I do admit that at 56 yrs old ,Ebsen was hardly elderly looking or an old man as the plot indicates - in fact he was handsome and sexy for his age at that time. Overall i give the movie 3/10 ..Not terrible but not good either.
Making Hay While The Sun Shines. or Ca$hing in on "THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES" popularity for some Big Buck$.
redryan6428 December 2007
One weekend in the early Spring of 1964, my younger brother, Bob, and a couple of pals went to see a movie at the old ColonyTheatre, 59th Street and Kedzie Avenue, right here on the South Side of Chicago (the baddest part of Town). When the kids got over there they went to pay their admission; being 11 years of age, they offered their customary ½ price admission. Inasmuch as the three boys were not yet 12, which was the arbitrary age that the theatre company had chosen to separate the boys from the younger boys, ending their eligibility for the ½ price admission.
Well on this particular Sunday, the guy in charge was the assistant Theatre Manager, a 24 year old who we'll just call Elmo. Well, it seems that Elmo must have been having a bad time at home or something. His inability to maintain his relationship's proper balance apparently compelled Mr. Elmo into compensating for his domestic situation by exerting his autocratic control of the Show's operation that day.
With the firm resolve of an Otto von Bismarck, Germany's "Iron Chancellor", and with the assistance of his own version of the SA Brown Shirts, Elmo imposed his unbridled will to enforce the theatre's rules and make those subjects (young theatre patrons) comply, toe the line and like it. In short, Elmo insisted on the boys pay full freight to enter the Theatre.
Only, none of the kids were 12 yet, honest Injun! But the boys wanted to see the movie (I think it was DONDI (Albert Zugsmith Prod., Photoplay Associates/ Allied Artists, 1961). Peacefully, like the little Gentlemen that they were, they surrendered and peacefully settled in for the cinematic arts fest.
But once our Mother got hold of this story she called Elmo on the phone; but the Iron Chancellor was neither contrite nor compromising about his actions. "But Madame, I had 400 kids at the matinée and they were noisy, and there are always some of them trying' to sneak in!" Getting no satisfaction, Ma called back Monday and talked to the Real Manager instead of that Play Manager. He was apologetic and sent us a bunch of passes to any of the company's three shows.* So that's how I got to see MALE ORDER BRIDE. I went a second time and saw another fine film in THE INCREDIBLE MR. LIMPET (Warner Brothers, 1964).
OUR STORY A retired gunfighter, Will Lane (Buddy Ebsen), comes to town to fulfill a promise to a deceased friend to look after his wayward son, Lee Carey (Keir Dullea). The son is a veritable Hellion, but Will answers a magazine advertisement taken out by a Lady interested in Matrimony.
Will goes there in person, but the Lady turns out to be a saloon woman, very attractive but just a tad too old for the young man, Lee. The Lady confides in Will that when she saw him come into the saloon, she thought that she had found herself a mate. Selflessly she puts Will on to the young Widow, who now cooks for the Saloon.
Arriving back with the young Widow Cookin' Lady, Will (in comical fashion) forces the young guy into marrying. As it turned out, the young Widow had a small son. One of Lee's nogoodnik buddies quips, "Look, that guy went and brought back not only a new Cow, but a Calf too!" After a rocky road, the young woman and Lee do find true love; and with her Son, they form a family. Will Lane rides out of town, alone and lonely.
But it won't be for long as in the fade-out scene we see a jubilant heading back into the same Saloon with the Lady who had taken out the Ad in the first place; only this time the call was for himself. (Fade out, Closing Credits & Muisic.) MAIL ORDER BRIDE was a very pleasant, little film that incorporated some elements that all too often aren't included in the 'Horse Operas'. We had some of what has come to be called 'family values. The cultivation of proper manners and civil treatment of your fellow citizens are important items on the agenda.
The film was, doubtless, a project that came about because of the success of Buddy Ebsen and Co. in "THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES" (Filmways Television/CBS TV, 1962-71). A, it provided us with a look at TV's Jedd Clampett, from a little different perspective.
Now, we all remember Buddy Ebsen as Jedd Clampett on THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES show, but some of us who are a little long in the tooth can recollect a few other TV roles of his, like: the "DISNEYLAND: ADVENTURES OF DAVY CROCKETT" (1954-56) as Georgie Russell, "NORTHWEST PASSAGE" (MGM TV, NBC, 1958-59) and of course "BARNABY JONES" (Quinn Martin Prod/ CBS TV, 1973-80).
As for our family, we have one other recollection of Mr. Ebsen's. Our Uncle, our Mother's younger Brother, the Late Walter Fuerst, served in the Coast Guard during World War II. And on his ship, a Coast Guard Cutter (I think! Name unknown.), was Mr. Buddy Ebsen, who served as an Officer for the Duration.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot! Thank You, Elmo!
Well on this particular Sunday, the guy in charge was the assistant Theatre Manager, a 24 year old who we'll just call Elmo. Well, it seems that Elmo must have been having a bad time at home or something. His inability to maintain his relationship's proper balance apparently compelled Mr. Elmo into compensating for his domestic situation by exerting his autocratic control of the Show's operation that day.
With the firm resolve of an Otto von Bismarck, Germany's "Iron Chancellor", and with the assistance of his own version of the SA Brown Shirts, Elmo imposed his unbridled will to enforce the theatre's rules and make those subjects (young theatre patrons) comply, toe the line and like it. In short, Elmo insisted on the boys pay full freight to enter the Theatre.
Only, none of the kids were 12 yet, honest Injun! But the boys wanted to see the movie (I think it was DONDI (Albert Zugsmith Prod., Photoplay Associates/ Allied Artists, 1961). Peacefully, like the little Gentlemen that they were, they surrendered and peacefully settled in for the cinematic arts fest.
But once our Mother got hold of this story she called Elmo on the phone; but the Iron Chancellor was neither contrite nor compromising about his actions. "But Madame, I had 400 kids at the matinée and they were noisy, and there are always some of them trying' to sneak in!" Getting no satisfaction, Ma called back Monday and talked to the Real Manager instead of that Play Manager. He was apologetic and sent us a bunch of passes to any of the company's three shows.* So that's how I got to see MALE ORDER BRIDE. I went a second time and saw another fine film in THE INCREDIBLE MR. LIMPET (Warner Brothers, 1964).
OUR STORY A retired gunfighter, Will Lane (Buddy Ebsen), comes to town to fulfill a promise to a deceased friend to look after his wayward son, Lee Carey (Keir Dullea). The son is a veritable Hellion, but Will answers a magazine advertisement taken out by a Lady interested in Matrimony.
Will goes there in person, but the Lady turns out to be a saloon woman, very attractive but just a tad too old for the young man, Lee. The Lady confides in Will that when she saw him come into the saloon, she thought that she had found herself a mate. Selflessly she puts Will on to the young Widow, who now cooks for the Saloon.
Arriving back with the young Widow Cookin' Lady, Will (in comical fashion) forces the young guy into marrying. As it turned out, the young Widow had a small son. One of Lee's nogoodnik buddies quips, "Look, that guy went and brought back not only a new Cow, but a Calf too!" After a rocky road, the young woman and Lee do find true love; and with her Son, they form a family. Will Lane rides out of town, alone and lonely.
But it won't be for long as in the fade-out scene we see a jubilant heading back into the same Saloon with the Lady who had taken out the Ad in the first place; only this time the call was for himself. (Fade out, Closing Credits & Muisic.) MAIL ORDER BRIDE was a very pleasant, little film that incorporated some elements that all too often aren't included in the 'Horse Operas'. We had some of what has come to be called 'family values. The cultivation of proper manners and civil treatment of your fellow citizens are important items on the agenda.
The film was, doubtless, a project that came about because of the success of Buddy Ebsen and Co. in "THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES" (Filmways Television/CBS TV, 1962-71). A, it provided us with a look at TV's Jedd Clampett, from a little different perspective.
Now, we all remember Buddy Ebsen as Jedd Clampett on THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES show, but some of us who are a little long in the tooth can recollect a few other TV roles of his, like: the "DISNEYLAND: ADVENTURES OF DAVY CROCKETT" (1954-56) as Georgie Russell, "NORTHWEST PASSAGE" (MGM TV, NBC, 1958-59) and of course "BARNABY JONES" (Quinn Martin Prod/ CBS TV, 1973-80).
As for our family, we have one other recollection of Mr. Ebsen's. Our Uncle, our Mother's younger Brother, the Late Walter Fuerst, served in the Coast Guard during World War II. And on his ship, a Coast Guard Cutter (I think! Name unknown.), was Mr. Buddy Ebsen, who served as an Officer for the Duration.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot! Thank You, Elmo!
A useful case study in terrible casting.
Irie21219 September 2009
Many movies deserve their obscurity, and none more than this formula Western. Direction, editing, writing-- all are uninspired, especially the occasional attempts at humor.
But the casting is atrocious. Desperately bad. They've all done good work in other roles, but in this
So clean-cut he almost squeaks, Keir Dullea is at no point convincing as a gambling, carousing womanizer.
Buddy Ebsen adds nothing new—not one glance, not one inflection-- to the tiresomely familiar role of the wise, slow-spoken, solitary old-timer.
In the eponymous role, Lois Nettleton stares soulfully toward Ebsen, Dullea, or the near distance. That's about it. Refreshing though it is to see a rather plain actress as a star, she finds no way to redeem—with humor, with spirit-- a woman who did not advertise for a husband (her boss did, played by a wry Marie Windsor), and who has almost no curiosity about her sight-unseen future mate and his home. In fact, objectively, her non-reaction is almost criminally irresponsible for a widow with a child.
If ever a film deserved to be in the background of some other activity (including sleep), it's this one.
But the casting is atrocious. Desperately bad. They've all done good work in other roles, but in this
So clean-cut he almost squeaks, Keir Dullea is at no point convincing as a gambling, carousing womanizer.
Buddy Ebsen adds nothing new—not one glance, not one inflection-- to the tiresomely familiar role of the wise, slow-spoken, solitary old-timer.
In the eponymous role, Lois Nettleton stares soulfully toward Ebsen, Dullea, or the near distance. That's about it. Refreshing though it is to see a rather plain actress as a star, she finds no way to redeem—with humor, with spirit-- a woman who did not advertise for a husband (her boss did, played by a wry Marie Windsor), and who has almost no curiosity about her sight-unseen future mate and his home. In fact, objectively, her non-reaction is almost criminally irresponsible for a widow with a child.
If ever a film deserved to be in the background of some other activity (including sleep), it's this one.
comedy western
SnoopyStyle18 October 2023
Retired lawman Will Lane (Buddy Ebsen) promised his dead friend to look after his irresponsible son Lee Carey (Keir Dullea). He is given the deed until he deems Lee responsible enough to take over... if ever. He has an idea from the mail order catalog. Annie Boley (Lois Nettleton) is a widow with a young son. Jace (Warren Oates) is a crooked ranch hand.
This is a situational comedy western. Times change. I don't find much of this that funny. Mostly, I don't like Lee for a comedy. He has too much anger and Keir has a coldness about him. Luckily, I don't need him for laughs in 2001. He probably would be fine if this wasn't a comedy. On the other hand, Buddy Ebsen has proven his comedy creds.
This is a situational comedy western. Times change. I don't find much of this that funny. Mostly, I don't like Lee for a comedy. He has too much anger and Keir has a coldness about him. Luckily, I don't need him for laughs in 2001. He probably would be fine if this wasn't a comedy. On the other hand, Buddy Ebsen has proven his comedy creds.
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