As with his previous Western, RAMROD, Andre de Toth's sophomore effort in the popular 1940s and 1950s film genre features an honorable cowboy forced to fight a greedy, evil adversary for his land. Owen Merritt (Randolph Scott) is "a man who rides alone" as Tennessee Ernie Ford sings in the... [More]

As with his previous Western, RAMROD, Andre de Toth's sophomore effort in the popular 1940s and 1950s film genre features an honorable cowboy forced to fight a greedy, evil adversary for his land. Owen Merritt (Randolph Scott) is "a man who rides alone" as Tennessee Ernie Ford sings in the soulful theme. His ambitious sweetheart, Laurie (Joan Leslie), has left him for cold, ruthless cattle rancher Will Isham (Alexander Knox) despite still having feelings for him. Owen, however, refuses to fight Isham for Laurie, or over his land grabbing to expand his Rancho Skull. Trouble soon arises on Owen's ranch, with mysterious gunslingers stampeding his herd and killing his men –the most likely suspect being Isham's sinister foreman, Fay Dutcher (Richard Rober). Owen is torn between running and fighting--and between the two women who want to help him, his former love, Laurie, and tough, spunky farmer, Nan (Ellen Drew). De Toth's adaptation of the Ernest Haycox novel is an action-packed tale of the West with stunning big sky scenery, hard riding chase scenes, and dramatic shoot 'em ups that will not disappoint. [Less]