Broken Lance

1954

Broken Lance

Critics Consensus

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89%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 9

60%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 1,584

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Movie Info

In this Western with curiously Shakespearean undertones, Matt Devereaux (Spencer Tracy) is a ranch owner who has tried to raise his sons to carry on the fierce, hard-working spirit that helped make him a success. However, as a consequence, he never learned to show them affection and treats his boys little better than the hired help. Joe (Robert Wagner), is Matt's son by Native American wife Señora (Katy Jurado). Because of Joe's mixed ethnicity, he is treated prejudicially by his three half-brothers, Ben (Richard Widmark), Mike (Hugh O'Brian), and Danny (Earl Holliman) -- all Caucasian sons of Matt's first wife. Joe loves his father and would do nearly anything for him, but his siblings resent Matt's emotional distance. When Matt discovers a nearby copper mine is polluting a stream where he waters his cattle, he becomes furious and leads a raid on the mine that causes the law to visit the ranch; the police have a warrant to arrest whoever was responsible for the attack. To spare his father the agony and humiliation of a stay behind bars, Joe claims responsibility and spends several years in prison. When he's released, he discovers that Ben and his other brothers rebelled against their father with such extremity that the old man suffered a fatal stroke. While Señora tries to persuade Joe not to seek revenge, Ben is more than willing to fight his brother for taking his father's side. Screenwriter Philip Yordan won an Academy Award for his work on Broken Lance, while Katy Jurado received a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her performance as Señora. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
  • Rating:
    NR
  • Genre:
    Classics, Drama, Western, Romance
  • Directed By:
    Edward Dmytryk
  • Written By:
    Richard Murphy, Philip Yordan
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    20th Century Fox

Cast

Spencer Tracy
as Matt Devereaux
Robert Wagner
as Joe Devereaux
Jean Peters
as Barbara
Richard Widmark
as Ben Devereaux
Katy Jurado
as Senora Devereaux
Hugh O'Brian
as Mike Devereaux
Eduard Franz
as Two Moons
Earl Holliman
as Denny Devereaux
E.G. Marshall
as The Governor
Carl Benton Reid
as Clem Lawton
Philip Ober
as Van Cleve
Robert Burton
as Mac Andrews
Robert Adler
as O'Reilly
Robert Grandin
as Capitol Clerk
Harry Carter
as Prison Guard
Nacho Galindo
as Cook
Julian Rivero
as Manuel
Edmund Cobb
as Court Clerk
Russell Simpson
as Judge
King Donovan
as Clerk
Jack Mather
as Gateman
George E. Stone
as Paymaster
John Epper
as Ranger
Paul Kruger
as Bailiff
James F. Stone
as Stable Owner
Arthur Q. Bryan
as Bit (uncredited)
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Critic Reviews for Broken Lance

All Critics (9) | Fresh (8) | Rotten (1)

View All Critic Reviews (9)

Audience Reviews for Broken Lance

  • Dec 29, 2015
    Excellent. Everything is top flight.
    Morris N Super Reviewer
  • Jul 11, 2013
    While Fox's May 18, 2005 DVD release of their 1954 film "Broken Lance" includes both Widescreen and Full Screen Versions (or Pan & Scan), it is the CinemaScope (2.55:1) version that brings the power and grandeur of this exceptional dramatic Western to life -- that along with the excellent 4-track Stereophonic sound track that was part of its original release. It has been 50 years since we have had the opportunity to see the film in the manner that it was first released theatrically -- and in this form it ranks as one of the finest Westerns of all-time. Rchard Murphy's Oscar winning screenplay provides some excellent dialog and story structure not usually found in the average outdoor film. The cast, all the way from Spencer Tracy to smaller roles like that of E.G. Marshall, are all we developed. Now if Fox would only give the same great release treatment to their 1955 "A Man Called Peter" (only available in Pan & Scan VHS)! It would be wonderful to see this film in CinemaScope with Stereophonic sound once again! 5 Stars 7-9-13
    Bruce B Super Reviewer
  • Feb 03, 2008
    directed by edward dmytryk (the caine mutiny with bogart in the same year) and starring spencer tracy as a land owner and cattle rancher (no katharine in sight unusually) with 3 disrespectful sons and 1 respectful one. when matt devereaux (tracy) has to sign his land over to his 3 erstwhile sons they take advantage of him and slowly kill him. the rest of the film is about the remaining 4th son... but to say anymore would be to divulge too much. engrossing stuff
    Sanity Assassin ! Super Reviewer
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