The characters and plot are very good up until the big fight with the Indians. Then the entire movie just collapsed for me, because the big fight ruined the picture. No Indian fight would ever have happened like that. I don't know why the director abandoned what had been up to that point a very refreshing approach, but he did and I can't rate it any higher than 5 stars because of that.
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That's an interesting take, I thought the exact opposite! The characters and plot were mundane, the love story ridiculous (I skipped ahead during most of that), and the refreshing approach was how the Indians attacked with the arrows in the final big fight. Of course it was overblown but it was a novel (for a western) and entertaining way the Indians attacked. Besides the arrow attack at the end how did the Indians (and Whites for that matter) behave differently than in a million other westerns? Throughout the film the Indians rode by the pinned-down "good guys" (outnumbering them 10 to 1) like ducks in a shooting range just yards away, the Indians were lousy shots (or always missed a vital part of the body) and the whites couldn't miss. A ludicrous scene was one where the Indians on horseback were circling a small party of whites and shooting at them in the middle of the circle while undoubtedly shooting their own at the same time! That was cringe-worthy and insulting to Indians or anybody else! LOL
Borrowing your line you could have said that most anything that occurred in the picture would have never happened like that! But I did like the locations and cinematography- some very nice compositions. The soundtrack was pretty forgettable. The film gets a basic DVD treatment (a preview & scene selections) with a decent mastering but not a clean restoration. This isn't a classic film by any means.
I guess the story kind of succumbs when the big finale fight begins. But it was still a pretty impressive endgame. I liked a lot how the fighting was choreographed, especially the attack of the Indians where they mark the field for their archers.
shareI guess the story kind of succumbs when the big finale fight begins.
Eleanor Parker is the only reason to watch the first half. The film comes alive in the second.
So sezeth I, so sezeth the world.
I agree, it became quite unbelievable toward the end. Indians going back and forth on horses while being shot at?
Did you make coffee...? Make it!--Cheyenne.
The entire movie was excellent. It was set up for Campbell and Young to die together ( like father and son), the Roper/Carla/Marsh triangle to be settled and for the coward Bailey to be the hero. Watch the smile on Marsh's face as he dies because it is not in vain. Bailey will amount to something, and Carla who was his fiancée (and who he obviously loved) will be okay with Roper ( earlier he pointed out to Roper that Carla is yours take her and go).
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