"Well done, but seems to go on forever," was Leonard Maltin's verdict. Same here. It's a feminist's western, with JEAN ARTHUR strutting around like she thinks she's still playing Calamity Jane and striking an occasional male pose while discussing her business plans with good man WILLIAM HOLDEN and bad guy WARREN WILLIAM. It serves the role well enough but doesn't seem completely natural.
Her particular talents were better served by good comedy roles, in my opinion. What's more, she seems too mature to be a plausible leading lady for a 22 year-old--and very youthful looking--Holden. I recall reading that she didn't want Holden to be her leading man, and I can understand why. Gary Cooper wasn't available, according to Robert Osborne and Arthur finally consented to Holden's selection.
Arthur plays a pioneer woman with a lot of backbone, ordering men around, making plans that include a hubby and a good piece of ranch land and a future--always spunky and up to the challenge, whether it's a petty thief or a downright criminal trying to take over her business.
She never quite convinced me that she was completely at home on the range, while WILLIAM HOLDEN is very engaging in one of his less cynical roles and is refreshingly natural in a western role.
***** POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD *****
WARREN WILLIAM, too, is expert as a con man posing as a helpful friend to Arthur while in reality leading a gang of swindlers, and not above shooting his partners in the back.
It's a well mounted western with plenty of shooting and riding, lots of Indian extras and cattle herds--but some draggy spots before a climactic showdown between hero and villain, after which our hero and heroine head for the proverbial sunset as a married couple.
Fans of Jean Arthur and William Holden should enjoy this one.
Her particular talents were better served by good comedy roles, in my opinion. What's more, she seems too mature to be a plausible leading lady for a 22 year-old--and very youthful looking--Holden. I recall reading that she didn't want Holden to be her leading man, and I can understand why. Gary Cooper wasn't available, according to Robert Osborne and Arthur finally consented to Holden's selection.
Arthur plays a pioneer woman with a lot of backbone, ordering men around, making plans that include a hubby and a good piece of ranch land and a future--always spunky and up to the challenge, whether it's a petty thief or a downright criminal trying to take over her business.
She never quite convinced me that she was completely at home on the range, while WILLIAM HOLDEN is very engaging in one of his less cynical roles and is refreshingly natural in a western role.
***** POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD *****
WARREN WILLIAM, too, is expert as a con man posing as a helpful friend to Arthur while in reality leading a gang of swindlers, and not above shooting his partners in the back.
It's a well mounted western with plenty of shooting and riding, lots of Indian extras and cattle herds--but some draggy spots before a climactic showdown between hero and villain, after which our hero and heroine head for the proverbial sunset as a married couple.
Fans of Jean Arthur and William Holden should enjoy this one.