By coincidence, just as this film came along on TCM, I happened to be planning a trip to Arizona. Surprisingly, there's a fair amount of decent history here...no, not so much in specific facts, but in terms of what was happening in the period. And, if you want to know what the earliest years of Tucson were really like, this may give you a pretty good idea. It was filmed just a few miles west of Tucson at "Old Tucson" where several famous westerns have been made, and at what is now Saguaro National Park (west unit). So this movie has the right look and feel to it.
Knowing what the film was about in advance, I had a difficult time seeing Jean Arthur in the lead role. But, darn, she was very good here...although it's a very long way from films like "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington" and other comedies of hers in that era. Of course, she eventually did go on to star in "Shane". But this film is definitely against type for her.
Her costar -- William Holden -- is so young here (only 22) that you may have difficulty recognizing him! But he does just fine also.
Warren William is excellent as the bad guy you want to hate. The other character actors here do very well.
This is an excellent film, although there is one bit of illogical action. Apparently horses belonging to White cattle drovers run faster than horses belonging to Indians, since the cattle drovers outrode the cattle, but the cattle stampeded the Indians. Ah well, it moved the plot along.
Recommended.
Knowing what the film was about in advance, I had a difficult time seeing Jean Arthur in the lead role. But, darn, she was very good here...although it's a very long way from films like "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington" and other comedies of hers in that era. Of course, she eventually did go on to star in "Shane". But this film is definitely against type for her.
Her costar -- William Holden -- is so young here (only 22) that you may have difficulty recognizing him! But he does just fine also.
Warren William is excellent as the bad guy you want to hate. The other character actors here do very well.
This is an excellent film, although there is one bit of illogical action. Apparently horses belonging to White cattle drovers run faster than horses belonging to Indians, since the cattle drovers outrode the cattle, but the cattle stampeded the Indians. Ah well, it moved the plot along.
Recommended.