This is a film that was badly in need of a major lead actor. Essentially, Ford took three of his stock players, choosing Johnson and Carey to play a twin lead, supported by Bond. It doesn't really work. In addition there are scenes that didn't work. For example, when the marshal and his deputies are looking over Travis' horse, there are awkward moments of silence during which neither their actions nor those of Travis seemed to make much sense. In addition, the behavior of the members of the wagon train are unrealistic, as if they are children on a field trip and without any adult common sense.
As for the twin leads, Carey plays his character with a great deal of exuberance while Johnson (as usual) plays himself and, being himself, he is not the kind of fellow who is comfortable with such behavior, and it shows.
As is usual with Ford westerns, he throws in some oddball characters; one being an old woman who, for no reason, is occasionally ordered to blow a horn. Another is the leader of the "hoochie coochie" show, whose peculiarities don't contribute to the story. Another oddity is the square dance song, which include bizarre chord changes the only purpose of which appears to be to make the song sound different than the normal period western songs.
Considering that this film came out the same year as the major film Rio Grande, one has the impression that Ford was not fully engaged in this film.
An interesting note is that is the appearance of James Arness. This is one year before Arness appeared in the title role of The Thing From Another Planet. In this film his acting is even more wooden than as the alien in The Thing.
Overall, this is a mediocre film and no matter how satisfied Ford was with it, it is definitely not his best film.
As for the twin leads, Carey plays his character with a great deal of exuberance while Johnson (as usual) plays himself and, being himself, he is not the kind of fellow who is comfortable with such behavior, and it shows.
As is usual with Ford westerns, he throws in some oddball characters; one being an old woman who, for no reason, is occasionally ordered to blow a horn. Another is the leader of the "hoochie coochie" show, whose peculiarities don't contribute to the story. Another oddity is the square dance song, which include bizarre chord changes the only purpose of which appears to be to make the song sound different than the normal period western songs.
Considering that this film came out the same year as the major film Rio Grande, one has the impression that Ford was not fully engaged in this film.
An interesting note is that is the appearance of James Arness. This is one year before Arness appeared in the title role of The Thing From Another Planet. In this film his acting is even more wooden than as the alien in The Thing.
Overall, this is a mediocre film and no matter how satisfied Ford was with it, it is definitely not his best film.