Texas (1941) User Reviews

Two Stars In Their Salad Days

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 1 April 2006]

Two young cowpokes played by William Holden and Glenn Ford in their youth are trying to make their way to Texas. As former Confederates they're not treated so well in Yankee country. When they spot some outlaws holding up a stage they decide to rob the outlaws. Of course when the sheriff finds Ford with the loot, Holden has to rescue him from a lynching. In eluding the posse the two go their separate ways and thereby hangs a tale.

This was the first of two films Holden and Ford made together, the second being The Man from Colorado after World War II. Both of them had the same unusual contract situation. Holden came up through Paramount ranks, but was spotted there by Harry Cohn at Columbia and given the lead as an unknown in Golden Boy. So confident was Cohn in Holden's success that he took the highly unusual step of purchasing half of his contract from Paramount. So Holden was under contract to two major studios at the same time.

Ironically enough Glenn Ford in the late Forties had half of his contract purchased by MGM when Harry Cohn sold it. These are the only two stars whoever had such an unusual arrangement.

It is also the first time Glenn Ford worked with Director George Marshall although it would take another 17 years for them to reunite in The Sheepman. After that the two of them did a whole string of successful comedies together.

There's is some humor in Texas, but the accent here is on action which comes pretty fast and furious. Holden falls in with the outlaws he and Ford held up and Ford becomes a big mover and shaker with the cattlemen. Ford persuades them all to get a big herd together and drive them to the railroad terminus in Kansas. He's also trying to impress Claire Trevor the rancher's daughter who Holden also is interested in.

Texas has a trio of villains in George Bancroft, Addison Richards and Edgar Buchanan. This was the film where Edgar Buchanan got his first attention. His folksy demeanor masks some serious scheming in this film, the first of many reprobates he played in the movies although most of them were not as seriously villainous as here.

Glenn Ford and Edgar Buchanan hit it off very well. They worked in about a dozen films together and in Ford's television series Cade's County.

Texas is a good western and it's a pleasure to watch two young screen immortals in their beginning days.

A lot of fun - and most undeservedly under-recognized

[Gatorman9 · 8/10 · 14 December 2003]

The other reviewers are right. I would never have rented this when I saw it at the video store if not that I could not resist the temptation of seeing BOTH William Holden and Glenn Ford at only about 23 years old (you almost can't recognize them at first) rounded out by Claire Trevor, and even then I actually put it back on the shelf before changing my mind. Surely, if it were any good, I thought, I would have heard of it before. No doubt it was an early, typically cheesy B-western whose only merit was that it happened to include together two young actors who would eventually become quite famous. Even John Wayne had a dog or two among his early pictures, I thought - it happens to all kinds of great performers. But ignoring my more conservative judgment, I took a risk.

Now I wish I had my own copy - I have to wonder if it's still available anywhere. A quintessential "buddy picture" of the first order, not only is there terrific chemistry between the characters, but it's mostly fast-paced with enough clever plot developments and deviousness to oftentimes seem quite contemporary in 2003! Any film maker looking to do a western revival which would entertain audiences today would do well to remake this picture. One hopes he would stick as close to the original as possible, because there's enough good stuff there already to get him most of the way through. Four stars on a conventional scale would be well-deserved.

A Fine Western Comedy from George Marshall

[boblipton · 7/10 · 15 September 2006]

Other reviewers have spoken of the pleasures of seeing William Holden and Glenn Ford at age 23, both so young as to be almost unrecognizable; and Claire Trevor, too and Edgar Buchanan as a dentist -- he was one in real life, before he turned to acting.

But I think a lot of credit is due to the director, George Marshall. Today, almost the only Marshall movie anyone knows is the justly famous 1939 version of DESTRY RIDES AGAIN. But he was primarily a comedy director, back to the 1920s when he directed Fox Sunshine comedies, to the 1930s, when he worked at Roach on Laurel and Hardy, through the early 1970s. And this movie was directed during his peak period and it shows it. The comedy sequences are wonderfully directed, especially the boxing match.

So, while you're enjoying the acting, remember that the funny broad comedy comes from the mind of the director.

Glenn Ford and William Holden, both young and superb.

[eaglejet98 · 29 November 2003]

In the midst of all the wide screen, technicolor 1950s westerns, I saw this small screen B&W feature when I was ten, in 1957. Something about it just took hold.

The simple but fast paced story is fun and entertaining. Glenn Ford and William Holden are in top form even at the start of their great careers. Claire Trevor is attractive and spunky. Edgar Buchanan is the consummate character actor in his usual role as a shady...fill in the blank...dentist. His constant reference to "a bad bicuspid" is typical of his almost absent minded approach to his part. His voice and facial expressions could make putting on his shoes look shady.

Texas is great all around fun and has an ending with a moral. I give it 4 Stars.

The freshness and vibrancy of Texas sees it home.

[hitchcockthelegend · 7/10 · 2 February 2010]

It's 1866, Abilene, Kansas and we are in the company of Dan Thomas {William Holden} and Tod Ramsey {Glen Ford}, two pals who served in the Confederacy together. They want to get to Texas to earn their living but have no cash ready to hand. But a lifeline is thrown by way of a stagecoach robbery they witness as they decide to relieve the robbers of their ill gotten gains. This puts the friends in serious peril so they agree to split up and head in different directions. Finally meeting up some time down the line in town, both men are operating from different social standings. And both men have fallen for the same gal, Mike King {Claire Trevor}. So along with the arrival in town of shady railroad magnate Windy Miller {George Bancroft} and the crooked dealings of dentist Buford Ford {Edgar Buchanan} starting to influence matters; the boys will do well to come out of it all still as friends.

Texas is directed by George Marshall {with Norman Deming assisting} and the three writing credits go to Michael Blankfort, Lewis Meltzer & Horace McCoy. It's a briskly paced black & white action Western that's not short on laughs either. In Holden and Ford it showcases two Hollywood big hitters in their fresh faced early days, with Holden pretty much unrecognisable. From a quite hilarious pugilist rules boxing match in the first quarter, to the number of machismo exchanges that drop in from time time, it's one of those film's that's hard to criticise. So I'm not going too. A small bother comes with the ending being rushed a touch, but even that is in keeping with how Marshall has directed it. So really it's a hearty recommend to anyone after some early 40s Oater enjoyment. Undemanding for sure, but executed with gusto and no little amount of class. 6.5/10

Make it a 6.5!

[AlsExGal · 6/10 · 24 November 2019]

This is a decent if largely routine western from director George Marshall. Dan (William Holden) and Tod (Glenn Ford) are two aimless friends wandering the American west shortly after the Civil War. They both end up in Texas where they get separated. Dan ends up working with a gang of bandits and cattle rustlers, while Tod finds work at a cattle ranch. They both fall for the same girl, ranch heiress "Mike" King (Claire Trevor). But other developments may see them pointing guns at each other.

There's nothing remarkable about this western, but it's generally agreeable, and the young Holden and Ford are pretty good. Trevor is okay, especially when she shouts lines like, "You blankety-blank hamstrung jerky piece of beef!" The best performance in the movie, to my mind, is from Edgar Buchanan as an amiable dentist. I could have done without a lengthy boxing match done for comic effect. George Bancroft had seen better days over at Paramount, not really a victim of the transition to sound as much as he was his own inflated view of himself. Recommended.

Good western with better-than-average cast

[dinky-4 · 7/10 · 15 October 2001]

It's a bit surprising that no one's commented on this movie till now. After all, it isn't some obscure B-western but rather an almost "A" production with two rising young stars, (William Holden and Glenn Ford, plus Claire Trevor), and a respected director, George Marshall. Perhaps the fact that it's in b&w has unjustly relegated it to near-obscurity.

Those who seek it out, however, will be rewarded by an engaging plot which has some interesting twists and turns, by some snappy dialog -- particularly in the first meeting between Holden and Trevor -- and by a host of good supporting players, such as Edgar Buchanan who plays a devious dentist.

For fans of "beefcake," there's an early prizefight sequence in which a shirtless Holden battles the local champ in a bare-knuckle marathon. Only about 22 or 23 years old at the time, Holden's physique hadn't yet reached the maturity displayed in his later films, (most notably "Picnic"), but his bare chest, (shaved of the hair displayed earlier in "Golden Boy"),is still quite pleasing to the eye. If only the scene could be re-written so that Holden would have been matched against a stripped-to-the-waist Glenn Ford. Now, that would have been a beefcake bonanza!

Entertaining standard western

[nnnn45089191 · 7/10 · 27 August 2006]

Quite enjoyable western fare with two young superstars to be.William Holden and Glenn Ford are two young cowpokes making their way to Texas and competing for the same girl,played by Claire Trevor. Good support by veterans George Bancroft and Edgar Buchanan makes this a western worth watching. Holden has the showier part and makes the most of it.He's brash and likable and fits the part. Director George Marshall blends humor and drama the same way he did in his masterpiece DestryRides Again.Although Texas isn't in the same league as his previous masterpiece it is a damn good western.The west does really look wild and untamed in his movies.

Decent oater with young recognizable stars

[funkyfry · 6/10 · 8 April 2014]

Glenn Ford and William Holden look young, sexy, lean and hungry in George Marshall's B+ oater "Texas." The story picks up with the two in cahoots to travel to Texas, for no apparent reason. Good early character development with a fight arranged by local entrepreneur Windy Miller (George Bancroft) leads nowhere in terms of plot, but hey.... we find them eventually splitting up after they almost get lynched for a stage robbery they did not commit. Claire Trevor enters the picture as a ranch-owner who they both fall for, although by this point Holden's character is on the wrong side of the law more often than not. The rest of the story follows Holden's attempts to outsmart and outshoot his cohorts, including a very weird performance by Edgar Buchanan as a disreputable dentist.

The action scenes are well handled, direction is crisp and quick without feeling cheap. I wish there was a bit more to Trevor's character, to make the triangle more than just a male rivalry for her unwitting affections. It could be better, of course, but it's a plenty satisfying Western with enough good action scenes and enough decent characterization to make the time pass pleasantly.

Very Good Western

[lee1888 · 10/10 · 6 January 2013]

This is a very good western with two great up and coming actors at that time. Glen Ford and William Holden really shined in this movie and it paid off good for both of them.

This was Fords 9th film and Holden's 6th, but you could never tell it by their acting. These two men played well off each other. It didn't hurt that they had Claire Trevor as their love interest either. The cast is rounded out with the great actor Edgar Buchanan playing the bad guy, I know it's hard to hate a man like Buchanan.

This is NOT a B cowboy movie, far from it. The scrip and acting is very good, and the movie has a good plot as it moves alone and never leaves you bogged down. Ford and Holden play well off each other, so well in fact it wasn't long before Hollywood teamed them up again in another western "The Man From Colorado".

So if your looking for a very good western with a great cast that has plenty of action along with some humor and love, you can't go wrong with this movie.

Good fun for Western fans.

[Hey_Sweden · 7/10 · 29 November 2020]

William Holden and Glenn Ford, two strapping young guys near the beginnings of their legendary careers, are two amiable saddle bums, good friends, and former Civil War soldiers in 1866. They intend to make it to Texas in the hopes that good fortune will come their way. They end up having a series of adventures as they witness a stagecoach robbery (and steal the money away from the thieves!), get mixed up with greedy bad guys, fight over a woman (an enticing Claire Trevor as a prat falling leading lady), and have different agendas when it comes to an epic-scale cattle drive. Holden, as you'll find out, will give in to temptation and start doing sleazy things.

While maybe not a truly great Western, this engaging film still stands as a good example of the genre. It's got action, plenty of comedy (some people may think that the film is overly silly at first), and nefarious doings by our nasty antagonists. And yet, the actors in these roles (including Edgar Buchanan as dentist Buford Thorpe and George Bancroft as Windy Miller) are so damn interesting that you can't bring yourself to really hate them, especially Buchanan. And speaking of interesting roles, Ford is playing more of a straight arrow than Holden and thus doesn't get to have quite as much fun. In fact, there's a good beefcake sequence with a shirtless Holden entering a boxing ring and repeatedly getting pummelled by a top fighter named Dutch Henry (Lyle Latell), but managing to go the distance.

As I already said, the comedy content is pretty heavy for a while, but the film does strengthen as it gets deeper into its entertaining story (by Michael Blankfort and Lewis Meltzer). That doesn't mean, however, that "Texas" ever completely drops the sense of humour, especially when it comes to the climactic action. The film is further enhanced by able direction by George Marshall and a fine Western supporting cast also including Don Beddoe, Andrew Tombes, Addison Richards, Edmund MacDonald, Joseph Crehan, James Flavin, Raymond Hatton, and Carleton Young.

Overall, a solid film that shows the audience a good time. Holden and Ford later reunited for another Columbia Western, "The Man from Colorado".

Seven out of 10.

This is a Blankety-Blank Funny Movie

[jayraskin1 · 9/10 · 16 July 2010]

The more films I watch by George Marshall, the more impressed I am. He directed the funniest W.C. Fields film, "Never Give A Sucker an Even Break," the funniest Bob Hope movie, "Monsieur Beaucaire," and the funniest Jimmy Stewart movie, "Destry Rides Again." He is right up there with Howard Hawks for knowing how to blend comedy and action.

This film contains two scenes that should be considered classics. The first is a boxing match. The only rules seem to be that a round ends when someone gets knocked down, but the fight only ends when a fighter gives up or dies. The second scene is the meeting of William Holden and Claire Trevor. Holden is on the run from a lynch mob and tries to steal a horse from Tevor's buckboard. She fights him every step of the way, leading to some great stunts and tricks. At the end, she gets her dress caught, falls and screams, "The blankety-blank dress!"

Holden, his sidekick partner, Glenn Ford, and eventual love interest Trevor are all excellent, George Raft is fine as a wealthy windbag, however it is Edgar Buchanan who steals the show as a conniving Dentist. Buchanan guest starred on just about every television Western in the 1950's and starred in the long running 1960's television series "Petticoat Junction." He always had excellent comic timing. Here he is given a big enough part to really appreciate his talent. His funniest bit is disarming whomever he is talking to by looking at their teeth, registering concern and saying how their "bicuspid" looks bad.

Anybody who likes comic Westerns like "Maverick," "Alias Smith and Jones," and "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," should enjoy this.

Good, entertaining Western

[JoeytheBrit · 7/10 · 8 February 2008]

George Marshall's entertaining Western adventure - with some comedy elements - is lent an air of poignancy thanks to the pairing of enduring stars Glenn Ford and William Holden in the early years of their careers. Holden has the meatier role here, a good guy turned bad in love with the same woman as his friend (Ford) who follows a law-abiding life in the employ of cattle ranchers desperate to import their stock to the east but frustrated by marauding rustlers. Claire Trevor is the love interest, but she's fairly bland and it's difficult to see what a bad lad like Holden would see in her. That makes her a decent match for Ford, because there's not really that much to his character either. But then this is a product of the 40s Hollywood treadmill, so incident is more important than characterisation.

Edgar Buchanan, with his laid back, scratchy drawl and permanent stubble makes the biggest impact playing a dentist in league with the cattle rustlers who is always keen to repair the bicuspids of anyone who sits in his chair, whether it's for treatment or just for a chat.

The story starts out fairly carefree (despite Ford being the subject of an attempted lynching) before gradually evolving into something more serious, a little like the protagonist's respective situations and life in general. George Marshall directs with an assured hand, delivering a solid studio project that was never going to win any awards but was sure to satisfy filmgoers of the day.

Not quite an A-picture but not quite a B....

[planktonrules · 5/10 · 24 February 2011]

William Holden and Glenn Ford were soon to become stars at Columbia. However, in 1941 they were still on their way towards stardom and as a result were begin given films that were okay but far from the better ones the studio was producing. So, this film is longer and with a slightly better cast than the huge crops of Bs the studio was churning out....but also not among their better films, that's for sure. The biggest problem is that the film doesn't seem to have much of a plot for almost half the film. Instead, it's played almost as a comedy or a buddy picture. It sure could have used a much tighter script and most of the first portion of the film removed or significantly trimmed. For example, there is a comic boxing sequence that went on and on and on but had absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the film! Following the unnecessary boxing scene and the first 25 minutes or so, the actual plot begins. Out of work Holden and Ford are friends headed to Texas after the end of the Civil War. They stumble upon a robbery of a stage coach and decide to then rob the crooks! But, the Sheriff and his posse incorrectly assume Ford and Holden committed the original robbery. Only due to the intervention of the Doc (Edgar Buchanan) did Holden avoid a hanging. Later, however, he would join up with the gang of robbers. As for Ford, after he made his getaway from the posse, he fell in with a female rancher (Claire Trevor) and her outfit--and becomes an upstanding citizen in the community. Now the two lifelong friends are on a collision course--as sooner or later they are bound to have a showdown. Unfortunately, this ultimate collision course is pretty much exactly as I'd anticipated. Overall, this is only an adequate western--even with the two future stars in the lead. Unless you are a HUGE fan of the genre, this one is easy to skip.

Good Mix of Humor and Action

[dougdoepke · 8 October 2011]

Holden and Ford may be the stars, but the film belongs to director Marshall and the incomparable Edgar Buchanan. Marshall started out directing comedy shorts and it shows up here in several memorable scenes. That fight scene may be the most amusing on boxing record. Dutch Henry keeps popping up, dukes raised, like a whack-a-mole, and I love the way the boisterous crowd ends up in a frontier free-for-all. The buckboard scene may be brief but it's expertly done, Trevor shows real comedic ability as she struggles with a rebellious ten yards of skirt. Then there's the topper—pudgy, gravel-voice Buchanan actually doing a song and dance. I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it. But more incredibly, his graceful shuffle and tuneful refrain are absolutely charming. What a marvelous actor he was as he transitions here from musical performer to shifty-eyed mastermind.

It's a good story if a bit shopworn—two buddies (Ford & Holden) falling on opposite sides of the law while competing for the same girl (Trevor). The various alliances get a little confusing so you may need a scorecard to keep up. Holden gets the majority screen time, while the always low-key Ford is even more so than usual. All in all, it's a highly entertaining, fast-paced 90-minutes, thanks mainly to an expert director and a cagey old coot.

Land of the Texacans

[AAdaSC · 6/10 · 14 March 2015]

It's the late C18th and William Holden (Dan) and Glenn Ford (Tod) are buddies making it to Texas. They get into trouble in a town and flee, then rob some outlaws, then escape a sheriff's posse before splitting up and wishing each other luck. They know they will meet again. And they do. However, can they keep their friendship under the new circumstances? And who will get the girl – Claire Trevor (Mike)?

First of all Claire Trevor has a ridiculous name - "Michael"! For a girl! Who writes this rubbish? Her role is confusing. She is funny and likable when we meet her in her actions and manners, but her behaviour is appalling. How can she get away with betraying Ford like that? He is clearly the "good guy" while Holden is more of a loose cannon. However, their friendship still holds till the end of the film and their loyalty to one another is to be admired. Even to the point of riding away together, just the two of them, and leaving the "loose" Claire Trevor behind. Do they go for it? Well, maybe…...maybe not…

A lot of praise has been given to Edgar Buchanan (Doc) as the town dentist. Funnily enough, he was an actual dentist before he became an actor. However, I'm going against the grain on this. I couldn't stand him. From his look to his accent and voice. I found him wholly unappealing. Not the character he was playing but actually him. His voice is the same as "Droopy" in the "Droopy" cartoons, ie, annoying.

The comedy is sometimes silly, the story takes a while to get going, the ending seems rushed and we needed some Indians. However, Holden and Ford are likable as the lead roles and the film is OK if a bit disappointing given the rave reviews I had previously read about it. As for Windy Miller, we all know that he lives in "Camberwick Green" these days. He owns a windmill and spends his days drinking homemade cider and falling asleep. For those who aren't in the know, Google him.

Uneven Cattle Drive Melodrama!

[bsmith5552 · 6/10 · 26 March 2017]

"Texas" is about the trials and tribulations of two post civil war rebel drifters, Dan Thomas (William Holden) and Tod Ramsay (Glenn Ford). We first meet them when they are brought before a union sympathizer judge in Abeline (Raymond Hatton) for stealing a pig. Entrepreneur Windy Miller (George Bancroft) unexpectedly pays the boy's fines.

After getting into a prize fight, the boys ride on to Texas where they witness a stagecoach holdup after which they rob the robbers. The sheriff (Don Beddoe) and his posse catch Tod with the loot and are about to hang him when Dan rides to his rescue. The two pals flee and are pursed by the posse forcing them to go separate ways.

Todd lands at the King Ranch where rancher Dusty King (Joseph Crehan) is attempting to rally the local ranchers to mount a cattle drive to Abilene. Dan meets King's daughter "Mike" (Claire Trevor) on the range by commandeering her wagon. Later he goes to town is befriended by local dentist Doc Thorpe (Edgar Buchanan) who gets him a job with Matt Lashem (Addison Richards). It turns out that Lashem's ranch is a haven for the stagecoach robbers. Dan decides to throw in with them.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch King is murdered and Tod takes over the running of the ranch. Dan and Tod re-unite at a social function and Dan decides he is going to marry "Mike" in spite of Tod's affection for her.

Anyway, Tod organizes a cattle drive and we learn that Doc Thorpe, Lashem and Windy Miller are in a conspiracy to stop them and rustle the cattle for themselves. Dan meanwhile sets out to stop the drive and....................................................

Holden and Ford were just starting out and were in their 20s at the time. Claire Trevor on the other hand, was in her early 30s and seemed a little too old for the boys. Edgar Buchanan's character moved between humor and nastiness to a point where the humor part was not effective. The prize fight sequence was over done and not really necessary. Was I missing something or did Ford's character's rise to the top happen when I wasn't looking?

Others in the cast included Andrew Tombes as Tennessee for comedy relief as a rustler and Edmund MacDonald and Carleton Young as other members of the gang. Edmund Cobb is one of the ranchers.

Except for the ill attempts at humor, I thought Holden and Ford played well together. They would appear together again seven years later in "the Man From Colorado".

"Let's Be Moseying!"

[richardchatten · 8/10 · 8 June 2022]

From the director of 'Destry Rides Again' comes a rollicking big budget vehicle for two rising young stars, with the emphasis on humour although it doesn't stint on the action, pitted against villain answering to the name - I kid you not! - Windy Miller!

An early classic for two great stars.

[Scaramouche2004 · 8/10 · 17 April 2007]

Two close friends find themselves on opposite sides of the law in this 1941 western, which follows the aftermath of the American Civil War into the lucrative business of cattle drives and cattle rustling.

Dan Thomas (William Holden) and Tod Ramsey (Glenn Ford) have recently been dismissed from the Confederate army after the recent period of unpleasantness, and are heading for a new life and to make a new fortune in Texas, the state of opportunity in the old west.

Tod is looking forward to making an honest living whilst Dan is just looking forward to making any kind of living, not really caring on which which side of the legal and moral fence this living may happen to found.

After retrieving a sack full of stolen stagecoach money which Tod plans to return to its rightful owners and Dan plans to pocket for himself, they are captured and nearly lynched by the local sheriff which results in the inevitable chase.

It is during this chase that the two friends split to take two different paths, two paths that will ultimately differ morally as well as geographically.

Tod Ramsey ends up a trusted and respected law abiding cattle hand in the local town whilst Dan falls in with a crooked Dentist, (Edgar Buchanan) a corrupt rancher (Addison Richards) in charge of a cattle rustling gang, and an equally corrupt 'friend' of the people (George Bancroft) who all set about their merry work, ambushing and rustling the large cattle drives attempting to reach Abilene.

With all the cattle drives failing and all the local Cattle barons facing bankruptcy, Tod Ramsey, unaware that his friend is responsible for all the rustling, decides that he will attempt to take a combined herd; the largest herd ever to come out of Texas and defend it all the way to market.

For the rustling syndicate this means that Tod will have to be 'taken care off' and quick, but is the seemingly ruthless and ambitious Dan now evil enough to kill his own best friend? Will his loyalty to Tod allow the herd to get through to Abiline, or does he now have an extra plan up his sleeve?

Claire Trevor is the love interest for both men, just to give them something else to fight about, although her character I feel is rather dis likable as she seems to flit her affections between the two with each passing breath obviously content to be with whoever is left standing at the end....and the fool takes her. Doh!

This was an early Western for both male leads and both were destined for great things. Although Bill Holden's likable but disreputable character is the main focus is this film, it is Glenn Ford who is the treat for me here.

He was without doubt one of my favourite actors and certainly my favourite cowboy. No offence to The Duke and Clint, but neither was a patch on Glenn Ford when he put on a gun belt and tightened up his spurs, and its great to see him here just starting out.

Two Cowboys Taking Separate Paths

[Uriah43 · 5/10 · 16 December 2020]

This film begins with two cowboys by the names of "Dan Thomas" (William Holden) and "Todd Ramsey" (Glenn Ford) having just fought together in the Civil War and in dire need of a job. So they ride to Abilene, Kansas in the hope of finding work on the railroad but are disappointed to learn that the work has been completed. So they continue on their way to Texas hoping for better luck. A few days later they notice a stagecoach being robbed and then follow the robbers to their camp. Once there they take the money at gunpoint and ride out as fast as they can. Unfortunately, a posse catches up to them and after surrendering the money they manage to escape and eager to shake their pursuers decide to split up. What they don't realize is that their paths will cross again but that they won't be the same after that. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was a basic, solid Western which featured an intricate plot, several humor scenes and of course these two young actors as well. Admittedly, like many films made during this time, it shows its age but that just goes with the territory. In any case, while it certainly isn't a great film by any means, those interested in an old-time Western can certainly do worse and for that reason I have rated it accordingly. Average.

Stanwyck was right about Holden.

[jromanbaker · 8/10 · 18 March 2023]

Barbara Stanwyck ' discovered ' William Holden, and the rest is history. Gloriously lithe and handsome he held my attention not only because of his beauty but also because of his equally impressive acting. The plot rambles delightfully, and of course there are hold-ups and cattle, and the film moves at a tremendous pace. George Marshall at his best as a director. Glenn Ford was young then too and also in the film along with Holden, but he does not have quite so much focus or screen time, and Claire Trevor is not quite at her best, but really I cannot fault the film for its detail of the West that it portrays. It is not the clean 1950's version of the West, but a brawling and grubby place and many of the much older men in the cast probably helped for accuracy of those mythic times. A film well worth tracking down and it has little glamour, a lot of fun ( there are dentist scenes that are hilariously watchable, but not for those who hate dentists ) and also a lot of Holden. Worth tracking down.

A different western

[breezerbri · 10/10 · 1 May 2002]

This film is engaging from the start. There are 2 heroes both of whom you root for and the cast are great, although the female lead is a bit disappointing. The character of the dentist is a joy to watch.

But by far the best thing about this film is the comedy. The lines are often hilarious, but its real comedy is its slapstick - people falling over and getting hit. Brilliant.

My favourite scene is very early on - the boxing scene. The character of Dutch Henry, the champion prize fighter had me laughing my head off. He was a physically comic character of the highest order. It was a masterstroke by the director to include him.

Two rising young actors take on cattle, a devious dentist and Claire Trevor.

[mark.waltz · 8/10 · 23 December 2014]

This action-packed western grabs you from the moment of its 3-D credits. Even long before that gimmick took over the screen, movies were trying different ways of grabbing the audiences' attention, and something as simple as the rolling credits was a great way to get the audience's attention. Look at the Cecil B. De Mille epics of the mid-late 30's and even some of MGM's most lavish costume dramas. In the case of "Texas", what seems like just an ordinary western surrounding cattle rustlers ends up being something much more exciting.

William Holden and Glenn Ford were rising young actors on the Columbia lot who were soon to be mega stars, both handsome and likable, and both who obviously took their crafts seriously. Their film legend is only enhanced by their longevity, and their pairing as best friends of very different personalities is as exciting as the pairings of such mega-stars as Gable and Tracy, Edward G. Robinson and Bogart, EGR and Cagney, Bogart and Cagney. Like the state of Texas itself, this film is huge, fast-moving and gloriously entertaining.

There's a wonderful confrontation between Holden and Claire Trevor (fresh from "Stagecoach") where he tries to steal her horse and she gets the better of him momentarily. She briefly falls under the spell of the more noble Ford who had no idea that his pal was involved in the robbery of cattle rustlers posing as cattle owners. There's also a great performance by the wonderful character actor Edgar Buchannan ("Petticoat Junction") as a grizzled old dentist with several surprises up his drill. The mixed loyalties, unknown motivations and some great comedy interwoven make this a ton of fun. Buchannan even gets to do a musical number as Trevor plays the organ while Ford and Holden take turns pumping it from the back.

To even give a little bit of some of the surprises here away would defeat the fun of discovering it. While Trevor gets plenty of chances to chew up the scenery, she does so subtly here, not like she would do in later films where she sometimes seemed as if she was going to swallow up the whole camera. Other than a few other female extras, she is the only woman character in the film, yet she is not some namby pamby love interest tossed in to cause friction between the two leading men. Her character here definitely has purpose, and she does a very good job in the part. This showed movie audiences that you didn't need to have John Wayne acting or John Ford directing to have a good "A" western. It deserves a bigger status among classic westerns than it has gotten. George Marshall, who has directed many westerns yet crossed over to practically every other genre as well, helms this production, and helps make it flow effortlessly.

Celebrating Westerns and Texas..

[ronmcreynolds · 8/10 · 21 March 2024]

In this very fine movie I say Texas is as nearly good a western movie as any ever made. I can think of only a few better, but they are newer and in color and with more advanced techniques. You can't realistically expect movies decades later to have invented elements.

William Holden, Glen Ford, Clair Trevor and Edgar. Buchannon are as good as Hollywood ever had. Though in black and white the photography is amazing. The plot is extremely tight and well written. The director's ability is well known, famous and on target

We have the feel of the west, very good comedy all along and perfectly interwoven with drama. It's rare to have both at one time, much less this much talent and skills in one movie. Vive watched a thousand westerns and objectively know there are very few movies that combine it all very well. I've never forgotten Texas and never skip admiring it again. Theater students should study this movie.