Themes: Love Triangles, Sibling Relationships, Ranchers
Main Cast: Clark Gable, Jane Russell, Robert Ryan, Cameron Mitchell, Juan Garcia, Emile G. Meyer
Release Year: 1955
Country: US
Run Time: 122 minutes
Plot
Clark Gable and Jane Russell star in this rugged widescreen western, exquisitely photographed by Leo Tover and directed by veteran action expert Raoul A. Walsh. Gable plays Ben Allison, who with his brother Clint (Cameron Mitchell) journeys to Montana in search of gold. They come upon wealthy businessman Nathan Stark (Robert Ryan), whom they try to rob of $20,000. Instead, Stark talks Ben and Clint into becoming partners with him on a cattle drive to Montana. As the group travels to Texas, they come upon a party of settlers being attacked by Indians. They save the saucy Nella Turner (Jane Russell) and she joins with Ben, who has been made trail boss, and Clint on the cattle drive. Ben and Nella are attracted to each other but after an initial fling, Nella rejects him -- Ben just wants enough money to buy a small ranch and Nella won't settle for slim pickings. Arriving in Fort Worth, Nella takes up with Stark, whose desire to make as much money as possible coincides with Nella's money-hungry ambitions. But when, at Stark's insistence, she accompanies him on the final trek to Montana, the seething friction between Ben and Stark erupts as the drive heads into dangerous Indian country. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
Harry Shannon - Sam; Steven Darrell - The Colonel; Will Wright - Gus, the Bartender; Robert Adler - Wrangler; J. Lewis Smith - Cowboy; Russell Simpson - Immigrant Man; Gertrude Graner - Emigrant; Tom Wilson - Miner; Dan White - Hotel clerk; Argentina Brunetti - Maria; Doris Kemper - Mrs. Robbins; Carl Harbaugh - Salesman; Post Park - Stagecoach Driver; Tom Fadden - Owner of Stable; Gilda Fontana - Spanish Girl; Mae Marsh - Emigrant; Frank Leyva - Waiter; Jack Mather - Cavalry Lieutenant
Credit
Mark-Lee Kirk - Art Director, Lyle Wheeler - Art Director, William Travilla - Costume Designer, Stanley Hough - First Assistant Director, Raoul Walsh - Director, Louis Loeffler - Editor, Victor Young - Composer (Music Score), Victor Young - Musical Direction/Supervision, Ken Darby - Songwriter, Ben Nye, Sr. - Makeup, Leo Tover - Cinematographer, William A. Bacher - Producer, William Hawks - Producer, Chester L. Bayhi - Set Designer, Walter Scott - Set Designer, Ray Kellogg - Special Effects, Harry M. Leonard - Sound/Sound Designer, Sydney Boehm - Screenwriter, Frank S. Nugent - Screenwriter, Clay Fisher - Book Author
The 20th Century Fox film was produced by William A. Bacher and William B. Hawks. Sydney Boehm and Frank S. Nugent wrote the screenplay, based on a novel by Heck Allen (as Clay Fisher).
Storyline
Ben Allison (Clark Gable) and his brother Clint (Cameron Mitchell) journey to Montana in search of gold. They come upon wealthy businessman Nathan Stark (Robert Ryan) who they rob and kidnap before he talks them into becoming partners with him on a cattle drive to Montana. As they travel to Texas to buy the cattle, they come upon a party of settlers who share their fire and agree to slaughter a mule for food; as they leave the next day they realize the Indians (Sioux) are likely to attack the settlers and Ben heads back to see the last of the settlers being attacked by a war party and shoots several of them. He saves Nella Turner (Jane Russell) who eventually joins them on the cattle drive. Ben and Nella have a fling while stuck in a cabin during a snow storm, but Nella rejects him as he "dreams too small" wanting to settle down to a ranch in his hometown whereas she sees that lifestyle as the road to unhappiness given her parents' experience. Arriving in San Antonio, Nella takes up with Stark, whose desire to make as much money as possible coincides with Nella's own ambitions. But when, at Stark's insistence, she accompanies him on the final trek to Montana, the friction between Ben and Stark erupts as the drive heads into dangerous Indian country.
Cast
Clark Gable ... Colonel Ben Allison Jane Russell ... Nella Turner Robert Ryan ... Nathan Stark Cameron Mitchell ... Clint Allison
Juan García ... Luis, Allison's Head Vaccaro
Harry Shannon ... Sam, Cattleman robbed by Jayhawkers Emile Meyer ... Chickasaw Charlie
Steve Darrell ... Colonel Norris, U.S. Cavalry (as Stevan Darrell)
