This is not one of "the great" Westerns, but it is well above average, and I recommend you watch it if you like Westerns at all.
What are the negatives? Well, there aren't a lot, other than a degree of predictability. For example, it took 60 minutes for one of the good guys to get killed...something I had figured out within the first 10 minutes of the film. But, maybe it's difficult to write in really new angles when you are working in a well worked over genre.
What are the positives. Well, clearly this is a big budget production. Some of the best sets I've seen in a Western. And, the cast is very good. The star -- Errol Flynn -- was still in his peak...handsome, fit, and suave; yet tough. I've never been overly impressed with Alexis Smith in films, but she's very good here as the love interest. S.Z. Sakall is around for laughs. Victor Francen is good as one of the sort-of bad guys. John Litel is very good as the hero's best friend. Paul Kelly is, as usual, the intelligent bad guy. Florence Bates is also here, and she was always quite delicious in her comic dowdiness.
If there's anything about the plot that might bother you, it's the constant ego-maniacal comments about Texas. But aside from that, our hero (Flynn) is out to settle the score with cattle thief Kelly. Of course, we know how it will end. But in between there's a rather pleasant love story between Flynn and performer/singer Alexis Smith.
I do need to comment on the HUGE ALL-OUT shoot out late in the film. To be honest, it is overdone. From the piano sliding down the stairway (you can actually see the tracks it slides on) to the impressive falls (although you can actually see the landing cushions), it's something to behold, but with mixed results. You might say it's a bang-up ending!
It isn't that this film is that unique, but it is mostly done extremely well, and is very entertaining.
What are the negatives? Well, there aren't a lot, other than a degree of predictability. For example, it took 60 minutes for one of the good guys to get killed...something I had figured out within the first 10 minutes of the film. But, maybe it's difficult to write in really new angles when you are working in a well worked over genre.
What are the positives. Well, clearly this is a big budget production. Some of the best sets I've seen in a Western. And, the cast is very good. The star -- Errol Flynn -- was still in his peak...handsome, fit, and suave; yet tough. I've never been overly impressed with Alexis Smith in films, but she's very good here as the love interest. S.Z. Sakall is around for laughs. Victor Francen is good as one of the sort-of bad guys. John Litel is very good as the hero's best friend. Paul Kelly is, as usual, the intelligent bad guy. Florence Bates is also here, and she was always quite delicious in her comic dowdiness.
If there's anything about the plot that might bother you, it's the constant ego-maniacal comments about Texas. But aside from that, our hero (Flynn) is out to settle the score with cattle thief Kelly. Of course, we know how it will end. But in between there's a rather pleasant love story between Flynn and performer/singer Alexis Smith.
I do need to comment on the HUGE ALL-OUT shoot out late in the film. To be honest, it is overdone. From the piano sliding down the stairway (you can actually see the tracks it slides on) to the impressive falls (although you can actually see the landing cushions), it's something to behold, but with mixed results. You might say it's a bang-up ending!
It isn't that this film is that unique, but it is mostly done extremely well, and is very entertaining.