I like all three main actors in this film...Randolph Scott, Gene Tierney and Dana Scott, unfortunately I have seen them all in better films. Apparently this is roughly based on a true story, but I am not a southerner...so I guess it doesn't really speak to me that they have built up this woman Belle Star as a folk hero.
The story starts at the end of the civil war, in this period drama, and revolves around a southern belle named Belle Shirley. Belle is a sore southern looser and thwarts her childhood friend turned Union officer Major Thomas Crail in his attempt to imprison the outlaw and guerrilla rebel leader Sam Starr. She also goes against her more sensible brother Ed Shirley...who is the only person I truly feel sorry for in this film. Belle eventually marries the outlaw Sam who is stealing from and wrecking havoc with Union run towns. Sam is so power hungry he even starts letting in less than savory individuals into his band of outlaws...like thieves and murders, something her brother tries to warn her about only to get killed as a thank you.
I felt this was truly a sad and tragic tale not one for the making of a southern folk hero and I really have seen all three actors in much better films. I especially didn't understand why this "southern Belle" had men practically fighting over her. I think that Major Thomas Crail could do much, much better for himself. My recommendation is to give this a pass unless you are a die hard southerner or a big history fan.
The story starts at the end of the civil war, in this period drama, and revolves around a southern belle named Belle Shirley. Belle is a sore southern looser and thwarts her childhood friend turned Union officer Major Thomas Crail in his attempt to imprison the outlaw and guerrilla rebel leader Sam Starr. She also goes against her more sensible brother Ed Shirley...who is the only person I truly feel sorry for in this film. Belle eventually marries the outlaw Sam who is stealing from and wrecking havoc with Union run towns. Sam is so power hungry he even starts letting in less than savory individuals into his band of outlaws...like thieves and murders, something her brother tries to warn her about only to get killed as a thank you.
I felt this was truly a sad and tragic tale not one for the making of a southern folk hero and I really have seen all three actors in much better films. I especially didn't understand why this "southern Belle" had men practically fighting over her. I think that Major Thomas Crail could do much, much better for himself. My recommendation is to give this a pass unless you are a die hard southerner or a big history fan.