1959
D: Howard Hawks
W: B.H. McCampbell (short story); Jules Furthman & Leigh Brackett (screenplay)
C: John Wayne, Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, Angie Dickinson, Walter Brennan, Ward Bond, John Russell, Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez, Estelita Rodriguez, Claude Akins, Malcolm Atterbury, Harry Carey Jr.
Original Music: Dimitri Tiomkin
Cinematography: Russell Harlan
Editing: Folmar Blangsted
Runtime: 141 min
Country: USA
Language: English / Spanish
Color: Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85 : 1
Sound Mix: Mono (RCA Sound Recording)
Certification: PG
A sheriff struggles to uphold law and order in a small Southwestern town while being outmanned by a corrupt rancher.
El cheapo set design. One of the ugliest color films I’ve ever seen. Undistinguished score. Ricky Nelson redefines “wooden.” Supporting cast is eminently mediocre.
The script is key. Wayne, Martin, and Brennan give maybe their most likable performances. And Hawks’ sturdy craftsmanship, combined with his inimitable gift for directing unpretentious conversational dialogue, provides enough potency to shine through the dreck.
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