Fury of the West's Most Lawless Feud!
A Western drama that successfully integrates two important American themes into a powerful story of family conflict. One theme is the passing of the old West. At a time when the old lawless West was being subsumed, a rough-hewn pioneering cattle rancher, Matt Devereaux (Spencer Tracy), well used to battling for his rights face-to-face with fists, gun and whip, finds his life’s work under assault from various quarters, including a new breed of men in suits armed with property rights documents and other legalistic weapons.
Who will stand with the old man, at risk of livelihood, liberty, even life? Can he count on the three sons (Richard Widmark, Hugh O'Brian and the excellent Earl Holliman) from his first marriage, grown up now, disgruntled, but still working on the family ranch for a monthly wage, with little interest in carrying on their father’s legacy and a passion for city living? What about his devoted native American second wife (Katy Jurado) and their capable but "half-breed" son (Robert Wagner)? Surely not his native American ranch hands?
The other theme is that of the question of discrimination against native American "Indians". Specifically, how well accepted in polite social circles is Devereaux's second wife, politely classed as "Mexican" by more squeamish townsfolk? Will their son's good looks, good sense and easy charm be sufficient to smooth his path in society?
The bulk of the story is an extended flashback middle section with bookends in the present. The film begins well, with minimal dialogue, with a lean, dark-skinned sharp-looking Wagner being released from prison, and riding alone to his father's ranch. As the story develops, there is some great outdoor cinematography, and a very good climactic outdoor fight sequence, brutal, believable, almost as good as the end of Anthony Mann's The Naked Spur with James Stewart.
As with many other Westerns, there's a strong historical angle. In this case, it is of cattle ranchers being pressured by mineral developers, and in general, of the passing of the old West and the emerging power of city-based people in suits.
Spencer Tracy is excellent in the role of hard-nosed patriarch, facing a mixed harvest of sons, including the oldest (Widmark, always good value), a young refreshingly tough Wagner, and a convincing portrayal of the weak-headed youngest son by Earl Holliman.
- Rating: High matinee
- When seen: 20 Feb 2011
- Where seen: Home
- More information: IMDB | RottenTomatoes | Wikipedia
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Amendments: corrected spelling from Spencer "Tracey" to "Tracy". Removed link to Wikipedia-sourced image. Added ranking image.
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