Alan Ladd’s first Western, Whispering Smith, had him play a conventional detective but this one is more suited to Ladd’s baddy image. He’s a tough talking bitter anti-hero cowboy, who ain’t got no friends ‘cept his guns – he could be the great grandfather of Raven in This Gun for Hire. A dodgy cowboy convinces him to impersonate the long lost son of Charles Bickford. Of course, there's a heart of gold beneath that rough exterior and he ends up being touched by his new family, in particular getting hot for his “sister” (Mona Freeman).
The tough guy personas of Ladd and especially Bickford are ideal to work against the sentimentality of the central conceit. But I think it goes off the boil in the second half after Ladd gives up the deception and goes looking for the real son. The film loses the tension inherent in the central concept; Bickford and Freeman disappear and it becomes about Ladd kidnapping the guy (he’s the son of a Mexican bandit) and trying to take him back to Bickford, chased by step dad. It’s kind of off that Ladd kidnaps this guy, even if it is for a good reason
Bickford, Joseph Calleila (Mexican step dad) and Robert Keith (guy who comes up with the plan) offer excellent support. Bickford should have had more screen time. Mona Freeman is a bit wet but she doesn’t have much of a character to play. When Ladd comes along Bickford goes "geez it's great to finally have someone I can give the ranch to and to get to do stuff" - ignoring his poor old daughter. (She doesn't seem to mind.)
Paramount splurged for colour on this one meaning its one of Ladd’s best looking movies. There are some decent action sequences – shoot outs and fist fights – to spark up what at it’s heart is a family drama.
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