Audie Murphy normally was the only star in his movies but here he's in support of a bigger name - James Stewart. This is a Jimmy Stewart-Anthony Mann Western made without Anthony Mann - the director quit the project in pre-production, replaced by James Nielsen, but the spirit of their earlier collaborations hangs over it: there's beautiful location photography, atmosphere, Stewart has a strong relationship with the baddie who kind of isn't a baddie.
As in Winchester 73 the villain is Stewart's brother - played by Audie Murphy in one of his most effective performances. (I keep describing Murphy's performances as "effective" rather than good because I can never seem to call him a good actor.) He's a sympathetic villain, obviously tough, very sure of himself, quick on the draw - for my mind he outshines James Stewart, although Stewart is the better actor, and it's a shame he isn't introduced into the film earlier, or the reveal that they are brothers is held off.
Indeed, it's a shame the film isn't better. It's got some great things going for it - the mountain setting, the rivalry between the brothers, the Stewart-Murphy combination, Stewart sings two songs with an accordion which at least is novelty value. Other stuff isn't that great - Stewart doesn't have much of a character to play (a former railway guard given the job of catching a crook); Brandon de Wilde from Shane is in it and is annoying; Murphy comes in too late; Dan Duryea, normally excellent, hams it up as one of those real baddies who come along to redeem the anti-hero; the female parts are poor.
Still in Audie Murphy land it's an above average Western and makes you wish he appeared with other big stars more often so he didn't have to carry the movie on his own shoulders all the time.
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