Ray Milland isn't one of the first actors you think of as a Western star, but after World War Two all males had to appear on them. He's never quite comfortable in a part that cries out for John Wayne or at least Alan Ladd (who was cast but turned it down over money) - as a tough trail guide with a past leading a group to California, just at the beginning of the Gold Rush.
A lot of this is very familiar: there's a woman with a shady past (Barbara Stanwyck, too old really), a comic but decent Irishman (Barry Fitzgerald). There are some strong anti-slavery sentiments (although the film of course is free of any black people), the villain (George Colouris) has a decent goal (to make California an independent country) and a great characterisation (he's a former slaver tormented by the horrors he's done and is genuinely in love with Stanwyck).
Colouris is the best thing about the film, which has a surprising lack of action, a very pretentious introductory sequence talking about California, and some pretty technicolour photography. It doesn't feel historically accurate and none of the ingredients or the story quite gel. Anthony Quinn pops up in support.
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