Warners tried to jazz up their Westerns with their teen idols, Tab Hunter and Natalie Wood, which actually wasn't a bad idea but they didn't put them in teen roles ie misunderstood kids. It's just a stock Western played by younger than usual actors.
It was based on a novel by Louis L'Amour whose novels don't have the best track record of adapting to the big screen. I haven't seen that many I admit but they're not that well known. Hondo is the big exception - it had a major star, a strong co star, and character work and mood.
The Burning Hills could have had that maybe - L'Amour wnated John Wayne and Katy Juarando and that would've worked. Hunter and Wood don't work here - they are too light, the story doesn't give that much to do.
You could change it - they should've changed the material for them. Given Hunter a dad, Wood a dad, had them struggle against their parents. It would've been a nice parallel to the lead baddy, Skip Hoimer, who is working for his dad.
Wood plays a Mexican. She's lovely and gorgeous and tries but it's silly. Hunter tries too.
It's nicely shot in colour - didn't expect that. Essentially lower budgeted though. Simple story, too simple I feel - Hunter gets revenge on person who killed his brother, and is chased. That level of simplicity you need character work. That's not here.
A few visual flourishes and scenes in caves. Stuart Heisler directed. He did The Glass Key and put Hunter in an early lead.
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