Michael O'Keefe
This is an overlooked classic Western that helps cement director Sam Peckinpah's career. Down and out, strapped for cash, two former lawmen Steve Judd (Joel McCrea) and Gil Westrum (Randolph Scott) are hired by a bank to deliver a huge amount of gold from a mining camp in the high Sierras down to the bank. More or less swan songs for McCrea and Scott as their long lasting careers wane. To be exact, this is the final effort of Scott. The two old friends wrestle with ethics as one wants to take the proceeds and run, while the other intends to finish the assignment agreed to. The action scenes are full of realism and the two stars turn in memorable performances. The sweeping vistas are terrific.Rounding out the cast: Mariette Hartley, R.G. Armstrong, Ron Starr, James Drury, L.Q. Jones and Warren Oates.
Grrr8
This is an important western because the subplot of a young woman's life in the remote west is addressed. At this time many women were looked upon as chattel. Here a young woman escapes farm life with an overbearing religious father who beats her, to flee into marriage with a redneck miner who beats her and plans to share her with his brothers and father. The lead character played by veteran Joel McCrea is trying to earn an honorable living because there is no pension or social security benefits for him to rely on. Randolph Scott is trying to score some easy dough to last during his retirement. A fine movie about morality, honor, and duty.
jglillis-1
Lots of favorable reviews for this one but I don't fully understand why. Scott and McCrea are their usual wooden selves, the music was low average at best, and the female lead was not exactly riveting. Hard to see why the youngster was along except to put the moves on the girl. The Hammond brothers were classic slimy low-lifes. The plot swerved from the beginning, when the banker was worried because six men had been killed trying to bring gold out, to the end, when the Hammonds provided the only opposition, and they weren't after the gold, but the girl. The movie was supposedly set around 1890-1900, but the only coin shown was a dime first minted in 1916. Nice scenery, though.
somejava
With Sam Peckinpah directing and with Joel McCrea and Randolph Scott starring you expect a first rate western. And this one delivers. I think it lacks some of the character depth of some of the other classic westerns. But the acting is good and the story offers moral perspective. And this movie also offers some beautifully sprawling scenic shots. What did stand out for me was the ending. Not everyone rides off happily into the sunset. The final scene did take me by surprise. And even though it was within the context of the character & he did request it...it did bother me that they just walked away and left him. But I'm sure that eliciting feelings similar to mine were just what Mr. Peckinpah was going for. I would recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys an old fashioned western. It has a great teaming of stars. And a very good supporting cast.
AD
