Hathaway’s films often seem to lie in the shadow of the greater John Ford, and this enjoyable, macho comedy drama yarn is no exception. Set at the turn of the century, the film follows two prospectors, Wayne and Granger, battling each other, trying to control the excesses of Granger’s kid brother Fabian, outsmarting con man Kovacs and avoiding the clutches of gold-digger Capucine. Ford would have added a little more humanity and pathos, and the performances would have been less broad. The two male leads are oddly coupled and Fabian, in his third film, cannot shake off his 1960s pop singer image.
cast
John Wayne as Sam McCord
Stewart Granger as George Pratt
Ernie Kovacs as Frankie Canon
Fabian as Billy Pratt
Capucine as Michelle “Angel” Bonet
Mickey Shaughnessy as Peter Boggs
Karl Swenson as Lars Nordqvist
Kathleen Freeman as Lena Nordqvist
John Qualen as Logger
Stanley Adams as Breezy
Alan Carney as Bartender (uncredited)
James Griffith as Salvation Army Leader
Joe Sawyer as Land Commissioner
Richard Deacon as Angus
Johnny Lee as Coachman
Esther Dale as Woman at Picnic
Lilyan Chauvin as Jenny Lamont
Douglas Dick as Lieutenant
Joey Faye as Artist
Arlene Harris as Madam of The Hen House
Max Mellinger as Everett Bishop
crew
Director: Henry Hathaway
US | 122 minutes | 1960
