In "Copper Canyon" (1950) Ray Milland plays a sharpshooting entertainer named Johnny Carter who rides into an Arizona town where he comes between ex-Confederate and ex-Union miners who are fighting their own epilogue to the war. The Confederates believe Carter's actually a notable Confederate colonel and try to enlist his aid. Meanwhile the deputy sheriff of the town (Macdonald Carey) drips with malevolence and sides with the Union faction; Hedy Lemarr sides with 'em too, but she's not so malevolent.
With really old Westerns like this I usually brace for the worst, but I was surprised at how entertaining "Copper Canyon" is once you acclimate to the old-style of filmmaking. The big mystery of the story is the protagonist's identity. Is he the acclaimed colonel or isn't he? The ending leaves no doubt.
Speaking of the protagonist, Milland is strong as the mysterious Johnny Carter and reminiscent of Jimmy Stewart, albeit more cultured. Supposedly, he and Lemarr hated each other, which is ironic since their roles called for a hint of romance and it worked for me. Of course, Hedy was one of the most beautiful women to walk the face of the earth. There's also cutie Mona Freeman in a treacly role and Peggy Knudsen as a blond saloon girl.
The subtext about the ex-Rebs and Yanks forgetting the past, accepting each other and maybe even teaming up is great. Someone may be technically "on your side," but corrupt is corrupt and evil is evil.
At a mere 83 minutes, the story is convoluted and there's a lot of talk squeezed in (I suggest using the subtitles), but there's enough action and the location cinematography is awesome, shot in Sedona, Arizona, and Vasquez Rocks, CA.
GRADE: B+
With really old Westerns like this I usually brace for the worst, but I was surprised at how entertaining "Copper Canyon" is once you acclimate to the old-style of filmmaking. The big mystery of the story is the protagonist's identity. Is he the acclaimed colonel or isn't he? The ending leaves no doubt.
Speaking of the protagonist, Milland is strong as the mysterious Johnny Carter and reminiscent of Jimmy Stewart, albeit more cultured. Supposedly, he and Lemarr hated each other, which is ironic since their roles called for a hint of romance and it worked for me. Of course, Hedy was one of the most beautiful women to walk the face of the earth. There's also cutie Mona Freeman in a treacly role and Peggy Knudsen as a blond saloon girl.
The subtext about the ex-Rebs and Yanks forgetting the past, accepting each other and maybe even teaming up is great. Someone may be technically "on your side," but corrupt is corrupt and evil is evil.
At a mere 83 minutes, the story is convoluted and there's a lot of talk squeezed in (I suggest using the subtitles), but there's enough action and the location cinematography is awesome, shot in Sedona, Arizona, and Vasquez Rocks, CA.
GRADE: B+