For a fairly standard Forties Western, this one had a few interesting elements beginning with the opening showdown between Brazos Kane (Randolph Scott) and an unknown assailant who calls him out. We learn immediately after that it was Kane's best friend who wanted to see how fast he really was with a gun. I'm not certain that would be the best way to test one's quick draw reflexes, a guy could get seriously hurt that way.
And then there was that scene in Bannertown when Bard Macky (Bruce Cabot) ran his horse into Kane's, and actually knocked Kane's horse down! I had to wonder if that was scripted or just happened and the crew just kept on filming. The rest of the scene played out curiously as well, with Kane dodging Macky's horse as he tried to bring his opponent to ground level.
But you know, as I sit here and think about the story, it seems to make less and less sense. Kane's attempt to investigate his friend's murder eventually leads him to Banner henchman Macky and daughter Bess (Barbara Britton), who's boot-print turns up at the murder scene. So in the tradition of all your cowboy hero good guys, you'd expect Kane to bring both of them to justice by the end of the picture. Especially since Banner himself (Griff Barnett) ordered the murder of Bob Tyrell.
So with the picture setting us up for a Kane romance with Bess's sister Jane (Dorothy Hart), was it Bess who got to ride off into the sunset with Kane? The sisters did look an awful lot alike. Actually, I do know which one hooked up with Brzaos at Monument Rock; the tease here is just to see if you were paying attention.
And then there was that scene in Bannertown when Bard Macky (Bruce Cabot) ran his horse into Kane's, and actually knocked Kane's horse down! I had to wonder if that was scripted or just happened and the crew just kept on filming. The rest of the scene played out curiously as well, with Kane dodging Macky's horse as he tried to bring his opponent to ground level.
But you know, as I sit here and think about the story, it seems to make less and less sense. Kane's attempt to investigate his friend's murder eventually leads him to Banner henchman Macky and daughter Bess (Barbara Britton), who's boot-print turns up at the murder scene. So in the tradition of all your cowboy hero good guys, you'd expect Kane to bring both of them to justice by the end of the picture. Especially since Banner himself (Griff Barnett) ordered the murder of Bob Tyrell.
So with the picture setting us up for a Kane romance with Bess's sister Jane (Dorothy Hart), was it Bess who got to ride off into the sunset with Kane? The sisters did look an awful lot alike. Actually, I do know which one hooked up with Brzaos at Monument Rock; the tease here is just to see if you were paying attention.