Admittedly, you do have to get past some historical inaccuracies. But then again, this isn't a documentary. It's an entertainment film, and as such, it is far better than your average Western. And while historically somewhat inaccurate, my sense is that it gives one a feel for what a particular chapter in American life may have been like.
First off -- a great cast. This is certainly one of Robert Young's best roles, albeit we don't usually think of him as a Western star. Randolph Scott did often star in Westerns, and he is likable here. Dean Jagger -- always a fine actor, and just the right balance here in terms of being a businessman and a man of a somewhat enlightened West (although here is one of the historical inaccuracies -- his real-life character was relatively enlightened toward the American Indian, and here the treatment of American Indians is quite stereotypical). By the way -- this is Dean Jagger with hair! Virginia Gilmore is fine as the love interest and sister, however, she did not have a very productive film career. There are a number of traditional character actors here -- John Carradine, Barton MacLane (who never impresses me), Slim Summerville, Chill Wills, and one of my favorites -- Minor Watson (although in a different type of role than I am used to).
Also on the plus side, the director here is the highly respected Fritz Lang, and wonderful Technicolor, bringing out the beauty of the American West. And scale -- this is a "big" story and a "big" production. The forest fire late in the film is handled quite spectacularly for 1941!
To be honest, I can't find much here to complain about, and lots to like. Highly recommended, and the Kino Lorber Blu Ray is nearly pristine.
First off -- a great cast. This is certainly one of Robert Young's best roles, albeit we don't usually think of him as a Western star. Randolph Scott did often star in Westerns, and he is likable here. Dean Jagger -- always a fine actor, and just the right balance here in terms of being a businessman and a man of a somewhat enlightened West (although here is one of the historical inaccuracies -- his real-life character was relatively enlightened toward the American Indian, and here the treatment of American Indians is quite stereotypical). By the way -- this is Dean Jagger with hair! Virginia Gilmore is fine as the love interest and sister, however, she did not have a very productive film career. There are a number of traditional character actors here -- John Carradine, Barton MacLane (who never impresses me), Slim Summerville, Chill Wills, and one of my favorites -- Minor Watson (although in a different type of role than I am used to).
Also on the plus side, the director here is the highly respected Fritz Lang, and wonderful Technicolor, bringing out the beauty of the American West. And scale -- this is a "big" story and a "big" production. The forest fire late in the film is handled quite spectacularly for 1941!
To be honest, I can't find much here to complain about, and lots to like. Highly recommended, and the Kino Lorber Blu Ray is nearly pristine.