I mentioned the casting director in the summary because the odd casting decisions severely impacted this movie. While it starred Joel McCrea (who made quite a few nice westerns), the rest of the cast was just bizarre--so bizarre you almost think that the studio deliberately picked the worst possible actors for the film! First, the petulant and very strong-willed woman of the west is played by Miss Peek-a-boo herself, Veronica Lake. Not only is she too small for such a role, but she still sports a variation on her fashion-setting 1940s hair--which looked totally out of place in the old West Second, her father was played by, of all people, Charlie Ruggles! The very British Donald Crisp is on hand to try to keep order as the town sheriff. And, finally, Don Defore (Mr. B from "Hazel") was cast as a bad-man--a guy who liked to shoot first and ask questions....well, never! This just seemed weird from a guy with lovely manners and such a nice-guy persona! What were they thinking?!?!
As for the plot, it is quite different--and considering they made a billion or more westerns, this is a very good thing! The film begins with Ruggles magnanimously having his daughter's fiancé beaten up and chased out of town. It seems that Ruggles already has a man picked out for her. Unexpectedly, this unleashes the she-devil in Veronica--who decides to start her own competing ranch AND use evil as her guide. Too bad that the virtuous Joel McCrea is working for her and is pulled right into the middle of this mess. Soon, bodies start piling up and it's particularly surreal to see Defore is responsible for many of them!! Weird...very, very weird!
I wasn't sure fond of this film, however, because of its odd-ball plot--the odd-ball casting that made the characters tough to believe. Probably the worst wasn't Defore (he was a close runner-up) but Lake, as whenever she got mean and angry, she made you want to say "....awww...ain't she cute...I love it when she makes that pouty expression!". It just didn't work for me despite McCrea's excellent (as usual) acting. An odd little curio.
As for the plot, it is quite different--and considering they made a billion or more westerns, this is a very good thing! The film begins with Ruggles magnanimously having his daughter's fiancé beaten up and chased out of town. It seems that Ruggles already has a man picked out for her. Unexpectedly, this unleashes the she-devil in Veronica--who decides to start her own competing ranch AND use evil as her guide. Too bad that the virtuous Joel McCrea is working for her and is pulled right into the middle of this mess. Soon, bodies start piling up and it's particularly surreal to see Defore is responsible for many of them!! Weird...very, very weird!
I wasn't sure fond of this film, however, because of its odd-ball plot--the odd-ball casting that made the characters tough to believe. Probably the worst wasn't Defore (he was a close runner-up) but Lake, as whenever she got mean and angry, she made you want to say "....awww...ain't she cute...I love it when she makes that pouty expression!". It just didn't work for me despite McCrea's excellent (as usual) acting. An odd little curio.