Rory Calhoun gives a wounded performance in this film ( literally as well as metaphorically ) that shows inner pain and world weariness that I have never seen in any other performance of his. The bad boy image has gone, and he is just hunted and tired. As for Piper Laurie, one of the greatest actresses and rarely given the range she deserved is equal to his performance. Shot in colour this is as much Film Noir as Western, and superbly it shows how the two genres could join together. George Sherman directed this film with an originality that astonished me and the film score is a plus. The scenario has been seen many times before, but every story has been told before and this repeat excels. Alex Nicoll is well cast and as usual Universal Studios when they wanted to gave both entertainment and artistic merit. But for me Piper Laurie deserves the highest praise and every word, every glance rings true.
Review of Dawn at Socorro
