Spencer Tracy is Matt Devereaux, owner of a ranching empire and father of four sons — Ben (Richard Widmark), Mike (Hugh O’Brien), Denny (Earl Holliman) and Joe (Robert Wagner).
The first three were born to a white wife who died long ago; Joe is the son of an Indian woman (Katy Jurado) Matt married, much to the dismay of the local population. But he’s Matt Devereaux, cattle king, so no one can object too loudly.
Now all four sons are grown and fractures are starting to show in the Devereaux family. Matt catches Mike and Denny stealing some of his cattle; they complain he isn’t paying them enough. Ben resents his father more than any of them, recalling how he quit school to work 16 hours a day to help make the ranch a success, yet always being treated like a hired hand rather than a son. Joe? Ben perceives him as his father’s favorite son, and resents it.
But the trouble really starts when a copper mine contaminates a well and kills 40 head of Devereaux cattle. Matt and his sons charged onto the copper mine property, demanding it cease operations. The situation spirals out of control until 12 mine workers are injured and the property wrecked.
The mining company sues, and Joe — called a half-breed during the disturbance — takes the blame for firing the first to keep his father from going to jail. Joe heads there instead when his brothers refuse to pay $80,000 in restitution to the mining company. The brothers also wind up with control of the ranch as part of the court settlement.
Flash forward three years and Matt Devereaux is dead. Joe has just gotten out of prison, convinced his brothers hastened his father’s demise. Will he try to get even? Or will he accept their offer and start a new life in Oregon financed by his brothers?
Review:
An excellent 1950s Western that makes great use of what amounts to an all-star cast. Tracy is brilliant as the crusty rancher, used to fighting his own battles and using the law and the courts to win those he can’t shoot his way out of.
Most of the story is told flashback style, after Joe’s release from prison. Two of the more memorable scenes include Matt violently whipping his oldest son for not obeying instructions, and then later dying on horseback as he rushes to keep Ben from selling part of the ranch.
Jean Peters provides the film’s love interest. She’s the daughter of the governor — a governor hand-picked by Matt Devereaux — who falls for the wrong Devereaux son in the eyes of her father. You see, she falls for Joe, the half-breed.
Director Dmytryk made a handful of Westerns. This and “Warlock” (1959) are easily his best.
Directed by:
Edward Dmytryk
Cast:
Spencer Tracy … Matt Devereaux
Robert Wagner … Joe Devereaux
Richard Widmark … Ben Devereaux
Jean Peters …Barbara
Katy Jurado … Mrs. Devereaux
Hugh O’Brian … Mike Devereaux
Earl Holliman … Denny Devereaux
Eduard Franz … Two Moons
E.G. Marshall … Horace (the governor)
Carl Benton Reid … Van Cleve
Robert Burton … Mac Andrews
Runtime: 96 min.
Memorable lines:
Ben Devereaux, to his brothers, after Joe has rejected their offer of reconciliation: “Anyone who throws $10,000 into a spittoon makes me nervous.”
Matt Devereaux: “Just brand ’em, don’t barbeque ’em.”
Matt Devereaux: “There ain’t a man livin’ who can say he stole cattle from me, but you two mush-heads thought … alright, you wanted them so bad, take them. Take them and get out. The money you get from them will keep you until you can steal some more. But remember this, don’t steal them from here.”
Attorney: “I tell you, they’re going to sue you. They’re mad, Matt. You wrecked a building, banged up half their crews …”
Matt Devereaux: “Well, they killed 40 head of my cattle. What do you want me to do? Kiss them?”
Matt Devereaux to son Ben: “I always used to think there was too much of me in you to hit it off, but I know now that was wrong. There isn’t enough of me in you.”
Barbara, when she and Joe pull up to Matt’s gravesite: “It’s lovely and peaceful here.”
Joe Devereaux: “Doesn’t seem to go with pa, somehow.”
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