Along the Great Divide (1951)

Kirk Douglas plays Len Merrick, a U.S. marshal who interrupts the hanging of Pop Keith (Walter Brennen).

The old man has been accused of killing the favorite son of powerful rancher Ed Roden (Morris Ankrum) because Pop was found with rustled cattle near the younger Roden’s body.

Merrick isn’t interested in judging guilt or innocence; his duty is to get Pop to the town of Santa Loma to stand trial. And he has a pair of deputies — Lou Gray and Billy Shear — to help him accomplish that mission.

Of course, Pop’s feisty daughter Ann (Virginia Mayo) might have something to say about that, especially if she can get her hands on a gun.

She’s convinced of her dad’s innocence and even more convinced he’ll never get a fair trial as a homesteader in cattle country.

Roden’s not too keen on the idea of a trial either. He’d prefer swifter justice.

So he and his men are hot on the trail of Merrick and his small band. A shootout leaves Shear severely wounded and Roden’s other son, Dan (James Anderson), a captive of Merrick’s.

But even with a Roden’s son around as insurance against another ambush, the trek to Santa Loma is going to be challenging.

There’s a desert to cross, and Merrick is short on food and water for his small band.

Kirk Douglas as Marshal Len Merrick, learning there’s a lynching to stop in Along the Great Divide (1951)

Virginia Mayo as Ann Keith, wondering about the weakness her dad says he’s found in Len Merrick in Along the Great Divide (1951)

Review:

A well-done 1950s Western, marked by shifting alliances during the long trek to Santa Loma. Roden is particularly desperate to escape Merrick’s grasp, trying to make a deal with anyone who will listen, including the man suspected of killing his brother.

There’s a psychological element, too. Seems Merrick’s father was lynched years earlier, and the young man blames himself, at least in part, for his father’s death.

Pop Keith learns that from one of Merrick’s deputies, and then does everything in his power to remind the marshal of his father during their trip together.

The film also features a splendid performance by Mayo as Pop’s tomboyish and faithful daughter. She has no need for dresses, she tells Merrick at one point, because they just slow you down. His response: “Depends on where you’re going.”

This marked the first of many Westerns for Douglas.

Walter Brennan as Pop Keith, trying to create a diversion for his daughter in Along the Great Divide (1951)

James Anderson as Dan Roden, brother of the slain cattleman in Along the Great Divide (1951)

Directed by:
Raoul Walsh

Cast:
Kirk Douglas … Len Merrick
Virginia Mayo … Ann Keith
Walter Brennan … Pop Keith
John Agar … Billy Shear
Ray Teal … Lou Gray
Hugh Sanders … Frank Newcombe
Morris Ankrum … Ed Roden
James Anderson … Dan Roden
Charles Meredith … Judge Marlowe

Runtime: 88 min.

Ray Teal as Deputy Lou Gray, one of Len Merrick’s two men on the trip to Santa Loma in Along the Great Divide (1951)

John Agar as Deputy Billy Shear, preparing a will for Pop Keith in Along the Great Divide (1951)

Memorable lines:

Pop Keith to Merrick: “Just so long as you’re conscious, I’m a goner. So I aim to make you unconscious. And don’t think sentiment is going to sway my judgment.”
Merrick: “Fair enough, mister. And don’t expect none of me, neither.”

Merrick: “My name’s Merrick. I’m the United States marshal here.
Member of hanging party: “You’re new in the territory.”
Merrick: “The law isn’t.”

Pop Keith: “Maybe the boys would like to have supper. Ann’s a real fine cook.”
Billy: “If she’s as good as cooking as she is at ambushing, what have we got to lose?”
Merrick: “Only our lives.”

Pop Keith, dictating his will: “Put this down: Whereas I hereby bequeath my homestead to my daughter.”
Billy: “You don’t need the whereas and the hereby.”
Pop Keith: “Well, I leave that up to you. Just make sure there’s enough whereas-es in there to make any lawyer sit up and take notice.”

Rancher to Merrick: “When he buried his boy, know what he put on the marker? Here a father’s heart is buried. A man with no heart makes a bad enemy.”

Kirk Douglas as Len Merrick, breaking up a lynching with the help of deputies Lou Gray (Ray Teal) and Billy Shear (John Agar) in Along the Great Divide (1951)

Morris Ankrum as Ed Roden, the cattle king determined to hang the man who killed his son in Along the Great Divide (1951)

Virginia Mayo as Ann Keith, pleading with Len Merrick on behalf of her father in Along the Great Divide (1951)

Kitk Douglas as Len Merrick, ratled by comments about his father from Pop Keith (Walter Brennan) in Along the Great Divide (1951)

Virginia Mayo as Ann Keith and Walter Brennan as her dad Pop Keith, watching for a chance to slip away in Along the Great Divide (1951)

Walter Brennan as Pop Keith, wondering how long Len Merrick can go without sleep in Along the Great Divide (1951)

Kirk Douglas as Len Merrick, reminding his captives not to try an escape in Along the Great Divide (1951)

Virginia Mayo as Ann Keith, held as a humand shield by Dan Roden (James Anderson) in Along the Great Divide (1951)