Brothers Dan and Neil Hammond and best friend Tiny McGilligan return to Texas after the Civil War, in which they fought on the losing side.
Neil (Rock Hudson) and Tiny (James Arness) are content to return to ranching on the Hammond homestead.
Dan (Robert Ryan), used to the excitement of war, takes one look at the wealthy men in Austin and decides he wants to be wealthy too.
After entering a high-stakes poker game in an attempt to make business connections and losing his shirt, Dan decides to switch to the other side of the law.
He becomes leader of a band of riff-raff left destitute by the war and forms his own army of sorts, rustling cattle, strong-arming ranchers with high tax burdens into selling him their land and generally building a fortune with dreams of turning it into an empire.
His first target: rich speculator Cord Hardin (Raymond Burr), who’s been accusing him of welching on that gambling debt and happens to have a very pretty young wife named Lorna (Julie Adams).
Finally, the folks of Austin have had enough. They decide to fight back, and Neil accepts the job of temporary sheriff, hoping to bring Dan back alive.
Robert Ryan as Dan Hammond, back from the Civil War and determined to make up for lost time in Horizons West (1952)
Rock Hudson as Neil Hammond, content to return from the Civil War and help run his family’s ranch in Horizons West (1952)
Review:
Spirited and action-packed early Western from Budd Boetticher featuring strong performances by Robert Ryan and Raymond Burr as dueling heavies.
There are lots of nice little touches. Like Rock Hudson’s character pretending he’s never tasted whiskey before when he realizing his mother is watching him down a shot. And like Julie Adams flinching at her husband’s touch, tipping us off right away to his abusive tendencies.
The film also benefits from a cast full of familiar faces. The Hammonds parents are played by John McIntire and Frances Bavier (later to achieve fame as Aunt Bee on The Andy Griffith Show).
Dan Hammond’s right-hand man is Dandy Taylor, played by Dennis Weaver in his film debut. And, of course, there’s a pre-Matt Dillon James Arness, who might have the film’s best line when he proclaims he’s going to do his part in rebuilding Texas by becoming “populatin’ poppa” upon his reunion with his wife.
Julie Adams as Lorna Hardin, the woman married to violent Cord Hardin but in love with Dan Hammond in Horizons West (1952)
Raymond Burr as Cord Hardin, a big man in Austin, instantly jealous of Dan Hammonds in Horizons West (1952)
Directed by:
Budd Boetticher
Cast:
Robert Ryan … Dan Hammond
Rock Hudson … Neil Hammond
Julie Adams … Lorna Hardin
Judith Bruan … Sally Eaton
Raymond Burr … Cord Hardin
James Arness … Tiny McGilligan
Dennis Weaver … Dandy Taylor
Frances Bavier … Martha Hammond
John McIntire … Ira Hammond
Tom Powers … Frank Tarleton
John Hubbard … Sam Hunter
Rodolfo Acosta … Gen. Jose Escobar Lopez
Douglas Fowley … Ed Tompkins
Walter Reed … Layton
Raymond Greenleaf … Eli Dodson
Runtime: 81 min.
James Arness as Tiny McGilligan, back home from war and greeted by his family in Horizons West (1952)
Judith Braun as Sally Eaton, the gal who’s been infatuated with Dan Hammond since childhood, but is willing to give his brother Neil a chance to change her mind in Horizons West (1952)
Memorable lines:
Tiny McGilligan: “When Tiny McGilligan gets back to Texas, I’m gonna be known as the populatin’ poppa.”
Dan Hammond: “I’m one of the vanquished. Back home and broke. You know, a fella gets back, starts looking at all this wealth and begins thinking.”
Sam Hunter: “About making money?”
Dan: “About making big money. Fast money.”
Dandy Taylor: “Me — I’m gonna have me clothes, rich cigars, the best liquor. tastiest vittles. I’m gonna pick money off bushes like I used to pick mesquite beans when I was a kid. You don’t have to reach very high — just soft and easy.”
Dan Hammond: “I’m building an empire. And when I’m on top, people will swear I’ve done nothing wrong. Nothing wrong at all.”
Martha Hammond, Dan’s mother: “I don’t know what to ask for in my prayers anymore.”
John McIntire as Ira Hammond, reacting to news that his oldest son has paid off his mortgage in Horizons West (1952)
Frances Bavier as Martha Hammond, summoning her family members to meet guests in Horizons West (1952)
Robert Ryan as Dan Hammond, explaining his big plans for getting rich and richer as partner Dandy (Dennis Weaver) looks on in Horizons West (1952)
Rodolfo Acosta as Gen. Jose Escobar Lopez, the Mexican officer who buys the cattle Dan Hammond and his men steal in Horizons West (1952)
Tom Powers as Judge Frank Tarleton, the town leader who comes to realize Dan Hammond must be stopped in Horizons West (1952)
Raymond Burr as Cord Hardin, watching wife Lorna (Julie Adams) wipe away his kiss in Horizons West (1952)
James Arness as Tiny McGilligan and Rock Hudson as Neil Hammond, out to right wrongs in Horizons West (1952)
Robert Ryan as Dan Hammond, trying to use dad Ira (John McIntire) to get out of a jam in Horizons West (1952)
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