It’s 1849, and Americans are trying to move in on a Spanish land grant held by the Delmonte family. After the patron is killed, his son Miguel (Rick Jason) and daughter Felicia (Rita Gam) take control of the property.
So a land speculator named Rufus Bynam (Steve Brodie) hires the fastest gun around to take care of Miguel as well. The fast gun belongs to Jack McCracken (Brian Keith). He takes one look at Felicia, considers her offer of a valuable Spanish heirloom for his assistance and switches sides.
While Bynam’s up to no good at every turn, Miguel proves he’s a likeable sort. When a wagon train breaks down on his land, he agrees to let the families stay through one growing season to get back on their feet. He even helps rescue one of the settlers — Sue Russell (Mala Powers) — who gets lost in the desert where she stayed behind to tend to her sick and dying husband.
Over time, Felicia falls in love with Jack, though he knows it won’t work; Miguel falls in love with Sue, who isn’t certain she’s ready to love another man. Meanwhile, Bynum learns the U.S. government plans on honoring the Spanish land grant, so he gathers all his supporters and sets out to burn the hacienda before anyone else finds out.
Review:
Bland for the most part, taking its lead from Keith’s laid-back performance in the lead role. That acting style would serve him well in future TV roles; it did nothing to enliven his Westerns.
But a neat ending has visitors coming across the graves of the character’s years later, helping explain how their lives played out after the film ends.
This marked the lone Western for Rick Jason who would begin a starring role in the hit TV show “Combat” as Lt. Gil Hanley in 1962.
Directed by:
James Clark
Cast:
Brian Keith … Jack McCracken
Rick Jason … Miguel Delmonte
Rita Gam … Felicia Delmonte
Mala Powers … Sue Russell
Pedro Galvan … Judson Jeffers
Steve Brodie … Rufus Bynum
Lewis Allen … Hank Moe
Fernando Wagner … Grandall
Carlos Muzquiz … Andrews
Lee Morgan … Frank Goheen
Lynne Ehrlich … Vicky Russell
Runtime: 80 min.
Memorable lines:
Jack to Miquel: “You know what a partnership is — just two guys tryin’ to figure out a way to cheat one another.”
Sue Russell, upon coming across a wagon in the desert (apparently, she can’t recognize her own wagon). She reads the name on the empty canteen she’s trying to drink from: “Russell, you poor souls.” Then … “Russell. Oh, no, my name is Russell.” At which point she lets out a scream and goes running across the desert.
Felicia Delmonte, after hearing Jack tell the story of how he got his first horse, by stealing it: “A horse thief at 8 (years old).”
Jack: “Wasn’t awful lot of risk to it. Hanging age for horse thiefs in Texas is 12.”
Miguel to Sue, trying to convince her she can love again: “You’re young and warm, and as full of love as a flower is of honey. And you’re very beautiful.”
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