Sterling Hayden is Tim Chipman, a college-educated man who rushes back to his old stomping ground, the Talka River logging area, when he learns his father has been gravely injured.
He arrives to learn his father has died, beaten to death by someone unknown. But this much is known: He’d been feuding with rival logger Croft Brunner (David Brian), who had put a stranglehold on Chipman’s logging business and had been trying to buy him out.
Meanwhile, Tim Chipman’s childhood sweetheart Lynne Tilton (Vera Ralston) is owner of the snazziest saloon around. She figures to marry Brunner, though once Chipman arrives on the scene she finds herself caught in the middle of the two men, just hoping their disputes don’t result in bloodshed.
Her lawyer father has split loyalties too. He works for Brunner, but really doesn’t like the man. That’s why he slips a vital piece of information to Chipman. A timber rich area, presumably protected for another 50 years, has been cleared for logging. That’s why Brunner wants control of the property.
With that information in hand, Chipman concocts a plan to revive his father’s business. And Brunner becomes more determined than ever to make sure he doesn’t succeed.
Review:
Highlights include stock footage of actual logging activity, a cute dog named Napoleon and a couple of fun song and dance numbers courtesy of Ralston — sporting dark hair for this outing — and her sidekick Jingles, played by composer Hoagy Carmichael.
Otherwise, it’s a rather tiresome and overly melodramatic affair. An example: “His hat. He was never without his hate,” proclaims a stunned Lynne Tilton. Watch the film and you’ll know what I mean. Oh, and an unimaginatively staged final showdown doesn’t help matters.
There are lots of familiar faces in secondary roles, some much more successful than others. In addition to Carmichael, Chill Wills plays Steve Rilka, Chipman’s right-hand man. Howard Petrie plays the oafish Ole, whose level of intelligence seems to depend on the scene. Adolphe Menjoy is the philosophizing Swifty Tilton..
Directed by:
Joseph Kane
Cast:
Sterling Hayden … Tim Chipman
Vera Ralston … Lynne Tilton
David Brian … Croft Brunner
Adolphe Menjoy … Swifty Tilton
Hoagy Carmichael … Jingles
Chill Wills … Steve Rilka
Howard Petrie … Axe-Handle Ole
Jim Davis … Poole
Ian MacDonald … Pauquette
Elisha Cook Jr. … Punky
Karl “Killer” Davis … Bush
Wally Cassell … Veazie
Tex Terry … Charlie
Runtime: 93 min.
Title tune: Timberjack
Saloon tunes by Ralston: ‘
“The Tambourine Waltz”
“What Ev’ry Young Girl Should Know”
“He’s Dead But He Won’t Lie Down”
“My Dog,” sung by Carmichael
Memorable lines:
Axe-Handle Ole: “I think she mad at you boss.”
Brunner: “Women’s like logging business, Ole. The more you chop, the more you got.”
Lynne Tilton to Tim Chapman: “You’ve only been away for 12 years, and already you’ve forgotten how rough we play in the woods.”
Brunner to Lynne: “Lay it on the table. Who are you for? Him or me?
Lynne: “I’m for everybody staying alive and not killing each other for money.”
Brunner: “You like money, I notice.”
Lynne: “I got mine making people happy.”
Steve Rilka: “Tim, I don’t like it so quiet from Brunner. You papa used to say, ‘When Brunner’s still, you’d better look out for a headache.”
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