This is an interesting film because it is not listed in the 2007 Leonard Maltin Guide. Omissions are common in the book (particularly foreign and early films), but films by major American stars are practically never omitted--and this film starred Ava Gardner, Robert Taylor and Anthony Quinn as well as Howard Keel. Maybe it was not listed because the film was so bland. It's not a very good film but not bad either--sort of like dry toast and oh, so forgettable.
Quinn and Taylor are thugs who lead a group of bandits who terrorize ranchers. They are very good at it and the only one who seems willing to oppose them is brave Howard Keel and his wife, Ava Gardner. However, Keel seems a bit crazy, as he doesn't seem to have a prayer. Then, oddly, he captures Taylor and instead of killing him makes him promise to be his partner and special friend(?). Now considering how evil Quinn is supposed to be, he leaves Keel and Taylor alone and spends most of the rest of the film pouting and moping! Although the film provided a different interpretation of why Quinn behaved that way, it really seemed like there was a gay subtext to the film. In other words, when Taylor left Quinn, Quinn felt jilted. Actually, pursuing this aspect of the film would have made the movie much more interesting and memorable--too bad they didn't.
As for the acting, the one who probably came off best was Keel. Gardner just seemed like another lady, Quinn was fine until he became pouty and wimpy and Robert Taylor seemed half asleep during most of the film--putting zero energy into his role. I really wonder if he was either sick or hated the film so much that he just didn't try. And, despite an occasionally interesting script, I really think the latter might be why Taylor's performance was so listless.
Quinn and Taylor are thugs who lead a group of bandits who terrorize ranchers. They are very good at it and the only one who seems willing to oppose them is brave Howard Keel and his wife, Ava Gardner. However, Keel seems a bit crazy, as he doesn't seem to have a prayer. Then, oddly, he captures Taylor and instead of killing him makes him promise to be his partner and special friend(?). Now considering how evil Quinn is supposed to be, he leaves Keel and Taylor alone and spends most of the rest of the film pouting and moping! Although the film provided a different interpretation of why Quinn behaved that way, it really seemed like there was a gay subtext to the film. In other words, when Taylor left Quinn, Quinn felt jilted. Actually, pursuing this aspect of the film would have made the movie much more interesting and memorable--too bad they didn't.
As for the acting, the one who probably came off best was Keel. Gardner just seemed like another lady, Quinn was fine until he became pouty and wimpy and Robert Taylor seemed half asleep during most of the film--putting zero energy into his role. I really wonder if he was either sick or hated the film so much that he just didn't try. And, despite an occasionally interesting script, I really think the latter might be why Taylor's performance was so listless.