Review of Yellow Sky

This original story was written by W. R. Burnett which was later directed by William R. Wellman. The story as it appeared on the silver screen tells of a gang of bank robbers led by none other than Gregory Peck, who ride into a small town, Rob the local bank and escape with a Posse in pursuit. Unfortunately, they also ride onto the Salt Flats without a sufficient supply of water and nearly die of thirst. Instead they discover a Ghost Town with two people still living there. An old Prospecter and his granddaughter. For many fans, the selection of Gregory Peck as James 'Stretch' Dawson the leader of the bad men, was a miscasting. In addition, other notables that usually wear white hats, such as John Russell (Lawman) and Harry Morgan (MASH) played bad guys. Still they did their best to fill the scripted parts and put together an unlikely and unusual film. The only actor who did a good job with his role was Richard Widmark who played 'Dude.' The female lead was played by Anne Baxter. The story is slow to assemble and the 'gang' is ill formed with dual leaders. Indeed, with the pretty girl becoming a secondary goal and wild marauding Apaches never becoming a definite threat, the movie makes for a poor Western. Still it was interesting to watch top stars making the best of it. ****