Poor Robert Ryan: he's always the bad guy! Even when he's the lead, he's the bad guy. In Horizons West, he's the headliner seconded only by newcomer Rock Hudson, who was at the start of his Universal Studios contract and was being introduced to audience in small parts. They're Confederate soldiers coming home from the Civil War, and while Rock is perfectly happy to work with his parents at the family farm, Robert doesn't have the patience or temperament for farm living. He warns his family, and the audience, that he doesn't like losing at anything and he plans to make it big no matter what. Audience, he may be the lead, but he's the bad guy. Thankfully, there's a worse guy for Robert to fight: his crush's husband. Julia Adams is very unhappily married, so it's no strain for her to flirt around with the handsome newcomer in town, especially since he's ambitious and hates her husband.
If you're considering renting Horizons West, a warning: Louis Stevens' screenplay is so stilted and artificial, it's not even fun to laugh at. It's worse than most musical librettos when giving the lead-in to a song. The supporting cast either didn't feel like acting or didn't have the chops to begin with, and the only person who puts his heart into this lousy movie is Robert Ryan. You can catch him in other, better movies, like On Dangerous Ground, Clash by Night, or Born to be Bad, and I suggest you do so.
If you're considering renting Horizons West, a warning: Louis Stevens' screenplay is so stilted and artificial, it's not even fun to laugh at. It's worse than most musical librettos when giving the lead-in to a song. The supporting cast either didn't feel like acting or didn't have the chops to begin with, and the only person who puts his heart into this lousy movie is Robert Ryan. You can catch him in other, better movies, like On Dangerous Ground, Clash by Night, or Born to be Bad, and I suggest you do so.