A raft of journeyman talent turns this exceptionally promising story into standard-issue Western fare. Not bad, but could have been so much better. Victor Mature, showing good form, stars as the gambling ‘black sheep’ brother of straight-arrow army man Glenn Langan, each coming separately to Furnace Creek in hopes of clearing their disgraced father’s name, a General blamed for the Apache massacre of an entire wagon train and of Fort Furnace Creek. No love lost between the brothers, with Mature working so far undercover he’s raising suspicions on all sides, but finding out the secrets of a land grab to claim a fortune in silver mineral rights buried on Apache Reservation land. Albert Dekker’s the prime bad guy in the scheme, but the most interesting character is Reginald Gardiner, in a rare tragic break from his usual comedy roles, as the compromised army man who may not live to tell what he knows. Director Bruce Humberstone keeps the storyline bracingly clear, but shortchanges on relationships & characterization. A problem as both Langan & Coleen Gray (love interest to Mature) are very bland players. Fortunately, cinematographer Harry Wild loads on shadowy atmosphere and the second-unit directors outdo themselves on location. Check out a parallel tracking shot during a horse chase with pursuers atop a ridge and the hunted brothers in the ravine below. Stellar action footage. And that’s Jay Silverheels (of ‘Tonto’ fame) as the revenging Apache ‘Little Dog’ getting away with murder at the end. Hollywood Production Code be damned.
DOUBLE-BILL: Just Mature’s second Western, after MY DARLING CLEMENTINE/’46 for John Ford. No more till ‘55 with Anthony Mann’s THE LAST FRONTIER after going Native American as CHIEF CRAZY HORSE.
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