THE BIG LAND (1957)

The only thing BIG about this mid-sized Western is the title.*  But still, an okay mid-sized ‘oater’ from star Alan Ladd’s production company, with some nice twists in a story about a Texas cattleman driving stock up North in the unfriendly post-Civil War market, hoodwinked out of a fair price when crooked buyer Anthony Caruso runs off the competition.  Broke, Ladd figures he’ll try again with newly sober pal Edmond O’Brien and a fresh idea: If You Build It, They Will Come.  Here, that means a new spur line for a newly built town.  Enter Virginia Mayo, not only O’Brien’s pretty sister, she’s also engaged to a wealthy railroad man who’s looking to expand.  (No points for guessing that he’ll gain a franchise and lose a fiancée.)  Uneven journeyman director Gordon Douglas in so-so form, with Ladd’s favored late career lenser John Seitz on board, here stuck using unstable WarnerColor stock.  (Upgrade desperately needed.)  Ladd showing particular generosity letting O’Brien run away with the pic (DTs, reformed drunk ordering sarsparilla all ‘round!, finally stoic hero), while Ladd merely gets a poorly staged shootout with the two BIG villains.  Perhaps Ladd was content having real-life son David in a nice little role.*

ATTENTION MUST BE PAID:  *Was the film originally planned to be bigger?  Note what sure looks like a pause for intermission at the 50 minute mark. And on a film that runs a mere 92".  (And that’s with an unnecessary song for Mayo tossed in.)  Was this being developed as a Road Show attraction before being downsized during production?

DOUBLE-BILL/LINK:  *For young son David Ladd this was something of a tryout for next year’s co-starrer, playing Ladd’s deaf son in THE PROUD REBEL/’58.  A real undiscovered gem, it’s probably Ladd’s last good role; the last time director Michael Curtiz’s showed good form, and a last airing for Olivia de Havilland as an ingenue.  https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-proud-rebel-1958.html