Customer Reviews

Along the Great Divide [VHS]

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Not bad but not original, this film contains good performances, a great cast and awesome scenery. Directed by action/noir auteur Raoul (Pursued, High Sierra, Backgound to Danger) Walsh, this one is never quite dull, but never quite grabs the viewer by the collar and shakes, either.

The best part about it is the cast: Virginia (White Heat, The Flame and the Arrow) Mayo, one of the original tough yet classy, intoxicatingly beautiful dames of the 40's and 50's; Walter (Rio Bravo, The Westerner, To Have and Have Not, Support Your Local Sheriff) Brennan, perhaps the greatest character actor in Hollywood history; Kirk (Out of the Past, Man Without a Star, The War Wagon, Paths of Glory, Lonely Are The Brave) Douglas, he of the intense eyes, strong jaw and deeply-cleft chin; Cult actor John (Sands of Iwo Jima, Fort Apache, Revenge of the Creature, Brain From Planet Arous) Agar, in a western like he loved, rather than the sci-fi/horror he kept finding himself in; and finally Morris (a jillion 50's genre flicks) Ankrum.

Brennan, whose cattle were being stolen, may have shot the rustler's son. Marshall Douglas saves Brennan from being lynched by the rustlers, in order to take him to trial. Douglas sets out across the desert with his prisoner and his prisoner's daughter, Mayo, in tow. A psychological battle ensues, and they of course, look for any means to escape. Nature's fury is at odds with them in their travels across the desert. They are low on water. They are pursued by the vengeful rustlers. And Douglas knows he can't afford to fall asleep for even a second. Things look bleak for our hero...

The movie is able to overcome some talkiness through some good dialogue and generally tense cleverness, but it descends into anti-climactic courtroom generica, which feels as though it was tacked on from some other movie. Great Divide, indeed.

Solid enough when it sticks to its guns, though, and worth at least one viewing.

See also: The flicks mentioned above; Naked Spur; 3:10 to Yuma; or, for a similarly inappropriate ending (if it helps you understand what I mean here), see Virginia City.

Kirk Douglas made more thna his share of great Westerns, and Along The Great Divide was one of them.

This was his first Western,and he gets off to a rousing start by portraying a US Marshal who saves cattle rustler Walter Brennan from hanging and has to cross the Mojave with him, his deputies, a feisty woman played by Virginia Mayo, and the lyncher's gunmen in tow. There's lot to enjoy here. Action, surprises, and a little psychodrama thrown in for good measure that does not distract or detract from the story. Along The Great Divide is a great movie.

Kirk Douglas stars as a taciturn marshall who must bring a highly lynchable cattle rustler (and accused murderer) to trial, fending off the mob that dogs their trail through the desert, as tensions mount on all sides. A nice western that drags a little, but is basically pretty enjoyable. Virginia Mayo is dishy as the tough, tom-girlish love interest. Raoul Walsh directed, and the B&W cinematography is pretty good.

I like to join with those who liked this western. The actors are great, though Douglas may be too grinning in this one. Virginia Mayo is always gorgeus and Walter Brennan has never been bad (as an actor!) This may even be the best of Raoul Walsh's westerns.

The film starts with the attempted lynching of an accused murderer. Three men ride up to stop it; it is the US Marshal and his deputies; they will take the accused in to stand trial. The wealthy rancher does not like this. But Marshal Merrick wins out; it's the law. The story changes when they bring old man Keith back to his farm and meet his daughter. [Note that this takes place on a stage, not on location.] The daughter tells how the ranchers tried to drive them off their land by burning their crops. The ranchers tried to expropriate the lands that belonged to homesteaders.

They learn that the big rancher Rodin is gathering his hired hands to attack Marshal Merrick. [Is this believable?] So Merrick decides to take the long way through the desert. The daughter joined them to provide an interest. The rancher and his men begin to catch up to attack the Marshal's party. There is a chase, and the Marshal's party takes cover. Shots are exchanged. Merrick captures Rodin's son and holds him as hostage. Merrick explains why he acts the way he does. The daughter tries to free her father, but bails. They pass through a sandstorm [special effects?]. They find the water hole but it is undrinkable.

They reach Santa Loma. Keith is tried for murder and found guilty. But Merrick suddenly remembers something. There is a surprise ending and drama that strains credibility. There are deaths at the end like in some classic Shakespearean tragedy.
This is neither a good western or a good murder mystery. And it is a low-budget film.