Product Details

• Actors: Alan Ladd, Virginia Mayo, Joseph Calleia, Phyllis Kirk, Alf Kjellin
• Directors: Gordon Douglas
• Format: NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: WB
• DVD Release Date: January 25, 2010
• Run Time: 109 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B003552QUY
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,550 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "The Iron Mistress" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Homespun bayou lad Jim Bowie (Alan Ladd) is learning the courtly ways of 1825 Southern society. He's wearing only the finest suits and cravats. Proving himself in business and at the gaming table. And should the occasion call, keeping handy the specially made blade - tempered with meteorite steel - that would make his name forever a part of American lore. Yet despite Bowie's prowess in a world of dandies and ruffians, he may be overmatched in the ways of the heart: he's fallen for lovely Jubalon (Virginia Mayo), the magnolia belle fancied by men of means from Natchez to New Orleans. Will her beauty be the only weapon more powerful than Bowie's Iron Mistress blade?

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great movie about James Bowie., November 3, 2009

By 

Bookworm - See all my reviews

It's a great movie about the early life of James Bowie. We see the historical Sandbar Fight where Bowie was almost killed. The Sandbar Fight also gave rise to the famous Bowie knife. In the movie we see Bowie (Alan Ladd) design the knife and getting a blacksmith to forge it.
There's also romance in the movie, where the female part is played by the gorgeous Virginia Mayo.

We don't see anything of Bowie's life in Texas nor his death at the Alamo. The movie ends with Bowie going to Texas, but another movie picks up where Iron Mistress ends. It's called, "The Last Command", and it deals with Bowie's life and death in Texas, starring Sterling Hayden as Bowie.

But why pay $39.93 from an Amazon seller when you can get it for $19.95 from Warner Brothers?
The Iron Mistress is available on DVD through the WB web site. It's part of the Warner Archive
collection of DVD's and downloads you can order. I was just in there and and saw it listed For $19.95 You can also see a clip of it to check the picture quality. I did and it was first rate. Go to, [...] and click on Warner Archive.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining Pre-"Shane" Alan Ladd Movie..., November 28, 2009

By 

Benjamin J Burgraff (Las Vegas) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

1952's "The Iron Mistress", while certainly a 'B' movie, is romantic, violent, and wonderful entertainment, particularly if you're a fan of Alan Ladd. Based on Paul Wellman's novel of the life of legendary entrepreneur/adventurer Jim Bowie (of knife and Alamo fame), the film limits the story to Bowie's early life, from his impoverished days on the bayou with his brothers and mother, to his marriage to the Mexican Governor of San Antonio's daughter (the beautiful Phyllis Kirk). Along the way, he befriends famed artist/naturalist John James Audubon (George Voskovec), and falls for a petty, but beautiful New Orleans belle (Virginia Mayo), whose high station in society inspires him earn a fortune, to win her hand. Despite his success amassing riches in real estate speculation, his hopes are dashed, and he's the target of the dueling, aristocratic elite, ultimately inspiring him to design a revolutionary, deadly knife, forged from the steel of a falling star ("a bit of heaven...and of hell").

The film bears little resemblance to the historic Bowie's life (the famous knife was actually designed by his brother, Rezin), and ignores his slave-running, embezzling, and other less-savory pursuits. Still, Ladd (whose career was waning, before "Shane") gives an excellent performance, both as a man of action, and as the victim of Mayo's whims. Veteran director Gordon Douglas succeeds in making a modestly-budgeted film look opulent, aided by Max Steiner's wonderful, period-flavored score.

If you are looking for a film about Jim Bowie's life in Texas, and his death at the Alamo, Republic Pictures' 1955 release, "The Last Command", while not a sequel to "The Iron Mistress" in any way, does cover this period (with giant Sterling Hayden in the Bowie role). It is even more inaccurate (particularly relating to the famous siege), but is also a quite entertaining film.

Finally, this film is available from other vendors for far less; I prefer, Amazon, in general, however, as their reliability is unmatched!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good but not very exciting, August 15, 2011

By 

Israel Drazin (Boca Raton, Florida) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Iron Mistress (DVD)

Alan Ladd smiles a lot in this 1952 film in which he plays the famed Jim Bowie. Virginia Mayo plays her role as a bitch well. Since this film was made in 1952, the blacks are portrayed in a stereotypical very subservient manner. The film is alright, but it lacks the excitement found in modern western movies. The plot focuses on Ladd (Jim Bowie) falling in love with Mayo and she taking advantage of his feelings. As a result, eight people die. It also focuses on Bowie having a knife made for him from a meteor and using it in several fights. He becomes so attached to his knife that people call it his iron mistress. Bowie is depicted as a man who does not want to kill people, but is forced to do it. Viewers will watch to see if he is able to resolve his feelings for Mayo and if he gives up his iron mistress.