One of my favorite Westerns.
Wayne tells Ricky Nelson that he carries the carbine because others he met were faster with a hand gun. But Wayne also carries his hand gun, of course.
Dean Martin’s alcoholism is explored in a common-sense way, with Wayne telling him to “sweat it out” and buying him beer to take the edge off the detox as he recovers from his two-year drinking binge.
A young and very attractive Angie Dickenson provides some great sexual tension with Wayne.
Indeed. Dino showed he could truly act in this film. And in retrospect, it may have been Angie Dickinson’s finest hour playing a role very similar to Lauren Bacall’s in Hawks’ To Have and Have Not and Jean Arthur’s in Hawks’ Only Angels Have Wings.
Some great scenes:
Dean Martin beginning to regain his confidence
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIt_54ZcnqY
Dean Martin quits drinking
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJ0zlyKHJao&feature=related
“My Rifle, My Pony and Me”(great song)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IpEnsdXwFM
The trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phx8CrLeOEc
I also love the 2nd Duke/Dino western, The Sons of Katie Elder
Also love it when Walter Brennan says “How do like ‘dem apples?”
And it features conservative, patriotic anti-communist Republican actor Ward Bond in his final role.
From his biography on wikipedia-
“In the 1940s, Bond was an intensely active member of the right-wing group called the Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals, whose major platform was opposition to communists in the film industry. In 1960, Bond campaigned for the Republican presidential nominee Richard M. Nixon. Bond died three days before Democrat John F. Kennedy narrowly defeated Nixon.”