Big as the men who faced this challenge! Bold as the women who loved them!

Starring: John Wayne, Montgomery Clift, Walter Brennan, Joanne Dru, Harry Carey, John Ireland, Noah Berr Jr., Coleen Gray, Chief Yowlachie

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"You're soft, you should have let 'em kill me, 'cause I'm gonna kill you. I'll catch up with ya. I don't know when, but I'll catch up. Every time you turn around, expect to see me, 'cause one time you'll turn around and I'll be there." - Tom Dunson

Why watch this? Wayne rarely played against "the good guy" character. Here he is downright nasty as a Western Captain Ahab.

Plot Summary: Thomas Dunson is a determined rancher leading a massive cattle drive from Texas to Missouri after the Civil War renders his land valueless. Faced with Dunson's increasingly tyrannical methods during the arduous journey, his adopted son, Matthew Garth, must choose whether to challenge his adoptive father's authority for the sake of the men and the herd. This conflict between father and adopted son unfolds against the challenging backdrop of the cattle drive.

Dad's Preview: This picture is hailed by many as one of the greatest Western ever made. I love it, too, but feel there are many better Westerns. This features does, for historical purposes, depict the drama and dangers along the epic "cattle drive". I grew up working on a Texas cattle ranch hand so the topic of herd beef rings true to me. Wayne's performance, channeling Mutiny on the Bounty's Captain Bligh, is excellent as a herd owner who pushes his men too hard. This results in a mutiny, led by his adopted son, Matt. They leave Wayne on the trail with barely enough water to survive. Don't ever strand The Duke alive... There's lots of great cowboy action and an excellent ending.

Monterey Productions; United Artists