Horizons West (1952)

Wonderful Movie

Let's be realistic.

Great Film overall

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

Home from the Civil War, young Neal Hammond : Rock Hudson and his older brother : Robert Ryan are glad to return to Austin Texas ranching. However , brother Dan wants more and he takes over properties . As 2 brothers go their separate ways after Civil War , one leads a peaceful life as a rancher , but the other corrupted by the war engages in a violent campaign to build his own empire ,and carrying out terrorisation . His attempt to enter business is thwarted by carpetbagger Cord Hardin : Raymond Burr . But among the growing opposition to his band is the new sheriff , to become his his nemesis , his brother Neal, along with an old friend : James Arness .It begins as a sluggish , slow-moving Western but follows to surprise us with complex characters , thrills , breathtaking patches and decent plot about two differen brothers ; as both of them end up on opposite sides of the law . The simple tale is almost rudimentary though full of clichés, as the monotonous script lines too often settle for crude routine . Suspense and tension builds over the time in which the outlaws and the starring await to take the farmer's lands . The action is decently made , as when the nasties shoot without remission and rustling cattle . The highlights of the film are the facing off between Robert Ryan and his enemies and the climatic showdown on the ending . Robert Ryan gives a nice performance as the ex-officer who forms a rustling gang and parlays his ill-gotten gains into a land empire . Rock Hudson provides a slighly laborious acting as new Marshal of Austin , but his interpretation is really eclipsed by the great Robert Ryan . His acting as the mobster-tycoon reverberates all the movie in a manner that sometimes anticapates ¨The rise and fall of Leg Diamond¨ considered to be Boetticher's the best . Support cast is pretty good , such as : Burr as as the nasty owner who beats and humiliates Ryan in a poker game , John McIntire as the honest father though he was only 2 years older than Ryan , James Arness , Dennis Weaver , Mae Clarke , Tom Powers , Douglas Fowley , among others.It displays an atmospheric score by Herman Stein and Henry Mancini , both of whom uncredited . Colorful cinematography in Universal style by Charles Boyle . The motion picture was professionally directed by Budd Boetticher in ordinary and traditional wake.Still apprentice work , so don't expect anything quite so stylishly spare as the Randolph Scott/Boetticher cycle , but Burt Kennedy's intelligent scripting was probably the decisive factor in those later films . Boetticher formed a production company called ¨Ranown¨ along with Harry Joe Brown and Randolph Scott and as usual writer Burt Kennedy. The first Harrry Brown-Boetticher-Scott movie was 1956's " Seven men from now" , following ¨Decision at sundown(57)¨, ¨Buchanan rides alone(58)¨,¨Westbound(59)¨ ,¨Ride lonesome(59) ,in the decades since, they have produced and directed one Western ¨Comanche Station(60)¨ . Boetticher was a great expert on Western genre and also on the bullfighting world as ¨Bullfighter and the lady¨, ¨The magnificent matador¨ and ¨Arruza¨ . Rating : 6/10 . Well worth watching .

SYNOPSIS: A melodrama about an avaricious Confederate major who after the Civil War instigates a reign of terror in Texas in an attempt to build a large western empire. (A Universal DVD). COMMENT: Rock Hudson has some unbelievable lines and bits of business - in fact the dialogue all around is sometimes rather strained - and the plot really goes over the top for a melodramatic finish that even a nervy and accomplished player like Robert Ryan is unable to sustain. But an enjoyable excursion nonetheless thanks to Boetticher's (pronounced "Betty-car") vigorous staging of the action scenes, crisp color photography, and some most agreeable players, particularly Raymond Burr who makes all his scenes stand out, Dennis Weaver as the impetuous Dandy, and the lovely Judith Braun as Hudson's light-of-love. Some memorable moments with Acosta too. Boetticher is at his best with the set pieces (Adams giving Ryan the high sign, Ryan's night ride into the deserters' camp, Burr's acing Ryan's cards, Burr beating up Hudson, Fowley booting the pistol to Burr, Acosta browbeating Monsieur Morin, Dandy nixing, Ryan getting the upper hand of Arness). Interesting that despite his star billing, Hudson doesn't figure in any of these sequences except being on the receiving end of Burr's heavy hand!OTHER VIEWS: An I'm-gonna-build-a-Texas-empire-at-any-price western. Despite third billing under Ryan and Adams, Rock Hudson doesn't have much of a part. Even the climactic shoot-out is a switch. Still there are lots of nice close-ups of Miss Adams, plus an interesting support cast headed by that ace of heavies, Raymond Burr. On the other hand, the corny script with its cornball fade-out and corn-fed characters like do-gooder rancher John McIntyre and beautifully groomed Judith Braun, all militate against Boetticher's attempts to turn Horizons West into a classic post-Civil War outing. True, Budd's direction is competent enough, but it's confined and circumscribed by a screenplay that can only described as Universal trashy. Yes, it does incorporate enough action for the rabid fans, despite a tendency to become dialogue-bound and speechy. And admittedly, the color photography, sets and costumes are mighty attractive. But Rock's fans will not be happy. Ryan is not only handed the lion's share of the spotlight, but shares just about all the interesting dialogue and action with other players such as Burr and Acosta, both of whom stand out from the ruck far more than the luckless Rock. - John Howard Reid writing as George Addison.Frankly, I don't think Horizons West is a very good film. I was too young at the time. I wasn't mature enough to get on top of the subject. I particularly remember Robert Ryan's tremendous professionalism and talent, and Julia Adams who was really radiant and beautiful. That's all I can say about that film. - Budd Boetticher.

Okay, we know there are only seven basic plots but lots of times an imaginative writer and/or director can disguise just which one they are offering to us; at other times, like here, they can't be bothered, so we have two brothers, Robert Ryan and Rock Hudson, returning home to Austin after four years on the losing side in the War Between The States. For Hudson it's like he's never been away and he's more than happy to resume life in the ranch for father John McIntyre. Ryan is a horse of a different colour. Though he hasn't got change of a match he has ambition and next thing you know he's organised a gang of deserters and dead-beats into castle rustlers and inside two more reels he owns half the state. Naturally this being 1952 and all the message loud and clear is Crime Does Not Pay so he gets it where the chicken got the axe. Hands up if you spotted anything new here. I thought not. It's watchable at least with other familiar faces like soon-to-be double act on Gunsmoke James Arness and Dennis Weaver albeit on opposite sides plus Universal contractee Julia Adams.

Review of 'Horizon's West'by you Review of Horizon's West 1952 Directed by Budd Boetticher This is an entertaining movie, with a good cast. I gave it six stars out of 10 in the IMDb ranking. It scored 13 points in my ranking system, which is slightly above average. Here's what worked: Strong lead performance by Robert Ryan. He proves he can carry a film. Also, his character is both the protagonist and the heavy, which is always complex and interesting. A very alluring performance by Julie Adams. Another solid effort by John McIntire, who once again convincingly portrays a character 20 years older than himself. He plays Ryan's father in the film and I'm sure few suspect that in reality he was only two years older than Robert Ryan. Ryan's character lives in Austin and becomes a cattle rustler. He sells his cattle in Mexico to a corrupt Mexican general who rules over an area of Mexico called the Zona Libre. He also recruits a community of criminals and army deserters to assist him. These are two really hip themes, one of which was also used effectively in Fritz Lang's "Rancho Notorious". Unfortunately, both of these movies didn't capitalize fully on these ideas. There's a really good movie still waiting to be made using the "Zona Libre" and community of outlaw themes. Excellent Civil War theme. Robert Ryan plays a character who returns to Texas from the Civil War. His humiliation at the South's defeat ignites his destructive ambition to succeed financially after the war. Interesting early appearance by several actors who would go on to TV fame and fortune, including Raymond Burr and "Gunsmoke" stalwarts Dennis Weaver and James Arness. There are no plot holes. Most of the character's motivations make sense and are consistent. Now here's what kept the movie from being better: It's just too stiff and melodramatic. At times it teeters on the edge of "Duel in the Sun"-esquire steamy romance. It's kind of low budget. Some of the interior sets are OK, but it doesn't get outdoors enough. And when they do, they film just north of L.A. No comic relief Rock Hudson