The Big Land (1957)
Directed by Gordon Douglas
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson
Produced by Alan Ladd's own Jaguar company, The Big Land stars Ladd as Texas cattleman Morgan. As a means to expedite shipment of his stock to Missouri, Morgan convinces several Kansas farmers to build a small town as a railroad link between the Rio Grande and Kansas City. He is opposed in this by crooked cattle buyer Brog (Anthony Caruso), who realizes that any speed-up of Morgan's shipments will increase livestock prices. Surprisingly, Alan Ladd seems tired and listless throughout the proceedings; in fact, Virginia Mayo, cast as a saloon hall gal, delivers the film's liveliest performance. Still, the Ladd name brought in plenty of business, encouraging the star to stick with westerns well into the next decade.
Characteristics
Keywords
bad-guy, benefit [event], cattle, cattlemen, challenge, concert, conflict, cowboy, development, farming, good-guy, hatred, land, lynching, outrage, owner, performer, railroad, ranch, rock-music, settler, stampede, thug, town, train [locomotive], violence, weapons
