Along the Great Divide (1951)

This movie is the proof that the world is becoming a sick and dumb place

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

Ah yes...the classic Western which when done right lives in the hearts of every Western lover. This one has it all. Cowboys, the law, a love story, outdoors, cattle and frontier justice. What we tend to forget but are reminded thanks to Westerns like these that it was no cake walk back then and life was not given to anyone on a platter. You had to work hard and long and even then who knows what can or would happen living out-there in the wilderness and on the edge of civilization. Kirk was made for Westerns as we find out in future movies as he went on to star in some pretty nice stuff. Walter Brennan is a guaranteed good time as the man captured every role he ever played no matter where you put him. Add some horses, some other familiar faces and we are being entertained no problem. Imagine going to see this for the first time in the big theater. Its a slow-popcorn eating movie with a tasty drink all the way to the end with some chair-gripping scenes along the way complimenting the title Along The Great Divide. Mount-up on this one and lets all head back to the ranch fore supper time. Enjoy pards

I generally like westerns, which is why I was attracted to watching this one when it popped up on Turner Classic Movies. But because I have watched so many westerns before this one, I have to confess I didn't find much that was new and/or energetic with this one. It does have some nice background scenery, though its full impact is a bit muted by the fact that it's photographed in black and white instead of color. (I'm not prejudiced against black and white movies - I just think THIS particular one would be better in color.) The performances by the cast are adequate; Douglas does pretty well as the stubborn (but all the same conflicted at times) marshal. But the script, while it may have been somewhat original back in 1951, will seem very familiar today to people, even among many who are not fans of westerns. It's painfully clear who is actually guilty of the murder that's at the heart of the movie (and why), and the struggle to bring the accused party to justice (which takes up most of the movie) just brings up one familiar plot turn after another, from lack of water to the feisty lone female. While all this is professionally staged and executed, I think the only people today who might be really entertained by the movie would be those who have seen no westerns before in their lives.

The 1950's brought us a lot of great Westerns - The Naked Spur, High Noon, Man of the West, 3:10 to Yuma, Shane, Vera Cruz and others. Unfortunately this is not one of them despite the hand of the Great Director Raoul Walsh. No it is not bad but overall this is a routine western - straightforward story - Old guy wrongly accused of murder (Walter Brennan), taken by Marshall (Kirk Douglas) for trial, chased by rich rancher (Morris Ankrum) whose son was killed, Marshall has hots for old guy's daughter (Virginia Mayo) despite all the tension between them. It does have its moments and a good cast despite all the western clichés and Kirk Douglas's clenched teeth. Enjoyable though and wrapped up in a tidy 88 minutes.

Raoul Walsh does make a very solid Western here with a great cast. Kirk Douglas is very solid in one of his earlier roles. Walter Brennan is always good in a western and this one is no exception as his experience shows. One surprise is Walter is not as thin in this movie as he seems to be in other films. Virginia Mayo is excellent as Brennan's daughter. The plot has to do with a Marshall (Douglas) trying to bring in a father (Brennan) and his Daughter (Mayo) fighting him all the way. Dad is charged with murder. I really envy Douglas getting to ride in several scenes on a horse with Mayo nearly on his lap. That had to take some acting to keep his hands off her (I'd have been finding reasons to touch myself). There is plenty of action and a trial at the end. There is a little singing which is worked into the plot seamlessly though an aggravation to the Marshall (Douglas). I saw this on TCM for the first time and I appreciate them running a lot of Walsh's films on television as I think some of his lesser known ones like this movie deserve more recognition.There are a scene or two which take advantage of Mayo's great figure and her thighs. Even in black and white these scenes are a sinful pleasure.