Plot: Jim and Boone run into each other in the Kentucky wilderness. Their first encounter is rather hostile, but they quickly become friends, and they decide to travel together. The two join an expedition that will take them down the Missouri River, where they hope to trade whiskey with the Blackfoot Indians.
Watches
August 21, 2025
Not a standard Western, this is more of an adventure film set in a Western setting. That helps things along just a little, but it's not enough to make a substantial difference. The intro alone (boasting about these great men "conquering the wild lands") leaves an iffy aftertaste, and it remains throughout.
I didn't care much for the performances, the black-and-white cinematography doesn't do the setting justice, and 140 minutes was way too long for this one. Of course, fans of Westerns and 50s USA cinema may find more to like here, as I'm not a big fan to begin with. Like most of Hawks' films, though, time hasn't been kind to it.