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DVD Description
Glenn Ford, Edward G. Robinson and Barbara Stanwyck star in Rudolph Mate’s tough and hard-hitting 1955 western. A range war is coming to the valley. Ambitious land baron Lew Wilkison (Edward G. Robinson) and his hired guns from the Anchor Ranch have been driving other farmers off their land. Now they’ve gunned down the local sheriff and are looking to own the entire valley. Civil War veteran Captain John Parrish (Glenn Ford) doesn’t want any trouble. He’d be happy to sell out to Wilkison and return back east. But when Wilkison’s men kill one of his ranch hands, Parrish realises he has to stand his ground--and look to his guns.
The Violent Men was Columbia Studios’ first production in spectacular widescreen Cinemascope and was originally released in Great Britain under the title of Rough Company. This DVD release features the original U.S. print, now digitally restored.
The Violent Men was Columbia Studios’ first production in spectacular widescreen Cinemascope and was originally released in Great Britain under the title of Rough Company. This DVD release features the original U.S. print, now digitally restored.
Synopsis
Edward G. Robinson plays a disagreeable cattle baron whose wife (Barbara Stanwyck) is two-timing him. Together with his brother (with whom Stanwyck is having the affair), Robinson snatches up land illegally. Glenn Ford plays the pacifist who must engage in guerrilla warfare with the greedy brothers.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
John Parrish is an ex Union officer who plans to sell his ranch and land to the Wilkison's over at Anchor. The trouble is that the price being offered is way too low and when they start to bully Parrish and his workers, he has a change of heart, particularly when things take a brutal turn for the worse.
Originally after watching this one I had a sense of frustration, chiefly because of the cast that was involved. When you got Edward G. Robinson, Glenn Ford and Barbara Stanwyck in the same movie, you hope that they get a story and script from which to excel. Sadly they don't get chance to produce a Western classic worthy of multiple revisits, or is that my over expectation is doing it a disservice? Well I slept on it and decided to ponder further about the picture. I think yes it's fair to say that the actors in question deserved a better story from which to work from, it is, when all is said and done, a plot that has been milked for all it's worth, and then some. But The Violent Men is still a very rewarding film regardless of the missed opportunities evident with the production.
Glenn Ford as Parrish is as cool as an Eskimo's nose throughout, and it's always great to see Babs Stanwyck playing a bitch because she's good at it. While Eddie G, when one gets used to him being in a Western, is fine in what is an under written part. Robinson, who stepped in at the last minute when first choice as Lee Wilkison, Broderick Crawford got injured, is the one who is short changed the most by the makers, even supporting characters such as the devilish Wade Matlock {a grinning delight from the reliable Richard Jaeckel} and Judith Wilkison {a radiant Dianne Foster} get something to leave an impression with. But for what it is, Robinson's crutch toting "bad" guy is at the least memorable for all the right reasons.
Not shy on action and gun play, it's with the twists and almost Shakespearean tragedies that Rudolph Maté's film rises above the mundane, with all of it gorgeously framed by Burnett Guffey's stunning cinematography. Lone Pine in Alabama has been used on many a Western picture {see Seven Men From Now for another glorious use of it}, but here Guffey really excels and manages to dazzle the eyes at every turn. The Violent Men isn't a great Western picture, and perhaps a better director than Maté could have really given Donald Hamilton's {The Big Country} novel an adaptation to be proud of. But for every niggle and irk I personally had with it, I found two more reasons to actually really like it, so that it be, it's recommended, for sure. 7/10
Originally after watching this one I had a sense of frustration, chiefly because of the cast that was involved. When you got Edward G. Robinson, Glenn Ford and Barbara Stanwyck in the same movie, you hope that they get a story and script from which to excel. Sadly they don't get chance to produce a Western classic worthy of multiple revisits, or is that my over expectation is doing it a disservice? Well I slept on it and decided to ponder further about the picture. I think yes it's fair to say that the actors in question deserved a better story from which to work from, it is, when all is said and done, a plot that has been milked for all it's worth, and then some. But The Violent Men is still a very rewarding film regardless of the missed opportunities evident with the production.
Glenn Ford as Parrish is as cool as an Eskimo's nose throughout, and it's always great to see Babs Stanwyck playing a bitch because she's good at it. While Eddie G, when one gets used to him being in a Western, is fine in what is an under written part. Robinson, who stepped in at the last minute when first choice as Lee Wilkison, Broderick Crawford got injured, is the one who is short changed the most by the makers, even supporting characters such as the devilish Wade Matlock {a grinning delight from the reliable Richard Jaeckel} and Judith Wilkison {a radiant Dianne Foster} get something to leave an impression with. But for what it is, Robinson's crutch toting "bad" guy is at the least memorable for all the right reasons.
Not shy on action and gun play, it's with the twists and almost Shakespearean tragedies that Rudolph Maté's film rises above the mundane, with all of it gorgeously framed by Burnett Guffey's stunning cinematography. Lone Pine in Alabama has been used on many a Western picture {see Seven Men From Now for another glorious use of it}, but here Guffey really excels and manages to dazzle the eyes at every turn. The Violent Men isn't a great Western picture, and perhaps a better director than Maté could have really given Donald Hamilton's {The Big Country} novel an adaptation to be proud of. But for every niggle and irk I personally had with it, I found two more reasons to actually really like it, so that it be, it's recommended, for sure. 7/10
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
A memorable film for the performances of the cast rather than the quality of the film, although it is much better than the reviews of many critics would have us believe. It was directed by Rudolphe Mate and was based on a novel by Donald Hamilton. The solid musical score was by Max Steiner who was responsible for the wonderful music in "The Searchers".
The story concerns a young ranch owner played by Glenn Ford with great restraint, who comes under pressure to sell his ranch from a ruthless cattle baron played by Edward G Robinson. Robinson is aided by his unprincipled brother played by a rather latin looking Brian Keith and his manipulative wife played by the magisterial Barbara Stanwyk. Ford who wants peace, is finally forced into violent retaliation by Keith and his hired gunmen. Looming in the background like a destroying angel is Stanwyk who is also having an illicit affair with Keith. Things head to a bloody war between the factions that can only end in tragedy for some.
The film itself is very Shakespearian in tone with Stanwyk in the stand out performance as a sort of scheming lady Macbeth. A withering look from her would be enough to turn most men to stone. Watch the way she looks down her nose at the scorned Mexican woman. Only Bette Davis was that good. Stanwyk was deservedly the first actress to enter the Cowboy Hall of Fame in 1973 for her fine work in the genre. Other women followed, but she was the first. Robinson does a good job as the crippled rancher who gradually sees the light. James Cagney, another actor better known for gangster roles did well in the western "Tribute for a badman", and so Robinson emulates him in an unfamiliar role. Ford is excellent in those slow burning roles and Keith was always a solid performer, barring his performance in "The Rare Breed" where he had the worlds worst Scottish accent and sported the strangest red haired wig ever seen in the cinema.
Overall the film is worth watching for the strong cast who are all on form. The story is a bit plodding to begin with but there is plenty of action later on. It was nice to see Ford doing much of his own riding, at which he was clearly very competent. But most of all the film is worth seeing for the performance of the one and only Barbara Stanwyk. A great star at her peak. Four stars on the strength of this alone.
The story concerns a young ranch owner played by Glenn Ford with great restraint, who comes under pressure to sell his ranch from a ruthless cattle baron played by Edward G Robinson. Robinson is aided by his unprincipled brother played by a rather latin looking Brian Keith and his manipulative wife played by the magisterial Barbara Stanwyk. Ford who wants peace, is finally forced into violent retaliation by Keith and his hired gunmen. Looming in the background like a destroying angel is Stanwyk who is also having an illicit affair with Keith. Things head to a bloody war between the factions that can only end in tragedy for some.
The film itself is very Shakespearian in tone with Stanwyk in the stand out performance as a sort of scheming lady Macbeth. A withering look from her would be enough to turn most men to stone. Watch the way she looks down her nose at the scorned Mexican woman. Only Bette Davis was that good. Stanwyk was deservedly the first actress to enter the Cowboy Hall of Fame in 1973 for her fine work in the genre. Other women followed, but she was the first. Robinson does a good job as the crippled rancher who gradually sees the light. James Cagney, another actor better known for gangster roles did well in the western "Tribute for a badman", and so Robinson emulates him in an unfamiliar role. Ford is excellent in those slow burning roles and Keith was always a solid performer, barring his performance in "The Rare Breed" where he had the worlds worst Scottish accent and sported the strangest red haired wig ever seen in the cinema.
Overall the film is worth watching for the strong cast who are all on form. The story is a bit plodding to begin with but there is plenty of action later on. It was nice to see Ford doing much of his own riding, at which he was clearly very competent. But most of all the film is worth seeing for the performance of the one and only Barbara Stanwyk. A great star at her peak. Four stars on the strength of this alone.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Edward G Robinson at his best
A western starring the great Edward G Robinson, and a superb one at that. Plenty of action, and great acting from Barbara Stanwick, Highly recommended, and superb viewing from... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Tony H
another good glen ford western.
after a slowish start this film builds into a very decent western, me and my father both enjoyed it very much. Read more
Published on 24 Mar 2010 by BUBS.
THE VIOLENT MEN (1954)
Ranch owner and ex-confedrate army officer Capt John Parrish (Glen Ford), plans to sell up his ranch to nearby Anchor Ranch and move East with his fiancee. Read more
Published on 26 Dec 2008 by Dr. Sukhwinder S. Nagi
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