Drei Rivalen

The Tall Men is directed by Raoul Walsh and stars Clark Gable, Jane Russell, Cameron Mitchell and Robert Ryan. Produced out of 20th Century Fox by William A. Bacher and William B. Hawks, it's adapted for the screen by Frank S. Nugent & Sydney Boehm from a novel written by Heck Allen (as Clay Fisher). Filmed out of Durango, the cinematography is by Leo Tover in a CinemaScope/DeLuxe production and Victor Young provides the score.

Montana Territory 1866

"They came from the South, headed for the gold-fields….Ben & Clint Allison, lonely, desperate men. Riding away from a heartbreak memory of Gettysburg. Looking for a new life. A story of tall men-and long shadows."

The Tall Men has professionalism written all over it, from the tight direction by Walsh to the on the money writing, it's a Western that has no pretencions. The panoramic vistas are beautifully realised by the makers and in spite of Russell's flat style of acting, the cast put credibility into the cattle drive and romantic aspects of the story. Tho action sequences are few and far between, the film succeeds because of the well written characters and the landscapes that frame them. There's even much comedy to enjoy as well, a department where Russell does earn her corn in the movie (there's also a bath moment to get us boys hot under the collar too). Most notably the comedy works for her when playing off of Gable who seems to be enjoying himself as the rough, tough and cheeky Ben Allison. Very talky to be sure, there are for instance many extended scenes of our lead protagonists swapping dialogue, but it all serves a purpose and in the capable hands of Walsh the sequences serve to drive the narrative forward.

Solid enjoyable stuff if ultimately a touch too long. 6.5/10

Salty, surly star-driven western about a cattle drive from Texas to Montana. Would-be rancher Clark Gable vies for the hand of wisecrackin' Jane Russell with banker Robert Ryan, but Jane's lookin' for a tall man and plenty of rainbows! Good-looking if rather unexceptional time-passer from director Raoul Walsh. Screenwriters Frank Nugent and Sidney Boehm, working from the novel by Heck Allen (using the pen-name Clay Fisher), smoothly intermingle Indian clashes and Mexican stand-offs with jovial exchanges between the characters (also Russell singin' in the washtub). Enjoyable of its type, with attractive cinematography by Leo Tover and another solid performance from Gable. **1/2 from ****

The tall men in question are Clark Gable, Robert Ryan and Cameron Mitchell heading a cattle drive to Montana through some of the most spectacular scenery in any western and Jane Russell is the woman along for the ride in Raoul Walsh's handsome, large-scale and decidedly old-fashioned movie. There isn't a great deal of plot and the tensions between the central characters are never fully developed but it's well-played and director Walsh handles the action sequences with aplomb. Sad to think, though, that within five years Gable would be dead and a new breed of darker, more intense psychological westerns would have replaced Boys Own Adventure movies like this one. It was among the last of its kind.

Romantic westerns are a subgenre in themselves - they aren't to everyone's taste as the reviews here show - but for me there is so much chemistry and fire between Clark Gable's Texan and Jane Russell's Nella that it's hard not to swept away with it all.

The story is an epic one: a couple of bothers, ex-soldiers, rob an easy pigeon of $20 000, only to be offered instead the chance to earn five times as much by driving cattle the 1500 miles from Texas to Montana. As they head to Texas they rescue Russell. Russell is fun, feisty, and fiery as the woman who wants to dream big and won't settle for Gable with bigger fish available.

I just love this movie - it has all the elements of the Hollywood western and there is a charm and ease to it that make it a great watch. All in all, with Russell's passing there are few of the old Hollywood left but with films like The Tall Men to remind us we can at least have a glimpse of their stature from a time when everyone went to the cinema all the time.

Two brothers , old members of the guerrilla or irregular military forces called Bushwhakers from Quantrell, Anderson leaders and being recently discharged from Confederate Army lead a cattle drive from Texas to Montana . The brave brothers -played by Clark Gable and Cameron Mitchell- along with the boss Robert Ryan heading for Texas and they save the besieged Nella: Jane Russell from the Indians and she , then, decides ro ride with them . Across the rough territory they confront Jayhawkers , Indians Sioux commanded by Chief Red Cloud , savage stampede , angry rustlers , wild rivers , bad weather with snowy storms , assaults with the aim of attrition and many other things .The Tall Men stood tall...fought tall...loved tall...and one man towered above them all!. They don't come any bigger!

Nice western with plenty of action , attacks , stampedes , rich dialogue , a triangular romance and with a real feel for the wide open spaces of the west . An enjoyable picture as big and impressive and exciting as the Mighty West . It has spectacular scenes , breathtaking outdoors scenarios , and moving set pieces as the stampeding a herd of cattle . It stars three great stars giving meaty roles : Clark Gable , Robert Ryan and Jane Russell . This trio furnished decent interpretation . However , the three veteran stars were all considered too old for their peculiar roles ; furthermore , the great John Wayne withdrew and Charlton Heston was deemed for the main role but he turned it down . Features two frontier hands : Gable and Cameron Mitchell , along with a tough boss , Robert Ryan , on rough cattle drive . Along the way confronting Indian Sioux , cutthroats , and the wilderness while vying with each other for the love Russell . And fine support cast with notorious secondaries as Emile Meyer, Harry Shannon, Robert Adler , Juan Garcia and others uncredited as Mae Marsh , Chuck Roberson and Russell Simpson .

It displays a brilliant and rousing cinematography in Cinemascope, color De Luxe by cameraman Leo Tover . And an emotive and thrilling musical score by maestro composer Dimitri Tiomkin , including a sensitive leitmotif .The motion picture was well directed by Raoul Walsh who delivers an extreme feeling for the wide open spaces of the Far West for which this veteran filmmaker must take most of the credit .Walsh directed masterfully all kinds of genres and he made good westerns such as : ¨They died with their boots on¨, ¨Distant drums¨ , ¨Pursued¨ , ¨Gun fury¨, ¨Lawless breed¨, ¨Band of Angels¨ and ¨The king and four queens¨ also with Clark Gable . Rating : 6.5/10 . Charming and decently made Western . Better than average . Worthwhile watching . Essential and indispendable seeing for Clark Gable and Jane Russell fans .