A cowboy , the drifter Saddle Tramp : Joel McCrea as a hobo on horseback , unexpectedly becomes a foster father to 4 children for whom he provides food by taking it from a rancho where he is working . The ranch owner , John McIntire married to Jeanette Nolan as fiction as in real life , is embroiled in a feud with another land baron , Antonio Moreno , and cattle rustlers.
Decent Western with a Family story , but also contains thrills , action , crossfire and cattle rustling. This well made Oater is competently directed , including appropriate settings , atmospheric exteriores and action enough . Joel McCrea provides a nice acting as the Saddle Tramp who reluctantly becomes involved with a large family , their problems and along the way becoming a foster parent . Veteran film cowboy McCrea played lots of Westerns , such as : The Young Rounders , Cry Blood Apache , Wichita town , Fort Massacre , Gunfight At Dodge City , Cattle Empire , The Tall Stranger , Trooper Hook , Oklahoman , The First Texan , Wichita , Black Horse Canyon , Border River , The Lone Hand , Cattle Drive , The Outriders , Colorado Territory. Being one of his last films , and cinematic testament, the notorious "Ride the High County" by Sam Peckinpah. But also Joel McCrea got hits in other genres as Adventures : The most dangerous Game , Comedy : Sullivan's Travels by Preston Sturges and Intrigue : Foreign Correspondent by Alfred Hitchcock . Support cast is full of attractive roles including Wanda Hendrix as his youngest love interest , John Russell , the always likeable Russell Simpson , John McIntire , his wife Jeannete Nolan , Ed Begley , Paul Picerni , Jimmy Hunt , John Ridgely , and previous silent ídol screen Antonio Moreno .
It packs a colorful and glimmer cinematography by Charles P. Boyle , shot on location in Placerita , Canyon Road , Newhall, Iverson Ranch , Los Angeles , California . Thrilling and evocative Musical Score by ordinary Musicians from Universal International Picture : Herman Stein , Henry Mancini , William Lava . Compellingly produced by Leonard Goldstein for Universal International Picture . And adequate screenplay by Harold Shumate based on his own story . The motion picture was well directed by Argentinean filmmaker Hugo Fregonese . He offers a professional direction adding cool characterisations . Hugo Fregonese similar to Saddle Tramp's starring was a drifter who worked in a lot of countries . His films shot in Argentina were Hardly a Criminal, De Hombre a Hombre , Where words fall, Pampa Barbara and its remake Pampa Salvaje . Eventually , he filmed in Hollywood : One Way Street with James Mason , Blowing Wild with Gary Cooper , Harry Black and the Tiger with Stewart Granger, The Mark of Renegade , My 6 Convicts , The King's Thief , The Raid , Man in the Attic , Apache Drums . Then he shot in Europe : Germany , Spain , Italy , various movies as Old Shatterland , Dracuka Vs Frankenstein , Doctor Mabuse , Más Allá Del Sol, Marco Polo , La Spada Imbattible . Eventally he went back Argentina and shot his last movies . Rating 6.5/10 . Well Worth Watching . The movie will apela to Joel McCrea fans
