La belle rousse du Wyoming

During the 1930s, 40s and 50s (especially the 50s), Hollywood made a bazillion western films. Because they made so many, it's not surprising that there are several basic plots you'll find in about 95% of these movies. This one features two of these plots...plots that are really clichés because they occur so often. First, there is Jim Averell...a guy who wants to be more and more powerful. He's running for governor and has his eyes set on controlling the west. Second, he's making himself richer and richer by bringing in a gang of cutthroats and they spend their time rustling other folks' cattle. There is so much familiarity about these story elements...too much. Sure, Maureeen O'Hara is there and she looks nice in color but the film never seems more than just another mediocre western with little to distinguish it aside from having O'Hara involved in the big gunfight at the end. Ordinary...

In a routine western about simmering conflict between settlers and landed cattlemen in Wyoming Territory, dazzling red-headed Maureen O'Hara gives "The Redhead from Wyoming" a feminist slant. Amidst a cast of rather colorless cowboys, O'Hara cuts a striking figure; her flaming hair captured by Winton C. Hoch's Technicolor camera, blazes over her striking costumes, designed by Edward Stevenson. O'Hara catches every eye with bare shoulders exposed by flamboyant garments in lavenders and yellows that are in sharp contrast to the earth tones favored by her male co-stars.

Unfortunately, the leading men are as lacking in color as their costumes. Tall blonde Alex Nicol as Sheriff Stan Blaine displays little emotion, except when his eyes cast an appreciative glance at O'Hara's barely concealed decolletage. William Bishop is passable as the duplicitous Jim Averell, who has history with O'Hara's character, the tough Kate Maxwell. Most of the cast is comprised of relative unknowns with the exceptions of Robert Strauss and Dennis Weaver in small roles.

The undistinguished screenplay, which deals with cattle rustling and a potential range war, is unworthy of O'Hara's talent and screen presence; the fiery Irish actress plays a smart business woman, who can ride and shoot with the boys, yet maintain her femininity. Kate Maxwell may be ruthless, but she is no tomboy, and her wardrobe bears no resemblance to those worn by Joan Crawford or Barbara Stanwyck in their western roles. Kate is impeccably coiffed, made-up, and garbed, even when wielding a shotgun or riding a stallion. Other than an early portrayal of a strong woman in the Old West, "The Redhead from Wyoming" fails to rise above a fairly entertaining, if unmemorable, oater with an unforgettable star.

The Redhead From Wyoming casts Maureen O'Hara as a saloon mistress and cattle queen in the new state of Wyoming. Then as now Wyoming is a sparsely populated place and we've got ourselves a typical range war western in this flick.

There's a lot stray cattle in Wyoming and a guy can stake a claim, round up some mavericks and start a herd. Only the guy who got there ahead of everybody else is Alexander Scourby owner of the local Ponderosa. He's got an unofficial no trespass sign on unbranded cattle on his range.

Into this mix comes O'Hara and William Bishop. O'Hara comes to run the local saloon owned by Bishop. He also sets her up in the cattle business as well. But he's got an agenda all his own and I will say he dreams big.

Maureen O'Hara as The Quiet Man was opening to rave reviews was busy working on this film and she called it a 'stinkeroo' in her memoirs. But it's a matter of perspective, next to The Quiet Man it really is. But it's not a bad action western.

Possibly also she saw that William Bishop had the best role in the film by far. As I said he dreams real big, he's got the small ranchers on his side and he's not got their interest at heart. Bishop is slick and crafty with a good line of gab.

Nominal hero in the piece is Alex Nicol as the outsider sheriff caught in the middle. Nicol never really registers though as a strong hero, the part called for someone like Jimmy Stewart.

A couple of television western regulars had supporting roles here. Dennis Weaver plays one of the small ranchers and Jack Kelly plays Bishop's top gun hand. He has a nasty fight with Alex Nicol in the climax.

It's not a 'stinkeroo' as Maureen put it, but unless you're a fan of her's don't go out of your way to see it.

Just your standard western fare. Well acted. All the key elements are here, right down to the silly cover that isn't really in the movie. Oh and well the Redhead gets to show off that hair :O I was in a rash of buy Maureen movies most of the year in 2015 then bang. She was gone. Not cool. Then I didn't watch them for awhile. Got tons of On Demand dvd (r's) Not all of them westerns but why not have fun. Totally for kids too....

Quality: 6/10 Entertainment: 9/10 Re-playable: 6/10

Okay, Maureen O'hara's dresses are over the top and half the cast in most scenes, seems to be thinking, "why is she wearing that". Still, the movie has some interesting qualities and good moments. First, we have a woman who not only looks pretty and sexy, but can ride fast, think and use a gun. The writer, Polly James, is probably responsible for the fact that we have an interesting and strong woman character in the lead, a refreshing change for a 1953 Western. Second, the film makes several references to Maverick. First Jeanne Cooper (36 years on the Guiding light soap opera later) gets called a maverick, then Maureen O'hara starts referring to Sheriff Stain Blaine as "Maverick". This was four years before the "Maverick" television series and probably this movie was an inspiration for it. William Bishop, as the heavy, Jim Averell, is a much more interesting character than the drifter Sheriff played by Alex Nicol. Bishop is also a better actor than Nicol. The plot twists are silly, but fun. For example, at one point, when you think there is going to be a battle between two gangs, the sheriff convinces everybody to throw their gun belts on a wagon. Surprisingly everybody does it. I just wondered how they were going to get the fifty or so gun belts redistributed back to their original owners when they left. There's some fun in watching Dennis Weaver (later "Gunsmoke" and "McCloud") in one of his earliest roles. He's fine. Also Jack Kelley who went on to play Bart Maverick in the television series is around in a slightly smaller part. Altogether, this is a rather pleasant 80 minutes. Maureen O'Hara, feminists and Western fans should especially enjoy it. Incidentally, costume designer, Edward Stevenson, went on to win an Oscar in 1960 for "the Facts of Life." He designed costumes for over 190 movies. Guess, everybody has an off-day.