God's Country and the Man

While this is neither a masterpiece or a breakthrough, GOD'S COUNTRY AND THE MAN is full of surprises for regular viewers of the series westerns of its day.

To start with, nominal star Tom Keene is a less central character than queen of the Bs Betty Compson, taking her demotion from one time star of the silent spectacular PONY EXPRESS unconcerned. She's a gypsy violinist Dance Hall Entertainer who is done wrong by Charlie King (junior!) and throws in with vengeance bound Keene. Their atmospheric meeting on the trail, by her campfire at night, is one of the film's departures.

King has a bigger part than we are used to seeing him get and ALICE IN WONDERLAND Henry is the romantic interest rather than Compson. They all carry their loads quite skillfully. The ambush and rescue of the Mountie is nicely staged.

There is a bit of the notion of town as character that you get in HELLS HINGES, CAT BALOU or SONS OF KATIE ELDER, before we settle down for the belated arrival of action and background music.

I quite enjoyed this one even with all the expected faults and cost cutting you find in these.