Jubal

Have not seen this film in years and enjoyed this story in which Glenn Ford, (Jubal Troop) is injured and falls onto a dirt road and is discovered by Ernest Borgnine,(Shep Hogan) and he takes him back to his ranch and in time offers him a job and then a full time position as his top ranch hand. This quick decision causes problems among the other ranch hands who have worked for Shep Hogan a very long time. Rod Steiger,( Pinky Pinkum) instantly resents Jubal Troop and suspects him of being a sheep herder and constantly tells him he smells like sheep poop. Valerie French (Mae Hogan) is a woman who likes to fool around with other men and has tried out most of the ranch hands and she instantly gets hot over Jubal Troop which starts another side to the story.

Very tough Western with great acting and masterfully made , it stars Glenn Ford as Jubal. Jube Troop emerges from the dust to stop awhile as a hired hand for jolly rancher, Ernest Borgnine, as he is a cowhand who drifts into trouble with his boss and the boss's seductress wife, the tempter and dissastified Valerie French. As the rancher seeks advice from a foreman about pleasing his spouse, but another cowhand, Rod Steiger, implies him that Jubal is extremely advising his wife. Along the way Jubal falls for a drippy Mennonite, Felicia Farr.

This movie has a formidable combination of fine performances, intense drama and spectacular outdoors. Director Delmer Daves aims for psychological realism with a contemporay treatment of adultery and about an innocent man being hounded and harassed. A blending of talent actors with great leading players of whom Steiger, perhaps, holds the plum character as a two-fisted cowhand, though he delivers an overacting, playing an "Yago" alike figure from play ¨Othello¨ by William Shakespeare, that threatens to overbalance everything. The hothouse plot drives mercilessly forward with twists and turns . The tale is strong one and the yarn is wonderfully located against a background of Montana mountains . Very good main cast , as Glenn Ford , Ernest Borgnine , Valerie French , Felicia Farr , including Rod Steiger who gives a hyper-neurotic interpretation as a cowhand with a lemon-sour nature and a sadistic streak . Support cast is frankly well such as Charles Bronson , Basil Ruysdael , Noah Beery Jr. , John Dierkes and Jack Elam . The literate storyline sustains interest thanks to the twisted relationships and enhanced by cinemascope cinematography by cameraman Charles Lawton Jr. Containing gorgeous outdoors exteriors from Grand Teton National Park . Being well accompanied by a sensitive and moving musical score by David Raskin.

The picture was compellingly directed by Delmer Daves. He was a fine filmmaker who mingled moral or ethic analysis , documentary , lyrism , and large open spaces . Daves made some Western masterpieces , he was one of the greatest directors . As he was a western expert, including titles as ¨Broken arrow¨, the first pro-Indian western with James Stewart , ¨Drum beat¨ with Charles Bronson, ¨The last wagon¨ with Richard Widmark , ¨The badlanders¨ with Alan Ladd and Borgnine, ¨3:10 to Yuma¨ with Glenn Ford, ¨Cowboy¨ with Jack Lemmon, ¨The return of the Texan¨ with Dale Robertson , and ¨The hanging tree¨ with Gary Cooper , among others . Rating 7/10. Better than average

This dramatic western is just what the doctor ordered. As fresh today as it was in 1956 when I was 2! The scenery alone is so impressive that watching Glenn Ford is just icing on the cake. These titanic actors really nail it on this film. I imagine the 'behind the scenes' horseplay was probably as good as what was captured on film. Ford is handsome as ever and decent down to his toes. Borgnine is a teddy bear that gets burned in the end. Steiger is the bad guy and is perfect for the role. A young Bronson in a small part shines. I watched this on the Western channel, which endlessly plays the same movies over and over. However I had never heard of this movie. Being a Glenn Ford fan, I figured that I'd at least watch the beginning. This film will not disappoint anyone who likes good writing, beautiful scenery and wonderful acting.

is a perfect way to express how I feel about JUBAL. Director Delmar Daves takes an outstanding Western cast & takes a Shakespearean tragedy, then mixes the two elements. The result is not only one of the best westerns of the 1950s, but one of the best films of the decade, & one of the best westerns ever. From the performance of the entire cast, to Raskin's score, it's outstanding all around.

Don't miss this one. Just see it again & again.

JUBAL takes about forty-five minutes to set up its tale of revenge and murder and lust in the dust, but once the plot gets into high gear it becomes highly watchable until the conclusion.

GLENN FORD is an unhappy man on the run who's taken in by rancher ERNEST BORGNINE and his wife VALERIE FRENCH, earning his pay as a helper and suddenly promoted to foreman, much to the annoyance of ROD STEIGER, who wanted the job and also has his eyes on Borgnine's wife.

Ford spends most of the story trying to fend off the advances of Valerie French, who turns out to be a real Jezebel creating trouble between Ford and Borgnine when she makes her hubby believe the lies that jealous Steiger has told him. Before you know it, Ford is in deep trouble with nowhere to run except to seek the help of some peace loving pioneers on a wagon train, and a woman (FELICIA FARR) who wants to help him fight injustice.

Delmer Daves directs the actors through their paces with skill, except that he allows ROD STEIGER to chew too much of the scenery. Steiger struts about as if he's still playing Jud in OKLAHOMA! and never lets up for a moment being a nasty, snarling, cowardly villain. He's so despicable you can't help hating him.

On the other hand, CHARLES BRONSON shows considerable skill as Ford's friend, a gunslinger who saves Ford's life at a crucial moment. The film starts off a little too slowly before it gets to the mid-section where things really start to heat up. From then on, it's a top-rate western with strong performances from most of the cast.

Borgnine may be playing a "nice guy" for a change, but he's still obnoxious and boorish in his behavior and he sometimes overdoes the hearty laughter. His admission that he knows nothing about women or how to treat them, reminds me that "Marty" had the same problem.

Summing up: Good western, excellent photography, nice scenery and one of Glenn Ford's most underrated performances.