Montana

Errol Flynn, as a sheep-herder? Say it ain't sew! No wonder Flynn drank his way through this turgid Western. I'd be pulling the wool over your eyes by saying Flynn doesn't mail it in. Lots of short scenes with many edits plus obvious studio cuts against outdoor backdrops. Flynn's first film in 1950 but the miles and trials were taking a toll on Errol. His eyes were too bloodshot to shoot some scenes.

Nevertheless, the Technicolor cinematography (Calabasas Ranch)is first rate plus production values make up for the drab characters. It's tough to care about anyone except beautiful, flaming redhead, Alexis Smith. I've never seen whiter teeth in my life. Cute little scar on her chin too. Flynn and Smith have some nice scenes plus sing a fun little ditty: Reckon, I'm in love! Seriously, it's not bad! A sheep-herder invades cattle country! If this sounds like a bum steer of a film, you're probably right but it's Flynn in his final decade. He went downhill fast from here but "amoung other things", he still looks good next to Alexis.

If you like westerns and Errol Flynn and who doesn't, prepare to be entertained. Cattle, sheep, a woman, ranches, shootings and all the rest take place in a rather quick paced plot that serves its purpose. It would have been a 5-6 rating but Errol is always a pleasure to watch as he has this way of acting that looks so effortless. Hollywood did well to take advantage how the camera loves this man. Good movie to eat a sandwich while watching with a tasty drink and perhaps some choice candy. There is a couple parts where they sing and in the bat scene, the song is quite catchy. Listen to the words or read them if you have closed captioning. It gives us a glimpse of life back then, what people liked and song subjects can be revealing. Just listen and learn. Okay boys, lets ride

Montana is directed by Ray Enright and adapted to screenplay by James R. Webb, Borden Chase and Charles O'Neal from a story by Ernest Haycox. It stars Errol Flynn, Alexis Smith, S.Z. Sakall, Douglas Kennedy, James Brown and Ian MacDonald. A Technicolor production with cinematography by Karl Freund and music by David Buttolph.

Flynn plays an Australian sheepman who comes to Montana looking for grazing space but finds local ranchers and a wealthy cattle-woman are greatly opposed to his plans.

Warning! Sheepherders Passing This Point Will Be Shot On Sight.

Just how many films are out there about the Sheep Vs Cattle Wars? What an interesting subject, that cattle ranchers were convinced that sheep were detrimental to the land and therefore a threat to the beef money market. This forms the basis for Montana, a modest budgeted production that never the less has glorious Technicolor to digest and Errol Flynn as a tough handsome dude.

Much of the film is given to talking about the sheep and cattle conundrum, with some duplicitous behaviour, ulterior motives and political nest feathering thrown in for good measure. Naturally there's a fiery romance bubbling away between Flynn and Smith, where they even duet on a song, "Reckon I'm In Love", while there's fist-fights, stampedes and some buckaroo to achieve the action quotient on "B" movie par. Some bad rear projection work shows its face from time to time, a shame because there's a lot of nice scenic photography to enjoy. But the best feature away from Flynn being Flynn, is that Technicolor photography, check out Smith's flame red hair and eyes chipped from Kryptonite, a dinner sequence rich in colour composition or just how the costumes burst out of the screen. This is a beautiful movie to look at even if it's routinely scripted from the page. 6.5/10

This was the beginning of the final years for Errol Flynn, he was still good in this surprise less story full of charm and action, a bit different an dmore effective than George Marshall's THE SHEEPMAN for Metro Goldwyn Mayer. It is rather short for a major Warner flick, maybe because Ray Enright was the director and not William Keighley or William Wellman. This scheme concerning sheepmen vs cattle owners war has certainly been told many times, besides this one and THE SHEEPMAN; I guess they are both the most important films. So, to summarize, that's a prety good old fashioned western in the pure Hollywood style. Well done, very professional piece of work.

Australian sheepherder Errol Flynn brings his sheep to (you guessed it) Montana. He fights with cattle ranchers and romances Alexis Smith. Routine oater made a little less so by the sheep angle. The leads are enjoyable. Flynn fans will want to see him sing "Reckon I'm in Love" with Smith. Fun support from S.Z. Sakall and Paul Burns. Love that Technicolor. Just look at that blue jacket of Errol's pop! The story is much ado about sheep and will have you suppressing laughs here and there. An example of the kind of dialogue you can expect is when one thug says to Flynn: "You talk like a sheepherder." He said that with a straight face, believe it or not. Filmed in 1948 but sat on shelf for two years.