Two brothers discharged from the Confederate Army join a businessman for a cattle drive from Texas to Montana where they run into raiding Jayhawkers, angry Sioux, rough terrain and bad weath... Read allTwo brothers discharged from the Confederate Army join a businessman for a cattle drive from Texas to Montana where they run into raiding Jayhawkers, angry Sioux, rough terrain and bad weather.Two brothers discharged from the Confederate Army join a businessman for a cattle drive from Texas to Montana where they run into raiding Jayhawkers, angry Sioux, rough terrain and bad weather.
- Director
- Writers
- Stars
- Luis
- (as Juan Garcia)
- Col. Norris
- (as Stevan Darrell)
- Wrangler
- (uncredited)
- Saloon Dealer
- (uncredited)
- Miner
- (uncredited)
- Hotel Guest
- (uncredited)
- Maria - the Dressmaker
- (uncredited)
- Cattle Buyer
- (uncredited)
- …
- Man
- (uncredited)
- Hank - Livery Stable Owner
- (uncredited)
- Spanish Girl
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
Nice western with plenty of action , attacks , stampedes , rich dialogue , a triangular romance and with a real feel for the wide open spaces of the west . An enjoyable picture as big and impressive and exciting as the Mighty West . It has spectacular scenes , breathtaking outdoors scenarios , and moving set pieces as the stampeding a herd of cattle . It stars three great stars giving meaty roles : Clark Gable , Robert Ryan and Jane Russell . This trio furnished decent interpretation . However , the three veteran stars were all considered too old for their peculiar roles ; furthermore , the great John Wayne withdrew and Charlton Heston was deemed for the main role but he turned it down . Features two frontier hands : Gable and Cameron Mitchell , along with a tough boss , Robert Ryan , on rough cattle drive . Along the way confronting Indian Sioux , cutthroats , and the wilderness while vying with each other for the love Russell . And fine support cast with notorious secondaries as Emile Meyer, Harry Shannon, Robert Adler , Juan Garcia and others uncredited as Mae Marsh , Chuck Roberson and Russell Simpson .
It displays a brilliant and rousing cinematography in Cinemascope, color De Luxe by cameraman Leo Tover . And an emotive and thrilling musical score by maestro composer Dimitri Tiomkin , including a sensitive leitmotif .The motion picture was well directed by Raoul Walsh who delivers an extreme feeling for the wide open spaces of the Far West for which this veteran filmmaker must take most of the credit .Walsh directed masterfully all kinds of genres and he made good westerns such as : ¨They died with their boots on¨, ¨Distant drums¨ , ¨Pursued¨ , ¨Gun fury¨, ¨Lawless breed¨, ¨Band of Angels¨ and ¨The king and four queens¨ also with Clark Gable . Rating : 6.5/10 . Charming and decently made Western . Better than average . Worthwhile watching . Essential and indispendable seeing for Clark Gable and Jane Russell fans .
The story is an epic one: a couple of bothers, ex-soldiers, rob an easy pigeon of $20 000, only to be offered instead the chance to earn five times as much by driving cattle the 1500 miles from Texas to Montana. As they head to Texas they rescue Russell. Russell is fun, feisty, and fiery as the woman who wants to dream big and won't settle for Gable with bigger fish available.
I just love this movie - it has all the elements of the Hollywood western and there is a charm and ease to it that make it a great watch. All in all, with Russell's passing there are few of the old Hollywood left but with films like The Tall Men to remind us we can at least have a glimpse of their stature from a time when everyone went to the cinema all the time.
Montana Territory 1866
"They came from the South, headed for the gold-fields .Ben & Clint Allison, lonely, desperate men. Riding away from a heartbreak memory of Gettysburg. Looking for a new life. A story of tall men-and long shadows."
The Tall Men has professionalism written all over it, from the tight direction by Walsh to the on the money writing, it's a Western that has no pretencions. The panoramic vistas are beautifully realised by the makers and in spite of Russell's flat style of acting, the cast put credibility into the cattle drive and romantic aspects of the story. Tho action sequences are few and far between, the film succeeds because of the well written characters and the landscapes that frame them. There's even much comedy to enjoy as well, a department where Russell does earn her corn in the movie (there's also a bath moment to get us boys hot under the collar too). Most notably the comedy works for her when playing off of Gable who seems to be enjoying himself as the rough, tough and cheeky Ben Allison. Very talky to be sure, there are for instance many extended scenes of our lead protagonists swapping dialogue, but it all serves a purpose and in the capable hands of Walsh the sequences serve to drive the narrative forward.
Solid enjoyable stuff if ultimately a touch too long. 6.5/10
Did you know
- TriviaIt was reported that Clark Gable, who described himself as 6'2", wore lifts to look taller than his 6'4" co-star Robert Ryan in several scenes. Gable also stood on a box to look taller than Ryan when they first see the jayhawkers.
- GoofsThe film begins in 1866, but most of the firearms used are from later. Most pistols are Colt Single-Action Army with various barrel lengths, introduced in 1873. Most of the lever-action rifles are Winchester model 1873s. The only firearm that is period is the Remington 1866 derringer Ben takes from Stark in the stable.
- Quotes
[about Ben Allison]
Nathan Stark: There goes the only man I ever respected. He's what every boy thinks he's going to be when he grows up and wishes he had been when he's an old man.
- Crazy creditsOpening credits prologue: MONTANA TERRITORY 1866
They came from the South, headed for the goldfields...Ben and Clint Allison, lonely, desperate men. Riding away from a heartbreak memory of Gettysburg. Looking for a new life. A story of tall men - and long shadows.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Biography: Jane Russell: Body and Soul (1997)
- How long is The Tall Men?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $3,115,000 (estimated)
- Gross worldwide
- $10,714
- Runtime
- 2h 2m(122 min)
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 2.55 : 1