Saddle Tramp (1950)
Carefree Chuck Connor is on his way west and stops off to see an old friend and his four lads. When his host is killed in a riding accident Chuck realises he must take care of the family. They hit the road and he takes a job on a ranch, but he has to keep the children hidden as his boss hates kids. There's also tension with the neighbouring ranch, and when a girl on the run from her nasty uncle joins the family unannounced Chuck wonders what he has done to deserve all this.
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The Age of Commercialism
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The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.
True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.
A family type western from Hollywood's most underrated cowboy, Joel McCrea. Here he gives up a footloose, carefree life to care for four homeless boys and a run-away girl (Hendrix). It's a low-key little scenic drama, with little gunplay, but one heck-uv-a knock-down drag- out fist fight. Somebody's stealing cattle from Connor's (McCrea) employer and it looks like it's his Mexican neighbor, but is it. Connor gets mixed up in the feud, like it or not.McCrea delivers one of his typically likable low-key performances. There's not an ounce of swagger or ego to Connor, but you know his character qualities are solid and he'll come through when he needs to. This is not every western fans cup of tea, but it is both offbeat and entertaining thanks to the sterling Joel McCrea.
Enjoyed the four orphan boys and also the strong woman characterized by the rancher's wife. I also liked the message(s) of the movie. Simple but true. 1. We have to make something of ourselves. 2. The treacherous divides the good and gets them to fight against themselves while the bad rob them blind.It was a wonderful story and of course it is from sixty plus years ago so its not going to work for everybody. You have to be in the right mood and not worry about corny and enjoy the ride.The last two comments talk about creepiness and I need to balance that out. This movie was made when on screen kisses were forbidden. Compared to what passes for prime time family entertainment today of course this super innocent. The issue the comments are referring two is the age difference between the 19 year old "runaway" and the Main character being 15 or twenty years older. Well news flash kids you are living in very different times. What you call creepy was actually a completely common experience not only in the American west but throughout much of the world over for hundreds if not thousands of years.The reason for the young woman's flight from home was referenced in an innocuous way so that young audiences would have little chance of clueing in to her reasons while the rest of us would know damn well while she left the real "creep".Hey this is a great family movie and something for kids to see.
Odd little western, in which the various plot strands don't gell and the romantic sub-plot between McCrea and Hendrix - though played low-key - comes over as quite creepy. The character actors are reliable, especially the always excellent John McIntire.
Joel McCrea is very likable in carrying this breezy "B" western with a winning sense of humor and just the right amount of action. John Russell does his usual professional supporting job and Wanda Hendrix is delightfully offbeat as the love interest. Joel McCrea's talent for whistling gets a nice showcase. Not outstanding, but quite enjoyable.