What is exceptional in this western, is even not being that good, it leaves a strong mark because David Brian as Blair Lunsford gives a great performance and in spite of a weak screenplay his character comes out charismatic and real. It is surely naive to make the bad guys and the moviegoer accept they will headline the newspaper with the information the train is carrying a huge amount of gold to Dallas. There is a memorable action scene where Scott and Brian fight together against Clevenger's (Ray Teal) gang doing a trick with their guns. Any film that had Technicolor in the fifties was special and here, despite the stock footage from Dodge City, the cinematography is tops. Ray Teal overacts as the bad guy he is a kind of Ernest Borgnine, and overdoing in this case is positive, it blends with the film.

You must Deduct Points for the Shameless Reuse of Three Scenes from "Dodge City" (1939). But that Cheating notwithstanding, this Randolph Scott, Technicolor, Movie has its Own Merits.The Story is more Complex than most of its Type, Scott is given an Off-Beat Role as a Newspaper Man Conflicted about what Type of Lead to use in His Fight Against Corruption and Evil, "I'll print you out of Texas.", He says at one point.David Brian makes a Formidable Friend/Foe and Matches Scott Scene for Scene, and the Two Women, Phyllis Thaxter and Helena Carter hold Their Own in the Story among the Towering Male Protagonists. Some Corny Elements Intrude occasionally, mostly with the Marriage Angle and a Teen Apprentice learning the Newspaper Trade. But these can be Overlooked.There's some Good Dialog Exchanges and a Few Set Pieces that are Outstanding, like the Stampede and some Gunfighting Standoffs that make for some Western Excitement.Overall, Above Average WB Entry at the Beginning of the Fifties Western Cycle that would, Frankly, become so Overloaded in the Decade as to make it all a Blur, to some Extent.

Newspaperman Ned meets up with old friend Blair in Fort Worth where their friendship wobbles over a girl and Blair's overriding ambitions. Complicating matters is outlaw Clevenger and his gang of thugs.Solid western, more complex than most, but with good production values. The ambivalent relationship between Ned (Scott) and Blair (Brian) is the story's core. Blair has got to be one of the most charming connivers in oater annals. So which is going to win out: Blair's liking for old friend Ned, or Blair's clever greed and scheming. I agree with another reviewer: Brian steals the film with a lively, nuanced performance. Scott, of course, is Scott, as we fans count on. That excellent actress, the rather plain Phyllis Thaxter, gets the big distaff role, while I suspect the luscious Helena Carter (Amy) was added for eye appeal. The effects may be borrowed, but the fire aboard the moving train is a real eye-catcher, along with the cattle stampede through the wagons. I'm not surprised that action studio Warner Bros. produced the slickly done 80-minutes. Then too, Director Marin keeps things moving without cheating the plot. Unfortunately, it looks like he died soon after the film's wrap. For fans of the Saturday matinée, that diminutive dynamo Bob Steele picks up a payday as a henchman. They should have tossed more baddie screen time his way since he proved what a good cold-blooded killer he could be in The Enforcer (1951).My one complaint is the general lack of eye-catching scenery. Nonetheless, it's solid Technicolor western of the sort they unfortunately don't make anymore.

Randolph Scott was such a wonderful actor that his films were always at least a notch above the rest. While this is about average for a Scott film, it's clearly head and shoulders better than a typical western. Even with the overuse of old footage from another Warner Brothers western (DODGE CITY, 1939), the film still manages to shine. Most of the old footage works just fine, though some is indeed grainier and a few times actors from the second film change hat and clothes when they switch to actors from the old film!! Pretty sloppy...but it can be overlooked.Scott plays a tough newspaper man who moves back to his old home town of Fort Worth. The city is dying due to two men. One is an obvious bully and leader of a gang of thugs who break laws with impunity. The other, played by Film Noir favorite David Brian, is an opportunist who is buying up land right and left--at pennies on the dollar from people who are leaving the violent town in droves. While the first guy is an obvious baddie, Brian is a cypher. Scott thinks Brian is evil and a megalomaniac but again and again throughout the film Brian proves he really is interested in the town. Could Scott be wrong? And, can Scott print the truth without getting his head blown off instead?! The film does well because the plot is more original than most westerns. Also, Brian is a very good heavy--not as predictable and nasty as most. Overall, this is a must-see for Scott fans and would be enjoyable to most.