Four Faces West (AKA: They Passed This Way) is directed by Alfred E. Green and collectively adapted to screenplay by C. Graham Baker, Teddi Sherman, William Brent and Milarde Brent from the novel Paso por acqui written by Eugene Manlove Rhodes. It stars Joel McCrea, Francis Dee, Charles Bickford and Joseph Calleia. Music is by Paul Sawtell and cinematography by Russell Harlan. Ross McEwen (McCrea) robs the bank of Santa Maria but requests only $2,000 and issues an I.O.U. to the bank manager with the promise of paying back the money. The bank manager, aggrieved and agitated, puts a bounty of $3,000 on McEwen's head and quickly finds the law, in the form of Sheriff Pat Garrett (Bickford), aiding his cause. But McEwen is no ordinary thief, and as he makes his way across the lands during his escape, revelations and relationships will reveal something quite extraordinary. All the things are in place here for a conventional 1940s Western movie, with the robbery of a bank followed by a posse pursuit, a serious sheriff on the case, a pretty gal turning heads and some card playing of course. Yet this is far from being a conventional Oater. Old fashioned? Yes! Definitely, but it's a beautifully crafted picture that relies on characterisations - locations - and a story of such humanistic redemptive qualities; it demands to be better known. It has rightly been pointed out before that no blood is shed here, no bullets are fired; in fact bullets play a key part of the story for a different reason, but the action quota here is still very high. With blazing fire tactics used at one point and pursuits through the rocky terrain very much in evidence, the pic often raises the pulses. Tension is also provided by the efforts of McEwen to evade the attentions of the posse and the law, with some intelligent and believable methods put into action. The romance angle is also thoughtful and never cloying, given credence by real life lovers McCrea and Dee, while non white actors play South American characters without charges of stereotype or fodder being brought into play. With first grade black and white photography from Harlan (New Mexico Tourist Board done a favour here), unfussy direction by Green, and a quartet of great performances by the principal players leading from the front, Four Faces West (not the best of titles to be fair) is a treat for the Western fan. It may lack a "shock" outcome but it sure as heck fire casts off cynicism and makes you feel better about people in general. Bravo! 8/10

This western starring Joel McCrea is just plain bizarre. The film begins with a big celebration in a western town and Pat Garrett (the guy who captured Billy the Kid) was making a speech. At the same time, and here's where it gets weird, McCrea is robbing (of sorts) a bank in town. He initially asks for a loan but then pulls out a gun and demands exactly $2000! Huh?! Naturally, the banker is mad and gets a posse to look for McCrea--who has made a getaway in to the desert. However, he is bitten by a snake and makes his way to a nearby train where a nurse just happens to be available to treat him. Then, despite not knowing him at all, the woman hides McCrea and swears he MUST be innocent (which, incidentally, he ISN'T).This is all very bizarre. Why steal $2000 and insist it's a loan? Why conveniently have a rattlesnake bite him AND conveniently have a nurse nearby who then falls for him? And, why would a woman with a young child suddenly risk everything for a man she doesn't even know?! None of this makes much sense though at least McCrea played nice cowboys and his acting in this sub-par film was pretty good. Forgettable and weird.UPDATE: I rarely do this, but I decided to give this film another chance. Well, the second time around I appreciated it a lot more. Sure, the plot makes little sense at the beginning. I guess I just wasn't in a very good mood when I first saw it--the second time it worked better for me--and got better towards the end. Still not a great film--but worth seeing.

This is a great Western. McCrea shows off some great horsemanship as does Frances Dee, something rarely seen in female leads. I was intrigued with the authenticity (for the time) of the Hispanic and Native Americans portrayed in this movie. Joseph Calleia, playing against type, is a middle-class Hispanic, rather than just a poor Mexican, with property and a very large extended family in the region, something that was very common in New Mexico but rarely understood outside of its borders. There are surprising Spanish phrases used throughout and I was even impressed with the McCrea character's good Spanish -- so different from other Westerns of the era. The Native Americans, shown only in the opening scene at the Pat Garrett welcome, look like they could have been Mescalero Apaches from southern New Mexico. This movie really respected all the different cultures of southern New Mexico. Finally, El Morro aka Inscription Rock, now a national monument, was a significant symbol in this movie, a testament to its importance to the many different people and cultures that "Paso por Aqui" over the ages.

The musical score reminds me very, very much of Howard Hanson's "Romantic Symphony," a favorite of mine. Anyone else notice the similarity? This is a beautiful little film, notable for its sympathetic characters, beautiful B&W cinematography, and gentle story (somewhat weepy).The actors are quite good, especially Chares Bickford, who appeared in "Johnny Belinda" at about the same year, as Jane Wyman's father. Mrs. McCrae has an almost expressionless face, which is not good. Her husband is as handsome as ever.