I'll have to second and third a handful of other reviewers on this board, this was an exceptionally fine, post-Stagecoach John Wayne Western that has a good story line and a couple of pleasing to look at leading ladies. Wayne's character is Rocklin, no first name ever mentioned, though Gabby Hayes has no problem calling him Rock from time to time. I got a kick out of Gabby's description of Arly Harolday (Ella Raines) after she shakes things up in Santa Inez following Rock's rousting of her brother Clint (Russell Wade), why she's meaner than a skillet full o' rattlesnakes - very descriptive! Now one observation I'll make about John Wayne. I've seen all of his Lone Star Westerns from the mid 1930's when he was churning them out at the rate of seven or eight films a year. He looked real young and handsome back then in his mid-twenties, but only a decade later he appeared to have seasoned into the quintessential John Wayne 'look'. In fact, he looks perhaps to be in his forties rather than his thirties. Anyway, that's the way I see it.What makes this picture so interesting, apart from Rocklin's investigation of the murder of Red Cardell, is the obvious chemistry going on between Wayne and his pair of leading ladies. Meaner than rattlesnakes Arly makes no bones about it, while the more demure Clara Cardell (Audrey Long) pines for him with rather more understatement. I was actually rooting for Clara for most of the picture, right up until Rocklin called her 'cousin'. Should have seen that coming, but the writers did a pretty good job of keeping Rock's identity under wraps until late in the picture.Say, remember when Arly and her bodyguard Tala (Frank Puglia) took the short cut through the pass and she fell off her horse? When she got up, her horse didn't have a saddle - how did that happen? And not for anything, but I'll have to see this picture again to clear something up unless someone can explain otherwise. When Clint Harolday is shot through the window of the hotel, I could have sworn that it was Judge Garvey (Ward Bond) who grabbed the gun from Rock's holster. But later on, it's revealed that the uncle Harolday (Don Douglas) did it. What did I miss? Anyway, this is a real enjoyable Western and John Wayne fans ought to be pleasantly surprised. You even get to see him reprise a familiar Lone Star type ending when the film closes out with Rock and Miss Arly in more than a clinch to wrap up the picture. If you stick around long enough for the closing credits, you'll also learn that this film was #854 on the country's 'Overseas Program' roster during the War years.

i thought his was a pretty good John Wayne film.sure,a lot of the movie is typical of most westerns in many ways,but in other ways,it isn't.for example, i thought the story was a bit more fleshed out and interesting,and there is an air of unpredictability to it.there is not as much action as many of Wayne's films,but there is enough to satisfy.of course,there is some humour involved,and just like many westerns,there's a mix of odd characters,which i liked.this is not an epic film,by any means,but it's not supposed to be.the movie kept me interested right to the end,and when it was over,i felt satisfied.for me,Tall in The saddle is a 7/10

I'm a retired "old guy" that enjoys movies that are made well..and this movie is well worth watching. Not just for the slightly different ending, but the interplay between the actors is absolutely great. As an example, watch the Wayne-Hayes combination as Hayes drives the stage coach down a mountain grade. Hilarious!! Ella Raines is one of the most underrated actresses of her time. In this movie she shows a nice range of emotions exceedingly well. Raines is an absolutely gorgeous gal, especially in this movie!! My only complaint is that Audrey Long is under utilized in her role. Too bad as she had (and still has at age 86) CLASS with a capital "C"!!! In real life she was an absolute stunning beauty - one of the few times that the camera wasn't able to capture an actresses' true beauty (even though she looks great in the movie).Ward Bond, Gabby Hayes, and a host of recognizable others, all blend together to make watching this a very enjoyable experience.I have this movie on DVD and play it probably once a month (more when friends come over and request a viewing). And with each viewing, it only gets better.If you're not exactly a John Wayne fan, it doesn't matter, you'll find this movie well worth watching!

This one got shown on late-night Italian TV unheralded, after a proposed screening of Allan Dwan’s THE RIVER’S EDGE (1957) got barred by Fox! I’ve watched a few of John Wayne’s vehicles made between STAGECOACH (1939) and FORT APACHE (1948): while he was officially a star during this period, he wasn’t yet the screen legend everyone remembers and loves – consequently, most of the films he made in the interim tend to be overlooked. This is one of them and, I have to say, quite an underrated effort it is too! Made at RKO, it features their customary shadowy lighting – and, while essentially modest in approach, the narrative is absolutely brimming with action, twists, romance (Wayne gets to choose between two gals) and even comedy (provided by The Duke’s frequent sidekick from his early years, George “Gabby” Hayes). Wayne is obviously in his element and, typically, his character has to go through a lot to fight for his rights (while he’s introduced as a ranch-hand, it transpires that he’s actually the heir to the property!), his own well-being (he’s not only provoked into several brawls or made the target of assassination, but is even framed for murder!) and, of course, true love (one girl is assertive and tempestuous, the other genteel and naive).Ella Raines, best-known for her noir roles, looks great in cowboy gear as the former; when it seems she may lose Wayne to the latter – played by Audrey Long – it’s revealed that Wayne and Long’s characters are blood-related, thus conveniently solving the star’s emotional dilemma! The supporting cast includes Ward Bond (as the judge who tries to deceive both Wayne and Long out of their inheritance, he eventually engages in a violent fist-fight with Wayne which virtually turns his office into a shambles), Elizabeth Risdon (an insufferable and scheming old lady who’s domineering of charge Long and contemptuous of both Wayne and Hayes), Russell Wade (the young second lead of THE BODY SNATCHER [1945] appearing as Raines’ gambler brother), Paul Fix (like Bond, a long-time buddy of Wayne’s who here plays the part of an antagonist) and Frank Puglia (as Raines’ devoted Indian protector which causes an ambivalence towards Wayne).Characterizations are well above-par for an ‘oater’; the end result is highly watchable and entertaining – if, ultimately, a notch below The Duke’s standards of a few years later. The film was nevertheless released on DVD by Warners as part of a 5-Disc John Wayne collection (of which I already own BLOOD ALLEY [1955], one I’ve yet to watch myself, and THE SEA CHASE [1955]) – and I wouldn’t mind adding it to my collection if the opportunity presented itself…