...And who better to do it than slow eyed vamp Yvonne de Carlo, then exotic, exciting and new. She's the lily of the valley of the old west in this fun colorful western, a subject of confusion who three old codgers who can't agree on how their territory was settled. Regardless of what the truth is, one thing is clear. De Carlo doesn't have to go out and demand equal treatment in this man's world; she gets it simply by being smart, independent and determined...and a little bit of femininity didn't hurt either!Scott Brady and John Russell are the feuding cousins who vie for de Carlo's hand, adding to their already existing animosity. Trying to end this is their feisty big daddy like grandfather Charles Coburn, not because he wants to see them get together, but simply because unlike other generations of the family, in his mind, they don't have a genuine motive! Old codger Coburn is so sly and scheming himself, it's surprising that he doesn't make a play for Yvonne himself! As usual, Coburn is a masterful scene stealer.Getting to sing an Irish ditty, de Carlo sounds just like she would 22 years later when she introduced the Broadway standard "I'm Still Here!" in "Follies". Like that song, de Carlo often comes off as a bit camp, even breaking into a lively version of "Frankie and Johnny". Like her "McClintock" rival Maureen O'Hara, she's made for Technicolor, and every inch a man's equal. In fact, in westerns, she's just like what Barbara Stanwyck described women to be: just as important as the men out there settling the land. Colorful, funny and yet historically believable, this is a unique western in the sense that this could simply be set anywhere in the unsettled United States: north, south, east or west.

Wonderful Yvonne De Carlo! This story of two cousins,vying with each others for a valuable property ,waiting for the ancestor's death (but it seems he is not about to kick the bucket) is a comedy where nobody seems to take things seriously ;there's a very long fight between the two heirs towards the end and Yvonne's choice does not seem to be the wisest,if we consider the very last picture of the movie.But it does not matter;the only thing that matters is miss De Carlo:when she appears ,we only have eyes for her;her two songs are a true delight (the second one is witty,funny and infectious);generally I do not go much for those saloon ballads but those are the highlights of the movie.The story is told by three old "witnesses";thus the arrival of the lady is filmed three times,each one giving his own version of the facts.

Other than THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE, I do not know of another Western that as accurately captures the true nature of the West - and the men and women who settled it. The plot is that of a romantic comedy, but the characters are wonderfully written and acted - far better than in most 'serious' films. The two brothers battling each other for the affection of one women is both funny - and dramatically believable. And the telling of the story from three different points of view is superbly done.In my opinion, this is one of the most under-rated films ever made in Hollywood.Don't miss it!

The fun of this film is telling the story from three different viewpoints -- each version diametrically opposed to the others -- what is the truth? probably a mixture of all of them -- it's a fun film with DeCarlo in fine form and the feuding brothers fighting it out for her affections is half the fun.