Fictionalized biography of American pioneer who died at The Alamo, Jim Bowie. I never thought anything of Alan Ladd but he's a capable tough guy as well as gentleman who plays his part very well. Being set primarily in New Orleans in 1825, this is more of a period piece than a western which is what I found it categorized under. Not much that's western about it. But the direction, cinematography and Technicolor give this a nice feel. The action was good yet a little ridiculous with the gentlemanly duels that were common back then. Not sure I'd ever watch it again but I enjoyed seeing it.6.4 / 10--Zoooma, a Kat Pirate Screener

Gordon Douglas was something of a poor man's Michael Curtiz at Warner Brothers inasmuch as he could turn his hand to just about any genre the studio assigned him to. In the early fifties Alan Ladd had run out of exotic locations to meet Veronica Lake and William Bendix at Paramount and although his greatest performance and greatest Paramount film by far (Shane) was already in the can though unreleased his agent wife Sue Carroll brokered a deal that took him to Warners who, being hip to his stand-out performance in Shane, laid on another 'Western' to welcome him aboard. As a biography of Jim Bowie it fits where it touches and concludes with no reference to the Alamo - probably a bit tricky as Bowie winds up the movie married to the daughter of a Mexican official. That aside it's a fine example of the genre with Ladd on top of his game albeit playing Bowie as a nice guy who can't seem to help killing people, mostly as a result of his involvement with super-bitch socialite Virginia Mayo. In terms of Ladd's overall career it ranks well inside the top half and will surely entertain nine out of ten viewers.

Great Movie.. with the legendary Character Jim Bowie, and the legendary Knive, and how it came to be.Tales of how Jim Bowie came to become the legend; and how not to fall for the wrong women.If only he had listen to his brother/s and family about his love. Alan Ladd was excellent in this, as was Virgina Mayo....and he rest of the cast.Great movie. It really is.Is this released as a DVD yet? Please can someone tell me...???? I would love to get this film on DVDMaybe even this film could be remade for a new generation with even more detail given to how the knife was made etc, etcBut who would star????

Alan Ladd heads a fine cast in this film biography of Jim Bowie, a life that was marked by thrilling adventure and violence which ended at the Alamo. Bowie's travels take him to New Orleans where fate takes a hand and changes the course of his life and American history. A central figure in the film is a beautiful but vain and selfish Creole girl with whom Bowie is hopelessly smitten. This girl is responsible for the deaths of several men over a period of many years, because of duels, accidental killings or outright murders. Bowie himself is obliged to fight duels for various reasons and his expertise with a knife becomes legendary. His reputation, forged by the iron mistress, follows him like a shadow throughout his life as he tries to put the young woman and his violent past behind him. The film has beautiful color, lavish sets and Max Steiner's brooding music score.