Herr der rauhen Berge

This film has an unusually gritty and authentic look and feel, and an unusual ending for a 1950's western.( I can't say more about or I would ruin the plot for anyone who hasn't seen the film).

Flynn, a confederate officer, in the last days of the confederacy, leads a small group of men to California to meet with southern sympathizers in a desperate plan start a revolt and bring California into the confederacy. A stagecoach is attacked by Indians and they to save the survivors. One of the survivors is a woman on her way to meet her fiance, a union officer. He comes looking for with a small patrol and they are taken captive. The Indians start to close in and they confederates face the dilemma of what to do in the coming fight and what to do with their prisoners, one wounded and one a woman.

This film has a great beginning and a truly exciting and emotional ending. The middle though, does drag a bit. On location filming in New Mexico gives this film a realistic gritty look. The characters of the confederate soldiers are very well established and should elicit sympathy and respect. This was Errol Flynn's last western, and , while he was no longer in his prime and looks older and a little weathered, he is perfect for the role of a man who has seen too much war. One aspect of the film that is little commented on it the exceptional horsemanship in the film. In real life, Flynn and several of the co-stars were very good horsemen, and it really shows.