El legado de la estepa

J. Farrell MacDonald has settled and proved his ranch for many years. He's buried his partner and his wife. He looks forward to his son, Gordon Westcott, marry his partner's daughter, Sally Blane. However David Landau has a beef with him; MacDonald won't let him drive his stolen cattle across his land, and he owns the exit to the outside world. Landau makes him an offer, which he refuses. Westcott, however, is wild and has lost a lot of money gambling, which Landau holds over his head.

Into this mix comes surveyor Randolph Scott in his first starring western, under the direction of Henry Hathaway in his first credited appearance behind the megaphone. The result is mixed. The visuals are fine under the camerawork of Archie Stout, and the western atmosphere is a lot rawer and more realistic than many a director would have you believe. The Zane Grey story proceeds at a good clip. However, some of the performances are off and the line readings often too slow; Landau is particularly painful, and Scott seems to be absent from many of the scenes where he might have a line or two.

Well, star and director would improve quickly, and Vince Barnett as the comic relief is surprisingly painless. Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams is good in a henchman role. Still, it's more interesting for what the talent would later accomplish than it is on its own merits.