The Longhorn

This zesty little programmer fom Monogram starring the stolid, value-driven "Wild Bill" Elliott has a feeling of real detail, likely because of a low budget, and so incidents of setting up and taking down a Cattle Drive campsite have a feeling of actuality, the cook's utensils assembled quickly, the men wrapping themselves in horse blankets every night, all led by the indomitable, tight-lipped "Wild Bill." willing to give those less fortunate a leg up if they honestly try (he hires a batch of local outlaws, ignored by the rest of the community) but ruthless when it comes to willful disorder on the trail, i.e. drinking. One of the strengths of this short, action-packed cattle drive from Oregon to Wyoming, is the lack of a stupid sidekick for the hero--the sort one has to endure with many B" Westerns--in Tim Holt adventures, for example, there is Ray Whiteley, a fixture who might have been funny at the time, but today seems a little silly and interminable. Instead of the comic, this trim little adventure features an Indian attack, a stampede, a little romance, and some skullduggery by one of the hired hands. A plus is a little lesson about the viability of the Longhorn as a value herd, a dilemma solved by breeding them with Hereford. Sure as shootin', the huge herd is never seen with one of the filmed cowhands anywhere near, all the footage stolen from some larger epic, but who cares? For 70 minutes we get acquainted with stolid "Wild Bill," perhaps a wee bit old at 47 to be a romancing cowpoke as well as a man fast with his fists, but in the tradition of William S. Hart, he carries on a great tradition.

"Of all the Americans who have earned the right to be called 'self- made man,' the cattle rancher of the Great Plains is perhaps one of the most deserving of the title. After defending his precious herds for generations against marauding Indians, rustlers and the weather, the Plains cattleman, in the middle of the nineteenth century, found himself confronted by a new enemy, economics. The famed Texas longhorn, hardiest breed of cattle ever known gradually became almost worthless at the beef market. This situation drove hundreds of ranchers out of business; others hung on, powerless and desperate, hoping for a change. A few did something about it. This is the story of a man who did."

Wild Bill Elliott stars and Lewis Collins directs this brisk black and white Oater that crams as much old fashioned Western staples into the short running time as it can.

Plot simply has Elliott as a bastion of good morals and hard work who heads up a trail drive of cattle to cross breed so as to make a serious dent in the market. Hiring a bunch of criminals because they are the only ones he can trust! The drive is dominated by graft, grind and tough rules. Soon enough the camp becomes divided as a romance love triangle develops involving the gorgeous cook (Phyllis Coates) and the rufty tufty men are feeling miffed having to live on potato stew when there is so much beef around! Oh and there's a devious snake in Elliott's midst. The latter of which made obvious to us from the off.

In the 70 minute run time there are chases, shoot-outs, fist fights, an Indian attack and a stampede. This picture is never dull, it does feel more like a 1930s Western at times, more so because of Raoul Kraushaar's musical accompaniments, which quite frankly would be better served to The Keystone Cops! But there's an honesty about it that induces warmth, a willingness to entertain the early 1950s Western fans that earns it a pat on the back for effort. 6/10

Footnote: It would be remade in colour five years later as Canyon River.

When The Longhorn was remade as Canyon River a few years later by Allied Artists I remarked that Peter Graves came across as too nice to be a villain, at least one we know from the beginning unlike Stalag 17. With Myron Healey in the same part that was not an issue.

The film opens with Bill Elliott escaping robbers and meeting his friend Healey. He doesn't know that Healey is in league with the robbers on it. He reveals to Healey it would have not done them any good as it was a large cashier's check. Smart man.

In any event Elliott has a scheme to buy Hertford cattle being raised in Oregon and cross breed them with his stock in Wyoming. Healey persuades the robbers to wait until they're back from Oregon and grab the cattle.

A lot happens between then and the climax among them Phyllis Coates from whom Elliott buys his cattle and Healey becomes most conflicted. If you've seen Canyon River which starred George Montgomery you know how this came out.

The better cast Healey gives The Longhorn a notch above Canyon River in ratings. Elliott is as always a stalwart cowboy hero. But his westerns at Republic were generally better quality even some of them reaching A status like John Wayne's films. Here Wild Bill is back to routine programmers, good but routine.