The Sheepman

"The Sheepman" is a comedy-drama...with an emphasis on either that changes throughout the course of the movie. It begins with Mr. Sweet (Glenn Ford) arriving in a new town and thoroughly ticking off almost everyone he meets. Why would be behave so? Apparently, he expects to be hated and he's just speeding up the process. And, the reason to hate him? He's planning on raising sheep in the range--a place where cattle is king and folks hate sheep! The rest of the film is about how the town tries to get rid of Sweet and how the clever Sweet takes to this unkindness.

Aside from some amazingly crappy rear projection used throughout the movie, it's a rather unusual and enjoyable film. The mood is odd however...at times a bit funny and at others deadly serious.

This is a very special western ,very tongue in cheek ,which was very unusual in the fifties where the masters produced unsurpassed classics (Ford,Daves ,Walsh,Mann....)Till the moment when Glenn Ford tells the story of his former fiancée to Shirley McLaine ,there's absolutely nothing dramatic in this plot which involves a Sheepman who has got problems with the inhabitants of a cattle village .Sheepman has to battle for sheep herds and for the "colonel"'s fiancée, a tomboy who was ahead of her time ,as far as woman's lib is concerned ,at least till her very last lines ;Glenn Ford ,Shirley McLaine and Leslie Nielsen do not take their roles seriously and it's much fun watching them battling against each others ;one can regret that Georges Marshall should have introduced drama in the second part .It should have stayed a comedy till the end!The scenes of the ball and the night train tooting alone are worth the price of admission.

Didn't Jason get the Golden Fleece?

This movie works on a lot of levels. Awesome cast, good story, great action and good laughs.

Ford is a different tough guy to most western stars, less physically imposing his toughness or power comes completely from his uncompromising attitude against his foes. It makes a nice change , similar to Joel McCrea but a better actor.

The movie has all the elements that you would be looking for when watching this, its a very satisfying movie :)

The Sheepman is directed by George Marshall and written by William Bowers, James Edward Grant and William Roberts. It stars Glenn Ford, Shirley MacLaine, Leslie Nielsen, Mickey Shaughnessy, Edgar Buchanan, Willis Bouchey, Pernell Roberts, and Slim Pickens. Music is by Jeff Alexander and cinematography by Robert J. Bronner.

Utterly delightful semi-comic Oater, The Sheepman pitches Ford as sheep farmer Jason Sweet, who arrives in Powder Valley - a place ruled by cattle ranchers only - and upturns the applecart by announcing he intends to let his sheep graze on the lands there. Trouble, motives and back stories will out!

With the exception of some poor rear projection work, this is a pic that's constructed with style and humour. The opening is a doozy as Sweet quickly puts down a marker in the town, with a glint in his eye and a punch of some force. It's an irresistible characterisation by Ford, deftly blending humour with machismo, setting up the rest of the film by firmly pulling us viewers onto his side. Supporting cast are bang on the money, doing justice to well written characters (the screenplay was Oscar nominated), with the writing also having some nous via twists and a commitment to never let the story be boring or twee.

An absolute must see film for fans of the irrepressible Glenn Ford. 8/10

This movie is played for laughs, particularly in the early scenes. The Fall scenery of the Colorado Rockies is gorgeous. The pretty title theme by composer Jeff Alexander reappears later in another Glenn Ford outing, "The Rounders". The strong cast includes Glenn Ford, Shirley McLaine, and Leslie Nielson. Edgar Buchanan is particularly good in a supporting role.

This movie is fun to watch. Ford is good as the sheepman and Shirley McLain does well with her role as the almost-wife of bad guy Leslie Nielson. The film is a little short on action, but the witty script more than makes up for it. Most of the action occurs at the end with Sheepman Ford shooting the bad guys.

I particularly enjoyed Shirley McLain's performance. The script gives her a character with some potential and she makes the most of it. If she's done another Western I can't remember what it is.

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