| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Robert Mitchum | ... | ||
| Eleanor Parker | ... | ||
| George Peppard | ... | ||
| George Hamilton | ... | ||
| Everett Sloane | ... |
Albert Halstead
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| Luana Patten | ... | ||
| Anne Seymour | ... |
Sarah Halstead
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| Constance Ford | ... | ||
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Ken Renard | ... |
Chauncey
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| Ray Teal | ... |
Dr. Reuben Carson
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Captain Wade Hunnicutt is the wealthiest and most powerful citizen in his Texan town; he is also a notorious womanizer, which has turned his wife Hannah against him. She has brought up their son Theron to be dependent upon her; but as he reaches adulthood, Hunnicutt insists on taking over his upbringing, initiating him in hunting and other masculine pursuits, under the watchful eye of Rafe, Hunnicutt's loyal employee. But Theron's new lifestyle leads him into a love-affair with a local girl, and thence to his learning things about his parents that were previously hidden from him. Written by David Levene <[email protected]>
A rich and powerful landowner tries to make a man out of his tenderfoot son while dealing with an illegitimate son and an estranged wife. This is perhaps the finest drama Minnelli ever made, as he elicits terrific performances from his stars. Mitchum is perfectly cast as the hard-drinking womanizer who has some regrets. Parker occasionally goes overboard but is otherwise fine as his estranged wife. Peppard turns in arguably his best performance as Mitchum's son from a dalliance with a maid. Even Hamilton does well in a role that seems to be tailor-made for Anthony Perkins. This long and absorbing drama is marked by good cinematography and score.