Ex-President Andrew Jackson sends Texan Devereaux Burke back home on a mission to facilitate Sam Houston's drive for U.S. statehood. Rip-roaring big star, big budget semi-historical story about cattle baron Devereaux Burke, who is enlisted by an aging Andrew Jackson to dissuade Sam Houston from establishing Texas as a republic. Burke must fight state senator Thomas Craden, in the process winning the heart of Craden's newspaper-editor girlfriend Martha Ronda. After reading some not so great reviews about this film and having seen once a colorized and dubbed version on Brazilian TV, which I found very confusing, I had a good surprise when I saw the original version on VHS. This is an unusual western which describes very well the conflicting feelings in Texas before it became a state. The leaders that want Texas as an independent country are hanging on to the words of Sam Houston, which is far away making peace between the Apaches. Clark Gable goes there to hear from Houston his real opinion. Ava Gardner is against joining the Union, and so is Broderick Crawford. Crawford is fanatic about his beliefs. In spite of showing a political story, there is plenty of action, making the film quite enjoyable. Ava is at her best, she even sings. Also the black and white photography is quite good. A movie set in 1845 Texas that deals with Texas either joining the union or going off and becoming an independent republic. Lionel Barrymore plays Andrew Jackson is who for joining the union and so is Clark Gable. Broderick Crawford and Ava Gardner want Texas to become an independent and Crawford wants to be the leader. Both sides are waiting for what Sam Huston has to say, but he is out helping the Indians form a peace treaty. Crawford is willing to do anything to get what he wants and Gardner begins to fall for Gable. At the end, of course, there is a big battle between Gable and Crawford's army and then a fight between the two of them. Clark Gable is the same as always and Broderick Crawford is miscast in this role. Ava Gardner is only OK and Lionel Barrymore is only in two scenes.
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344 weeks ago