Along The Great Divide(1951).

Along the Great Divide(1951).Directed by Raoul Walsh. Cast: Kirk Douglas, Virginia Mayo, John Agar, and Walter Brennan.

The story begins when, Federal marshal Len Merrick and his two deputies save cattle rustler and murder suspect Tim "Pop" Keith, from a lynch mob headed by rancher Ned Roden, whose son was killed. Roden, sends his other son, Dan James Anderson, to round up his men. After Roden leaves, Merrick finds a pocket watch.

Keith suggests that they spend the night at his home and Merrick begins to regret his offer when Keith's daughter Ann, starts shooting at them.  Merrick, is able to get her gun from her. When they leave, Ann decides to go with them. Thinking he won't be followed Merrick, decides to take an the long hot desert route. Unfortunately, he is overtaken by Roden and his men. In the gunfight, Merrick's best friend and deputy, Billy Shear, is wounded and dies.

Merrick and Ann start falling in love. The marshal tells her why he takes his job so seriously, is because the one time he didn't, it cost his father his life. He was a deputy to his marshal father, and refused to help escort two prisoners. All three were lynched. Ann, warns him that her first loyalty is to her father.

Dan convinces the deputy, Lou Gray, to help him escape by promising him a ranch. When the group reaches a waterhole, they find the water undrinkable. Everyone, except Merrick want to head south. Knowing the river is on the Mexican border, Merrick insists on continuing on to Santa Loma. Gray draws his gun, but Merrick shoots it out of his hand.

Later exhausted,  Merrick falls from his horse. Keith grabs his gun, but can not bring himself to shoot. When Gray goes for his rifle, Keith kills him, then hands the gun back to Merrick.

At the trial in Santa Loma, Merrick tells the jury that Keith is not a killer, but all the evidence is against him, and  he is found guilty.  Will Merrick save Keith from being hanged?

This Western , has everything you need : Gunfights, fistfights and the scenery is beautiful. Most of the film was shot in the Alabama Hills, just west of Lone Pine, California. Over 300 movies have been filmed at the base of Mt. Whitney. 

Ray Teal (January 12, 1902 – April 2, 1976), performed in more than 250 movies and some 90 television shows in his 37-year career. His longest running role was as Sheriff Roy Coffee in the western, Bonanza (1960–1972). He also played a sheriff in the film, Ace in the Hole.

Teal had a recurring role as a police officer in the 1953-1955 Where's Raymond?, renamed The Ray Bolger Show. Ray Bolger played Raymond Wallace.

In 1955, Teal played a ruthless cattle baron in the episode "Julesburg" Cheyenne, starring Clint Walker, the first hour-long western series.

Teal, a saxophone player, worked his way through UCLA as a bandleader before becoming an actor. He was a bit part player in western movies for several years before landing a role in, Northwest Passage (1940). Another of his roles was as Little John in, The Bandit of Sherwood Forest (1946). In his most memorable movie role he played one of the judges in, Judgment at Nuremberg (1961) with Spencer Tracy.

Colorado Territory(1949)

Colorado Territory (1949). Cast: Joel McCrea, Virginia Mayo and Dorothy Malone. A remake of the 1941 film noir High Sierra. Both films were directed by Raoul Walsh. The story was remade again in 1955 as I Died a Thousand Times with Jack Palance and Shelley Winters.

Outlaw Wes McQueen, escapes from jail and travels to Colorado Territory, where he is planning to meet , Dave Rickard, so they can plan a train robbery.. On the stage, he befriends Fred Winslow and his daughter Julie Ann, who headed for their new ranch. Outlaws kill both of the stage drivers, Wes brings the stage safely into town. Wes's next stop is a ghost town, where Duke Harris and Reno Blake are waiting for him . Wes is concerned about dance hall dancer, Colorado Carson, might cause trouble between the men. When she he warns him about the unreliability of Homer Wallace, he decides to let her stay. Later, he rides into town to visit the Winslows and learns that the land they bought is waterless. Wes's attraction to Julie Ann makes him want to settle down. Dave asks Wes to pull one last job before he quits. On his way back to the hideout, Wes stops again at the Winslows with a new dress for Julie Ann and money to help them to dig a well. Winslow, tries to let Wes down easy when he tells him that Julie Ann, is in love with Randolph. Back at Todos Santos, Wes learns that Colorado presence is causing trouble between the men and asks Colorado to move into his room. She tells him that she he is in love with him, he lets her know that his plans do not include her. Duke and Reno are captured by the sheriff's men. When Wes and Colorado arrive at Dave's with the money, they learn that he has died. Later, Wes finds Pluthner, trying to steal the money and kills him, unfortunately, Wes is also wounded in the fight. After sharing his and Colorado real identity with the Winslows, he asks for their help.. Winslow agrees to help, but Julie Ann, tries to turn him in for the reward. Wes quickly leaves with Colorado.


After Duke and Reno are hanged, they think it would be better if they separate. Wes rides toward Mexico, leaving Colorado at Todos Santos, where She learns the posse plan to surround Wes in the Canyon of the Dead. Will Colorado get there in time to save Wes?


I just recently saw Colorado Territory, for the first time. I think it maybe one of my favorite westerns . Joel McCrea is perfect for the character he plays. the scenery is beautiful. It looks like it was filmed in Canyon de Chelly, one of my favorite places...