Western

Saddle the Wind

- Brothers with guns who... Saddle the Wind

Steve Sinclair is a world-weary former gunslinger, now living as a peaceful farmer. Things go wrong when his wild younger brother Tony arrives on the scene with his new bride Joan Blake.

Release Date : 1958-03-20

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Steve Sinclair

Original Name : Robert Taylor

Gender : Male

Character Name : Joan Blake

Original Name : Julie London

Gender : Female

Character Name : Tony Sinclair

Original Name : John Cassavetes

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dennis Deneen

Original Name : Donald Crisp

Gender : Male

Character Name : Larry Venables

Original Name : Charles McGraw

Gender : Male

Character Name : Clay Ellison

Original Name : Royal Dano

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dallas Hanson

Original Name : Richard Erdman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hemp Scribner

Original Name : Douglas Spencer

Gender : Male

Character Name : Brick Larson

Original Name : Ray Teal

Gender : Male

Character Name : Joe (uncredited)

Original Name : Stanley Adams

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hank (uncredited)

Original Name : Jay Adler

Gender : Male

Character Name : Barfly (uncredited)

Original Name : William Challee

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cowboy (uncredited)

Original Name : Wes Fuller

Gender : Male

Character Name : Manuelo (uncredited)

Original Name : Nacho Galindo

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cowboy (uncredited)

Original Name : Kelo Henderson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jamie (uncredited)

Original Name : Lars Henderson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Barfly (uncredited)

Original Name : Ethan Laidlaw

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mary Ellison (uncredited)

Original Name : Irene Tedrow

Gender : Female

Character Name : Cowboy (uncredited)

Original Name : Henry Wills

Gender : Male

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

Loose cannon gets the method treatment. Steve Sinclair is an ex-gunfighter now contented with his lot as a peaceful farmer. His peace that is disrupted when his young brother, Tony, turns up with his intended new bride in tow. Tony has a thirst for gun play, and when he guns down a fellow gunman in the bar, things start to rapidly spiral out of control for the Sinclair family. Saddle The Wind has some top credentials coming with it. Written by one Rod Serling, and starring Robert Taylor and John Cassavetes as the Sinclair brothers, it's a film not short on quality. Into the mix is the splendid outdoor location work at Rosita, Colorado (courtesy of the prolific George J. Folsey) and the genre compliant score from Elmer Bernstein. But what of the film itself? Well the story is an over familiar one, gunfighter trying to leave his bad past behind (Steve was a one time member of Quantrill's Raiders), loose cannon youngster out to make a name for himself (Tony), and yes we get a female love interest causing conflict and confusion (Julie London in a stock and undemanding role). Yet in this instance familiarity definitely does not breed contempt. If new comers to this film are aware of John Cassavetes and his style of acting, then, in spite of the oddity of seeing him in Western surroundings, one can reasonably know what to expect. Cassavetes brings the method to young Tony Sinclair, instilling intensity, even borderline mania into the upstart hot shot, so much so that Robert Taylor's fine world weary turn as Steve gets lost until the splendid finale. To non Cassavetes fans it may be just too much to handle, but speaking personally I found it a terrific performance that lifts the picture way above average. Brilliant support comes in the form of Donald Crisp and Royal Dano (heart aching veteran of the Civil War) and the running time of under 90 minutes is just about right. Finally, it's with the ending that "Saddle The Wind" breaks away from the standard genre story and plotting. Played out on a lush lilac flowered hillside, the makers deviate from an expected cop out and give us something memorable and totally fitting to this method driven Western. 8/10