Saddle the Wind

Saddle the Wind
225px Theatrical Film Poster
Directed by	Robert Parrish
Written by	Rod Serling
Starring	Robert Taylor John Cassavetes Julie London Donald Crisp
Music by	Elmer Bernstein
Distributed by	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release dates	1958
Running time	84 min.
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$1,479,000
Box office	$1,075,000

Saddle the Wind (1958) is a Western film directed by Robert Parrish, written by Rod Serling and produced by Armand Deutsch. It was filmed in Metrocolor and CinemaScope.

Plot

Retired gunslinger and former Confederate soldier Steve Sinclair (Robert Taylor) is living as a rancher in a small western community. He collaborates with the main landowner Dennis Deneen (Donald Crisp), from whom he rents the ranch, to preserve communal stability. His quiet life is disrupted by the appearance of his emotionally unstable younger brother Tony (John Cassavetes) and Tony's beautiful girlfriend Joan (Julie London). An old rival of Steve's, gunman Larry Venables (Charles McGraw), also arrives on the scene looking for Steve. Tony confronts Venables and kills him in a shootout. His success goes to his head and he gets drunk, ignoring Joan.

A new problem arises with the arrival of Clay Ellison (Royal Dano), a farmer who plans to fence off a strip of land currently grazed by cattle. Tony attempts to drive off Ellison, but Steve intervenes. Ellison appeals to Deneen, who agrees to defend Ellison's legal rights to the land. However Tony murders Ellison when he attempts to buy provisions in town. Deneen breaks his ties with the Sinclairs. Steve intends to leave the ranch, but Tony tries to take over. Steve drives him off, but Tony confronts Deneen and attempts to kill him. Both are wounded in the gunfight. Deneen's men recruit Steve to find Tony, who has fled into the hills. When Steve finds him, Tony shoots himself. Steve tells the wounded Deneen, who persuades him to stay on at the ranch with Joan.

Cast

• Robert Taylor as Steve Sinclair
• John Cassavetes as Tony Sinclair
• Julie London as Joan Blake
• Royal Dano as Clay Ellison
• Charles McGraw as Larry Venables
• Donald Crisp as Dennis Deneen
• Richard Erdman as Dallas Hanson
• Douglas Spencer as Hemp Scribner
• Ray Teal as Brick Larson
• Irene Tedrow as Mrs. Mary Ellison (uncredited)

Reception

According to MGM records the film made $1,005,000 in the US and Canada and $1,075,000 elsewhere, resulting in a loss of $308,000.

See also

• List of American films of 1958

External links

• Saddle the Wind at IMDb