ALONG GREAT DIVIDE

[Margaret-Anne Moore]

Brian Garfield in his book reviewed Along the Great Divide which was released in 1950.  It was directed by Raoul Walsh and featured Kirk Douglas, Virginia Mayo,  Walter Brennan, John Agar, Ray Teal, Hugh Sanders, Morris Ankrum, and James Anderson.  Garfield claimed that the two heroes--Douglas and Agar--were miscast.  It was Kirk Douglas" first western film and John Agar was certainly no stranger to the genre; he had starred in John Ford's Fort Apache about two years earlier.  Garfield claims that Douglas seemed out-of-place but noted that eventually he did manage to master what he called the "Western personality."  Douglas and Agar were initially involved in arresting and transporting a suspected murderer to his eventual trial.  Brennan was the suspected murderer and Mayo was his loyal daughter.  They have a long journey and en route have to battle not only the elements but vengeance-minded would-be lynchers.  There is a surprise outcome to the proceedings, and along the way Douglas realizes the truth. It is unusual to see Mayo in such a role.  Many have listed this film as James Anderson's first film, but I believe he may have appeared the the movie Sergeant York some years earlier.  He appeared in a number of films and television programs over the years, quite often as a villain.  I believe he may have guested in the pilot for the Judd for the Defense television program as the father of a young murder victim in the middle or late 1960s.  Because of his rugged good looks he frequently appeared in Westerns, most often as a villain.  I believe he died in 1969 in his middle forties.  By and large, his most famous and most important role was as the mean--spirited Robert E. Lee Ewell in To Kill a Mockingbird.  Regardless of Garfield's misgivings, I enjoy the movie--I saw it when I was in college and again a few years ago.  I always enjoyed watching Anderson even when he was playing a villain and I did see him in some sympathetic roles.  I also seem to remember seeing a similar plot to Along the Great Divide on the original Hawaii Five O which guest-starred Leslie Nielson.

Along the Great Divide also featured a number of actors who seemed to be all over the place in films and on television.

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[Bud "Marshal" Stilwell]

Here is a link for the Great Divide

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043276/

 

As you stated, alot of actors were in this movie who went on to be seen in other films and tv series.  Ray Teal played Deputy Lou Gray in the movie and the sheriff on the Bonanaz Series.

[Bud "Marshal" Stilwell]

Here is the complete cast list for the Movie.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043276/fullcredits#cast

[Margaret-Anne Moore]

I found a copy of the Encyclopedia of Westerns by Herb Fagen.  Fagen also noted that Along the Great Divide was Kirk Douglas' first Western, but did not claim that he appeared out-of-place, or that he did not have the Western personality, or that he and John Agar were miscast.  he noted:  "...Enhanced by some breath-taking scenery, it is a compelling tale with good performances by all--especially Douglas and Brennan--and a particularly solid portrayal by John Agar..."*  Herb Fagen, The Encyclopedia of Westerns,  (New York:  Facts on File, Inc., 2003),  p 9