The Tall Stranger
The Tall Stranger

Movie spotlight

The Tall Stranger

1957
Movie
83 min
English

A Union soldier returns to his western home at the end of the Civil War and finds himself caught in the middle of a land war between his greedy half-brother and a wagon train of Confederate homesteaders.

Insights

IMDb6.6/10
Director: Robert WiseGenres: Western, Drama

Plot Summary

In the rugged landscape of the Old West, a lone rider known as "The Stranger" arrives in a drought-stricken town ruled by a ruthless rancher. The Stranger, revealed to be a former associate of the rancher, becomes entangled in a conflict over land and water rights. He finds himself defending a homestead against the rancher's oppressive tactics, leading to a climactic confrontation that determines the fate of the town.

Critical Reception

The Tall Stranger received a mixed to positive reception upon its release. Critics often praised its strong performances, particularly from Glenn Ford and Lee Marvin, and its competent direction by Robert Wise. While some found the plot to be somewhat conventional for a Western, others appreciated its gritty realism and compelling narrative. Audiences generally responded well to the film's action sequences and dramatic tension.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for strong performances from its lead actors, especially Glenn Ford and Lee Marvin.

  • Acknowledged for competent direction and a solid, if familiar, Western narrative.

  • Noted for its effective depiction of the harsh Western setting and dramatic tension.

Google audience: Information regarding specific Google user reviews for The Tall Stranger (1957) is not readily available or publicly compiled.

Fun Fact

Although often associated with his roles in other classic Westerns, Glenn Ford's performance in 'The Tall Stranger' is sometimes overlooked but is considered a strong character study within the genre.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

“Bannon” (Joel McCrea) is minding his own business when both he and his horse fall foul of some cattle rustlers who leave him for dead. Luckily he is picked up by a wagon train, and as he recovers he helps guide them to the perfect spot by ...

John Chard

John Chard

Routine plot - efficient in execution, but beware of pan and scan monstrosity. The Tall Stranger is directed by Thomas Carr and written for the screen by Christopher Knopf from a story by Louis L'Amour. It stars Joel McCrea, Virginia Ma...