Vengeance Valley

Director: Richard Thorpe Richard Thorpe

Overview

The old "Cain and Abel" plot device is redefined within Western terms in MGM's Vengeance Valley. Burt Lancaster stars as ranch-hand Owen Daybright, who has been raised as a son by rancher Arch Stroble (Ray Collins). Stroble's natural son Lee (Robert Walker) has always been envious of Owen, who in turn has spent most of his life pulling Lee out of trouble and keeping the boy's misdeeds a secret from the elder Stroble. When Lee fathers an illegitimate child, he tries to shift the responsibility on Owen, leading to a life-threatening confrontation with the vengeance-seeking brothers of the baby's mother (Sally Forrest). There's plenty more plot twists before virtue finally triumphs. Joanne Dru co-stars as Lee's long-suffering wife Jen, who harbors a secret yen for Owen. Since lapsing into public domain, Vengeance Valley has shown up with increasing frequency on cable television; it has also been made available in a narrated version for the visually impaired.

Product Details

Release Date:	07/09/2015
UPC:	0644827324927
Original Release:	1951
Source:	Reel Vault
Language:	English
Sales rank:	35,808

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Burt Lancaster	Conny Daybright
Joanne Dru	Jen Strobie
Sally Forrest	Lily
John Ireland	Jim Fasken
Carleton Carpenter	Hewie
Ray Collins	Arch Strobie
Ted de Corsia	Herb Backett
Hugh O'Brian	Dick Fasken
Will Wright	Mr. Willoughby
Grace Mills	Mrs. Burke
Jim Hayward	Sheriff Con Alvis
James Harrison	Orv Esterly
Stanley Andrews	Mead Calhoun
Glenn Strange	Dave Allard
Paul E. Burns	Dr. Irwin
John McKee	Player,Player
Tom Fadden	Obie Rune
Margaret Bert	Mrs. Calhoun
Harvey Dunn	Dealer
Robert Griffin	Cal
Monte Montague	Man
Al Ferguson	Man
Roy Butler	Man
Norman Leavitt	Cowhand
Dan White	Cowhand
Bob Wilke	Cowhand
Louis Nicoletti	Cowhand
Robert Walker	Actor
Rudolph G. Kopp	Composer

Technical Credits

Irving Ravetch

Richard Thorpe	Director
Irving Ravetch	Screenwriter
Nicholas Nayfack	Producer

Editorial Reviews

Burt Lancaster's debut Western, Vengeance Valley is a so-so picture that has some good individual elements in it. One of these is Lancaster himself. Although he doesn't seem totally at ease in the role, he has the commanding presence that is required of this kind of film. Lancaster seems to be trying to find a way to add more depth to his part and coming up a little short, but his noble efforts in no way are damaging. Even better is Robert Walker, assaying one of his best rotten-to-the-core but able to project an amiable façade roles. The combination of friction and chemistry between the two actors is also notable. Sally Forrest and Joanne Dru also turn in good performances, if hemmed in by the lack of development in their characters. And there's some magnificent scenery, beautifully captured by cinematographer George Folsey. On the down side, Irving Ravetch's screenplay never succeeds in being as thoughtful as it seems to think it is, and much of the film gets mired down in talky scenes that don't have the desired impact. Director Richard Thorpe handles the action sequences well, but is much less successful with the dramatics of the storyline. As a result, the pacing lags and there's a noticeable lack o tension which eventually drags the film down.