Westward the Women ** (1951, Robert Taylor, Denise Darcel, Hope Emerson) – Classic Movie Review 10,113

Director William Wellman’s 1951 Western film Westward the Women stars a dour-seeming Robert Taylor as the man responsible for conducting a wagon-train of ladies (Denise Darcel, Marilyn Erskine, Hope Emerson, Lenore Lonergan and Julie Bishop) across America from Chicago to their expectant spouses waiting to marry them on the East Coast.

Story writer Frank Capra was responsible for the conception of this intriguing premise and director Wellman turns in a genuinely arresting Western that avoids the pitfalls and clichés to which many Westerns fall victim.

It is very well handled by director Wellman. William C Mellor’s stunning black and white location photography successfully seduces the senses. But, then again, star Robert Taylor wasn’t at his best in Westerns Robert Taylor wasn’t at his best in Westerns (yet he kept making them).

Westward the Women is directed by William A Wellman, runs 117 minutes, is made by MGM, is released by MGM, is written by Charles Schnee, based on the story by Frank Capra, is shot in black and white by William C Mellor, is produced by Dore Schary, is scored by Jeff Alexander, with production designs by Cedric Gibbons and Daniel B Cathcart.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,113

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