Although not as dark, as H.A. Derossa's work (highly recommended), this deeper than usual western drama is very pleasing. Discussing it and the movie made from it - with western veteran Joel Macrea and Veronica Lake - is an interchangeable exercise. The movie, with the exception of three minor changes, was word for word what Short wrote. Lake's character is a scheming rancher who attempts to twist Macrea's wandering saddlebum around her finger to gain control of more land. In an era when most female characters eventually swoon into a man's arms and give up their evil ways, Lake's character (I forget the character names) gets darker. Even after she is the cause of a man's violent death. She is affected by this, she's even shocked a little by what she has done, but she does not sway from her goal.This is a strong female character operating in a hard man's world. The problem is, she has learned how to be hard but not honest. She lies and cheats to get what she wants, and eventually this does her in (that's not a spoiler by the way - the good guys still have to win, after all!)The story is taught and the motivations honest. Short writes a lot of good westerns, and this is one of his best.
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