Gary Dennis’ New York City Movie Place

Was there any one else better to play Billy Buck, John Steinbeck’s trusted ranch hand, surrogate father figure to a ten year old boy and a smoldering fantasy man for the boy’s mother than Robert Mitchum? No, there was not, and still there is no one.

The longest and costliest movie shoot in the history of Republic Pictures, the story concerns Alice Tiflin (Myrna Loy) who lives with her father, her husband Fred, her son Tom and the trusted ranch hand on a spread in the mountain range on the western edge of the Salinas Valley in California. Alice was born there, her father is an old pioneer longing for the old west and her husband is from the city. The city is a place Fred keeps running off to due to business. Unfortunately Fred has never felt at home or comfortable living on the ranch. Fred has to decide whether to remain being a rancher and come to terms with the idea that Tom has a closer relationship with Billy than with him. Meanwhile Tom, who has been longing for a pony, is given one by his father. Instead of this bringing father and son closer, it is Billy to whom Tom turns to. Well he does know his way around a horse.

The picture is beautiful and as you might remember how I feel about Robert Mitchum, the acting is tremendous. The story, a message of learning, love and loss, is timeless and accessible to the kids. I first saw this picture when I was eleven and I was not too horribly scarred by it; however I never wanted to own a horse after seeing this picture.