Jimmy Stewart in this role wasn't not illogical, in fact he was the right choice. Unfortunately, the writers didn't follow through on their part. The movie has all the ingredients of a good western, cowboys, cattle, scenery, outsiders, bad guys, dreams, adventures, swindles, romance. But the total package fell very flat. At the heart of the movie is a romance between Stewart and Maureen O'Hara as a British widow bringing a new breed of cattle to the West. No real on screen sparks fly, though. The heart of the problem is that it is hard to root for Jimmy Stewart's character--and you can't say THAT very often. He starts out as an average guy who doesn't hesitate to steal a prize bull, for a thousand bucks. While he does put the money to good use, his fundamental lack of scruples was off-putting. But obviously, we are supposed to root for him.
Maureen O'Hara's character drives the movie when she shows up, but she was a little hard to empathize with, too. She sees more in Jimmy Stewart than I did, and pursues him. Eventually she gives up on him and her original dream (not worth going into that), just when Jimmy catches the vision thing. So the their relationship cycles in opposite directions. Of course, you know that eventually they will get together. Not before she takes 6 months of in home hospitality from Brian Keith' transplanted Scottish character. That role was a riot, until he civilized himself on her behalf. Whereupon he lost all his personality trying to please the target of his affections. Probably some lesson there...
I wouldn't recommend this one. Some interesting twists at first, but ultimately very predictable. If you do watch it, your eyes will be happy, but your heart will be left out.
Maureen O'Hara's character drives the movie when she shows up, but she was a little hard to empathize with, too. She sees more in Jimmy Stewart than I did, and pursues him. Eventually she gives up on him and her original dream (not worth going into that), just when Jimmy catches the vision thing. So the their relationship cycles in opposite directions. Of course, you know that eventually they will get together. Not before she takes 6 months of in home hospitality from Brian Keith' transplanted Scottish character. That role was a riot, until he civilized himself on her behalf. Whereupon he lost all his personality trying to please the target of his affections. Probably some lesson there...
I wouldn't recommend this one. Some interesting twists at first, but ultimately very predictable. If you do watch it, your eyes will be happy, but your heart will be left out.