A Masterpiece!

It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

This film is one of hundreds of westerns churned out in the post-WWi era; in fact, westerns ruled the roost of cinema until the late 60s, most of which were made quickly, inexpensively, and predictably.Some of the big stars, who were able to command slightly larger budgets and better writers, were John Wayne, Randolph Scott, and WWII hero Audie Murphy. In this delightfully entertaining escapade, Murphy opposes the US Army's massacre of an Indian village populated with women and children, and, knowing the actions of the soldiers will lead to retribution, rides to his home state of Texas to warn the settlers (almost all of whom are, or course, women - the men being off fighting the civil war).Take a guess as to whether the women and Murphy survive and whether or not at least one of the women fall in love with him. Yeah, right.Anyway, you will not regret seeing this great example of the B- westerns that your grandparents grew up watching each weekend in double features for 35 cents.

Audie Murphy calls his posse of women, his 'men'; they're armed, laid up in a sort of fortified mission and awaiting Indian attack after a reprisal.Lt. Frank Hewitt, (Murphy) is an Army deserter and on the run, back to his home in Texas. He has refused to take part in an attack on Indians at Sand Creek but when said Indians are out for revenge for the attack, he chances upon this ramshackle group of women and children.Much of the (shortish) film is taken up by trying to prepare the women for imminent battle. Giving them firing practice with rifles and generally a battle of wits and the sexes as he has to bully and cajole them into new thinking and tactics. Hope Emerson, at 6'2" and 230 pounds, a formidable lady by any standards takes to the challenge with gusto and enthusiasm, whilst others, especially ones with strong religious beliefs cannot abhor fighting and don't so easily, whilst Kathryn Grant, a young feisty woman, becomes romantically entwined with Frank Hewitt.It's quite a good film and quite likable. There's good comarderie and dialogue and some neat action scenes when they come. However, Audie Murphy never really struck with me, his persona, or perceived one always seeming a little bland. He looks just too boyish and sweet to be bossing these women around, whereas someone with more gravitas and snarl would make for a more interesting film.That's just a personal view and I know Audie Murphy has his fans out there, too.

In this movie you will see many clichés attacked successfully: women & children being shot; women leading themselves without panicking or falling over tree roots as a plot device; in-cred-ible. There are a great many movies, books, plays and so on with a single "mutant" woman who is somehow, amazingly, able to do "man" things as good as a man. Her uniqueness is usually used in the plot as a comic device to lure men into a false sense of security, except Alien, I guess.This movie breaks this unspoken code: highly successfully and entertainingly.In fact it states quite blankly that all women are as good as any man; including in the ability to fight to the death and the last bullet.I had to keep checking that this was made in 1957! The same year as Funny Face.You have to put aside the 1950s production values, over-long horse-riding long-shots, and just forget the male supporting cast (except the wonderful Audie Murphy) : they are rather clichéd; concentrate on enjoying the entire female ensemble performance: they really do produce an incredible performance; slightly reminiscent to me of The Big Red One.I cannot think of another movie which has this premise of a group of women fighting for their own sakes; and not needing a man to do it for them.

OK, this film is goofy, but that's what makes it so good. I have watched it twice, and I love it. This was the first full film I had seen with Audie Murphy, and now, I'd like to see more of his work. Since he was a Texas boy, (I'm a native of Texas as well) he's proof that talent comes out of Texas. It's certainly better than a lot of the junk out in the world right now, and westerns nowadays have none of the luster that the old ones do. Maybe it's because they axed the sexual content and more of the language and blood violence. Certainly, this ranks along with: McLintock!, Calamity Jane, the Apple Dumpling Gang, Apple Dumpling Gang Rides AGain, Angel and the Badman, etc......(You can tell I like JOhn Wayne's stuff and Don Knotts) anyway. One of the best westerns, and it had (has) an excellent cast.