Director: Vincent Sherman
Running Time: 94 minutes
Synopsis: In 1845, Texas faces a choice between maintaining independence as a republic or joining the United States ("annexation") but risking a war with Mexico. Influential ex-US President Andrew Jackson (Lionel Barrymore) favors annexation and is perturbed that Texas legend Sam Houston (Moroni Olsen) is leaning towards independence. Cattle baron Devereaux Burke (Clark Gable) agrees to help change Houston's mind, as long as he profits from the subsequent war. In Austin, Devereaux tangles with ambitious independence leader Thomas Craden (Broderick Crawford), and initiates a romance with newspaper editor Martha Ronda (Ava Gardner).
What Works Well: This fictionalized version of Texas history pleasingly leans into the politics, presenting two competing and starkly different visions for the state. Themes include slavery as an obstacle to statehood, Mexico's reaction, European meddling, and relationships with the Apache. At the heart of the drama are uncompromising men like Devereaux Burke and Thomas Craden who stand to profit in money or power, a sharp distillation of politics into the art of personal ambition. Clark Gable navigates a complex arc featuring crass dealmaking, frontier survival, romance, and finally a cause to believe in. A quality cast provides able support.
What Does Not Work As Well: In an otherwise cerebral drama, the listless action scenes appear slapped together, and land awkwardly within a narrative that clearly cares more about political skullduggery and less about the bullets and arrows. The Apache are stereotypical warriors with no voice, and after a needlessly boisterous climactic stand-off full of implausible murderous intentions, the juvenile ending surrenders meekly to nauseating cheerleading.
Key Quote:
Andrew Jackson: I'm frightened. For the first time in my life, I am frightened for the future of the United States.
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