Claudette Colbert plays Prudence Webb, who arrives in the wide-open town of Fort Ralston, Texas, to assume control of her late father's newspaper. Her first major print crusade is aimed at gambler Chris Mooney (Barry Sullivan), whom Prudence holds responsible for her dad's suicide. She then takes aim at a couple of crooked cattle barons (Ray Collins and Walter Sande), who'd like nothing better than to put Prudence out of the way for keeps.
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I read one review where they said that this was Claudette Colbert's last movie. In fact, she made several made for TV films as well as the film "Parrish" after she made "Texas Lady". Just thought I should set the record straight on this. However, this same reviewer was right--everyone seemed VERY old in this film and perhaps it was in an effort to make Colbert seem younger.The film begins with Colbert beating Barry Sullivan in poker and taking control of his newspaper in Texas. It seems that Colbert has been looking forward to beating Sullivan, as she blames him for ruining her father--who was a gambling addict. Regardless, she heads west to assume control of the paper. When she arrives, she finds some mighty unfriendly folks. Later, when you find out who comes to your rescue and why, you'll most likely groan--it's THAT dumb.All in all, a stale film that simply is beneath the many talents of Colbert. It's not a terrible film bit it certainly is a poor one--with a romance that comes from out of left field and a script that never, ever packs any excitement. A sad little film.
Horace McCoy, arguably best known for his Depression novel They Shoot Horses, Don't They, subsequently adapted into an Oscar-winning film, is credited with the story and screenplay here and clearly phoned it in. The only possible reason anyone would want to spend time with it is the presence of Claudette Colbert in the lead role. One can only speculate what made her get involved in something so cliché-ridden; money, a need to retain a career in front of the camera at what amounted to any price? Who knows. Barry Sullivan was a generally reliable support in A-movies (see, for example, Queen Bee) who just as often got to play a lead in pieces of cheese like this. See it if you must but don't say I didn't warn you.
My how the mighty have fallen. Roles must have gotten mighty hard to come by for an actress of Miss Colbert's caliber. This movie is very typical of 1950's oaters. The one unusal aspect is that Prudence (Miss Colbert) is initially a strong, independent woman, kind of unusual for a western. But in the end Gene Barry Sullivan Fitzgerald becomes her "protector". This is a very cornball movie and Gregory Walcott who plays Jess Foley has got to be one of the most wooden actors ever to grace the silver screen. One can almost see the pain on Miss Colbert's face as she delivers some of the corniest lines in movie history. It is such a can of corn it is worth watching for the unintentional humor it delivers.
Claudette Colbert is wonderful as Prudence, a woman who has to go to a little country town that's seemingly in the middle of nowhere, where she has inherited the local paper. The men about town are naturally surprised to find that she's a woman, and don't exactly welcome her spritely ways and 'interference' with 'their' paper. Luckily for Prudence, the card shark that she slayed in New Orleans comes to her rescue, which is nice of him after the beating she gave him in their game of poker - one of the film's most enjoyable scenes. Not a wonderful movie, but not bad, and pretty good for a Western.