****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
Ladd plays Jim Hadley, a lumberjack who comes in to Deep Creek to cut timber. Jeanne Crain plays Laura, a ranch owner who, like the rest of the town, does not want the lumber to be cut. (Spoiler alert!!) Laura's foreman, Clay, dynamites the road that the loggers are using to transport their logs through and closes the pass. Trouble ensues, Hadley's partner Monty (Gilbert Roland) wants to fight with guns but Hadley wants to use the law. Monty and Hadley have a fight in the end and Monty sets the forest on fire which the townspeople and lumberjacks have to work together to put out. Laura winds up leaving with Hadley in the end. The movie was rather slow and Frankie Avalon, who plays Bert, sings a song at the town's Saturday night dance that is straight out of the 60's. Electric guitar, back ground vocals, tune and all. The acting is fine, Ladd is older but who doesn't age? I have read Louis L'amour's book of the same title twice and, as always, the book was better. But even more so in this case. The hero of the book is Clay Bell and he owns the ranch and does not want the lumbermen to cut down his timber. The main bad guy is Jud Devitt, a big man from back east who is used to getting his own way and running over any one who stands in his way. But, Clay won't be run over. Devitt brings in the lumberjacks and plans on clearing the Deep Creek range for use as railroad ties. Clay's love interest is Devitt's fiance who comes to Tinkersville with Jud and then begins to see him for who he really is and starts to fall for Clay. Gun fire, killings, attacks and repulses follow and Clay fights Jud with his fists at the end of the book. The book is great! I have read all the books L'amour has ever written and this one is one of my favorites. Loads of action; unlike the movie. I paid $10.99 for the DVD and it really isn't worth even that. My advice, forgo the movie and read the book.Alan Ladd produced and starred in a series of colourful adventues in the late 50s which were dismissed at the time, but how good they look today!Guns of the Timberland was not the very best, but good old fashioned entertainment that rips along at a fair old pace with plenty of rugged action.Ladd was an expression-less hero who was hampered by his small stature but he always gave good value for money. Lovely flame haired Jeanne Crain makes a spirited leading lady and the always dependable Gilbert Roland adds a dash of villainy to an otherwise likeable buddy co-star.Guns of the Timberland is one of the excellent made-to-order Warner Archive collection in wide screen crisp Dolby sound and that doesn't disappoint.Anthony SherrattI purchased this movie because I enjoyed the book by Louis L"Amour tremendously, and I hoped it would be faithful to that book. Instead, the movie has major plot changes, and the main character in the movie turned out to be the evil villain - guess they couldn't have Alan Ladd in that role. I really dislike script writers who think that they can write a better story than the book author produced - in many, if not most cases, they are wrong!I am a western buff and I like old westerns. This one is good. The scenery is beautiful. If you like westerns, look this one up.This is a movie for aficionados of the B Grade Western. Based on a very sound Louis L'Amour novel the only thing they got right was it was based on a dispute with Lumberjacks and the heroines hair was red.As a Louis L'Amour fan I found it disappointing and we were left wondering how we enjoyed this type of acting in the 50s. My wife and I only finished watching it to see if things could get worse. :-).I couldn't however say I don't like it therefore 3 starsMarvellous old westerns these, wish all of them made between say 1934 - 1975 were all remastered and I would think so one day they will be. Thank you for making what there is available, I have them. Regards, Robert A.R. Warren.Very enjoyable reading!I like Alan Ladd. But this is not one of his best. If they would have left out Frankie Avalone singing it would have been better. In the scene of the Saturday night dance the guitar player is playing a few notes on a acoustic guitar but sound is from an electric. the town had no electricity then. OOpps.A good solid unpretentious "western" (well, not quite, what do you call a Lumberjack vs rancher film?). Warner Archive here present an excellent transfer - widescreen 16.9 ratio - with lovely colour, good picture and sound. No extras or subs. Ladd is sadly looking the worse for wear but puts in a spirited performence as the lumberjasck boss, and he is helped by a solid support cast - Jeanne Crain at her magnificent best, tho far too beautiful if truth be told, Gilbert Roland as Ladd's partner (I think he had a cigareet in every scene) Lyle Bettger as Crain's foreman, and Noah Beery, Henry "Bomber" Kulky and "Sock it to me" Regis Toomey. Good photography, a big brawl, a very well filmed climax all make this a film for Ladd fans, and "Western" lovers. My only grumble is the ridiculous inclusion of Frankie Avalon, who isn't bad when acting, but in their wisdom the producers give him two innappropriate songs which really are out of place (electric guitars??). Wayne did better with Ricky Nelson. Oh, and the opening and closing song sung by the lumberjacks really is "Monty Python" Territory. All good fun tho. just not quite 5 stars.typical alan ladd / warner bros. western but great entertainment this was ladds seventh and last warner movie under his jaguar productions and warner 7 movie deal. It was made in 1960 and has plenty of two fisted action this warner archive release is a great print with good sound loved this movienot Alan Ladd's best move that's why only 3 star.More of an adventure film but still a great Alan Ladd movie.Disappointed with movie - not one of Alan Ladd’s better movies!
