The Young Land (1959)

There is something almost propagandist about this western as it shows us a new nation coming to terms with the rule of law. We know right from the start that “Carnes” (Dennis Hopper) has gunned down a Mexican and that he has been duly arrested by the town’s sheriff (Patrick Wayne). Naturally, he fully expects to be freed by his friends or to be acquitted by his peers, but the newly arrived judge (Dan O’Herlihy) is not a man to be messed with or to allow his jury to be tampered with. The trial ensues uneventfully and then whilst awaiting the verdict, the townsfolk begin to polarise. Will either take the law into their own hands or can the sheriff keep the peace? Meantime, the daughter of local grandee “Don Roberto” (Roberto De La Madrid) has taken a shine to the lawman, and he to her - so with temperatures rising, what is next for “Elena” (Yvonne Craig) and her would-be beau? Ted Tetzlaff has assembled a decent enough cast here, but there’s no denying this Wayne hasn’t the screen presence of his father’s tin cup and that coupled with only sparing appearances from Hopper leaves us with something more about principle and less about action, even at the denouement. It’s all about having the constitution to accept a constitution, and the point is made simply enough - but as a story it’s more miss than hit.