Watch The Far Country

The Far Country is a 1954 American western movie that stars the legendary actor James Stewart, alongside Ruth Roman and Corinne Calvet. Directed by Anthony Mann, the movie is set in the mid-1800s and follows a cattle drive from Wyoming to Alaska. It blends the rugged beauty of the Alaskan wilderness and the early frontier days along with the old-age stories of rivalry and power.

The movie opens with Stewart, starring as Jeff Webster, arriving in a small town in the Northwest, where he gets involved in an altercation with the town's self-proclaimed sheriff. He then meets a saloon owner named Ronda Castle (Calvet), who offers him a temporary place to stay and shows interest in partnering with him to take a goldmine that Jeff has recently discovered in Alaska. Jeff eventually agrees to her offer after he and his partner Ben Tatum (Walter Brennan) run afoul of the law again while trying to move their cattle to the Canadian border.

The group along with Ronda journey north, through treacherous mountainous terrain, hoping to build a new life in the land of the midnight sun. However, when they reach Skagway, Alaska, they discover that the goldmine is much more difficult to reach than they'd anticipated, and the town's corrupt rulers, including their former business partner, Gannon (John McIntire), work to stop them.

The movie's themes of greed and corruption come to light when constant disagreements between Jeff and Gannon escalate into a full-blown battle resulting in violent clashes. Jeff is forced to make difficult choices in order to survive, including partnering with a semi-corrupt law enforcement officer named Rube McCrae (Jay C. Flippen) and risking the safety of the cattle drive to get to the gold mine.

Throughout the film, Jeff's character reluctantly warms up to his companions' needs for companionship and support, after initially resisting any such attachments. He finds himself attracted to Ronda, who has her hands full, managing a saloon business with questionable morals. The relationship between them is dynamic throughout, with Jeff's commitment to Ronda taking on deeper meaning as the story progresses.

The movie is loaded with action scenes, including a tense showdown between Jeff and Gannon in the main town, which ends with Jeff narrowly escaping death. The cinematography shows a remarkable ability to perfectly capture the beauty, ruggedness, and unforgiving aspects of the Alaskan frontier.

The acting performances by the lead cast are mesmerizing. James Stewart shines in his role as Jeff, delivering his lines with an air of dismissiveness and nonchalance. Ruth Roman, who plays Ronda, is great in her part as well, with her convincing portrayal of a woman in a man's world, determined to make her own mark, and willing to do whatever it takes to secure her foundations.

In conclusion, The Far Country is a marvelous western classic that delivers, with stunning scenery and a fantastic cast of characters. The film has everything a western movie lover could ask for, including action, drama, comedy, and romance. The performances are top-notch, and the story, although familiar, is engaging and memorable. The Far Country is an enduring western movie that captures the essence of early frontier days, the lawless gold rush, and the rugged beauty of the Alaskan wilderness.

The Far Country is a 1955 western with a runtime of 1 hour and 37 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1.