Watch The Halliday Brand
- Approved
- 1957
- 1 hr 19 min
-
6.3 (497)
In the western drama film, The Halliday Brand, Joseph Cotten plays Daniel Halliday, a man who returns home after a 15-year absence to reconcile with his family and to find out the truth about his father's death. His father was a wealthy cattleman who was shot and killed by one of his own employees, and the Halliday family has been shunned by the rest of the town ever since.
When Daniel returns, he discovers that his brother, Curt (played by William Bishop), has taken up the family business and has adopted a ruthless approach to running it. Curt is determined to get revenge against the man who killed their father, and has even gone so far as to have him imprisoned for life.
As Daniel digs deeper into the circumstances surrounding his father's death, he begins to unravel a complex web of lies and secrets that have been kept hidden for years. He also reconnects with an old flame, Cathy (played by Betsy Blair), who is now married to Curt.
The tension between Daniel and Curt reaches a boiling point as Daniel becomes determined to uncover the truth about his father's death and to set things right with the people of the town. The conflict ultimately leads to a dramatic showdown that will change the course of the Halliday family's future.
The Halliday Brand is a classic western that explores themes of revenge, family loyalty, and the consequences of violence. Joseph Cotten delivers a strong performance as the conflicted Daniel, torn between his loyalty to his family and his desire for justice. Viveca Lindfors plays the role of Alma, the town's schoolteacher who is also sympathetic to Daniel's cause, while Betsy Blair is convincing as the conflicted Cathy, torn between her loyalty to her husband and her feelings for Daniel.
The film is well-directed by Joseph H. Lewis, who brings a sense of tension and unease to many of the scenes, particularly those involving the conflict between Daniel and Curt. The pacing of the movie is slow and deliberate, allowing the tension to build and the characters to develop over the course of the film.
One of the most interesting aspects of The Halliday Brand is the way it subverts many of the classic western tropes. For example, the film features a female character who is both intelligent and strong-willed, rather than just a damsel in distress. The film also questions the morality of revenge and vigilante justice, rather than simply portraying it as a heroic act.
Overall, The Halliday Brand is a well-crafted western drama that will appeal to fans of the genre. Joseph Cotten delivers a strong performance, and the film's themes of family and loyalty are timeless and universal. While it may not be one of the most well-known westerns of its era, The Halliday Brand is certainly worth checking out for fans of the genre.
The Halliday Brand is a 1957 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 19 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3.