Watch Vengeance Valley
- Approved
- 1951
- 1 hr 23 min
-
5.9 (2,486)
Vengeance Valley is a Western drama film from 1951, directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Burt Lancaster, Robert Walker, and Joanne Dru. The film tells the story of two foster brothers, Owen Daybright (Lancaster) and Lee Strobie (Walker), who were raised together by rancher Arch Strobie (Ray Collins). While Owen is hardworking and honest, Lee is lazy and trouble-prone. Arch always lets Lee off the hook for his misbehavior, which causes tension between the two brothers.
When Lee impregnates Lily (Sally Forrest), the daughter of ranch hand Bess (Lorna Thayer), Owen takes responsibility for the child and decides to raise him as his own. This creates resentment in Lee, who believes Owen is stealing his son and trying to take over their father's ranch. Meanwhile, a clash between two other ranchers, Brother (Hugh O'Brian) and Hub Fasken (John Ireland), sets the stage for a violent feud that spills over onto Strobie's property.
As tensions rise, Lee accuses Owen of stealing horses and convinces Arch to put a bounty on his head. This leads to a tragic series of events that threatens to tear the family apart. Along the way, Owen finds unlikely allies in his Native American friend, Chet (Carleton Carpenter), and his former flame, Jen (Joanne Dru), who is now married to Hub Fasken.
Vengeance Valley is a well-paced and emotionally charged Western drama that explores themes of jealousy, family loyalty, and the consequences of violence. Lancaster delivers a strong performance as the rugged and honorable Owen, while Walker brings depth and complexity to the troubled Lee. Dru shines in her role as the conflicted Jen, who must choose between her loyalty to her husband and her feelings for Owen.
The film also benefits from its stunning location photography in the Sierra Nevada mountains and its dynamic action scenes. The climactic gunfight is a masterful piece of filmmaking, full of tension and suspense.
Overall, Vengeance Valley is a classic Western that still holds up today. It's a tale of love and betrayal, of brotherhood and rivalry, and of the cost of seeking vengeance. Fans of the genre will not be disappointed by this well-crafted drama.
Vengeance Valley is a 1951 western with a runtime of 1 hour and 23 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.9.