extremely entertaining mids western packs whole lot minute running time viewers quickly get drawn story find experience quite enjoyable bwestern really epic budget modest cast affordable despite several big names glenn ford box office draw time edward g robinson barbara stanwyck past primes looking work stanwyck  years away new popularity the big valley brian keith dianne foster starting outbr br ford plays john parrish small rancher decides sell sympathetic sheriff murdered big ranchers robinson hired gunman parrish former confederate officer moved west health reasons br br robinson plays lee wilkison already owns valley intends acquire rest making good promise wife martha stanwyck lee crippled land war fought  years earlier brother cole keith come texas help run huge spread lee turning blind eye obvious hookups stanwyck keith sensitive daughter judith foster understandably upset going home br br john parrish promised fiance caroline may winn move back east caroline modeled grace kellys high noon character breaks engagement first sign trouble simply disappears film leaves way open john judith romance develop br br the violence starts early continues throughout film parrish able apply military tactics enemy underestimates ability determination original confrontation main gunfighter midway film ford plays one standard characters modest guy disarms everyone self deprecating manner slow take offense brutal finally provoked very much like role the sheepman br br robinson likewise excellent man maintains personal integrity even though physically shadow former self gets enough lines screen time adequately develop character br br stanwyck difficult role simply convincing classic twofaced woman seemingly loyal wife scheming replace husband brother part allocated enough time anything superficially convey either side character said talented actress could done much better job even limitationsbr br dianne foster pleasant surprise remind viewers lot carroll baker physically acting style although required play judith according s convention she allowed tough required break hysterics major confrontation foster shows nice range conveys growing attraction parrish subtly retrospect various clues click place br br the real problem the violent men tries action western character study morality play much happen screen much action rushed many characters get cursory treatment neither fatal flaw reason avoid film could significantly better another  minutes running time absence unnecessary characters like carolinebr br then again know im child