mark.waltz This action-packed western grabs you from the moment of its 3-D credits. Even long before that gimmick took over the screen, movies were trying different ways of grabbing the audiences' attention, and something as simple as the rolling credits was a great way to get the audience's attention. Look at the Cecil B. De Mille epics of the mid-late 30's and even some of MGM's most lavish costume dramas. In the case of "Texas", what seems like just an ordinary western surrounding cattle rustlers ends up being something much more exciting.William Holden and Glenn Ford were rising young actors on the Columbia lot who were soon to be mega stars, both handsome and likable, and both who obviously took their crafts seriously. Their film legend is only enhanced by their longevity, and their pairing as best friends of very different personalities is as exciting as the pairings of such mega-stars as Gable and Tracy, Edward G. Robinson and Bogart, EGR and Cagney, Bogart and Cagney. Like the state of Texas itself, this film is huge, fast-moving and gloriously entertaining.There's a wonderful confrontation between Holden and Claire Trevor (fresh from "Stagecoach") where he tries to steal her horse and she gets the better of him momentarily. She briefly falls under the spell of the more noble Ford who had no idea that his pal was involved in the robbery of cattle rustlers posing as cattle owners. There's also a great performance by the wonderful character actor Edgar Buchannan ("Petticoat Junction") as a grizzled old dentist with several surprises up his drill. The mixed loyalties, unknown motivations and some great comedy interwoven make this a ton of fun. Buchannan even gets to do a musical number as Trevor plays the organ while Ford and Holden take turns pumping it from the back.To even give a little bit of some of the surprises here away would defeat the fun of discovering it. While Trevor gets plenty of chances to chew up the scenery, she does so subtly here, not like she would do in later films where she sometimes seemed as if she was going to swallow up the whole camera. Other than a few other female extras, she is the only woman character in the film, yet she is not some namby pamby love interest tossed in to cause friction between the two leading men. Her character here definitely has purpose, and she does a very good job in the part. This showed movie audiences that you didn't need to have John Wayne acting or John Ford directing to have a good "A" western. It deserves a bigger status among classic westerns than it has gotten. George Marshall, who has directed many westerns yet crossed over to practically every other genre as well, helms this production, and helps make it flow effortlessly.

dougdoepke Holden and Ford may be the stars, but the film belongs to director Marshall and the incomparable Edgar Buchanan. Marshall started out directing comedy shorts and it shows up here in several memorable scenes. That fight scene may be the most amusing on boxing record. Dutch Henry keeps popping up, dukes raised, like a whack-a-mole, and I love the way the boisterous crowd ends up in a frontier free-for-all. The buckboard scene may be brief but it's expertly done, Trevor shows real comedic ability as she struggles with a rebellious ten yards of skirt. Then there's the topper—pudgy, gravel-voice Buchanan actually doing a song and dance. I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it. But more incredibly, his graceful shuffle and tuneful refrain are absolutely charming. What a marvelous actor he was as he transitions here from musical performer to shifty-eyed mastermind.It's a good story if a bit shopworn—two buddies (Ford & Holden) falling on opposite sides of the law while competing for the same girl (Trevor). The various alliances get a little confusing so you may need a scorecard to keep up. Holden gets the majority screen time, while the always low-key Ford is even more so than usual. All in all, it's a highly entertaining, fast-paced 90-minutes, thanks mainly to an expert director and a cagey old coot.

Scaramouche2004 Two close friends find themselves on opposite sides of the law in this 1941 western, which follows the aftermath of the American Civil War into the lucrative business of cattle drives and cattle rustling.Dan Thomas (William Holden) and Tod Ramsey (Glenn Ford) have recently been dismissed from the Confederate army after the recent period of unpleasantness, and are heading for a new life and to make a new fortune in Texas, the state of opportunity in the old west.Tod is looking forward to making an honest living whilst Dan is just looking forward to making any kind of living, not really caring on which which side of the legal and moral fence this living may happen to found.After retrieving a sack full of stolen stagecoach money which Tod plans to return to its rightful owners and Dan plans to pocket for himself, they are captured and nearly lynched by the local sheriff which results in the inevitable chase.It is during this chase that the two friends split to take two different paths, two paths that will ultimately differ morally as well as geographically.Tod Ramsey ends up a trusted and respected law abiding cattle hand in the local town whilst Dan falls in with a crooked Dentist, (Edgar Buchanan) a corrupt rancher (Addison Richards) in charge of a cattle rustling gang, and an equally corrupt 'friend' of the people (George Bancroft) who all set about their merry work, ambushing and rustling the large cattle drives attempting to reach Abilene.With all the cattle drives failing and all the local Cattle barons facing bankruptcy, Tod Ramsey, unaware that his friend is responsible for all the rustling, decides that he will attempt to take a combined herd; the largest herd ever to come out of Texas and defend it all the way to market.For the rustling syndicate this means that Tod will have to be 'taken care off' and quick, but is the seemingly ruthless and ambitious Dan now evil enough to kill his own best friend? Will his loyalty to Tod allow the herd to get through to Abiline, or does he now have an extra plan up his sleeve? Claire Trevor is the love interest for both men, just to give them something else to fight about, although her character I feel is rather dis likable as she seems to flit her affections between the two with each passing breath obviously content to be with whoever is left standing at the end....and the fool takes her. Doh!This was an early Western for both male leads and both were destined for great things. Although Bill Holden's likable but disreputable character is the main focus is this film, it is Glenn Ford who is the treat for me here.He was without doubt one of my favourite actors and certainly my favourite cowboy. No offence to The Duke and Clint, but neither was a patch on Glenn Ford when he put on a gun belt and tightened up his spurs, and its great to see him here just starting out.

nnnn45089191 Quite enjoyable western fare with two young superstars to be.William Holden and Glenn Ford are two young cowpokes making their way to Texas and competing for the same girl,played by Claire Trevor. Good support by veterans George Bancroft and Edgar Buchanan makes this a western worth watching. Holden has the showier part and makes the most of it.He's brash and likable and fits the part. Director George Marshall blends humor and drama the same way he did in his masterpiece DestryRides Again.Although Texas isn't in the same league as his previous masterpiece it is a damn good western.The west does really look wild and untamed in his movies.