MartinHafer Apart from some of the singing, I enjoyed "The Halliday Brand" quite a bit. While I am not normally a huge western fan, the Oedipal style story is timeless.When the story begins, Martha (Betsy Blair) is carrying on a covert relationship with a man who is half American Indian. Her father, Big Dan (Ward Bond), is a bigot and so she's been hiding this from him. When he does find out, he's predictably furious...but what happens next shocks everyone. Soon Big Dan stirs up the locals and the boyfriend is murdered. Big Dan's son, Daniel (Joseph Cotten), is furious and naturally blames his father. But Big Dan isn't finished....his infamy seems to know no bounds. Soon, however, he's pushed Daniel so hard that Daniel makes it his life's work to destroy the man.In many ways, this reminds me of one of the greatest westerns, "The Big Country". This film also is about the father-son relationship as well as two patriarchs who are too proud to bend in any way. Both should be watched...just try to ignore the moaning lady 'singing' some of the music...that "The Halliday Brand" could do without!

gordonl56 THE HALLIDAY BRAND 1957 This high-octane, emotion packed 1957 American western, stars, Joseph Cotten, Ward Bond, Betsy Blair, Bill Williams, Jay C. Flippen, Christopher Dark and the gorgeous Viveca Lindfors.The film, which is told in a long flashback, revolves around the family of a powerful rancher played by Ward Bond. The man has carved out one of the biggest ranches in the area. He is also the local town's Sheriff. When Bond's daughter, Betsy Blair, takes up with a local half breed, Bond breaks up the relationship.The lad, Christopher Dark, is then arrested on suspected murder and rustling charges. Bond's son, Cotten does not believe a word of it and accuses Bond of bigotry. Bond's other son Bill Williams, is the town deputy. He fails to protect Dark when a lynch mob comes for the lad. The mob strings up the boy.Cotten rides to town to talk with Dark's father, Jay C. Flippen and sister, Viveca Lindfors. Flippen soon grabs up his rifle and goes looking for Bond. This does not end well for Flippen. The handy with a gun Bond plants Flippen with several well placed rounds.Now there is a big falling out between Bond and son Cotten. Cotten starts a campaign of destruction against Bond and the other ranchers. He tells all that his father, Bond, must end his reign as the only law around. Bond rustles up a posse and pursues his son into the brush country. Cotton however manages to stay one step ahead. Cotton and the pretty Lindfors also manage to work in a little tongue wrestling time into the chase.Matters come to a head when Bond gets sick and is on his deathbed. Or so everyone thinks. It is a play by the old arse to lure his son back. How does it end? You need to watch it, but rest assured it will be worth your time.This top flight potboiler was directed by the under-rated, Joseph H. Lewis. Lewis knocked out several excellent b film noir and westerns during his big screen years. These include, SO DARK THE NIGHT, MY NAME IS JULIA ROSS, GUN CRAZY and THE BIG COMBO. His westerns include A LAWLESS STREET, 7th CAVALRY and 60 or so episodes of series like, THE RIFLEMAN, THE BIG VALLEY, A MAN CALLED SHENANDOAH and BONANZA.The sharp look of the film is supplied by 7 time Oscar nominated and 2 time winning cinematographer, Ray Rennahan. His film work includes, FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS, DUEL IN THE SUN, 7th CAVALRY, A LAWLESS STREET, WHISPERING SMITH, (the film) STREETS OF LAREDO and THE PALEFACE.

bsmith5552 "The Halliday Brand" is an excellent western about the conflict between a father and son. Sheriff "Big Dan" Halliday (Ward Bond) is the sheriff/ranch owner in an unnamed town. His elder son Daniel (Joseph Cotten) has been avoiding joining his father in law enforcement.The picture opens with Daniel's brother Clay (Bill Williams) bringing news of their father's failing health and his wish to patch things up with his son before he dies. we are then told in a lengthy flashback sequence, the story behind their feud. We learn that the old man believes that his way is the only way and that his beliefs are not to be questioned.A couple of tragic events involving Daniel's sister Martha (Betsy Blair), a half breed named Jivaco (Christopher Dark, who looked too much like Dane Clark) and Jivaco's father Chad Burris (Jay C. Flippen) cause the gap to widen between Daniel and his father. Daniel vows to destroy his father and "Big Dan" vows to capture and hang his rebellious son. Further complicating matters are the relationships formed between Daniel, Clay and Jivaco's sister Aleta (Viveca Lindfors).Ward Bond rarely received leading roles in the movies. In this film he gets a chance to show what an excellent actor he was. His powerful performance dominates every scene in which he appears. He is matched by Cotton (looking a bit under nourished) as the son. Never mind that both actors were virtually the same age. They make you believe that they could be a father and his son and play well off of each other.Also in the cast are Jeannette Nolan virtually unrecognizable as the Indian grandmother Nante, and Glenn Strange, I. Stanford Jolley and John Dierkes as various townsmen.An excellent little western.

classicsoncall Well there's certainly enough hate to go around in this picture, with the theme explored from various vantage points by director Josph Lewis. I've seen Ward Bond in a wide range of roles, mostly Westerns, but this is by far his most compelling performance. He's a character who just won't let go, and in turn, forces his own son to become a virtual mirror image of himself. The Halliday Brand is symbolized by various signposts along the way - the tree stump axe, Daniel's (Joseph Cotten) usurpation of the family trademark in the cattle stampede, and none more searing than the senior Halliday's declaration in my summary line. For he's willing to fight to keep his family blood line untainted by inter-racial marriage which threatens on two fronts. Daughter Martha (Betsy Blair) has sacrificed her entire life to be suffocated by the Halliday Brand, and when her betrothed is murdered by a lynch mob, brother Daniel takes up the cause to vindicate his death. Standing on the sidelines is brother Clay (Bill Williams), unable to prevail in the name of reason on either side. The emotional pitch gets intense as Daniel resorts to lawlessness and violence to confront his father's arrogance. It's not a comfortable picture to watch, made more harrowing by the absence of any breaks in the tension. The story never sets the viewer up for a reconciliation, and on that score it succeeds, as the Hallidays are finally left broken and dispirited by the paths they have chosen.