SIERRA BARON

US, 1958, 80 minutes, Colour.
Brian Keith, Rick Jason, Rita Gam, Mala Powers, Steve Brodie.
Directed by James B. Clark.

Sierra Baron is an enjoyable western with familiar material. It shows the Spanish-Americans? and their land holdings, the Spanish characters being challenged by unscrupulous business dealers, the settlers coming in wagons to the West, the gunfighter. The film is attractive with Cinemascope colour locations. The characterisations work well, familiar but enjoyable.

1. An interesting and entertaining western? The American heritage? California and the Spanish, the new settlers?

2. Cinemascope photography, colour locations, the Sierras and the plains? The towns and the ranches?

3. The focus on Miguel? The Spanish Charters in California? The challenge from the settlers? From the law? The law of the gun?

4. The focus on Miguel, his return home, the death of his father, the miners and the building of the town, the appeal to the Spanish Charter? Rufus Bynum and his working as an agent? His appeal to the American Senate? The hiring of Jack MacCracken? to kill Miguel? Miguel and the relationship with Jack, his employing Jack? The wagon train arriving, the giving of permission to stay, Miguel rescuing Sue who had been lost? The wagon train people helping Miguel against the miners? The attempts to Miguel's life? Bynun's attack? Miguel killing Bunum? MacCracken's death? The marriage to Sue, the son named after MacCracken?

5. Jack MacCracken? as a gunfighter, employed by Bunum, his scouting out the situation, friendship with Miguel, working with him, the participation in the siege and the attack? Shot by Bynum?

6. The miners and the building of the town, good faith and bad faith, unscrupulous agents, gunfighters hired? ' The attack of the miners? The clash with the settlers? Bynum's death?

7. The settlers, the trek overland, Sue and her being lost in the desert, the rescue, the settlers helping Miguel? The happy ending and marriage?

8. Felicia and her presence on the ranch, devotion to Miguel, attraction towards MacCracken? Participation in the siege?

9. The familiar themes of justice, law and order, violence in the American
West? The American heritage?