The Far Country is another collaboration between Anthony Mann and James Stewart. This pairing of director and star, gives the film audience another unique western. This movie, along with the other westerns done with Anthony Mann: show Stewart’s acting ability. He was able to completely shed his romantic lead image.
In this film Stewart plays Jeff Webster, a hard cattleman. He is partners with his friend, Ben Tatum, played by Walter Brennan. Brennan was one of the most famous of all character actors. He acted with some of the best; Gary Cooper, John Wayne and Humphrey Bogart among them. He was not a stranger to westerns. He was exceptional in John Ford’s, My Darling Clementine. In this movie, he is his regular friendly guy.
While on a paddle boat, Jeff Webster, runs into Ronda Castle, the femme fatale of the film. She is played well by Ruth Roman. Stewart’s character develops feelings for her, never realizing his aide and confidant; Renee Vallon, also likes him. She is played very well by Corinne Calvet.
It is said that playing a good guy is easy, but playing the bad guy is hard. John McIntire makes it look easy playing Gannon; a corrupt judge. McIntire was mainly known for his good guy roles; most famously on Wagon Train, as Chris Hale. Gannon runs into Jeff Webster, when he interrupts a hanging, overseen by Gannon, when Webster, drives his cattle into town. This is a unique and amusing scene. Gannon is outraged by this, and confiscates Webster’s cattle. Gannon and Webster cross paths in the movie when Gannon is driving a herd of cattle to Canada for Ronda Castle. Throughout the film, Gannon says to Webster, that he will hang him when he get back. Gannon does to Webster what all the bad guys do to James Stewart’s characters in these films: they drive him to his breaking point. Webster goes after Gannon and his gang, after the situation hits home, when a sheriff and his friend, Ben Tatum are murdered. After that, its all bets are off, and frontier justice is served.
The Far Country, like the previous Mann/Stewart collaborations, is filmed on location for the exteriors. The shooting location for this film is Canada; specifically two national parks in Alberta. The film is shot by cinematographer, William Daniels. His efforts help the look of the film. Anthony Mann, has with The Far Country, proves that the western, in the hands of a capable director; can become a cinematic art form.