Yellow Sky is an uncomplicated western. It is film that could be an introduction to the genre. It stars Gregory Peck and Anne Baxter as James (Stretch) Dawson and Constance Mae (Mike). The movie is directed by William Wellman. He is a man at the forefront of Hollywood moviemaking. He directed the first academy award winning film, Wings (1927). This movie made Gary Cooper a star. He also brought James Cagney Hollywood fame, with The Public Enemy.
Yellow Sky has the simple story of bank robbers, led by Stretch Dawson, hiding out in a ghost town. They come upon Mike and Grandpa, (James Dawson). They track them down, and follow them to their small house. It is later later learned, that grandpa has a stash of gold. This bit of news delights the bandits. They want to take the gold. Stretch offers grandpa a 50/50 split. He reluctantly agrees. This deal doesn’t go over well with the gang. It is a particularly sore spot with Dude, (Richard Widmark). Bad guys were Widmark’s stock in trade, until breaking into solid dramatic roles, a few years later.
Gregory Peck’s main motivation for negotiation, is that he’s fallen for Mike. Mike has also fallen for Stretch. The two actors, are very credible in their roles. They are very good in their love scenes. Love can’t stop greed. The gang is now led by Dude. They are determined to steal all of grandpa’s gold. This leads to your standard western shootout. Peck and company are joined by Walrus, (Charles Kemper). He has brought in a gang member, Bull Run, (Robert Arthur), who’s been fatally injured. The good guys leave the house, and head into the ghost town. This leads to the showdown between Stretch and Dude. Unfortunately for Dude, he ends up on the losing side the gunfight. Of course, as part of his reformation, Stretch returns the stolen money to the bank. He then rides back to the house, with Mike and company.
A major reason that a film stands out, is its director. William Wellman shows the audience why. He has taken a western, that could be average, and made it something more. After Stretch’s gang robs the bank, they are pursued by the cavalry. It is a good scene. The head of the troop calls off the chase. He decides that the bandits won’t make it through the hostile desert. They do make it through. Wellman does a good job showing the terrible trek through the desert. He gets the gunfights right. He even has the climactic scene in the saloon, shown with gun flashes. His ending showing Dude with gold dust spilling from his bag: makes a powerful statement about the outlaw life. Wellman’s scene with Stretch and Mike falling for each other, is passive/aggressive to a new level.
This movie is helped by Gregory Peck’s presence. He was a strong actor with a resonating voice. He did what many actors did. He made many westerns. Peck, has by his performance, helped to make Yellow Sky, more than formulaic. He has a good dialogue with grandpa, where he talks about his path in life. He shows his feelings toward Mike, by pointing out that he cleaned up, and shaved. In an earlier scene, Anne Baxter’s character pointed out that he smelled. It doesn’t take a lot to do a B western. It is an actor who can make a western a good solid film.
Yellow Sky may be a standard western. It is the story of love that makes it better. It is enhanced by its grittiness. This is something that is later found in Anthony Mann’s westerns, as well as Sergio Leone’s spaghetti westerns. This film, is for new movie fans, as well as those well versed in the cinema.