The Sheepman *** (1958, Glenn Ford, Shirley MacLaine, Leslie Nielsen) – Classic Movie Review 7630

Director George Marshall’s 1958 Western The Sheepman, based on a story by James Edward Grant, William Roberts, is well done all round.

Glenn Ford stars as Jason Sweet, a stranger who comes to town to raise sheep to the annoyance of Colonel Stephen Bedford (Leslie Nielsen in an unusual bad guy role), the king of the local cattlemen, in this appealing, lighthearted Western programmer, perhaps made as a main feature but ideal for double bills at 91 minutes, playing the old situations for gentle comedy effect.

Shirley MacLaine amiably plays a tomboy called Dell Payton, engaged to Nielsen’s Colonel Bedford, in an early appearance. Director Marshall, who manages to get the tone, pace and flavour just right, directed more than 400 films, starting with Harry Carey Sr silent Westerns.

Also in the cast are Mickey Shaughnessy, Edgar Buchanan, Willis Bouchey, Pernell Roberts, Slim Pickens, Buzz Henry, Pedro Gonzales, Harry Woods, Harry Harvey, Tom Greenway and Roscoe Ates.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7630

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