Feuerkopf von Wyoming (1953)

Feuerkopf von Wyoming: Directed by Lee Sholem. With Maureen O’Hara, Alex Nicol, William Bishop, Robert Strauss. In Wyoming, Sweetwater town sheriff Stan Blaine finds himself in the middle of a range war between greedy cattle barons and newcomer settlers who compete for public lands and unbranded stray cattle.

“In a routine western about simmering conflict between settlers and landed cattlemen in Wyoming Territory, dazzling red-headed Maureen Ou0026#39;Hara gives u0026quot;The Redhead from Wyomingu0026quot; a feminist slant. Amidst a cast of rather colorless cowboys, Ou0026#39;Hara cuts a striking figure; her flaming hair captured by Winton C. Hochu0026#39;s Technicolor camera, blazes over her striking costumes, designed by Edward Stevenson. Ou0026#39;Hara catches every eye with bare shoulders exposed by flamboyant garments in lavenders and yellows that are in sharp contrast to the earth tones favored by her male co-stars.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eUnfortunately, the leading men are as lacking in color as their costumes. Tall blonde Alex Nicol as Sheriff Stan Blaine displays little emotion, except when his eyes cast an appreciative glance at Ou0026#39;Harau0026#39;s barely concealed decolletage. William Bishop is passable as the duplicitous Jim Averell, who has history with Ou0026#39;Harau0026#39;s character, the tough Kate Maxwell. Most of the cast is comprised of relative unknowns with the exceptions of Robert Strauss and Dennis Weaver in small roles.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe undistinguished screenplay, which deals with cattle rustling and a potential range war, is unworthy of Ou0026#39;Harau0026#39;s talent and screen presence; the fiery Irish actress plays a smart business woman, who can ride and shoot with the boys, yet maintain her femininity. Kate Maxwell may be ruthless, but she is no tomboy, and her wardrobe bears no resemblance to those worn by Joan Crawford or Barbara Stanwyck in their western roles. Kate is impeccably coiffed, made-up, and garbed, even when wielding a shotgun or riding a stallion. Other than an early portrayal of a strong woman in the Old West, u0026quot;The Redhead from Wyomingu0026quot; fails to rise above a fairly entertaining, if unmemorable, oater with an unforgettable star.”