The film does a commendable job of reflecting Ernest Haycox’s distinctive writing style, featuring well-developed characters and impressive location filming. Dana Andrews portrays an enterprising man whose aspirations are complicated by his empathy for people in need. Susan Hayward appears as a possible romantic partner for him, alongside Patricia Roc, while Brian Donlevy takes on the role of a gambler struggling with debt, who also desires Hayward’s attention. A number of additional characters receive considerable development, including a large-scale troublemaker (Ward Bond), a lighthearted entertainer (Hoagy Carmichael), an experienced gambler (Onslow Stevens), a rash young man (Lloyd Bridges), and a friendly farmer (Andy Divine). Beyond the main narrative, the film incorporates noteworthy historical details, such as the Rogue River Wars, which involved conflicts with Native Americans. It’s also noted that Jacksonville, Oregon, originated as a gold mining settlement around 1852, making the use of gold dust for transactions historically appropriate. The portrayal of the Indigenous people feels authentic and avoids stereotypes. The movie has a running time of 1 hour and 31 minutes and was filmed primarily near Diamond Lake in southwestern Oregon. Prominent features visible in the background are Mt. Thielston, which rises to the east of the lake, and Mt. Bailey, located west of the lake. Certain sequences were captured at Crater Lake National Park, situated south of the lake, while other portions were completed at Universal Studios, north of Hollywood, including a constructed town on the backlot. GRADE: B+

Source on TMDB