It's surprising how well this film turns out, considering the actors involved, but John Wayne and Montgomery Clift successfully portray a respectful and affectionate connection – something I haven’t witnessed before or after in a John Wayne movie concerning another man. Hawks puts you right there on a grueling cattle drive, allowing you to practically experience the mounting pressure and anxiety as the younger character challenges the near-unyielding authority of his father figure. Walter Brennan is excellent, naturally, though here he has a slightly more complex part, walking a delicate line between being an old friend and their younger charge. The visuals really showcase how difficult the actual work must have been for those who drove cattle, and the ending is masterfully presented. It's a remarkable representation of the Western style, and about as good as it could be.

Source on TMDB