Karry Best movie of this year hands down!

Wordiezett So much average

Onlinewsma Absolutely Brilliant!

Keeley Coleman The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

JohnHowardReid SYNOPSIS: A melodrama about an avaricious Confederate major who after the Civil War instigates a reign of terror in Texas in an attempt to build a large western empire. (A Universal DVD). COMMENT: Rock Hudson has some unbelievable lines and bits of business - in fact the dialogue all around is sometimes rather strained - and the plot really goes over the top for a melodramatic finish that even a nervy and accomplished player like Robert Ryan is unable to sustain. But an enjoyable excursion nonetheless thanks to Boetticher's (pronounced "Betty-car") vigorous staging of the action scenes, crisp color photography, and some most agreeable players, particularly Raymond Burr who makes all his scenes stand out, Dennis Weaver as the impetuous Dandy, and the lovely Judith Braun as Hudson's light-of-love. Some memorable moments with Acosta too. Boetticher is at his best with the set pieces (Adams giving Ryan the high sign, Ryan's night ride into the deserters' camp, Burr's acing Ryan's cards, Burr beating up Hudson, Fowley booting the pistol to Burr, Acosta browbeating Monsieur Morin, Dandy nixing, Ryan getting the upper hand of Arness). Interesting that despite his star billing, Hudson doesn't figure in any of these sequences except being on the receiving end of Burr's heavy hand!OTHER VIEWS: An I'm-gonna-build-a-Texas-empire-at-any-price western. Despite third billing under Ryan and Adams, Rock Hudson doesn't have much of a part. Even the climactic shoot-out is a switch. Still there are lots of nice close-ups of Miss Adams, plus an interesting support cast headed by that ace of heavies, Raymond Burr. On the other hand, the corny script with its cornball fade-out and corn-fed characters like do-gooder rancher John McIntyre and beautifully groomed Judith Braun, all militate against Boetticher's attempts to turn Horizons West into a classic post-Civil War outing. True, Budd's direction is competent enough, but it's confined and circumscribed by a screenplay that can only described as Universal trashy. Yes, it does incorporate enough action for the rabid fans, despite a tendency to become dialogue-bound and speechy. And admittedly, the color photography, sets and costumes are mighty attractive. But Rock's fans will not be happy. Ryan is not only handed the lion's share of the spotlight, but shares just about all the interesting dialogue and action with other players such as Burr and Acosta, both of whom stand out from the ruck far more than the luckless Rock. - John Howard Reid writing as George Addison.Frankly, I don't think Horizons West is a very good film. I was too young at the time. I wasn't mature enough to get on top of the subject. I particularly remember Robert Ryan's tremendous professionalism and talent, and Julia Adams who was really radiant and beautiful. That's all I can say about that film. - Budd Boetticher.

tedg Recently, I've been watching old movies with greater weight on the modern context. In other words, I almost completely discount the situation in which it was made, and how it was intended to be viewed. You really have to do that in defense, if you study very many of these old turkeys. This is ghastly bad: good brother, bad brother, judicial father and girls, one bad and one good. Mix in a bit of cattle rustling and Technicolor.But as an episode in history that is fascinating, it works. This is when the western was still reverberating from the John Ford model, and these sorts of things could take themselves seriously. It was before TeeVee destroyed the western in the 50s by overexposure. Here you have two of the main offenders, the two guys that would go on to anchor "Gunsmoke." Seeing them before their culpability — even before they became competent — is pretty enjoyable.But you have tow other icons as well. Rock Hudson, when he was marketed and consumed as a sex star. This was before it became known he was gay, bravely announcing his fight with AIDS. That drama created a two-brother conflict in fundamentalist America we still see. Watch him here as the good brother who fights for and stays with the family.And the other, special to me. Raymond Burr also went into TeeVee a few years later as Perry Mason. This was an important show, because it was a vast ten year experiment in conveying the mystery to screen without compromise. One can literally see the evolution where the compromise won, when the public signaled that it did not want to guess, but merely be told the answer to the riddle at the end. Here, in a shock to anyone looking backwards, he is the evil guy who is replaced by the evil brother.The sets are more hokey than usual for Universal.Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.

desmac66 the best thing about this western is its title. the next best thing is its glorious technicolor imagery. the 'look' of this film makes it a classic western - fully lit western skies, iconographic star close ups of confederate soldiers and texas belles - richly textured in luscious technicolor. the title - horizons west - and the beauty of the images sum up the idea of manifold destiny and western expansion. curiously the narrative itself contradicts the look as elder brother robert ryan abandons the simple homestead lifestyle for the corruptly sophisticated attractions of town life. as younger brother (rock hudson)is pitted against older brother (ryan), there are suggestions of biblical undertones. hudson, now a deputy marshal, eventually hunts down ryan for murder thereby restoring the idea of honesty and integrity as part of western expansion.

Single-Black-Male Having acted alongside James Stewart in 'Bend of the River' and appeared in two films with Tony Curtis, Rock Hudson was certainly on his way up the ladder in his late 20's. He's a bit like Charlton Heston in the sense that he has the maturity of someone almost twice his age whilst still in his 20's.