A Cane and Abel Western set on a family operated cattle ranch. Two brothers, Lancaster and Walker, fight for the soul of the ranch: Will it be an honest business, or will it be an evil cow-peddling enterprise? Lancaster is the good brother and Walker his evil rival.

Many detailed and mundane aspects of the cattle ranching business are shown in this movie, giving it strong Western credentials. There are heavy 1950s sexual undertones, as the sibling rivalry extends beyond the family's cattle to the women folk on the ranch. Lancaster and Walker fare well and provide appropriate tension --- "You scared me twice tonight; next time you point a gun at me, shoot it!", Lancaster tells a foe outside the family --- but overall, the film suffers from uneven direction and a meandering story line.

For commendable realism for the early 50s and its thorough look at cattle ranching, we reluctantly rate Vengeance Valley a Good View.

--JED

Cast:

• Burt Lancaster....Owen Daybright
• Robert Walker....Lee Strobie
• Joanne Dru.... Jen Strobie
• Sally Forrest.... Lily Fasken
• John Ireland....Hub Fasken
• Carleton Carpenter.... Hewie
• Ray Collins.... Arch Strobie
• Ted de Corsia.... Herb Backett
• Hugh O'Brian.... Dick Fasken
• Will Wright.... Mr. Willoughby
• Grayce Mills.... Mrs. Burke
• Jim Hayward.... Sheriff Con Alvis
• James H. Harrison.... Orv Esterly
• Stanley Andrews.... Mead Calhoun