The Far Country
A profit-seeking cattleman enters the Klondike gold rush and must confront the consequences of his hard-edged individualism when frontier lawlessness becomes personal.
Overview
A cattleman embarks on a perilous journey to fortune amidst the chaos of the gold rush.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- rugged
- tense
- sweeping
- classic western night
- adventure movie marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard it as a cunning and visually accomplished Anthony Mann western, driven by potent frontier conflict and James Stewart's performance.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jeff Webster initially embraces every-man-for-himself principles, but Gannon's lawlessness eventually strikes close enough to force him into action.
The cattle journey through Alaska and the Yukon is staged against imposing mountain and wilderness scenery that amplifies danger and isolation.
Jeff pursues profit through cattle and gold during the Klondike rush while Gannon exploits the boom to control Skagway.
Skagway is dominated by Judge Gannon, whose larceny and coercive power delay Jeff's journey and shape the town's unstable order.
Films like The Far Country, and why
Winchester '73
shared classical western form, morally hard-edged protagonist, frontier lawlessness, and expansive landscape cinematography
The Man from Laramie
shared Anthony Mann western sensibility, themes of betrayal and integrity, and psychologically conflicted James Stewart performance
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
shared gold-rush setting, frontier ambition, rugged wilderness, and uneasy moral transformation
Bend of the River
shared cattle-drive structure, frontier justice, and a principled but reluctant hero confronting lawlessness
Movie Details
- Director
- Anthony Mann
- Release Date
- 1954-02-12
- Runtime
- 97 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (177)
Cast
- James Stewart
- Ruth Roman
- Corinne Calvet
- Walter Brennan
- John McIntire
- Jay C. Flippen
- Harry Morgan
- Steve Brodie
- Connie Gilchrist
- Robert J. Wilke
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Far Country about?
- A profit-seeking cattleman enters the Klondike gold rush and must confront the consequences of his hard-edged individualism when frontier lawlessness becomes personal.
- What is The Far Country like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Far Country as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Far Country violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Far Country as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Far Country?
- Critics broadly regard it as a cunning and visually accomplished Anthony Mann western, driven by potent frontier conflict and James Stewart's performance.
- Which films are like The Far Country?
- Films with a similar feel include Winchester '73, The Man from Laramie, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, and Bend of the River.
- How long is The Far Country?
- The Far Country runs 97 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Far Country?
- In United States, The Far Country is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
