Along the Great Divide
A principled federal marshal escorts a lynching survivor across hostile desert country while vengeance, family loyalty, and frontier law collide.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- stern
- tense
- rugged
- classic western night
- old hollywood double feature
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded it as a solemn but routine western, with the central performances and formulaic storytelling limiting its impact.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Marshal Len Merrick must get Tim Keith across the desert to Santa Loma for trial despite pursuit by the Roden clan.
Merrick's duty to deliver Keith for trial clashes with Ned Roden's determination to impose personal revenge.
The marshal, prisoner, and Ann Keith undertake a hazardous journey across rugged desert terrain.
The plot centers on traversing rugged frontier terrain, with the desert functioning as a major physical obstacle.
Films like Along the Great Divide, and why
High Noon
classic western lawman narrative, frontier justice, and tense desert pursuit
The Searchers
rugged western landscape, morally pressured lawmen, and violent personal revenge
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
cattle-country conflict, institutional justice, and a hard-edged marshal protagonist
Movie Details
- Director
- Raoul Walsh
- Release Date
- 1951-06-02
- Runtime
- 88 min
- Rating
- 7.4 / 10 (49)
Cast
- Kirk Douglas
- Virginia Mayo
- John Agar
- Walter Brennan
- Ray Teal
- Hugh Sanders
- Morris Ankrum
- James Anderson
- Charles Meredith
- Sam Ash
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 Along the Great Divide about?
- A principled federal marshal escorts a lynching survivor across hostile desert country while vengeance, family loyalty, and frontier law collide.
- What is Along the Great Divide like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Along the Great Divide as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Along the Great Divide violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Along the Great Divide as moderate.
- What did critics think of Along the Great Divide?
- Critics broadly regarded it as a solemn but routine western, with the central performances and formulaic storytelling limiting its impact.
- Which films are like Along the Great Divide?
- Films with a similar feel include High Noon, The Searchers, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.
- How long is Along the Great Divide?
- Along the Great Divide runs 88 minutes.
- Where can I watch Along the Great Divide?
- In United States, Along the Great Divide is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
