The Far Country

Released Feb 12, 1955

1 hr. 37 min.

Western

List

100%

11 Reviews

Tomatometer

75%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

At the height of the Yukon Gold Rush, cowboy Jeff Webster (James Stewart) and his partner, Ben Tatum (Walter Brennan), want in on the action, and decide to drive their cattle from Wyoming to Yukon. Along their journey, the two run afoul of crooked lawman Gannon (John McIntire), who vows revenge when they escape him. After traveling through all manner of terrain, Webster and Tatum finally arrive at their destination. But Gannon has business in the town, and he intends to make good on his promise.

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Steve D

middle of the road especially by Stewart's standards.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/24/24

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Matthew B

Anthony Mann's five westerns that he made with James Stewart as the lead star might be called morality westerns. In each of the movies, the hero must struggle between the different pulls of his dual nature. Will he opt for the decent and moral path, or will he give in to the impulses of revenge or greed? On this occasion, the hero Jeff Webster (Stewart) faces a choice between continuing to go through life with his existing value system based on freedom and individualism, or settling down in a community and accepting his responsibility to his fellow humans. Jeff Webster ruthlessly pursues his own interests. At the start of the movie he has just finished a cattle trail, during which he killed two of his men and took the other men's guns from them. These men are itching to avenge themselves on him, but afraid to tackle a man who is better with the gun than them. Jeff's argument is that the men tried to steal his cattle. He perhaps has a point, but his methods show that he will stop at nothing when his concerns are threatened. In other scenes in the film, Jeff shows the same self-serving spirit. Asked by Ronda Castle (Ruth Roman) to say ‘thanks', he replies, "That's a word I seldom use". "You've got to help people when they need help," Renee Vallon (Corinne Calvet) insists. She is astounded when he asks, "Why?" Still a hero must have some redeeming features if we are to care about his moral development, and Jeff's more sympathetic side comes out in his relationship with his partner, Ben Tatem (Walter Brennan). There is a genuine affection between the two men, and Ben acts as Jeff's conscience, occasionally telling him when he is wrong. The two men travel together, but they intend eventually to settle down in their own place. Ben has bought a silver bell to put on their homestead when they get one, and Jeff wears it on his saddle. Jeff will need to make serious choices whether to remain an individualist, or whether to help the group. The result is an absorbing and satisfying western. I wrote a fuller appreciation of The Far Country on my blog page if you would like to read more: https://themoviescreenscene.wordpress.com/2020/03/28/the-far-country-1954/

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/24/23

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Audience Member

Really enjoyed this one. it didn’t show it but even had a little bit of comedy. yes I recommend it James Welch Henderson, Arkansas made the first 2023.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/02/23

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david f

This Western has a conventional baddie, and Jimmy Stewart just trying to drive his cattle up to the Yukon, and a shoot out, but the elements don't really jell. Beautiful backgrounds courtesy of the Canadian Rockies, though.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

2nd best western of all time

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

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Audience Member

A decent Western, but it didn't leave much of an impression on me. There wasn't a lot of action and I wasn't too fond of the main character. (First and only viewing - 9/9/2018)

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

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Anthony Mann

Director

James Stewart

Jeff Webster

Ruth Roman

Ronda Castle

Walter Brennan

Ben Tatum

Corinne Calvet

Renee Vallon

John McIntire

Gannon

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Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

Harsh and movingly complex.

Rated: A+

Nov 23, 2022

Full Review

David Cornelius

DVDTalk.com

The movie becomes a game between Mann and the viewer - how long can the filmmaker keep the supposed hero from finally doing the right thing?

Rated: 4/5

Jul 7, 2008

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Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

Rated: 5/5

Mar 16, 2008

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Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

The final shootout probably inspired Robert Altman's McCabe and Mrs. Miller, taking place in the dark, on the ground and crawling in the mud -- purposely clumsy and unheroic.

Jan 17, 2008

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

It stars Mann's favorite Western leading man James Stewart in an anti-hero role.

Rated: B+

Nov 4, 2006

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 3/5

Jun 19, 2005

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Synopsis

At the height of the Yukon Gold Rush, cowboy Jeff Webster (James Stewart) and his partner, Ben Tatum (Walter Brennan), want in on the action, and decide to drive their cattle from Wyoming to Yukon. Along their journey, the two run afoul of crooked lawman Gannon (John McIntire), who vows revenge when they escape him. After traveling through all manner of terrain, Webster and Tatum finally arrive at their destination. But Gannon has business in the town, and he intends to make good on his promise.

Director: Anthony Mann
Screenwriter: Borden Chase
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal/Universal Int
Genre: Western
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 12, 1955, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 17, 2020