Man Without A Star

This Western-drama from 1955 is one for the legion of Kirk Douglas fans out there. The impassioned actor was very much in his heyday and here he plays a sharpshooting drifter who gets more than a handful when he decides to look after a nice but naïve young lad after having saved him from the gallows.

Dempsey Rae (Kirk Douglas) is a man seemingly capable of turning his hand to just about anything – especially when it comes to the art of freight-hopping (always a popular way of free travel in the States). When the train is stopped he is far from the only freight-hopper on the train: the gavel wielding guard has discovered another ‘freeloader’ virtually underneath the empty carriage where Demps is hiding and trouble ensues. Demps - unselfish hero that he is - jumps (literally) to the rescue - the guard is knocked to the ground and freight-hopper number two, Jeff Jimson (a young William Campbell) is taken under Demps wise wing. Later, Demps and Jeff witness another freight-hopper (times were hard then - like they are now) stab and kill another guard on top of the adjoining carriage. Arriving at the end of the line the powers that be try to put the blame on Jeff but wily old Demps easily establishes his new companion's innocence and claims the $50 reward - although he is warned “to get outta town before payment”. No need to point out that Demps ain't having none of it!

At the town's saloon, Demps’ old lady friend Indonee (Claire Trevor) is glad to see the charismatic cowboy but trouble ensues again when the unbelievably gauche Jeff (Demps puts him on Sarsaparilla) gets into a fight almost immediately and is bowed out yet again by his new mentor (who is by now more or less his adopted father). This impresses Strap Davis (granite-faced Jay C. Flippen) who immediately offers Demps a job at a nearby cattle ranch and takes his side when the Sheriff arrives. Of course, the ‘gauche kid’ has to come along as well. Soon we discover that the owner of the ranch is not an old cowhand but an attractive young woman called Reed Bowman (Jeanne Crain). Despite her first seemingly ill-favoured impression of Demps we all know things will soon change when the man (oh, be sure) proves himself. Things start to go pear-shaped when another party claiming nearby land start putting up barbed wire fences and our man has what appears to be a great aversion to barbed wire. Hardliner Reed then brings in a gang of 'trouble-shooters' led by Steve Miles (Richard Boone) who just happens to be an old adversary of Demps. We can see trouble ahead as our man finds himself changing sides…

That inevitable square-off could have lasted just a little bit longer one is inclined to think - but maybe veteran director King Vidor had no wish to wallow in too much unnecessary violence. It's really all Kirk and we are treated to some pretty nifty tricks with his gun handling skills as well as singing and playing banjo. His pearly white choppers forever gleam - surely cowboys didn't have teeth like that, far from it, they would have been tobacco stained. Kirk was always worth the ride - and obviously shines brightly (he didn't need a star) in a role that may well have been written for him and who else but the great Frankie Laine provided the film’s title song.

This Western-Classic is available on Blu-ray for the first time ever in the UK. Bonus includes audio-commentary, new interview with film scholar Neil Sinyard, trailer, plus Collector’s booklet.