THE SHEEPMAN—-‘amiable’ seems the best tag to pin on this bright little 1958 western, which deals with the time-honored rivalry between cattlemen and sheepherders, and does so in a mock-serious way, giving a likable cast room to be wry.

Nice scenery on view (around Montrose, Colorado) while director George Marshall keeps a light touch on the doings of James Edward Grant’s Oscar-nominated screenplay. It has Glenn Ford—adeptly kidding his previous tough cowpoke roles—trotting arrogantly into a steak-struck burg and letting everyone know in no uncertain terms that he intends to graze his baa-baa’s next to their moo-moos.

Western buffs note that Ford wears his favorite hat once again. Shirley MacLaine provides spunk and sauce, Edgar Buchanan does his peerless codger bit, Leslie Nielsen makes a slick slicker, Mickey Shaughnessy is amusing as a lumpish bully employed by the bad guys.  Fun 85 minutes was a success, grossing $3,735,000.

With Pernell Roberts, Willis Bouchey, Pedro Gonzalez-Gonzalez, Slim Pickens, Buzz Henry and Percy Helton.