THE MAN FROM COLORADO, took issues lingering from WW2—the effects of sustained violence on the psyche, particularly affixed to those given power to command, and the dislocation feelings of returning veterans—and fastened them into a 1948 western, moving the time period back to the mid-1860’s after the end of the Civil War. Two likable lead actors (both who’d interrupted their developing careers for military service and were getting back in the game) and an able supporting cast fight to hold interest against a bland B-level script, unconvincing settings (how many times have we seen these boulders?) and unexciting action.

1865. Though most of the fighting took place in the East, there were small-scale encounters out West, and in one taking place in Colorado, Union cavalry ‘Col. Owen Devereaux’ (Glenn Ford) orders an attack on a Confederate unit, even though seeing their white flag of surrender. They’re annihilated but for a sole survivor, and it’s shortly revealed that the war had officially ended the same day. Devereaux’s second-in-command ‘Capt. Del Stewart’ (William Holden), also his best friend, knows Owen has gone over the edge, and this is proven beyond doubt when Devereaux takes on the job of federal judge for the region and cajoles Del into serving as Marshall of the town they reside in. Owen’s increasingly obvious blood lust repels Del and it doesn’t help that they’re both in love with the same gal, who makes the wrong choice of fella to marry.

Friends in real life, Ford and Holden had scored a win six years earlier with another western, the enjoyable Texas, and they play well off one another (Ford getting the juicier villain role–one of the few in his career), but the material is glum and Ellen Drew is bland as the woman caught in the middle.

Directed by Henry Levin (The President’s Lady, The Wonderful World Of The Brothers Grimm), written by Robert Andrews (The Cross Of Lorraine, The Tanks Are Coming) and Ben Maddow (Intruder In The Dust, The Asphalt Jungle, The Unforgiven).

With Edgar Buchanan (he’d also been in Texas, in a much livelier role), Ray Collins (as a louse, once again), James Millican (a larger role than usual), Jerome Courtland, Stanley Andrews, Denver Pyle (28, an early appearance, as a cowardly snake), Myron Healey and Ray Teal. Costs are cited as $1,000,000, grosses as $5,300,000. 98 minutes.