Byron Haskin

Denver & Rio Grande Byron Haskin

Between 1951 and 1952, director Byron Haskin (The War of the Worlds) and star Edmond O'Brien (Silver City) collaborated for three westerns. Edmond O'Brien plays Jim Vesser, a former U.S. Cavalry Officer, now in charge of getting the Denver and Rio Grande tracks across the Rockies first to secure a right-of-way. Standing in his way is the less scrupulous and more ruthless McCabe (Sterling Hayden, the Killing) who's trying to lay his Canyon City and San Juan tracks first. The conflict between the two men turns into guerilla warfare between the two outfits. The excellent cast includes Dean Jagger as General William J. Palmer, Vesser's former commanding officer and Lyle Bettger as Johnny Buff, McCabe's slimy chief gunman.