Watch Devil's Doorway For Free

It is a performances centric movie

Just intense enough to provide a much-needed diversion, just lightweight enough to make you forget about it soon after it’s over. It’s not exactly “good,” per se, but it does what it sets out to do in terms of putting us on edge, which makes it … successful?

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

.Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

Almost Forgotten, this Underseen and Barely Acknowledge Western, Directed by Anthony Mann, was Overshadowed, Barely Released from the Cowards at MGM, by "Broken Arrow" (1950).This is one of the Best Westerns of All Time. It Comfortably Fits in the Film-Noir Genre (few Westerns have that distinction). Robert Taylor is given a chance to Display what Limited Acting Talent He Possessed and comes through Admirably. Helped by the Decidedly Downbeat Story, a Sharp "Take No Prisoners" Script, the Splendid Cinematography by John Alton, and the Rough, Realistic, and Brutal Violence of Auteur Mann.It's a Near Perfect Movie Considering. Another Notch on Anthony Mann's Penetrating Gun Belt. The Cast is Fine and the Characters are anything but Stereotypical. The Sheep as Metaphor is a Sharp Inclusion.No Compromises, Telling it Like it Was, and Mounted in a Western Template that is as Breathtaking as Anything from John Ford. What Mann Lacked in Budgets He made up for with Insight and Talent. Always Ahead of His Time, He Treated Audiences with Respect, Never Condescended, with Entertainment of Conscience and Artistry.A Must See for Historians, Western Fans, and Anyone who Appreciates Cinema at its Best. A Tale Told Unfettered and Atypical of Hollywood and the Culture of the Time. This is a Story for All Time for All to See and Appreciate.

I have to show my respect to the American movie industries and the people who had the conscience and courage to openly admitted that the Americans whites did so much atrocious, wicked, cruel and heartless deeds to other races in this countries. first was the American Indians, then the African Americans, then during the WWII, to the Japanese Americans. Don't forget this country is a Christian nation and most of the white people are Christians, yet what this country and the white Christians continuously did unbelievable and unimaginable vicious, monstrous things anytime when an excuse or an opportunity arisen, then they would grab it to by passing a law customized to suit and serve their purpose, change their wrongdoings as legal.This film boldly told us a story about what the white Christians did to the American Indians to rob their land and homesteads from them. Now, the American government admitted their wrongdoings to the Indians and allowed them to have Tax-free Casinos on their limited symbolized lands. What a joke. I kept shaking my head when I watched this film, watched those helpless Indians fought a hopeless battle. I couldn't help thinking: If I were one those Indians, what I could have done? If I were one of those white people, could I still claim I am a Christian?

A dark grim yet gritty movie is probably the best way to describe this fairly forgotten and under appreciated jewel of a western. Produced by Nicholas Nayfack for MGM in 1950 the picture - just like "Winchester 73" and "The Gunfighter" made the same year - marked the coming of age of the American western. DEVIL'S DOORWAY was the first movie which undertook to depict - in graphic terms - the plight of the native American in the west of the 1860s. It was also the first western to be directed by Anthony Mann who alongside John Ford would become the genre's most iconic director with his masterpiece "Winchester 73" and thereafter with his fruitful working relationship with actor James Stewart that would produce some of the finest westerns ever made like "Bend Of The River", "The Far Country" and the brilliant "Naked Spur". Nicely written for the screen by Guy Trosperm DEVIL'S DOORWAY was stunningly photographed in glorious Black & White in Aspen, Colorado by John Alton and was complimented with a splendid atmospheric score - featuring an exciting Indian motif - by Russian composer Daniele Amfitheathrof.With the Congressional Medal of Honour pinned to his Union tunic distinguished Shoshone Indian Sergeant Major Lance Poole (Robert Taylor) returns home from the war between the States to his people in his beautiful valley of Sweet Meadow. He is greeted by his aged and ailing father (Fritz Leiber) ("You are home - you are again an Indian"). But prejudice against the tribe is beginning to take hold in the nearby town instigated and then exacerbated by a shady Indian hating lawyer Verne Coolin (Louis Calhern). Things really come to a head when sheep-men arrive and need to graze their herds on Sweet Meadow but Lance will not allow it and orders them off his property ("This is my land and you're trespassing"). However they are encouraged by Coolin to take the land since the Homestead Act of the period states that it is forbidden for an Indian to own any land. An enraged Lance takes up arms and leads his people against the interlopers (a well executed battle scene). Finally with many deaths on each side the army are sent for to quell the fighting which leads to a tragic finale. Lance settles his score with Coolin before the final shootout with the army which sees him and his braves being killed, his village destroyed and the tribe - what's left of them - being escorted to the reservation.DEVIL'S DOORWAY is a superb western and deserves to be rediscovered. With Mann's earlier noir successes "T Men" (1947) and "Raw Deal" ('48) DEVIL'S DOORWAY contains wonderful noirish moments of outstanding quality such as in the bruising fist fight sequence in the Saloon between Taylor and gunman James Milican with its low angle camera and arresting use of light and shadow and again later for scenes inside the dimly lit Indian shacks. The acting throughout is splendid all round. Taylor arguably gives the performance of his long career in an unusual bit of casting. Eschewing his handsome MGM glamour-boy image (he was Gable's chief rival at the studio) he turns in a powerful and striking portrayal of great depth and substance. His performance as a man who sees his beloved valley being ripped out from under him and his people is heartfelt and sincere. Excellent too is Louis Calhern as the antagonistic racist lawyer. His part not being very far removed from his brilliant shady lawyer in the studio's "Asphalt Jungle" the same year.So here is a powerfully evocative and accomplished movie that was strikingly bold for its time and today remains compelling in its stark presentation. Directed by a man who was on the verge of western movie greatness DEVIL'S DOORWAY is a movie that shouldn't be missed by anyone who cares about the American western. It is a movie that with some reassessment and a little more exposure could easily become one of Hollywood's greatest achievements and perhaps even Mann's real masterpiece. A movie that makes the final and prophetic line in the picture that bit more fitting.......... "IT WOULD BE TOO BAD IF WE SHOULD EVER FORGET".

I made a copy of this movie when I saw it online. It was NOT, however, in black/white (as someone said); it was originally made in color, and has not been colorized.Robert Taylor was remarkable as Lance Poole; the only thing that bothered me were his incredibly beautiful blue eyes; he should have been wearing BROWN contacts! Paula Raymond was just perfect as the young lawyer who tried to help Lance keep his land, and Louis Calhern was so good that I still hate him! The movie was historically accurate, not the story line, but the way things occurred at the time that these events took place -- shortly after the Civil War! I don't think the fate of our Native American population can be compared in any way to that of the African/Americans, since they have come a long way and do take part in things happening here, both culturally and politically. Whereas the Indians have made little, if any progress, and even today the state of the reservations are disgraceful, and among the young men there is an unusually high rate of alcoholism and suicide.The movie was beautifully, and sensitively written and acted, and showed no bias whatsoever -- only the truth.I treasure my copy of Devil's Doorway and have looked for it on DVD, but so far, no luck.This is a marvelous western and ranks with the best! It seems strange it was only up for ONE nomination,which of course it never got! I am sure that anyone seeing it would not be able to forget it!