The oddly meditative quality of Walsh’s long takes, the curious lack of a dominant narrative tension controlling the film’s space, and the oddly disjunct tableau-to-tableau editing combine to make a statement quite different...

Integrating the settlers' passionate mortal conflicts into the landscape, Walsh turns the theatrical limitations of early sound technique to an advantage, composing vast, static tableaux with the mighty breadth and noble pace of epic stanzas.

Wayne is noticeably awkward with his line readings, but he already displays a commanding screen presence and easy rapport with the camera.

More historical than anything, but a must for Wayne fans.