Vengeance Valley (1951)
“Blood is thicker than loyalty in a valley out for revenge.”
Streamed free from the Internet Archive · no signup, no cost — this film is in the public domain.
Synopsis
On a sprawling cattle ranch, foreman Owen Daybright covers for his irresponsible foster brother Lee, who refuses to acknowledge the child he fathered. As Lee's lies pile up and pin blame on Owen, the brothers' bond curdles into deadly rivalry. Shot in Technicolor in the Colorado Rockies, it is a sturdy MGM family-feud Western.
Cast
About the Director
Richard Thorpe — Veteran MGM contract director Richard Thorpe, known for his efficient, no-nonsense craftsmanship across every genre, keeps the family melodrama tight and the location photography handsome.
Why It’s Free: The Public-Domain Story
Public domain by failure to renew. The film carried a 1950 copyright notice and the copyright was never renewed at the end of its initial term, so it entered the public domain in 1978. Listed in Wikipedia's "List of films in the public domain in the United States."
Behind the Scenes
MGM adapted Luke Short's novel and shot on location around Canon City, Colorado. It paired rising star Burt Lancaster with Robert Walker, whose career was tragically cut short by his death later in 1951. It was Lancaster's only film for MGM.
Did You Know?
- The film is based on the novel by prolific Western author Luke Short.
- It was one of Robert Walker's final films before his death in August 1951.
- Real working cowboys and a genuine cattle roundup were used for the ranch sequences.
Reception & Legacy
Contemporary critics found it a solid if unremarkable star vehicle elevated by its Colorado scenery and Lancaster's screen presence. It remains a watchable example of the glossy postwar MGM Western.
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