After Stagecoach, this underrated 1940s film completed John Wayne's transformation into a Western legend

Although not as famous as Diligence or some of the last westerns he made, High in the saddle is crucial to John Wayne's transformation into a cinema icon. Despite having worked in the genre years before his role in Diligencethe 1939 film is widely credited with putting John Wayne on the Hollywood map and making him its top Western star. Both things are true diligence role in John Wayne's celebrated film career, but in itself it did not sculpt his image.

Following diligence release, Wayne's popularity grew, allowing him to accumulate leading roles in larger-budget films than he was accustomed to in the 1930s. In the early 1940s, Wayne headlined several films, including Westerns such as The spoilers with Randolph Scott, In Old Californiaand Dark Command with Roy Rogers. Among the most memorable projects from this time in his career were High in the saddle, where he appeared alongside Ella Raines and western actress Gabby Hayes. High in the saddle It was a huge step forward for Wayne and his best western since Diligence.

What is high in the saddle

John Wayne is trying to solve the murder of a ranch owner in Tall In The Saddle

John Wayne made several films in the following years Diligencebut none matched the quality of the 1939 classic. High in the saddle it certainly came close. In the film, Wayne takes on the role of Rocklin, a stranger who shakes up a small western town when he finds himself in the middle of a murder mystery. Rocklin's actions draw a variety of reactions from the townspeople, with some welcoming his arrival and others seeing him as a problem. The villains, whose identities remain ambiguous for a portion of the film, predictably try to get Rocklin out of the way.

These interactions between Rocklin and locals help High in the saddle build a large cast of supporting characters, all of them people who fit perfectly into the Western setting. Supporting Rocklin throughout the story is Dave, the old drunk who hates women, played in classic Gabbie Hayes style. Ella Raines also brings a lot to the film through her fiery performance as Arly, the angry cowgirl who likes Rocklin despite her strained relationship with him. Making the cast even more colorful are the additions of the snobbish, high-class Miss Martin and Arly's stoic but loyal bodyguard, Tala.

Tall in the saddle is the perfect successor to diligence

Tall In The Saddle Continued What Stagecoach Started

While High in the saddle is not among the many films John Wayne made with John Ford, it serves as a suitable successor to Diligence for the actor. Its story is completely different from the adventure style story seen in Diligencebut it's still easy to see its influence on the 1944 Western. High in the saddle apparently began with a tribute to Diligencewhich granted John Wayne a famous entrance, where he stopped the titular stagecoach and climbed aboard. It is not likely to be a coincidence that High in the saddle also begins with Wayne climbing into a stagecoach.

Similar to Stagecoach, high in the saddle It has many of the hallmarks of a great John Wayne Western. It presents the character of John Wayne as a mysterious outsider and a catalyst for change in terms of his impact on others. In both films, Wayne achieves this with an air of confidence and an almost stubborn pride. His imposing presence is reflected even by the title itself, which is a reference to Dave's description of Rocklin as someone who rides “high in the saddle.” This aspect of his personality also weighs heavily Diligenceas evidenced by its unforgettable introductory scene.

In a sense, High in the saddle Rocklin seems like an evolution of the Ringo Kid character made famous by Wayne in Diligence. Part of this was due to Wayne's age at the time; Wayne was 37 years old when he made High in the saddle. Ringo Kid's lack of youth helped him come across as a confident, experienced cowboy who knew exactly what he was doing. This aspect of his personality was central to many of his best scenes in High in the saddle, and in that respect, it worked better for that film than in Diligence.

Tall In The Saddle Has Several Great John Wayne Moments

John Wayne is in top form in Tall In The Saddle

The screen image that John Wayne forged Diligence lent itself well to High in the saddle. During a poker game disagreement, Arly's tough brother held Rocklin at gunpoint when he refused to concede a game he had won fairly. A quiet but somber Rocklin simply returned to his room, culminating in a notable sequence where Rocklin returned – carrying his gun. The quiet intensity demonstrated by Rocklin made this a classic John Wayne moment that you shouldn't miss.

His bravado was a little more subdued in an equally impressive scene where he meets Arly for the first time. Apparently deciding that avoidance is the best way to deal with the feisty cowgirl, Rocklin backed away from her, even as she fired shots in his direction that came uncomfortably close to hitting him. Here, Wayne's generally confident walk carried a slight hint of uncertainty, but one that seemed believable given the circumstances.

The way Rocklin handled the situations with Arly and her brother contrasts perfectly with the way he handled George and Bob Clews, played by John Wayne's frequent co-star Paul Fix. In these scenes, Rocklin proved that he had gravitas both when using force and without it. John Wayne's”tough guy“The reputation resonated greatly in the saloon scene, where an angry Rocklin grabbed Bob by the face and pushed him to the floor.

Rocklin showed his physical superiority and alpha male dominance again when he took control of what was supposed to be an old-fashioned Western shootout. Instead of drawing his gun, Rocklin charged at his opponent and knocked him out. The calm sense of determination that John Wayne carried Diligence – and it got even better for High in the saddle – It was an important foundation for the legacy he has today.