From MGM: One of the several Western gems directed by Jacques Tourneur. IMO this film, which takes place in a small town right after the civil war, is one of the most underrated from this era, and one of Tourneur's and star Joel McCrea's best. This movie and "No Way Out" with Sidney Poitier (also released in 1950) were two Hollywood dramas ahead of their time dealing with the subject of racism. Tourneur was very sensitive to the issue, and in his films, black characters were always portrayed positively. McCrea is new-in-town, tough-but-compassionate preacher Josiah Gray, and Dean Stockwell plays his young adopted son John. Josiah comes to the town to build a church and provide spiritual comfort for the sick. An unseen, adult John narrates the film; in one scene we're treated to a very entertaining sequence -- my favorite in the movie -- where young John is called on stage to be a traveling showman's assistant in his magic show. But the rest of the film's tone is a serious one; John describes how his best fishing buddy was Uncle Famous (played by Juano Hernandez), a freed slave and one of the major supporting characters in the film. Throughout the movie he's threatened by the racist townfolk, but finds encouragement in the friendship of Josiah and his family. Meanwhile, the faith of town doctor Dr. Harris (played by All My Children's James Mitchell) is tested when the town breaks out with a contageous disease, which may or may not have been spread by young John. With Ellen Drew as Josiah's wife, Lewis Stone as Dr. Harris' father, and Ed Begley, who does not play a very nice person in this. When does he ever? This is not your average "stranger-in-town-who-touches the-lives-of-the-townsfolk" picture. The ending is powerfully moving. The film is unforgettable. Based on the novel by Joe David Brown, who also wrote Kings Go Forth and Addie Pray.Postscript: James Mitchell passed away on January 23, 2010. Read a tribute by Laura at her blog here.
A review from the blog Just a Cineaste here.