Wonderful character development!

As Good As It Gets

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

In his only venture with the Magic Kingdom, Glenn Ford stars in the title role as Smith a rancher with an indulgence for the local Indian population. The Indians squat on his range, occasionally help themselves to a steer or two for food and Ford puts up with it and it exasperates wife Nancy Olson no end. But when young Frank Ramirez takes refuge on his land being wanted on a murder charge that's stretching things a bit.Your sympathies are with Ramirez especially after seeing hateful deputy sheriff Keenan Wynn in pursuit of him. In the end Ramirez has to stand trial in Dean Jagger's courtroom and its quite a scene with Chief Dan George as Ramirez's chief witness. I'm surprised that Glenn Ford did not do more films for the Disney Studios, his generally placid image would seem to work well as a Disney type protagonist just as Fred MacMurray's did. Smith who like Columbo we never learn the first name of is a role that fits Ford perfectly. He also gets a nice courtroom scene as an interpreter his first since Trial during the middle Fifties.Disney Studios did not give this one a whole lot of care, it's indifferently photographed and edited and I remember it being in and out of theaters in 1969 really fast. That's a pity because this easy going modern western with a bit more care could have been a classic for the Magic Kingdom.

Not-bad adaptation of Paul St. Pierre's book "Breaking Smith's Quarter Horse" by the Disney Studios, a sensitive depiction of the 20th century Native American and his relationship with the white man. Irresponsible rancher Glenn Ford tries talking a young Indian accused of murder into giving himself up and standing trial, though the local law has already decided the kid's guilt and is ready to hang him high. Director Michael O'Herlihy keeps a slow, steady pace throughout--some may think too slow--giving hint this G-rated tale was meant more for young adults than the matinée crowds. The dramatics are sobering if heavy-handed (particularly in the courtroom), though Glenn Ford's tender rascal Smith infuses the picture with heart. The cinematography is rote and disappointing, and the child actors are a bit stiff, but Keenan Wynn relishes his role as a hate-mongering sheriff and Nancy Olson (when she finally stops fretting over financial matters) matches up well with Ford, looking splendid in his older years. ** from ****

Theres nothing I hate worse than when Hollywood puts make-up on white people and tries to pawn them off as ethnic. The chief in this movie is obviously a Native American but Warren Oates with brown makeup saying "how" is just stupid. All credibility for this film is lost because of this. Glen Ford is good but the actress they chose for his wife does nothing but scream and nag at him in every scene. Terrible.