Rather fascinating 'dark' Western, with some great performances and any number of interesting themes running through it.

Perhaps the most interesting is the not-so-subtle criticism of capitalism, as the greedy, gold-seeking miners and gamblers are clearly labeled as the 'villains', and Portland's transformation from socialist paradise to the Vegas of the northwest is obviously a bad thing. I wonder how all these commie films got past the censors.

There's also the interesting relationship between Jimmy Stewart's McLyntock and Arthur Kennedy's Cole, two men so similar they could be brothers, who end up turning on each other and fulfilling the mythical struggle every Western needs. In a way, it's a kind of internal struggle for McLyntock, as Cole is so similar as to be his other half. In the crudest sense, it's the angel and devil on his shoulders squaring off.

It's got some narrative and ideological problems (most notably the unfortunate treatment of Adam, the lone black guy), but it's still pretty interesting. Moreso than Shane, anyways.