The Kentuckian (1955)

Elias Wakefield (Burt Lancaster) and son are travelling through Kentucky hoping to leave for Texas to get away from a family feud. They spend all their money rescuing a girl, have to go work for Wakefield's brother to make it back, and while doing so Wakefield becomes increasingly persuaded to settle down rather that go adventuring in Texas.

I really wasn't a huge fan of this one. The father–son bonding is frankly just too much. Wakefield Sr would pontificate about how great Texas is while romantic music swelled in the background. Wakefield Jr spends much of the film saying precocious stuff about how his father no longer wants to go to Texas with him while looking tearful. Father and son frolic through idyllic countryside together singing to themselves and listening to their dog hunting.

The romance storyline—a love triangle between Wakefield, the indentured girl they rescue, and the respectable schoolteacher—works slightly better, if only because there isn't really an obvious "right" choice (although it's quite clear which romance the film-makers favour).

Walter Matthau is excellent as a slimy saloon owner (and whip enthusiast) who takes a dislike to Wakefield, although his role is a bit tangential to the main plot and he comes across as a generic "bit of nasty" rather than an integral villain. Burt Lancaster, in the main role, comes across as a bit idealised and perfect, especially in his relationship with his son (it possibly doesn't help that he's directing himself).