Man in the Saddle could be looked at as just another Randolph Scott western, but for one noteworthy difference: it's the first movie produced by Scott-Brown Productions. The rest is history, and thankfully, the gamble to leave mainstream Hollywood paid off: Randolph Scott westerns were some of the most popular movies of the decade!
The story of this one is fairly straightforward: Scottie McScottie Pants and Alexander Knox battle it out over a girl. You might think it's not a fair fight, since Scottie is a western superstar, and Alex usually plays ministers. However, Alex has one thing Scottie doesn't, and it's important: money. The object of their affection, Joan Leslie, values money and all it can buy, so she leaves Scottie for Alex. Does she ever regret her decision? You'll have to watch this ninety minute brawl to find out. It's not ninety minutes of pure fighting, of course; but the gigantic fight scene in the end is extremely impressive. Keep an eye out for Ellen Drew, Guinn "Big Boy" Williams, John Russell, and a young Cameron Mitchell in the supporting cast.