The Burning Hills

A stock revenge Western, nicely shot in 'Scope by Ted McCord. When his brother is murdered, Trace Jordan (Hunter) confronts the local cattle baron, Sutton (Teal), knowing that he has had settlers killed before in his determination to keep the whole range to himself. Both men are wounded after Sutton denies it and draws his gun; but with the aid of a feisty half-Mexican girl (Wood) whose father was one of the settlers killed, Jordan manages to get away, eventually outwitting a posse of pursuing gunmen led by Sutton's vicious son (Homeier). Heisler keeps the single-minded action admirably taut, while the script, based on a novel by Louis L'Amour, tries (without much success) to ring a few changes by detailing some uncertain loyalties among the characters. A less bland hero than Tab Hunter might have helped; Natalie Wood, though miscast, is not at all bad.